The Entertainment Guide
The Restaurants That Have Been With Entertainment Since the Book Days
From the Entertainment Book to the app, some things never change. Discover the iconic restaurants that have been part of the Entertainment story for years - and see where you can still save today.
Today's Moment: Some Things Are Worth Keeping
If you remember the Entertainment Book, there's a good chance you remember the ritual.
The book would arrive.
You'd flick through the pages, usually with a coffee in hand, circling restaurants you wanted to try and tearing out offers when you were ready to use them.
Maybe you kept your copy in the kitchen drawer.
Maybe it lived in the glovebox.
Maybe it travelled with you on family holidays, date nights and weekends away.
And if you've been using Entertainment for a while, you might also remember some of the restaurants that seemed to appear year after year.
The names you knew.
The places you trusted.
The restaurants you recommended to friends.
Decades later, a lot has changed. The book is now an app, your offers live in your phone, and your membership can travel with you across Australia and New Zealand.
But one thing hasn't changed.
Some of the restaurants that helped make the Entertainment Book part of everyday life are still here.
And they're still helping members save.
The restaurants that stood the test of time
There is something special about a restaurant that has been around for years.
It's not necessarily the newest place in town.
It might not be the one currently filling your Instagram feed.
But it's the place someone recommends when you ask, "Where should we go for dinner?"
It's the restaurant where families have celebrated birthdays.
Where couples have returned for anniversaries.
Where colleagues have gathered after work.
Where someone ordered their favourite dish for the hundredth time.
These are the restaurants that become part of a city's story.
And some have been part of the Entertainment story for just as long.
Catalina
Rose Bay, NSW, Australia
For years, Catalina has been a favourite for its waterfront location with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour.
For more than three decades, Catalina has been a Sydney dining institution. Family-owned and operated by the McMahon family, the restaurant is celebrated for its seasonal menus, sustainably sourced seafood, acclaimed wine list and spectacular waterfront setting. It’s the kind of place that has become part of Sydney’s dining story - and continues to offer a relaxed yet refined experience.
Glass Brasserie
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Located within the iconic QVB precinct, Glass Brasserie has become a Sydney dining favourite, known for its focus on quality, consistency and exceptional service. With striking interiors, an impressive wine collection and a menu shaped by acclaimed chefs, it offers a polished dining experience in the heart of the city.
Taxi Kitchen
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Perched above Federation Square, Taxi Kitchen has long been a Melbourne favourite, offering spectacular views across the CBD, Southbank, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Yarra River. Its relaxed yet refined menu combines European and Asian influences, while the stylish setting makes it equally suited to a special occasion, pre-theatre dinner or sunset drink.
Cumulus Inc
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Since opening on Flinders Lane in 2008, Cumulus Inc. has helped shape Melbourne’s love of relaxed, all-day dining and share-plate menus. Today, it remains a bustling social hub, celebrating seasonal Victorian produce alongside an impressive selection of local and international wines.
Lenzerheide Restaurant
Hawthorn, SA, Australia
Established in 1989, Lenzerheide has become a long-standing Adelaide dining institution. Set within a beautifully restored historic residence, the award-winning restaurant combines timeless elegance with warm hospitality and fine dining, making it a memorable choice for everything from business lunches to special celebrations.
The Caledonian Hotel
North Adelaide, SA, Australia
A North Adelaide favourite, The Caledonian Hotel offers a diverse menu with a focus on fresh seafood and premium steaks. With light-filled dining overlooking the parklands, relaxed booths and an impressive wall of wine, it’s a welcoming spot for everything from a casual meal to a special occasion.
C Restaurant
Perth, WA, Australia
Perched high above Perth, C Restaurant is WA’s only revolving restaurant, offering spectacular 360-degree views of the city and beyond. With award-winning Modern Australian cuisine and an extensive wine list, it’s a memorable setting for everything from romantic dinners to special celebrations.
Sandalford Restaurant and Bar
Caversham, WA, Australia
Set among the vines in the Swan Valley, Sandalford Restaurant and Bar brings together modern Australian and contemporary Italian cuisine, showcasing the best of Western Australian produce. With hand-rolled pasta, wood-fired pizza and Sandalford wines, it’s a destination where great food and beautiful surroundings come together.
Baduzzi
North Wharf, Auckland, New Zealand
Located on Auckland’s North Wharf, Baduzzi brings a lively Mediterranean spirit to the city, with Italian-inspired dining and a serious love of meatballs. Its relaxed atmosphere, generous food and energetic evenings make it a favourite for easy-going dining with plenty of character.
