Yesterday
The top AFR Magazine reads of 2024
From what Rich Listers teach their kids to why Saudi Arabia is luring so many Australians, here’s a collection of some of our best-read features this year.
This Month
Hottest new places to dine around the country right now
These much-anticipated restaurants and bars have opened their doors just in time for summer.
- Necia Wilden
David Thompson’s Long Chim closure blamed on rents and poor business
The high-profile Thai restaurant is the latest major restaurant to close. It blamed high rents, but administrators says staff costs were too high.
- Campbell Kwan
- Drinks With Max Allen
- Life & Leisure
Max Allen’s 5 best chardonnays for summer drinking
The grape variety goes super well with seafood, and the quality coming out of Australia is equal to that of much pricier French whites.
- Max Allen
Hospitality empire behind Rockpool reports $288 million loss
The restaurant group, now called Pacific Hunter, grew out of celebrity chef Neil Perry’s high-profile Sydney steak restaurant.
- Primrose Riordan
Don’t want to cook? Try these 18 top restaurants for Christmas lunch
For the rest of us, it’s a day to feast with family. For chefs, it’s something different altogether.
- Updated
- Lauren Sams
These award-winning restaurants and bars are designed to take you away
At the recent Eat Drink Design awards, judges noted a refreshing shift towards “otherworldly design” in hospitality venues.
- Stephen Todd
New hands and old in $20m deal at Hugo’s Manly
Artemus Group has bought the Manly institution while also entering into a joint venture with Hugo’s Group to open more hospitality projects together.
- Campbell Kwan
Australian Open takes premium packages to another level
In January, fine dining comes to the tennis when Martin Benn and Vicki Wild serve guests in a new purpose-built pavilion called Club 1905.
- Jill Dupleix
November
How Chris Lucas came to know the secrets of the rich and powerful
One of Melbourne’s top restaurateurs, Chris Lucas, is expanding across the country, but he is keeping old-fashioned values at the heart of his operations.
- Patrick Durkin
How to make perfect barbecue ribs – no restaurant required
Duncan Welgemoed, of Adelaide’s cult diner Africola, loves the thrill of the grill.
- Jill Dupleix
Popular restaurant ordering app me&u lays off 10pc of staff
The company, which says it is the world’s biggest mobile ordering app for pubs and cafes, merged with rival Mr Yum last year. It is cutting workers in the hopes of reaching profitability.
- Paul Smith
The Australian chef bringing lamingtons and damper to New York City
Daniel Garwood started his career in Tasmania, honed his craft in Denmark and South Korea, and now calls New York home. He hasn’t forgotten his roots.
- Jill Dupleix
- Top 50 Hotlist
- Life & Leisure
10 delicious culinary adventures in 2025
Take your pick: milk a goat during a shore excursion, select from a plants-only menu, or get served “wind and weather on a plate”.
- Kirstie Clements and Jill Dupleix
Trust Los Angeles to have a crazy entertainment venue like Level 8
Once you navigate the hidden doors, it’s easy to hop from a pool deck to a Japanese restaurant to an oyster-champagne bar to a speakeasy … and more.
- Tony Davis
Meet the humble Tuscan butcher with books, plates and a sock line
If two hours in beefy reverie sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon, you’d better head to Dario Cecchini’s butcher shop in Panzano.
- John Lethlean
Snowy Mountains lodge developed by ex-Citibank exec hits the market
The luxury Nimbo Fork Lodge near Tumut, developed by fishing enthusiast and former banker Chris Fehon, is for sale. Meanwhile, the historic Waverley Estate in South Australia has sold.
- Larry Schlesinger
Has the Zinger met its match? KFC battles a new wave of chicken shops
From Lebanese chain El Jannah to Korean outfit Gami, rapidly growing players are increasingly cutting the lunch of fast food stalwarts and hurting their investors.
- Simon Evans
New CEO puzzled over why French shun Domino’s
Mark van Dyck says earning higher profit from the pizza chain’s 3800 stores will be the priority and not opening new ones, as he succeeds 22-year veteran Don Meij.
- Simon Evans
October
WiseTech soars; Inside Macquarie’s new HQ; Rockpool’s saviour?
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.