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17 of the Best Restaurants & Dining Experiences in the Northern Territory
Written by Finn
From once-in-a-lifetime starlit feasts to game-changing South Asian cuisine – the Northern Territory’s abundant sights are served with a side of flavour.
There’s no doubt about it: the Northern Territory is spectacular. And what better way to experience this unsurpassed wonderland of rugged terrain and swoon-worthy night skies than over a hearty meal?
From contemporary seafood to the gastronomic traditions of the oldest living cultures in the world, the territory’s countless culinary offerings are experiences in their own right. Unveil the jaw-dropping grandeur of Uluru with an exclusive starlit feast, embrace Kakadu National Park’s abundant beauty with locally foraged native ingredients, or tap into Darwin’s foodie scene at the acclaimed Hanuman.
There’s something for everyone with our list of the Northern Territory’s best dining experiences.
Discover the Northern Territory
Best restaurants in Darwin
Hanuman
From acclaimed chef Jimmy Shu, Hanuman is Darwin’s celebrated flagship for contemporary Asian cuisine. A beloved dining destination since 1992, it offers spice-laden Southeast Asian flavours across an extensive menu. From the full flavour of South Indian goat curry to fresh NT barramundi fillets cooked in turmeric and coconut, moreish Bombay pakoras with mint and yoghurt sauce to pandan leaf chicken with palm sugar dipping sauce, Hanuman’s mission is to strike the perfect balance between authenticity and forward-thinking use of fresh local ingredients. Dine a la carte or reserve your table for a Hanuman Banquet, finishing with a caramelised custard-topped black rice brûlée.
Pee Wee’s at The Point
With its blend of prestige and approachability, Pee Wee’s at The Point has well and truly earned its reputation as one of the Northern Territory’s best (and most consistent) restaurants. Dedicated to showcasing Top End produce, it combines the scenic Darwin landscape with distinctly Australian flavours in a prime spot at East Point Nature Reserve. Sample house-made traditional white cob with wattleseed balsamic, saltbush butter and dukkah, tamarind-glazed Skull Island tiger prawns with coconut rice and rosella bavarois with pistachio dacquoise and sweetened with brown sugar crumble. Pair your chosen dishes with an award-winning selection of wines, including house blends by South Australia’s O’Leary Walker Wines.
PepperBerry, Hilton Darwin
If you’re ready to delve into the invigorating world of Australian bush spices, the chef-hatted PepperBerry at Hilton Darwin is your first port of call. Get adventurous with miso tempura crocodile, served with piquant mango and green chilli sauce, or opt for the classics with a baked Humpty Doo barramundi with seasonal greens and rich basil oil. Whether its squid ink seafood risotto or quandong- and star anise-spiced kangaroo fillet, this is modern Australian at its best.
Ella by Minoli
Named for the verdant hill country of Sri Lanka, the chef-hatted Ella by Minoli pushes culinary boundaries. Taking inspiration from her Sri Lankan heritage and modern techniques honed internationally, chef Minoli demonstrates a deep respect for the fragrant flavours of Sri Lanka, from the Ayurvedic to the aromatic and beyond. From finger lime- and curry leaf-cured snapper to sweet-and-sour kiwifruit with turmeric coconut sauce, this is a journey through the kaleidoscopic flavours of the country.
Wharf One Food & Wine
Gracing the Darwin waterfront for nearly a decade, Wharf One Food & Wine has become a much-loved local establishment, offering wood-grilled dining overlooking the harbour. Dine on rice wine-pickled scallops with ponzu glaze, swordfish steak with sticky tamarind caramel, or woodfired Northern Territory pumpkin with soy ricotta, grape jam and pomegranate – all made to order in an open-air kitchen, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
il Piatto, Mindil Beach Casino Resort
Promising traditional flavour with unbeatable Arafura Sea views, il Piatto at Mindil Beach Casino Resort is Darwin’s premier destination for Italian cuisine. Its open kitchen features a pizza oven ready to fire your dough to order. Dishes capture Italy’s diverse culinary heritage, from wild mushroom and asiago arancini to carrot gnocchi with walnut pesto and creamy gorgonzola sauce, or spicy salami and mozzarella calzone. Follow your Mediterranean main with an affogato or the sweet temptation of the house tiramisu.
Best restaurants in Alice Springs and Uluru
Sounds of Silence, Uluru
For over 30 years, Sounds of Silence at Ayers Rock Resort has served up a starlit flavour sensation for guests visiting Uluru. Surrounded by red dunes, diners arrive to the sound of a didgeridoo performance before sitting for a three-course, bush tucker-inspired buffet under a blanket of infinite stars, with a guided viewing of the southern skies. With dishes such as roasted tomato and native thyme soup, braised crocodile, pepperberry roasted cauliflower and desert lime cheesecake, this is a menu you won’t soon forget.
Hanuman, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs
Just because you’re not in Darwin doesn’t mean you should miss out on the Hanuman fun. At Hanuman Alice Springs, in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, you can savour all the Thai and Indian-inspired flavours for which chef Jimmy Shu is renowned. Start with trumpet mushrooms topped with pork, crab and spiced coconut cream, then embrace the aromatics of a slow-cooked lamb rogan josh with cinnamon, clove and garam masala. Round out the evening with fresh banana spring rolls, finished with caramel sauce.
Tali, Lasseters Hotel Casino in Alice Springs
Combining modern Australian and contemporary Asian culinary influences, Tali at Lasseters Hotel Casino in Alice Springs serves up some of the finest dining in central Australia from its open-plan kitchen. Greet the day with spiced shakshuka eggs with sourdough or head in for dinner dishes like crispy chicken cassoulet or deep-fried soft-shell crab with crispy garlic and chilli. Toast the sunset over the Red Centre with a glass from Tali’s extensive range of local wines and soak up the serenity of the country’s vast red sands.
Saltbush, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs
Offering bush-inspired cuisine crafted with fresh seasonal produce sourced locally, Saltbush is a contemporary restaurant with a warm sensibility at its core – an ethos apparent in both the venue and the menu. It’s open for buffet breakfast, but it really comes into its own over lunch and dinner: order the baked whole Northern Territory baby barramundi or crusted lamb rack for a filling finish to a day of sightseeing.
Tali Wiru, Uluru
Awarded two chef hats in the Australian Good Food Guide for 2024, Tali Wiru is the Northern Territory’s most prestigious restaurant – and its only hatted establishment. Though the desert stretches open between your table and Uluru, the most unforgettable part of this dining experience is actually the intimate taste of the land’s very best native ingredients. Victorian chestnut and celeriac velouté, wild Moreton Bay bug and wild forest mushroom risotto are highlights of this four-course dinner, paired perfectly with premium Australian wines beneath a sparkling ceiling of stars.
Ilkari Restaurant, Sails in the Desert, Uluru
Borrowing its name from the local Pitjantjatjara word for ‘sky’, Ilkari Restaurant prides itself on its Indigenous flavours and quality ingredients that reflect the best of the country’s produce. Arrive for breakfast and enjoy a personalised experience with flaky pastries, steamy Asian soups and a live egg- and pancake-cooking station where you call the shots on what to add. Dinner promises a bountiful buffet of contemporary dishes brought to life with native herbs and spices, veggies and seafood.
Best off-the-beaten-track dining
Kakadu Dird Full Moon Feast
In the jaw-dropping expanse of Kakadu National Park, the village-style Cooinda Lodge offers not only one of the best locations from which to explore this 65,000-year-old cultural landscape, but unique dining to match. Partaking in the special Kakadu Dird Full Moon Feast offers an unparalleled taste of Indigenous culinary craft, with dishes prepared by your local Murumburr family hosts. Using locally foraged ingredients, this resplendent four-course Bininj menu captures the locality’s seasonal best, paired with refreshing native, non-alcoholic cocktails, engaging storytelling and beautiful traditional music.
Bush tucker tours
Home to the world’s oldest living cultures, the Northern Territory has long provided for the savvy forager with its fascinating array of outback ingredients. Joining an organised tour into the vast outback wilderness, you’ll have an incredible opportunity to unearth the diverse flavours and learn about the skilled preparation of native bush tucker across the territory. Following an expert Aboriginal guide on an energising bushwalk, forage for seasonal treats, from bush bananas to wild watermelon and Kakadu plums, then learn about the clever medicinal uses for the park’s varied flora and fauna. From witchetty grubs to kangaroo and fresh seafood, there’s no shortage of adventurous opportunities to taste tradition, from the coast to the Red Centre.
Wildman Fishing Tours Top End
With an embarrassment of barramundi on offer in the Northern Territory, the best way to taste the local quality is to catch a wild one yourself. With Wildman’s Fishing and Feasting package, your day is dedicated to tracking down this prized fish, as well as local mud crabs, on a voyage through the waters outside of Darwin. Relax with a delicious picnic lunch and drinks to keep you going throughout the day, then jump to attention when the hunting picks up and reel in your dinner. The best part? Your catch is the star of the show when you wrap up the day with a phenomenal seafood feast at Pink Chopstix on the Darwin waterfront.
Earth Sanctuary ‘Spirit of the Outback’ dinner
At the family-owned Earth Sanctuary, food is the foundation for people to come together. In addition to its world-class astronomy tours just minutes from central Alice Springs, Earth Sanctuary also hosts the much-loved ‘Spirit of the Outback’ dinner, where you can tuck into a gourmet barbeque dinner as the sun sets over the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges. Afterwards, marvel at the majesty of the unobstructed night sky with some of the best guides in the Northern Territory. By turns educational, flavourful and picturesque, this one’s for the whole family.
Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Tour, Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
At the remote Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, the indescribable beauty of the Top End sets the backdrop for a meal to remember. On the river between the area’s ancient gorges, the three-hour Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Tour is a three-course journey into the vibrant heritage of local Jawoyn culture. Toast a glass of sparkling wine to the sunset as it paints the rock walls in glowing gold, then settle in for candlelit fine dining beneath the stars, featuring fresh local produce cooked aboard your cruiser. One of the NT’s most treasured sights, Nitmiluk is an unmissable natural wonder, and an intimate sunset cruise is your ticket to scenic splendour with delicious dining. Available from June to October.
Discover the Northern Territory
Featured image: Sails in the Desert bush-tucker experience.
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Looking for more inspiration? Check out Beyond Uluru: Your Ultimate Guide to the Northern Territory.
