Destination dining is getting a twist. Australian travellers are increasingly not only making a road trip out of visits to out-of-town restaurants — they’re planning whole stays around them. It’s part of a bigger travel trend dubbed ‘Hotel Restaurant Renaissance’ in Expedia’s travel trends report Unpack ’25.
“When choosing Aussie hotels, travellers are not just booking rooms, they’re booking tables,” the report reads. “Hotel restaurants are significantly contributing to hotel revenues, so hotel restaurants are stepping up their dining experiences — and travellers are paying attention.”
The report notes that in recent years, hotels around Australia have opened critically acclaimed restaurants, some even hatted and featuring well-known chefs and rotating seasonal menus. The research found that over half (63%) of Aussies surveyed are interested in booking a hotel with a notable dining experience.
Once known for being mediocre at best, hotel restaurants in our cities and country towns have upped their restaurant game, launching venues even locals are keen to visit. While the trend includes hotel restaurants in CBD areas, it’s particularly interesting to apply to regional accommodation as, with fewer options in rural areas, it can inform the hotel choice and the destination.
Michelle Bishop, owner of Bangalay Luxury Villas and its restaurant Bangalay Dining, says guests often book a table at the restaurant before deciding to make a weekend of it and booking accommodation. Bishop says this approach lets them enjoy the meal and the restaurant’s surroundings (Shoalhaven Heads in NSW South Coast) at a relaxed pace, allowing them to appreciate both.
“Planning trips around hotel restaurants in rural areas isn’t new but has gained more visibility recently,” says Bishop. “Guests are increasingly recognising rural dining destinations, thanks to media and social platforms. Rural hotel restaurants like Bangalay Dining offer not just meals but an experience that reflects the produce of the Shoalhaven region, making them natural choices for food-driven travellers.”
Rupert Sakora, GM at boutique hotel Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook thinks a big part of the rising popularity of NSW regional towns Mollymook and Milton is their foodie credentials. Bannisters Mollymook is home to Rooftop Bar and Grill and fine-dining seafood restaurant Rick Stein at Bannisters.
“It’s the question on everyone’s lips when they book [a night] with us: is there availability at Rick Stein? And will Rick be there?” says Sakora. “For hotel guests, it’s about the ease of having two world-class experience restaurants right here on the beautiful South Coast.”
He says the general appeal of a rural hotel restaurant is that it feels like you’ve discovered a great secret. The food, drink and service are usually wonderful and dishes are made with ingredients sourced from local producers, growers and suppliers. “You get to experience something that can only be ‘local’, and that adds to the experience,” he says.
Other notable regional hotel restaurants are Restaurant Botanica at Spicers Retreat Pokolbin, The Zin House at Shed by Zin in Mudgee and the Chefs-in-Residence restaurant at Seville Estate — an hour east of Melbourne. Lake House at Daylesford and Doot Doot Doot at Jackalope are other standout regional hotel restaurants.
It’s clear that across Australia, hotel restaurants have upped their game. And with a regional travel lens, many of these hotel restaurants offer diners an immersive experience — a strong taste and feel of the local area that continues ‘til the next morning.
As the trend continues, I predict we’ll see even more innovation in hotel dining — kitchens led by experienced chefs and unique experiences. With culinary tourism contributing over $10 billion (billion!) to Australia’s economy in 2021 and that number only growing, I don’t see regional hotel restaurants informing travel dying down anytime soon.
Related: Would You Dine at a Table Shared With Strangers?
Related: Australian British Food Is on the Brink of Big Change
Read more stories from The Latch and subscribe to our email newsletter.
