Izy.Aki & Arrana Take Top Restaurant Honours 2026 Hostplus Awards for Excellence NSW Winners Announced
/Izy.Aki and Arrana take top honours at the 2026 Hostplus Awards for Excellence, as Restaurant & Catering Australia celebrates NSW's best restaurants, cafes and caterers ahead of October's National Gala.
Sydney, Australia: More than 300 distinguished guests, restauranteurs and hospitality heavyweights took centre stage last night at Doltone House, Darling Island for the 2026 Hostplus Awards for Excellence, a celebration of outstanding restaurants, cafes, and caterers from across NSW.
Throughout the evening, host Jane de Graff announced the winners in over 50 categories spanning Metropolitan and Regional NSW; including Restaurant of the Year, Casual Dining of the Year and Caterer of the Year.
Among the Major Category Award Winners on the night were Paddington’s Izy.Aki Restaurant, who took home the Restaurant of the Year (Sponsored by Hostplus) and Japanese Restaurant of the Year (Sponsored by Coopers). While Restaurant of the Year, Regional (Sponsored by Hostplus) went to Arrana, Springwood.
Each category is assessed by a team of independent judges who vigorously review all aspects of operations, from the kitchen to the table and beyond.
R&CA National President John Hart, OAM acknowledged that the Awards demonstrate the excellence and diversity of the hospitality industry across the State of NSW.
“NSW is home to some of Australia’s most passionate and dedicated hospitality operators. It showed at the Awards last night, from Pokolbin to Paddington and Tumbarumba to Thirroul the Hostplus Award for Excellence are Australia’s hospitality industry Awards – these Awards are a well-deserved recognition of our restaurant, café and catering operators.”
NSW Major Award Winners
Caterer of the Year, Regional NSW (Sponsored by American Express) Esca, Bimbadgen, Pokolbin
Caterer of the Year, Sydney (Sponsored by American Express) Laissez-Faire Catering, The Calyx, Sydney
Casual Dining of the Year, Regional NSW (Sponsored by Hostplus) Birchwood Jindabyne, Jindabyne
Casual Dining of the Year, Sydney (Sponsored by Hostplus) Chiosco by Ormeggio, Mosman
Award Highlights, Sydney
New Restaurant (Sponsored by Twin Social) MAGMA by Dany Karam - Cabravale Club Resort, Canley Vale
Restaurant in a Pub/Club (Sponsored by Coopers) The Wine Room - Balgowlah RSL, Seaforth
Italian Restaurant (Sponsored by Gallagher) The Restaurant Pendolino, Sydney
Tourism Restaurant (Sponsored by Destination NSW) Luna Lu, The Rocks
Café Dining (Sponsored by Knorr Professional) Forum Restaurant, University of Sydney, Camperdown
Award Highlights, Regional NSW
New Restaurant (Sponsored by Unox) Papalote Mexican, Newcastle
Restaurant in a Pub/Club (Sponsored by Coopers) The Bolt Inn, Uralla
Asian Restaurant (Sponsored by Primo Foodservice) Nagisa Japanese Restaurant, Newcastle
Tourism Restaurant (Sponsored by Destination NSW) Potager – A kitchen Garden, Carool
Café Dining (Sponsored by Knorr Professional) Birchwood Jindabyne, Jindabyne
“NSW is home to some of Australia’s most passionate and dedicated hospitality operators”
The Hostplus Awards for Excellence is the restaurant and catering industry’s most prestigious national awards program, celebrating the industry operators and professionals across every state and territory of Australia.
The 2026 awards will culminate with a National Gala ceremony, at Doltone House in Sydney, on October 26, 2026.
2026 Hostplus Awards for Excellence host Jane de Graff
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