Paris Butter
Herne Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
Paris Butter offers an elegant yet energetic take on modern New Zealand dining. Led by acclaimed chefs, the restaurant celebrates exceptional local produce through innovative seasonal menus, complemented by carefully selected wines and cocktails. It’s refined dining with a distinctly creative edge.
Bloody Mary's Bar Lounge Grill
Christchurch, New Zealand
More than a premium steakhouse, Bloody Mary’s offers a sophisticated dining experience centred around the best of Canterbury’s seasonal produce. With rich interiors, an impressive selection of New Zealand wines and Champagne, and knowledgeable service, it’s a destination for memorable dining and special occasions.
Chillingworth Road
Papanui Christchurch, New Zealand
A long-standing Christchurch dining destination, Chillingworth Road is known for its elegant setting, thoughtful menu and impressive selection of wines and cocktails. From the striking décor to the attention to detail on the plate, it offers a refined dining experience designed to make an occasion feel special.
Yamagen
Surfer’s Paradise, QLD
Yamagen brings a modern energy to Japanese dining in the heart of Surfers Paradise. From market-fresh sushi and sashimi to kushiyaki, Japanese share plates and chef-led Omakase, its lively izakaya experience blends traditional Japanese culinary techniques with contemporary creativity.
Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar
Broadbeach, QLD
Sofia’s brings a relaxed coastal European feel to Broadbeach, with a menu designed for sharing and enjoying with good company. From wood-fired bread and antipasto to charcoal-grilled seafood and meats, it’s all about simple, delicious food—and leaving room for dessert.
The French Table
Cleveland, QLD
The French Table offers an elegant take on modern French-inspired cuisine in Cleveland. With a focus on beautifully prepared dishes, attentive service and a refined dining atmosphere, it has built its reputation around creating memorable experiences for those who appreciate the finer things at the table.
Malt Dining
Brisbane, QLD
Set within a beautifully transformed historic building on the site of Brisbane’s first markets, Malt Dining offers an intimate dining experience spread across three levels. With its warm setting, exceptional food, considered drinks and cellar, it’s a venue where history and modern hospitality come together beautifully.
What makes a restaurant last?
Think about the restaurants you've been visiting for years.
They're rarely memorable because they're chasing the next big trend.
They're memorable because they consistently get the important things right.
The food is good.
The service feels genuine.
The atmosphere makes you want to stay a little longer.
And, most importantly, you know what you're going to get when you walk through the door.
That consistency is one of the reasons we're proud to work with restaurants that have stood the test of time.
Entertainment has always been about helping people discover great places. But discovery doesn't necessarily mean finding somewhere brand new.
Sometimes, it's rediscovering somewhere you haven't visited in years.
Sometimes it's finally trying the restaurant your friend has been recommending since 2018.
And sometimes it's returning to the place you first discovered in the pages of an Entertainment Book.
From the book to your pocket
The Entertainment Book may have disappeared from the kitchen bench, but the idea behind it hasn't changed.
Entertainment began in Australia in 1994, and over more than three decades has evolved from a physical book of offers into a digital membership accessed through the Entertainment App.
The difference today?
You don't need to remember where you put the book.
You don't need to cut out vouchers.
You don't need to plan months ahead.
Your Entertainment Membership is already in your pocket.
You can search for restaurants nearby, discover somewhere new and check your available offer before you book.
And because your membership now provides access across Australia and New Zealand, those savings can come with you when you travel, too.
Still saving after all these years
There's something quite satisfying about that.
A restaurant you may have discovered through the pages of an Entertainment Book years ago can still be part of your dining life today.
The technology changed.
The book became an app.
But the reason we keep coming back is the same.
Good restaurants are worth discovering.
Great restaurants are worth returning to.
And a great deal makes both feel even better.
So, if you've been an Entertainment Member since the book days, consider this your invitation to revisit an old favourite.
And if you've only recently discovered Entertainment, perhaps it's time to discover a few of the restaurants that have been part of the journey all along.
Still saving after all these years.
Ready to rediscover an old favourite?
Open your Entertainment App and search for your favourite long-standing restaurants - or discover somewhere new.
Your next great meal might be somewhere you've loved for years.
Or somewhere you've never tried before.
Either way, it's worth having a Membership in your pocket.
