50 most romantic restaurants in Australia 2019

by As rated by verified OpenTable diners

Updated January 31, 2019

There are many factors contributing to a romantic dining experience... world class ingredients, impeccable service and a unique ambience. This year's 50 most romantic restaurants showcase those seductive spots the enable couples to create delicious connections and memories that last a lifetime. The list is determined by analysing more than 126,000 reviews from more than 1,600 restaurants across Australia - all submitted by verified diners.

A Touch of Salt

4.8

4.8 (2636)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Townsville CBD

About the restaurant

Enjoy the breathtaking waterfront views, sparkling starry night skies, and refreshing breezes of our outdoor balcony, or opt for indoor air-conditioned seating to beat the heat (which can be a must in North Queensland!).

Our restaurant's name, A Touch of Salt, is a play on our family name, Brine. In 2005, we started as a family business, and our family-style approach of offering genuine hospitality and meals designed for conversation has always been the heart of A Touch of Salt. Over the years, we have perfected our restaurant to become one of the best casual fine-dining restaurants in the North.

We take pride in being appreciated by the locals of Townsville as well as travellers from all over Australia.

Top review

Judith

Dined 5 days ago

Mark and his team provide excellent service. Great place for a special celebration dinner.

Bar Woolloomooloo

0 (0)

$40 and under

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Woolloomooloo

About the restaurant

Casual bar-style bites paired with cocktails and Australian wine located inside Sydney's iconic Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo.

We welcome bookings for groups of 8 or more people. For groups less than 8, reservations are not required. We reserve a large portion of our tables available for walk in guests, so come on down and grab a table at your own leisure.

For larger group enquiries, please contact our team at events.sydney@ovolohotels.com

Cecconi's Flinders Lane

4.7

4.7 (1187)

$101 and over

Italian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

"Everything you want from a sophisticated city Italian restaurant is right here: atmosphere, admirable service, a menu long enough to allow for real choice, an expansive drinks list, flattering lighting, carpets and tablecloths to ensure that sound levels are low enough for a proper conversation."
Enjoy signature dishes - Seafood linguine, Veal Cotoletta and signature steaks from the Josper

One Hat – THE AGE GOOD FOOD GUIDE
2006 - 2023

Top review

Catherine

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

First time dining at this well known restaurant I had high expectations after hearing so many good things and it did not disappoint! The service was impeccable, from being greeted by the hostess to our friendly and attentive waitress and the efficient food servers. We had gnocchi fritto, duck pappardelle, the octopus risotto special, salad and semi freddo and millefeuille for dessert. All dishes were presented well (the pappardelle was thoughtfully divided in 2 individual plates as we were sharing) and so fresh and flavoursome. The duck pappardelle was the standout - rich flavours and the pasta was cooked to perfection. Even with 3 courses, we were in and out in 1.5 hours without rushing (very good for a business lunch when you're on the clock! We had noted this on the reservation). To sum up: food 5, service 5, ambience 5, it's a yes from me :) Might check out the Toorak venue next.

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Experience

3 Course Fixed Price Menu

Donovans

4.7

4.7 (1642)

$101 and over

Modern Australian

St Kilda

About the restaurant

Welcome to Donovans - our ‘house on the beach’ and home we love to share. Donovans is located on the St.Kilda beach front offering guests a memorable dining experience in Melbourne. With a bay side view, beautiful Mediterranean inspired food and the special relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, Donovans is where you will feel at home.

Donovans’ exciting menu has been developed our intimate knowledge of modern Mediterranean cooking. The menu is extensive with a modern mix of favourite dishes emphasising the best local produce. Donovans also offers an extensive wine list of Australian and imported wines and an eclectic mix of cocktails.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent all round. Great food, great service, cosy, not pretentious. Highly recommend

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Popular dish

Tiny fish and chips

Popular dish

Old-fashioned chicken pie

Popular dish

Bombe Alaska for two

Elio's Osteria

4.9

4.9 (1652)

$40 and under

Italian

Carindale

About the restaurant

Candle lit tables, chianti by the glass, crooners and generous old fashioned house made pizza, calzone, gelati, huge pastas and antipasto. Perfect for a family dinner, an intimate night for two, or a work get together. A south side institution since 1984.

Top review

Sal

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

What a fantastic place to go for dinner. Delicious meals, generous portions and amazing value.

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4.5

4.5 (1843)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Glass Brasserie is an eloquent, lofty restaurant and wine bar with panoramic views overlooking Sydney's historic Queen Victoria Building. Under the culinary guidance of head chef Natalie Murphy, the Glass team dreams up honest, simple culinary experiences that celebrate the finest seasonal produce in imbued flavour.

