Hard-to-Get Reservations for restaurants in Australia

by OpenTable Australia

Updated 02 December 2019

With fresh dining concepts from some of Australia’s most acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs as well as tried and true classics, there is always a diverse range of cuisines and flavours to enjoy. Although there are countless restaurants to choose from across Australia, some are so popular it can be tough to get in without a reservation. Check out our list of these hard to get into restaurants in Australia and book your table in advance so you can coast right in and enjoy.

Ishizuka

4.8

4.8 (41)

$100 and over

Japanese

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Ishizuka restaurant, located in the CBD neighborhood of Melbourne, is a haute cuisine fine dining restaurant that specializes in Japanese food, Kaiseki and Sushi. It offers an immersive taste of Japan and will transport diners to a whole different place. Tucked away down a narrow corridor, the restaurant is a tiny, intimate space with a set-menu cuisine and intricate dishes. It’s easily one of the hottest new restaurants in Melbourne and the limited seating also makes it one of the hardest to get into.

Top review

KinL

Dined on 13 Sept 2018

Fine dining atmosphere, detail on the presentation on the food, can't get any better Japanese food in Melbourne

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Experience

Kaiseki menu

Vue de monde

4.9

4.9 (1884)

$100 and over

Modern Australian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Vue De Monde is one of the most elegant fine dining restaurants in all of Melbourne. The cuisine has an edgy approach to the regional specialties and uses simple, seasonal ingredients and local and sustainable meats and produce. There is high demand to get in here for dinner so make sure to book your table in advance in order to enjoy a meal here on the 55th floor of Melbourne’s iconic Rialto building.

Top review

heather

Dined 1 day ago

An exquisite culinary tasting experience with excellent pacing (3+ hours), superbly trained staff in a laid back Australian atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed a trip round the open plan kitchen which becomes an integral part of the evening.

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Experience

Valentine's Day at Vue de monde 2025

St Andrews Beach Brewery

4.4

4.4 (1243)

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Fingal

About the restaurant

It’s not easy to get a table at St. Andrews Beach Brewery, but if you can secure a spot at this casual dining spot you will have a truly awesome experience. Located on Truemans Road in the Fingal neighborhood, St. Andrews makes beer, as you would expect with a brewery, but they also operate a world-class horse training facility and serve a really stellar menu. Come in and enjoy small plates, share plates, salads, pizzas, burgers and more that pair perfectly with the range of craft beers.

Top review

Audrey

Dined on 27 Jan 2025

Over the long weekend, my family and our guests visited St Andrew’s Beach Brewery, and we’re so glad we made a reservation because it was buzzing with energy and a fantastic atmosphere. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the staff, and I’d especially like to mention Tessa, who took excellent care of us. Her recommendations were spot on, and her upbeat, can-do attitude made the experience even more enjoyable. Nothing was too much trouble for her, and she really made our day! The food was fresh, delicious, and offered a great variety, catering to both the meat lovers and pescatarians in our group. The drinks were perfectly refreshing for a warm day, and the staff were quick to keep our glasses full. We were seated in the stable, which gave us a lovely private space to enjoy. All in all, it was a wonderful day with everything we could have asked for. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for our next visit!

Grain Bar Sydney

4.7

4.7 (6)

$40 and under

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

The Rocks

About the restaurant

Grain is one of the city’s most beloved and well-stocked Whisky bars, featuring a vast selection of both single malts and blends from around the world and local to Sydney. Already 180 bottles deep, the selection is constantly growing. Grain doesn’t disappoint when it comes to dining, either. They offer everything from gourmet burgers to charcuterie to Whisky-cured salmon to stuffed cronuts and more. The Charcuterie Platter or the Smokey Meats Platter are great pairings for a whisky tasting. Just don’t forget to book a table in advance to make sure you get a seat.

Top review

Amy

Dined on 6 Sept 2024

Enjoyed the Apertivo hour here, well worth it and good value. Excellent service.

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Experience

The Summer of Gin

The Woodhouse Bar & Grill

4.8

4.8 (2701)

$41 to $100

Steakhouse

Bendigo

About the restaurant

If you’re looking for an excellent casual restaurant in Central Victoria, check out the popular Woodhouse Restaurant. It can be hard to get into, but the food here is worth it. They specialise in premium beef, grass-fed and dry-aged meats, many of them cooked on a char-grill. You can also sample pizzas cooked in the wood-fire oven and a delicious range of desserts.

Top review

Greg

Dined 2 days ago

Easy online booking process. Friendly front of house staff to greet us and show us to our table. Waitress Mackenzie, was very informative about the menu and guided us through some slight changes to suit us. The food was the best I've had.

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Popular dish

Sher Wagyu scotch fillet 9

Popular dish

OConnor Beef scotch fillet 3

Popular dish

Vanilla bean crème brûlée

Donovans

4.7

4.7 (1692)

$100 and over

Modern Australian

St Kilda

About the restaurant

Donovans ‘house on the beach’ is a lovely and laid back place to dine right on the St. Kilda beach front. It offers a memorable dining experience with a bay side view, excellent Mediterranean inspired food and a homey, casual atmosphere. Plan your visit in advance as they tend to book up most nights! The menu focuses on seasonal produce and popular charcoal dishes and the wine list features local Victorian vineyards and Australian and international wines.

Top review

Brendan

Dined 3 days ago

Donavan's is always a great place to dine, priced reasonably and always excellent food and service.

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