Australia is back on the world’s fine dining map, with a Sydney seafood restaurant earning a place among the 50 best restaurants on the planet, ending an eight-year drought for Australian dining.
And in a delicious twist, the restaurant responsible for putting us back on the global stage has built its reputation on something Australians have always loved: good fish.
Saint Peter, located inside the historic Grand National Hotel in Sydney’s Paddington, has been named the 50th best restaurant in the world at a glittering awards ceremony in Lima, Peru.
It was the only Australian restaurant to make the prestigious 2026 list, and also took home the title of Best Restaurant in Oceania.
The achievement marks the first time an Australian restaurant has cracked the global top 50 since Melbourne’s Attica made the cut in 2018.
For chef Josh Niland and his wife Julie, who opened Saint Peter in 2016, the recognition is the culmination of a decade spent transforming the way Australians think about seafood.
And we’re not just talking about a particularly good piece of battered flathead.
Niland has become internationally renowned for his revolutionary approach to fish cookery, using almost every part of the fish rather than discarding the bits most people wouldn’t dream of eating.
His philosophy, often described as “scale-to-tail” cooking, has produced extraordinary creations including fish-bone pasta, dry-aged seafood and even ice cream made using fish eyes.
It might sound like something dreamed up during a particularly adventurous episode of MasterChef, but the results have earned Niland a reputation as one of the world’s most innovative chefs.
The restaurant’s menu changes daily according to the freshest available catch, with its distinctive approach to seafood accompanied by a carefully selected range of Australian wines.
And while Saint Peter has long been celebrated by local food lovers, its international recognition has been steadily building.
The restaurant first appeared on the extended world’s best list at number 98 in 2024, climbed to number 66 last year, and has now secured its place among the elite 50.
Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Niland said the achievement was about more than his own restaurant.
“We don’t need Michelin and 50 best to tell us what’s wonderful, because we all know we’re spoiled,” he said.
“But we do need a bit of global awareness … This is less about Saint Peter and more about Australia.”
The recognition comes during a particularly special year for the Nilands, with Saint Peter celebrating its 10th anniversary in September.
Australia had another reason to celebrate, with Melbourne restaurant Yiaga, led by chef Hugh Allen, receiving the prestigious One to Watch award, recognising its potential to become a future global dining star.
As for the world’s number one restaurant, that honour went to Asador Etxebarri in Spain’s Basque Country, famous for cooking exceptional meats and seafood over open flames.
Bangkok’s Gaggan claimed second place, followed by Copenhagen’s Alchemist in third.
The annual rankings are determined by votes from more than 1100 international restaurant industry experts, including chefs, restaurateurs and food writers.
For Australian food lovers, Saint Peter’s success is a welcome reminder that some of the world’s most exciting dining experiences can be found right here at home.
And while the restaurant’s menu might be a little more adventurous than your average Friday night fish and chips, there’s something wonderfully Australian about a seafood restaurant taking on the world’s finest and coming out a winner.
Not bad for a place that started life in a former sushi train shop.