The brasserie-style menu is designed to take guests on a journey, losing themselves in the enclaves of the restaurant's ambiance, flavours and character. Glass boasts one of Sydney's most comprehensive wine lists, curated by Head Sommelier, Mauro Bortolato for almost two decades. The 3,500 strong collection is encased in a striking wine wall that spans floor to ceiling through the space. Designed by renowned interior designer, Tony Chi, the restaurant's interior exudes equal party's intimacy and grandeur with it's ambient open-plan kitchen and expansive day-to-night dining experiences.

Located on Level 2, 488 George Street, Sydney.

Top review

Julie

Dined 6 days ago

Waiter very nice and helpful, welcoming quick and nice, the food was very good and the price very reasonable : recommend 100%

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Experience

Christmas Day Lunch at Glass

Experience

Afternoon Tea

Experience

Group Reservations 8+

Glasshouse

4.7

4.7 (1637)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Timbumburi

About the restaurant

Led by Head Chef Jarrod Smith, Glasshouse is proud to serve a variety of expertly prepared, locally sourced dishes, in a phenomenal venue.
Goonoo Goonoo Station is undoubtedly the New England regions finest destination for accommodation, dining, and events.

Please note:
At Glasshouse, we have seatings options for groups from 2 - 50 people.
If your desired time is does not show, unfortunately that time is not available.

Top review

Karen

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

The service, staff, and food quality…outstanding. The prices for breakfast menu were fabulously low cost for such quality and quantity…we’ll be back.

Moo Moo Restaurant (Gold Coast)

4.6

4.6 (2354)

$41 to $100

Steakhouse

Broadbeach

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of cosmopolitan Broadbeach, overlooking Victoria Park, and opposite Gold Coast Sofitel Hotel, Star Casino & the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre. Moo Moo The Wine Bar + Grill Gold Coast is multi award winning, undoubtedly the Gold Coast's Best Steak Restaurant. Moo Moo breaks down the barriers of a normal steak house by losing the overtly masculine vibe that has so long been the trademark of its genre. With its stunning modern interior decor of natural stone finishes, sleek organic curves and state of the art lighting system, the steak restaurant has evolved.

Enjoy an award winning beef menu of the highest quality, with some cuts exclusive to Moo Moo Restaurant Group. These cuts include; Dry Aged, Pasture Fed, All Natural and Grain Fed which include a mix of Wagyu and Angus breeds. To ensure that our menus cater for more than just beef lovers they also include fresh seafood, poultry, game and of course vegetarian options available.

Top review

Caitlin

Dined 1 day ago

Alberto, our server was amazing. We have been to the Brisbane moo moo’s before however the service and food was no where near as good as it was tonight at the Broadbeach location.. Alberto explained all the specials/ menu and gave us some good suggestions from the menu. He was efficient, friendly and energetic providing us with great service for the night. Food and drink was fantastic. The only downside is, is that it is a little warm in the restaurant. The warmth was tolerable and the experience was still overall enjoyable.

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Popular dish

F1 Wagyu Rump Cap MB 6-7+

Northerlies Beach Bar and Grill - Airlie Beach

4.3

4.3 (1886)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Airlie Beach

About the restaurant

Set right on the water, Northerlies is Airlie’s favourite beach bar offering a unique experience filled with island vibes, casual brasserie-style dining, spacious event areas, creative cocktails, and plenty of beach for the kids to explore. Their free courtesy bus runs 7 days a week offering private pick-ups from Airlie Beach, Cannonvale & Jubilee Pocket. Book your next event and celebrate beach-side.

The Brasserie kitchen is open 7 days. Lunch is served from 12:00pm- 2:30pm and dinner from 5:00pm-8:30pm, with our 'smalll bites' options available all day. The weekend Beach Kitchen is open on for dinner on Fridays, lunch & dinner on Saturdays, plus lunch on Sundays. Unfortunately, no dogs allowed as we are located on a wildlife reserve.

Top review

Marion

Dined 2 days ago

Northerlies is an amazing venue- more than a restaurant- it is a fantastic Airlie Beach experience! We will back again for sure. Can’t wait.

Osteria di Russo & Russo

4.8

4.8 (1189)

$41 to $100

Contemporary Italian

Enmore

About the restaurant

Enmore's Osteria di Russo & Russo is a favorite among locals and visitors alike for its modern take on classic Italian flavours, served in its warm and charming restaurant. As snacks to start, the fiore di zucchini fried zucchini flower with goat's milk ricotta and lemon aspen and the cannolo filled with a duck liver parfait, date and hazelnuts are sensational selections.

Some of Osteria di Russo & Russo's specialty dishes include the saltbush gnocchi with pork sausage ragu and pecorino, the chargrilled beef flank with green garlic, nasturtium and smoked eggplant and the slow cooked freemantle octopus with chickpea, salsa rossa and native bush tomato, as well as vegetarian dishes.

