Conveniently close to Adelaide proper, you’ll find a South Australian region awash with its own burgeoning food and wine scene. Let our guide to the Adelaide Hills showcase where to eat, drink, play, and stay while you’re in this verdant district, within a hop, skip, and a jump (or just 30 minutes) from the CBD. Here are 20 of the best places to eat, drink and stay in Adelaide Hills.
This collective of South Australian craft food and drink producers belongs on any guide to the Adelaide Hills. Grab a bite of Italian-inspired fare at The Long lunch, keep it casual in the courtyard, or drink at the cellar door where Hills Cider Co, Mixmatch Brewing Co, 78 Degrees Gin, and Ashton Valley Fresh take up residence. lot100.com.au
A modern pub housed in a traditional setting, Stanley Bridge Tavern is a local favourite for good reason. Drop by 7 days a week for lunch or dinner in the ample beer garden out back which nudges a creek (and is dog-friendly), or grab and go with a visit to the bottle shop stocked with small, local producers. stanleybridge.com.au
You’ll find Ondeen nestled on a five-acre property, overlooking a small lake. There’s a distillery, restaurant and wine room onsite, all of which embrace a farm-to-table ethos. Guests will not just get a taste of the very best Adelaide Hills has to offer, they’ll also get a chance to connect with the growing and making aspects of the distillery, restaurant and wine room. ondeen.com.au
At the gateway to the Adelaide Hills sits The Scenic Hotel. A 1869 build now manned by a young (but experienced) hospitality crew, the venue doles out plates of reinvented pub grub like roo schnitzel, alongside plenty of locally sourced vino. thescenichotel.com.au
The Adelaide Hills is no stranger to a decent pub. The Uraidla is another worthy of your attention, It’s not just outstanding lunch that you can grab here (thanks to a focus on local produce) but equally delightful beers and baked goods; it’s a pub, bakery, and brewery in one. uraidlahotel.com.au
If the idea of a 1950s-esque diner grabs your attention then you’ll need to pay a visit to Dirty Doris while you’re in the Adelaide Hills. The retro-focused venture focuses on coffee, cocktails and American-style classics like burgers and pancakes. dirtydoris.com.au
All-day breakfast is the star attraction at FRED, another well-deserving inclusion to any guide to the Adelaide Hills. Part-cafe, part-homewares boutique, this slick space is devoted to brunch dishes and sweet treats, and serves its own house blend coffee. instagram.com/fred_at_aldgate
Quaint coffee shop Cherry Bomb is as cosy as they come; picture a cluster of tables and chairs nudging an open fireplace and a library. But this place doesn’t just deliver aesthetically – expect outstanding coffee served alongside breakfast favourites. instagram.com/cherry_bomb_cafe_ashton
Vineyards and fine diners go hand-in-hand, and the Adelaide Hills is no exception. The resident eatery at Penfold’s Magill Estate is one of the best, with a duo of refined degustation menus focused around both creativity and the season’s bounty. magillestaterestaurant.com
Any guide to the Adelaide Hills should mention the Bird in Hand Winery. The celebrated vineyard (and adjoining restaurant) remains family-owned and demands a visit not just for its drinks, but pristine grounds scattered with artwork. birdinhand.com.au
Nudging historic Macclesfield is this idyllic family-run vineyard which combines its vines with a cellar door, day spa and 4.5 star accommodation. Flights are available to try with Italian-inspired snacks indoors, or take it al fresco with the picnic experience on hand. longviewvineyard.com.au
Sheltered by eucalypts, Sidewood is another family-owned vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. Housed in the former apple shed, the cellar door plays host to the vineyard’s 3 wine ranges (Mappinga, Signature, and Estate) as well as its sustainably focused cider. sidewood.com.au
After losing their original venue to bushfire in 2019, James and Annabelle Tilbrook welcomed the reimagined (and eco-conscious) Tilbrook Estate Cellar Door in 2021. Visit the Danish-inspired space Friday through Sunday to taste their wares, accompanied by stone-cooked pizza. tilbrookestate.com.au
The celebrated wine brand of cousins Michael Hill-Smith and Martin Shaw is renowned for its cooler climate wines (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay among them). Get better acquainted with a flight tasting (or two) at the on-site Balhannah Tasting Room, which also offers a behind-the-scenes vineyard tour. shawandsmith.com
Applewood Distillery, Gumeracha Gin fans should pay a visit to Applewood headquarters in the Adelaide Hills. The drinks-focused Ochre Nation Bar houses the complete collection of the brand’s gin, as well as sister wine brand Unico Zelo’s creations. Bookings are recommended. applewooddistillery.com.au
