THE Hunter is home to the Good Food Guide's regional restaurant of the year.

Pokolbin's EXP., which earned its way to rarefied air after winning a second hat in July this year, claimed the prestigious award on Monday night.

It is one of just two two-hatted restaurants in the Hunter, and six in regional NSW and the ACT, but has stood out among its competitors with the latest honour.

"The business that Emma and Frank Fawkner started in 2015 has done it the long way, moving from the original site at Oakvale Wines into Pokolbin Village, adding a bakery-cafe, then going all-in on fine-dining," the Good Food Guide said in its list of winners.

"Today, the room is temple-like, but there's a sense of enjoyment radiating from the open kitchen, right from an elaborate and intricate snack course through to dishes that present simply and elegantly, but reveal layers on the palate.

"The team is just as impressive: head chef Josh Hannan is an emerging talent in the kitchen, and Isabella Stibbard-Ribeiro runs the floor and pours wine - classic and not-so-classic, from near and far - with aplomb."

Speaking to the Newcastle Herald about the second hat, Mr Fawkner said the restaurant's success had been a testament to the team he and his wife Emma now had in place.

"The team works really hard, and a second hat is one of the goals that we've had for many years," he said in July.

"We try to uphold ourselves to that standard, always, so to get the recognition for it is amazing."

Fawkner was head chef at Muse, the Hunter's other two-hatted restaurant, when it first won that honour.

Muse also retained its two-hat status this year.

In Newcastle Flotilla, Humbug and Bistro Penny all earned a hat in the latest guide.

Wine country boasted both the region's two hatters, while Bistro Molines was recognised with one hat.

The Good Food Guide honours come after several Hunter restaurants have won recognition for making their mark on the state scene in recent weeks.

In September, City of Newcastle's City Venues was named Regional NSW Caterer of the Year, while Morisset restaurant 8 at Trinity won the Regional NSW Casual Dining of the Year award at the 2025 NSW Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence.

Regional NSW awards were also handed to: