It’s one thing to enjoy a delicious glass of wine at a winery in South Australia, but being able to enjoy great wine AND food from one of the best winery restaurants Adelaide can offer takes it up another notch. Here are the best winery restaurants in Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, and the Barossa Valley South Australia where you can cozy up to a delicious winery lunch.
The restaurants below are wonderful at any time of year, from the blazing summer sun to the chillier winter. However they are especially cozy in the colder months (not that Adelaide gets too cold anyway) with indoor options and varied menus. From tasting menus to snack bites, you are sure to enjoy whichever of these South Australia winery restaurants.
South Australia is known for its wine regions and incredible sights like Kangaroo Island, the Flinders Ranges, and Coober Pedy. The Barossa Valley is Australia’s most award-winning wine region. What goes best with wine? It’s food and good company. Take your time, peruse the list and discover cosy restaurants for this year.
Handy food hint: If you are on a tight budget, have dinner at the restaurant, then dessert at home – or have a starter at home. Our recommendation is from the IGA catalogue where you can find the deals before you get to the store! You can try a bowl of hot Campbell’s Creamy Chicken Soup—any two for $3.50, perfect for the cooler winter nights. How about a dessert? Peters Original Vanilla Ice Cream, 2 litres for $5.50.
Winery Restaurants Barossa Valley
Here are the best Barossa Valley Winery Restaurants and how to book a meal at them.
Hentley Farm Restaurant, Barossa Valley
Location: Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley
Seppeltsfield is known for its winery dating back to the 1850s. Set amongst rolling hills and picturesque villages, the cosy stone cottage of Hentley Farm sets the tone for an exceptional dining experience.
Take the time to wine and dine at one of the best cozy winery restaurants Barossa Valley can offer. The views from the restaurant frame the surrounding landscape. The incredible surroundings match the delicious menu and echo the locally sourced and produced food. As the emphasis is on quality, be ready to settle in and be impressed by the exquisite food on offer.
The menu adapts to the season. The “Discovery Menu,” which is similar to a tasting menu, consists of a range of little surprise snacks, mains, and desserts paired with drinks ferpect for a Barossa winery lunch.
The extensive wine list is available if you wish to enjoy a bottle of Grenache. The service is excellent, and staff members are available should you have any questions.
St Hugo Winery + Restaurant
Location: Rowland Flat, Barossa Valley
Another of the most mouth-watering Barossa Valley winery restaurants is the acclaimed St Hugo. This winery not only has tastings, but an incredible small-capacity restaurant and a variety of experiences ranging from regular wine tastings to fresh garden cooking classes and rare wine tasting experiences.
The winery has plenty of historic spots to visit near the cellar door, where tours around the grounds are offered with plenty of instagrammable moments. But perhaps the most exclusive experience at St Hugo is the restaurant.
The St Hugo restaurant only seats 50 people to be sure to offer the most exclusive and personalized experience to guests. The winemaker and chef work in harmony to create the most idyllic pairings your palette could experience! Make sure to book ahead – the tour is available on Viator here!
Harvest Kitchen, Barossa Valley
Location: Vine Vale, Tanunda, Barossa Valley
While Harvest Kitchen isn’t its OWN winery, I couldn’t leave it out of the list of best Winery Restaurants in Barossa Valley because it’s a FANTASTIC restaurant and shares a property and tasting room on-site with Calabria Family wines.
After exploring the tasting room adjacent, many choose to book a meal at the popular Harvest Kitchen Restaurant. This restaurant has revolutionized group dining in the Barossa and is great for groups but also fitting for couples and friends as well.
Harvest Kitchen is perfect for a Barossa winery lunch as the views from the restaurant and outdoor deck are AMAZING, but they also open for dinner on Saturdays (or any day for big groups). This is a great winery restaurant for views and local produce as well as wine, of course!
McLaren Vale Winery Restaurants
Only 45 minutes from Adelaide, McLaren Vale is an internationally acclaimed food and wine region. Known for its dry red wines, it is home to over eighty vineyards. Here are the best McLaren Vale Winery Restaurants and how to book them!
Coriole Vineyards and Gather Restaurant
Location: Fleurieu Peninsula, Mc Laren Vale
Why not enjoy your lunch overlooking a vineyard at Coriole Vineyards and Gather Restaurant? As one of the best winery restaurants in McLaren Vale, take your time to savor your surroundings and enjoy your meal. Its fresh winter produce will be a delight for foodies.
The restaurant offers lunch tasting menus. The five or seven-course tasting menus are fantastic. They provide sensible portions that are flavorsome and paired with excellent wine—a perfect way to spend an afternoon. The food is vibrant and fresh as it is locally sourced. Although the menu changes, they offer homemade bread with fragrant herbs, calamari, and wakame kangaroo.