Osteria di Russo & Russo's strawberry sorbet, davidson plum meringue and limoncello custard is the perfect dessert with which to finish your meal.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

We had a delightful experience at Russo and Russo. The food and wine were amazing. Highly recommended if your looking for somewhere for a great night out with excellent food.

Rick Shores

4.8

4.8 (4697)

$101 and over

Contemporary Asian

Burleigh Heads

About the restaurant

Pan-Asian flavours in one of the Gold Coast's most iconic locations. Focusing on fresh locally sourced produce with intention to share.

By Head Chef James Brady

Top review

Brad

Dined on Nov 22, 2024

Great food, great service and perfect position. Our favourite restaurant on the coast

Rickys River Bar and Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (3203)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Noosaville / Noosa Heads

About the restaurant

Set on the banks of the beautiful Noosa River, Rickys River Bar & Restaurant delivers a dining experience that encapsulates the Noosa lifestyle. Rickys offers a delicious menu featuring a wonderful selection of fresh seafood and the very best local produce. With sweeping views of the Noosa River, Rickys is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch, a sunset dinner or a relaxing cocktail in their River Bar.

Top review

Natalie

Dined 5 days ago

Absolutely delighted with this restaurant, love the menu and the staff are fantastic

Rookie Eatery

4.7

4.7 (703)

$41 to $100

Australian

Wollongong

About the restaurant

Rookie Eatery offers diners contemporary Australian cuisine in a casual context. A produce-driven menu centres on modern Australian food, as the kitchen serves an eclectic mix of local ingredients with multicultural influences. At Rookie, we believe that ‘Australian cuisine’ is a multicultural phenomenon that exists nowhere else in the world and so we aim to provide a contemporary interpretation with the local ingredients on offer. The result is a diverse inspiration of eastern and western cultures brought together with fragrant and fresh flavours. An on-site herb garden provides the kitchen with a range of indigenous and introduced herb species, whilst a commitment to strong supplier relationships sees the South Coast’s best produce showcased.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 3 days ago

Food was absolutely fantastic 10/10, will be back.

Sails Noosa

4.7

4.7 (3312)

$101 and over

Modern Australian

Noosaville / Noosa Heads

About the restaurant

Located overlooking Noosa Main Beach, Sails Restaurant offers sophisticated yet relaxed dining.

Executive Chef, Paul Leete, presents a creative fusion of modern Australian cuisine, while keeping a strong focus on fresh, seasonal produce.

Paul combines ingredients, sourced with integrity, to create clean, thoughtful and uncomplicated menus.

Sails Restaurant also features a multi award winning wine list showcasing more than 500 wines, with a focus on great Australian, New Zealand and French winemakers.

Open from 12pm daily for lunch and dinner.

Sails Restaurant is open for all Public Holidays through the Christmas and Easter periods.

When placing your reservation, please understand that requests for specific tables cannot be guaranteed. We appreciated that everyone who books with us wants to sit close to the beach front, therefore we allocate these tables according to how far in advance you book.

Top review

Angela

Dined today

Amazing food and service once again at Sails - never disappoints.

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4.8

4.8 (1777)

$41 to $100

Steak

Cleveland

About the restaurant

The Courthouse has elegant white cloth dining with stunning views of Moreton Bay, Our heritage listed property is set on manicured waterfront gardens and boasts areas for intimate dining, private functions, lavish gatherings and fairy-lit outdoor spaces for the warmer months, with three crackling open fires for the colder month. The Courthouse's Restaurant is a multi-awarded venue for both cuisine & service, the waterfront property is truly a complete dining experience.

Top review

Jill

Dined 4 days ago

The food & service here is very good & we will miss this lovely restaurant when it closes at the end of the year. Everyone would love to know why their lease is not being renewed & what will happen to this heritage listed building!

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Popular dish

Seafood Supreme

Popular dish

Fillet Mignon Wrapped In Bacon

Experience

Christmas Eve Dinner 2024

The Potting Shed

4.3

4.3 (3787)

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Alexandria

About the restaurant

The Potting Shed is a place to meet, eat, drink, relax and chat your day and night away – where hanging plants, terracotta pots and timber beams meet brass, brick and iron. Where you can plant yourself down on the swing seat, bench or at the bar and feel like you are on your family’s porch.

It’s a lively place where you can hoe into fresh, locally harvested produce, delivered by our shed-hands. The same hands that will deliver you good-natured banter, craft beers on tap, great tasting wines and unique cocktails.

The menu offers cozy share options for groups, three course substantial meal choices for those wanting to make an evening of it and a fun selection of nibbles for people wanting a light after-work snack with their cocktails or a share jug amongst friends.

