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Hard-to-Get Reservations for restaurants in Australia

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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
4.7 (91)
$A101 and over
Japanese
Melbourne CBD
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
Melissa
Dined 4 days ago
Honestly can’t tell you which was my favourite dish because every single course smashed it out of the park. This was the most memorable dining experience I’ve had in a Melbourne restaurant and am looking forward to many more visits in the future.
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
Melissa
Dined 4 days ago
Honestly can’t tell you which was my favourite dish because every single course smashed it out of the park. This was the most memorable dining experience I’ve had in a Melbourne restaurant and am looking forward to many more visits in the future.
Chin Chin Melbourne
4.6 (120)
$A41 to $A100
Contemporary Asian
Melbourne CBD
There’s no getting around it - if you’re planning to dine at Chin Chin, you can count on a wait. This South-East Asian hotspot located on Flinders Lane is always packed with people. It opened in 2011 but the crowds never slow down and everyone is eager to try Benjamin Cooper’s sensational Asian Food. But the good news is you can grab a drink at the bar while you wait and the fun, dining-hall inspired atmosphere is a near-guarantee that you’ll have a fabulous time.
Top review
Brett
Dined 5 days ago
An excellent, interesting place to spend a couple of hours having a meal
There’s no getting around it - if you’re planning to dine at Chin Chin, you can count on a wait. This South-East Asian hotspot located on Flinders Lane is always packed with people. It opened in 2011 but the crowds never slow down and everyone is eager to try Benjamin Cooper’s sensational Asian Food. But the good news is you can grab a drink at the bar while you wait and the fun, dining-hall inspired atmosphere is a near-guarantee that you’ll have a fabulous time.
Top review
Brett
Dined 5 days ago
An excellent, interesting place to spend a couple of hours having a meal
Vue de monde
4.9 (2347)
$A101 and over
Modern Australian
Melbourne CBD
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
Gerry
Dined 4 days ago
Outstanding in everyway ! If you have a special occasion you can’t go wrong.
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
Gerry
Dined 4 days ago
Outstanding in everyway ! If you have a special occasion you can’t go wrong.
Chin Chin Sydney
4.6 (685)
$A41 to $A100
Contemporary Asian
Surry Hills
For some restaurants, ‘hard to get into’ means not being seated immediately and maybe having to loiter on the street for ten minutes while a slow-moving couple finishes their glass of wine. This is not the case at Chin Chin, the Melbourne to Sydney transplant that is proving to be just as much of a hit as the original. It’s not uncommon to arrive on a weeknight for dinner to find up to 100 hungry diners lined up outside in hopes of getting a table. Which is especially remarkable considering that the big, open dining room has room for over 160 people plus spillover room in the booths surrounding the GoGo bar.
Top review
Cathy
Dined 1 day ago
Food and service amazing as always - favourite Sydney venue
For some restaurants, ‘hard to get into’ means not being seated immediately and maybe having to loiter on the street for ten minutes while a slow-moving couple finishes their glass of wine. This is not the case at Chin Chin, the Melbourne to Sydney transplant that is proving to be just as much of a hit as the original. It’s not uncommon to arrive on a weeknight for dinner to find up to 100 hungry diners lined up outside in hopes of getting a table. Which is especially remarkable considering that the big, open dining room has room for over 160 people plus spillover room in the booths surrounding the GoGo bar.
Top review
Cathy
Dined 1 day ago
Food and service amazing as always - favourite Sydney venue
St Andrews Beach Brewery
4.5 (1284)
$A40 and under
Modern Australian
Fingal
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
Christopher
Dined 3 days ago
The service was excellent as was the food and the prices were reasonable too
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
Christopher
Dined 3 days ago
The service was excellent as was the food and the prices were reasonable too
Grain Bar Sydney
4.7 (8)
$A40 and under
Cocktail Bar
The Rocks
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
Sam
Dined on 31 May 2025
Great drinks venue after a nice lunch with friends and DJ x
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
Sam
Dined on 31 May 2025
Great drinks venue after a nice lunch with friends and DJ x
The Woodhouse Bar & Grill
4.8 (2866)
$A41 to $A100
Steakhouse
Bendigo
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
DannyGold
Dined 5 days ago
Fantastic as always - food was amazing and service very attentive and helpful.
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
DannyGold
Dined 5 days ago
Fantastic as always - food was amazing and service very attentive and helpful.
Donovans
4.7 (2063)
$A101 and over
Modern Australian
St Kilda
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
Gerry
Dined 3 days ago
A Perfect Evening – Highly Recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a fantastic experience at Donovan’s! Everything was absolutely perfect, from the amazing service and attentive, friendly waitstaff to the spectacular views. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the entire evening was thoroughly enjoyable. A truly memorable dining experience. We will definitely be back!
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
Gerry
Dined 3 days ago
A Perfect Evening – Highly Recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a fantastic experience at Donovan’s! Everything was absolutely perfect, from the amazing service and attentive, friendly waitstaff to the spectacular views. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the entire evening was thoroughly enjoyable. A truly memorable dining experience. We will definitely be back!
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