The Coriole Estate Garden is a beautiful space to enjoy. Wander around the gardens as much of the food is sourced from the spectacular garden or locally. The garden changes seasonally, so it is well worth a second visit. If you would like to treat a friend to this culinary experience, you can get the wine and dine vouchers to enjoy at the restaurant.
D’arenberg (d’Arry’s Verandah or The Cube)
D’Arenberg is one of the coolest and most modern Mclaren Vale wineries with food. They actually have a few different options depending on whether you would like to eat outside on the Verandah, at a more casual restaurant called Polly’s, or inside a futuristic cube full of different sensory wine experiences.
Verandah Restaurant has an extremely cozy vibe as it’s located inside an old homestead from the 19th century, and has one of the best views of all the McLaren Vale winery restaurants. Book a table here.
The Cube is actually part museum, part wine/food tasting, and part video/sensory experiences. One thing that’s for sure is that the views are amazing and it makes a fantastic photo op! It’s one of the most iconic things in McLaren Vale and worth seeing 100%.
Adelaide Hills Winery Restaurants
Adelaide Hills is a large area referring to the hills district east of Adelaide. The area is home to dozens of wineries where you can wine, dine, and enjoy… here are the best options for restaurants and winery lunches in Adelaide HIlls.
The Bridgewater Mill
Location: Bridgewater, Adelaide Hills
Bridgewater is a charming district with an English village feel. Like other towns in South Australia, you will not be disappointed with the food and wine. Starting its life as a working Mill, The Bridgewater Mill was built in 1859 by John Dunn. It houses a working waterwheel which is a town attraction.
Nowadays, the Bridgewater Mill is renowned for its excellent food and fine wines. Come and take a seat in this contemporary restaurant in a building full of character. The open fires are perfect for the cooler weather and create a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Wine and dine and take in the relaxed ambiance at one of the most unique Adelaide Hills winery restaurants.
Enjoy the impressive menu that focuses on using local or home-grown produce from the site. Their sample menu offers a main course of Roast pork belly, fennel puree, apple and chayote slaw, and chicharron… simply delicious.
Hardy’s Verandah restaurant
Location: Crafers, Adelaide Hills
A restaurant steeped in history, it was once the venue for luxurious and lavish parties that Arthur Hardy hosted for the Adelaide upper class. Since 1852, Mount Lofty House has changed with the times, and it is now Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant.
The magnificent views over the surrounding patchwork hills are cheerful on a cool winter day. The elegant yet intimate fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere, especially on colder days. Ambient lighting fills the room with the mood of luxurious memories of times gone by.
For one of the best winery dining experiences, try the Kingfish entree, followed by the melt-in-your-mouth beef. Finish with a chocolate mousse that is light and as flavorsome as the restaurant’s other menu offerings. With an extensive wine menu of over 90 pages, this is truly a great place to wine and dine at Adelaide Aills winery restaurants.
Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard
Location: Lenswood, Adelaide Hills
Only 35 minutes from Adelaide, Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard is a jewel set in the small town of Lenswood. Established in 1992, the Mt Lofty Ranges vineyard produces a range of wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay. In an area full of apple, pear, and cherry orchards, wine grapes grow well in the cool, temperate climate.
Imagine a cold and misty Sunday. You are driving around, searching for a winery lunch in Adelaide Hills. You stumble upon Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard. The restaurant has breathtaking panoramic views over the surrounding vineyards. A welcoming 360-degree central open log fire awaits you.
The menu offers plenty of wine and dine options. You can choose from leeks served with Woodside Goats’ cheddar and rye with Brussel sprouts, paired with a 2018 S&G Chardonnay. For dessert, try a citrus chiffon cake with lime, ruby red grapefruit cream and mandarin. Sip on a 2021 Late Harvest Riesling to round off your meal. It’s truly a perfect place to appreciate a crisp winter’s day.
Summary – Winery Restaurants in Adelaide Area
Truly, South Australia is a food and wine lover’s paradise. There are many wine and dine options on beautiful Adelaide winery restaurants, each with its unique character. Cozy restaurants are a great way to spend time with friends and family. Why not treat a loved one with wine and dine vouchers from the restaurants listed?! It would be the perfect gift.
Has all this talk of food and cozy restaurants made you feel like visiting South Australia? If so, venture further afield and visit Coober Pedy, known as the world’s opal capital! Here are some more articles you may like:
- Coober Pedy – an Undergroun Open Mining Town
- Yarra Valley Wineries with Accommodation
- Amazing National Parks in Australia
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