Last week, the Australian Good Food Guide announced their 2026 Chef Hat Awards – essentially the Aussie version of the Michelin Star, and awarded since 1982. The restaurants are award Chef Hats in lieu of Stars, with the highest possible rating being 20 Hats (although no establishment has been awarded this rating since the Guide’s inception).
Priding themselves on awarding Hats based on the food alone, the AGFG presents its 2026 awardees from across Australia, including 41 WA restaurants, stretching from the South West through the CBD and into the Swan Valley.
You can head online to view the entire list of awardees, including the two restaurants that received the elusive rating of 19 Hats, but for now, scroll through the list below of all the WA winners, and feel free to add a few to your bucket list.
Superlative Food & Wine: ‘Worth a special journey’
Wills Domain Winery Restaurant in Yallingup has achieved 18 Hats at the 2026 awards, which AGFG defines as internationally acclaimed, and ‘worth a special journey.’ This is the highest rating a WA restaurant received in this year’s guide, with the restaurant also receiving the ‘Reader’s Choice’ award in 2025.
Although a defining feature of the Guide is the Michelin ‘mute’ model of rating, where the exact criteria for the award isn’t standardised in an effort to encourage creativity, the Guide has recognised Wills Domain as one of the best dining experiences in the state, where artistry and first-class service go hand-in-hand. They are known for their Farmhouse Arkady lamb, eggplant, sheep’s yoghurt and zucchini.
Exceptional Quality of Cuisine: ‘Worth a detour’
Two restaurants were awarded 17 Hats in this year’s awards – Wildflower, found on the rooftop of COMO The Treasury in Perth’s iconic State Buildings, and Voyager Estate Restaurant in Margaret River, on a family-owned vineyard.
Both restaurants focus on locally grown sustainable produce, with Voyager boasting 170 years of farming heritage on the estate, and a five course seasonal tasting experience. Wildflower is known for their menu that revolves around the six Noongar seasons, utilising native ingredients for a true ‘Modern West Australian’ dining experience.
Three restaurants achieved 16 Hats:
- Leeuwin Estate Winery, Margaret River
- Hearth Restaurant, Perth CBD
- Twenty Seats, Highgate
Food Quite Out of the Ordinary: ‘Worth a stop on the way’
This tier of Hat awards was dominated by restaurants in the South West.
15 Hats were awarded to:
- Glenarty Road, Karridale
- Vasse Felix, Cowaramup
And with 14 Hats, see:
- Harry’s at Conti, Wanneroo
- The Cape Lodge Restaurant, Yallingup
- Yarri, Dunsborough
- Fleur at The Royal, Perth CBD
- de’sendent, Margaret River
A Good Restaurant in its Category: ‘Commended’
27 restaurants made this category, awarded 13 and 12 Hats – this list is a great place to start your bucket list, with Perth favourites that maybe we just haven’t got around to visiting yet!
13 hats:
- Balthazar, Perth CBD
- Uma Restaurant, Perth CBD
- Chow’s Table, Yallingup
- The Heritage Wine Bar & Restaurant, Perth CBD
- Marumo, Nedlands
- Andly Private Kitchen, West Leederville
- Amelia Park Restaurant, Wilyabrup
- Madalena’s, South Fremantle
- Gibney Cottesloe, Cottesloe
- Lotus, Mount Lawley
- Wild Swan at Mandoon Estate, Caversham
- Millbrook Winery Restaurant, Jarrahdale
12 hats:
- Garum, Perth CBD
- Souq, Leederville
- Petition, Perth CBD
- Sandalford Restaurant, Caversham
- Rockpool Bar & Grill, Burswood
- Xanadu Wines Restaurant, Margaret River
- Brown Street Grill, East Perth
- Miki’s Open Kitchen
- Si Paradiso, Highgate
- Casa Perth, Mount Hawthorn
- Indigo Oscar, Cottesloe
- Tonic + Ginger, Fremantle
- Bib & Tucker, North Fremantle
- Santini Bar & Grill, Perth CBD
- Daph’s Restaurant, Leederville
- Oscar’s in the Valley, Herne Hill