Plus, enjoy exclusive after-dark access to The Grounds of Alexandria's latest laneway attractions when you dine in!

Top review

Nicki

Dined today

Simple menu, gorgeous cocktails. Was just a little bit hot and not much airflow!

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Experience

Dine In The Potter's Corner

Experience

Group Menu

Experience

Premium Private Dining in The Lock-In

The Rocks Mornington

4.4

4.4 (1440)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Mornington

About the restaurant

For all reservations please head to our website. www.therocksmornington.com.au.

The Rocks Mornington, sitting on Mornington's waterfront, is a vibrant waterside eatery specializing in tantalizingly fresh seafood dishes.

Top review

David

Dined 5 days ago

The Spaghetti Frutti di Mare had all its component parts perfectly cooked. The service was fast and the meal appeared rapidly. My profiteroles were crisp and the chocolate sauce was perfect with a delicious flavour of dark chocolate. My wife and I had a perfect celebration meal.

The Woodhouse Bar & Grill

4.8

4.8 (2678)

$41 to $100

Steakhouse

Bendigo

About the restaurant

Take it slow… Have a drink to start. Enjoy a cocktail, local wine or craft beer, Share a snack or two in our dedicated Bar.
Smell the delicious smokiness of Bendigo’s only dedicated steakhouse & grill, where we use local redgum on the grill; there’s nothing quite like the flavour of meat cooked over redgum. The natural smoky flavours and aromas created by this unique timber are something truly special. In the finest tradition of steakhouses, we use locally sourced meat and the very best in fresh, regional produce.

Showcasing 350 wines, including 28 by the glass, including some seriously interesting wines curated by our inhouse Sommelier. With local wines taking pride of place, including some intriguing European offerings, plus a supporting cast of spirits, beers and other beverages, including a decent alcohol-free selection. Cocktail drinkers will be impressed with our seasonally curated list.

Our menu is updated seasonally and available on our website.

Top review

Paul

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent service, the food was fantastic, would definitely go back there again

Tinamba Hotel

4.7

4.7 (1205)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Tinamba

About the restaurant

Simon and Tania Johnson have owned Tinamba Hotel since October 2020 and feel honoured to be the custodians of the hotel’s proud heritage as they build upon a vision from previous owners, Brad Neilson, Damien Gannon, the Schoenmaeker and Whelan families.

Using the finest, locally grown fresh produce from local suppliers and working with the most talented chefs in the region is what the Johnsons believe sets Tinamba Hotel apart. The signature dishes deliver a truly memorable experience, served in a setting famously known as Gippsland’s favourite destination dining venue.

From the first-class dining experience within the dining room, lounge and conservatory, to the relaxed atmosphere in the Amba Bar and on the outdoor veranda, Simon, Tania and the Tinamba Hotel team provide the finest example of country hospitality for local and visiting customers alike.

Welcome to your Gippsland local. The award-winning Tinamba Hotel.

Top review

Trish

Dined 1 day ago

Great lunch in a beautiful pub. Staff were very helpful. Just a delightful experience.

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Experience

Chefs 6 Course Tasting Menu

4.5

4.5 (1592)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Southbank

About the restaurant

Melbourne’s most iconic seafood bar and grill.

A true Melbourne experience with expansive views of the Yarra river and mesmerizing city lights.

Take in the stunning Melbourne sky line whilst enjoying our finest seafood and oysters expertly sourced directly from some of Australia’s best producers.

We are dedicated to the “sea to plate”, with daily visits to the market, selecting the very best oysters, pristine shellfish and the freshest local seafood.
Our “paddock to table” philosophy ensures we only source the highest quality of meats, bred from local Victorian farmers.

With over 100 years in hospitality, the Zampelis family welcomes you to enjoy a unique dining experience.

Top review

Patricia

Dined 3 days ago

Always good. Lovely atmosphere with friends and families gathering for holiday season. Service and food great as always.

Whalebone Wharf

4.6

4.6 (3149)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Port Macquarie

About the restaurant

THE WHALEBONE WHARF IS A NO FUSS, CASUAL AUSTRALIAN FISH EATERY

Our mission is to source the region’s best seafood and seasonal produce by partnering with like-minded suppliers.

Our commitment to locality and our selection of produce flows into everything we offer; from Hastings River Oysters to Urban Grain bread and pastries.

We aim to showcase these ingredients by preparing them carefully and serving them simply.

The Whalebone is a place for friends and family to enjoy local, honest food and wine in a relaxed atmosphere, with a world class view.

Top review

Jenny

Dined 3 days ago

Fabulous food, the swordfish was the best we have ever had. Outstanding service. Beautiful location on the river. Wonderful restaurant.

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