David Jones' flagship food hall in Sydney, Australia, is the country's only entry in our finest stores list. Affectionately known as DJ's, the 37-strong department store chain, founded in 1838, has seven food halls that have taken on iconic status. Emulating UK food halls such as Harrods and Marks and Spencer, it has delicatessens stocked with German, Italian, French and English small goods, a bakery that offers 250 different sorts of bread and a meals-to-go counter the company claims "stretches from here to eternity".

Wheels of cheese can be found stacked four or five high, oyster bars, juice bars, noodle bars and espresso bars tempt, and a special hamper service allows you to send celebratory hampers anywhere in the world.

Its seafood counter is brimming with the freshest prawns and its cheese and antipasto bar has a seasonal cheeseboard and olives of every persuasion. In its wine and spirits department it has a cellarman with a unique depth of knowledge about wine.

"David Jones is a highlight of any shopping trip," says a company spokesman. "It has the freshest produce from Australia's top providores and gourmet foods imported from around the world."



Location: Sydney, Australia

Established: 1838

No of Stores: 7 food halls within 37 department stores

Fact: Claims to be the world's oldest department store still trading under its original name