Best Seafood Restaurants in Australia 2026: Sydney to Perth

Q: What city has the best seafood in Australia?

Sydney is the safest first-timer answer for range and oysters. Perth is a sleeper hit for West Coast shellfish. Melbourne wins for serious kitchen-led fish rooms.

Q: What should I order once?

Sydney: oysters + grilled fish. Perth: crayfish or premium shellfish when in season.

If you searched best seafood restaurants in Australia, you want more than “try the harbour.” This guide maps Australia’s strongest seafood cities, names rated restaurants from our directory, and tells you what to order — from Sydney oysters to Perth crayfish energy.

Browse all listings on [fish restaurants in Australia](/fish-restaurants/australia), then open city hubs for [Sydney](/fish-restaurants/australia/sydney), [Melbourne](/fish-restaurants/australia/melbourne), [Perth](/fish-restaurants/australia/perth), [Brisbane](/fish-restaurants/australia/brisbane), and [Gold Coast](/fish-restaurants/australia/gold-coast). Deeper Sydney reading: our [Sydney seafood guide](/blog/2026-07-26-sydney-fish-restaurants-seafood-guide).

Best seafood Australia — quick map

| City | Order this | Start here | | --- | --- | --- | | Sydney | Oysters, grilled fish, harbour seafood | Sydney directory | | Melbourne | Seafood grills, modern fish rooms | Melbourne directory | | Perth | Western Australian shellfish & cray energy | Perth directory | | Brisbane | Warm-water seafood, modern dining | Brisbane directory | | Gold Coast | Casual seafood + holiday dining | Gold Coast directory |

Sydney — Australia’s seafood capital for visitors

Sydney combines Pacific produce, oyster culture, and waterfront rooms. Standouts from our directory include:

[Elements Bar and Grill Walsh Bay](/fish-restaurants/australia/sydney/elements-bar-and-grill-walsh-bay) · 4.8 — waterfront grill energy
[Elements Bar and Grill Pyrmont](/fish-restaurants/australia/sydney/elements-bar-and-grill-pyrmont) · 4.7 — strong review volume
[CATALINA Restaurant](/fish-restaurants/australia/sydney/catalina-restaurant) · 4.7 — classic Sydney seafood dining statement

Order: oysters, grilled local fish, prawns when sparkling fresh. Skip limp tourist fish-and-chip traps near the busiest postcard corners unless ratings back them up.

Melbourne — serious fish without the harbour postcard

Melbourne’s seafood scene is less “harbour cliché,” more kitchen-led:

[Fishpot](/fish-restaurants/australia/melbourne/fishpot) · 4.9
[The Roe Australia](/fish-restaurants/australia/melbourne/the-roe-australia) · 4.8

Order: seafood platters done with restraint, grilled fish, and whatever the kitchen flags as freshest.

Perth — West Coast shellfish power

Perth punches above its tourist profile for seafood lovers:

[Kickin'Inn Perth CBD](/fish-restaurants/australia/perth/kickin-inn-perth-cbd) · 4.8 (huge review volume)
[The Cray Seafood & Grill Restaurant Currambine](/fish-restaurants/australia/perth/the-cray-seafood-grill-restaurant-currambine) · 4.8
[Blue Manna Bistro](/fish-restaurants/australia/perth/blue-manna-bistro) · 4.8

Order: crayfish when available, grilled fish, and Western Australian shellfish.

Brisbane & Gold Coast

Useful if your trip is Queensland-focused. Brisbane brings city dining; Gold Coast brings holiday seafood energy. Always filter for seafood identity, not just Asian or grill menus that happen to list a fish dish — then verify on the city pages above.

How to choose the best seafood restaurant in Australia

Name the species and origin when you can
Busy lunch service beats empty waterfront rooms
Confirm lobster/cray price before ordering
Use [Australia on FishRestaurants.com](/fish-restaurants/australia) for rated shortlists

Cook the coastal mood at home with our [pan-seared salmon recipe](/recipes/new-england-pan-seared-salmon) or explore species in the [fish guide](/fish-guide).

FAQ

What city has the best seafood in Australia?

Sydney is the safest first-timer answer for range and oysters. Perth is a sleeper hit for West Coast shellfish. Melbourne wins for serious kitchen-led fish rooms.

What should I order once?

Sydney: oysters + grilled fish. Perth: crayfish or premium shellfish when in season.

Plan your next meal

Explore [seafood restaurants in Australia](/fish-restaurants/australia), compare with [best seafood USA](/blog/2026-08-01-best-seafood-restaurants-usa) and [London picks](/blog/2026-08-01-best-seafood-london-restaurants-reviewed), or return to the [worldwide directory](/fish-restaurants).