Australia’s restaurant and catering sector gathered in Sydney on Sunday night for the Restaurant & Catering Hostplus National Awards for Excellence, capping off what organisers called an extraordinary year for the industry.
The annual awards, held at Doltone House Sydney, drew more than 450 industry professionals and recorded the highest number of nominations in the organisation’s history. Nearly every state and territory awards ceremony throughout the year sold out, reflecting what Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) described as unprecedented industry engagement.
“The 2025 Hostplus Awards for Excellence have been a defining moment for our industry,” said R&CA CEO Suresh Manickam. “We’ve achieved record nominations, near sold-out events nationwide, and a national celebration that truly captured the heart of hospitality.”
Major winners across three states
The evening’s top honours went to establishments across three states:
- Caterer of the Year: Doltone House Sydney Town Hall (NSW)
- Casual Dining of the Year: Italia Lane, Fortitude Valley (QLD)
- Restaurant of the Year: Les Bistronomes, Campbell (ACT)
Les Bistronomes achieved a double victory, also claiming gold in both the European Restaurant and Premium Dining categories, cementing its position as one of the nation’s finest dining destinations.
Category excellence was strong
The awards recognise achievement across more than 32 categories, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals presented to showcase the depth of talent within Australia’s hospitality sector.
Notable gold winners included:
- Italian Restaurant: ALT Pasta Bar, Melbourne (VIC)
- Japanese Restaurant: Kadota, Daylesford (VIC)
- Seafood Restaurant: Blue Manna Bistro, Dunsborough (WA)
- French Restaurant: Montrachet, Bowen Hills (QLD)
- Steak Restaurant – Formal: Porteño, Surry Hills (NSW)
- Indian Restaurant: Delhi ‘O’ Delhi, Newtown (NSW)
- New Restaurant: Attimi By Dario Manca, Paddington (QLD)
- Café Dining: Caffè Buongiorno, O’Halloran Hill (SA)
In the catering categories, standout winners included Sandalford Wines (WA) for Events Caterer, Australian Turf Club – Randwick Racecourse (NSW) for Venue Caterer, and Chartwells at Australian National University (ACT) for Education Caterer.
Regional establishments also featured prominently, with winners including The Old Saltbush Restaurant in Broken Hill (NSW) for Tourism Restaurant and Arrana in Springwood (NSW) for Contemporary Australian Restaurant – Formal.
Manickam attributed the program’s success to the dedication of industry members and the support of national partners, including Hostplus, American Express, Uber Eats, Gallagher, OnTheMonee, Alsco Uniforms, Bidfood Australia, and others.
“These results reflect the loyalty, dedication, and talent that continue to drive our sector forward,” he said.
The awards serve as the grand finale to a year-long recognition program that celebrates restaurants, cafés, and caterers demonstrating excellence in quality, service, and consistency across Australia.
