We attended the Hospitality NT Gold Plate Awards for 2026 – and Junoon Bar and Restaurant has been named Australian Liquor Marketers Restaurant of the Year!
There were multiple restuarants who won more than one award; with Junoon also named Best Steak Restaurant and Best Standalone Restaurant, Cooinda Lodge Kakadu picked up three gongs, with Mimi’s restaurant receiving Gold Plates for Best Outdoor Dining and Best Hotel Restaurant, while Barra Bar & Bistro was named Best Family Restaurant. Five Spice at Courtyard by Marriott Darwin received two Gold Plates; the Best Dessert and Best New Establishment, while Laneway received Gold Plates for Best Café Dining and Best Breakfast Restaurant. Moorish Café received Gold Plate Awards for Best International Cuisine Restaurant and Best Wine List.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
| AWARD CATEGORY | WINNER |
| Tourism NT Ministers Award for Sustainability | PepperBerry Restaurant, Hilton Darwin |
| Hostplus Service Excellence | Punit Chavda, Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs |
| Charles Darwin University Chef of the Year | Jake Horyna – The Cinema Collective |
| Simon George & Sons Outback Dining | Cooinda Lodge Kakadu – Mimi’s Restaurant |
| Tourism Top End Tourism Dining | Tali Wiru |
| LION Contemporary Restaurant | Cicada Lodge- Nitmiluk Tours |
| PFD Family Restaurant | Cooinda Lodge Kakadu – Barra Bar & Bistro |
| WIN Darwin International Cuisine Restaurant | Moorish Cafe |
| Reward Hospitality Cafe Dining | Laneway Coffee |
| Asahi Beverages Bistro Dining | Coolalinga Tavern |
| Australian Radio Network Breakfast Restaurant | Laneway Coffee |
| D Town Coffee Roasters Barista of the Year | Shimon Shimizu, Perk & Palate |
| MD Fresh Hotel Restaurant | Cooinda Lodge Kakadu – Mimi’s Restaurant |
| NT Farmers Local Produce Champion | Charlie’s of Darwin |
| Good Drinks Best Burger | Virginia Tavern |
| ThomasFoods Best Steak Restaurant | Junoon Restaurant & Bar |
| Dreamedia Best Vegetarian Dining | Saffron |
| Nestl Best Dessert | Five Spice Restaurant, at Courtyard by Marriott Darwin |
| Asian United Food Service Best Asian Restaurant | Hanuman Restaurant |
| Treasury Wine Estates Best Wine List | Moorish Cafe |
| CCEP Best Cocktail List | Willing Distillery |
| Never Never/Buffalo Trace Distillery Bartender of the Year | Annie Nguyen – Hanky Panky |
| Arafura Catering New Establishment | Five Spice Restaurant, at Courtyard by Marriott Darwin |
| NT Seafood Council Seafood Restaurant | Pink Chopstix |
| H&L POS Stand Alone Restaurant | Junoon Restaurant & Bar |
| All About Party Hire Function / Event Caterer | Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs |
| Australian Liquor Marketers Restaurant of the Year | Junoon Restaurant & Bar |