Begin the day with breakfast or brunch at Alby + Esther’s, a charming café arrayed around a stone terrace that has been embedded in the history of the region since 1873 when it was home to a stock and station agent. Sit under the pretty awning of leaves in the courtyard to enjoy the signature locally smoked ham egg and Swiss cheese with house-made tomato relish on the side. The all-day menu extends to sandwiches, burgers and bowls. It’s a Mudgee mainstay. 61 Market St, Mudgee; albyandesthers.com.au

Sitting on the grounds of Lowe Family Wine Co, this regional institution has pirouetted away from fine dining to an altogether more relaxed offering. Lunch in the country doesn’t get more convivial than when gathered around a communal table laden with seasonal share plates drawn from the surrounding organic and biodynamic gardens. The authenticity, generosity and seasonality that owner Kim Currie is celebrated for remain woven through it all — best enjoyed with a glass or three from the estate. Tinja Lane, Mudgee; lowefamilywineco.com.au

Join the crowd fanning out along the footpath outside Althea by Zin where the smell of pies, pastries and bread fills the air. The cafe, an offshoot of zin food + wine house, is where Mudgee locals go to keep their cravings for croissants and caramel-crusted canelés at bay. Pick up some provisions like jam, chutney and relish from the cafe pantry to impress at your next picnic. 131 Church St, Mudgee; lowefamilywineco.com.au

Bare wood tables and a pergola fringed in pink azaleas give this sprawling restaurant the warm feel of a farmhouse somewhere in rural France. Owners Sophie and Nick Storey swapped Sydney for Mudgee and haven’t looked back, treating the region as an abundant larder. Simple, seasonal produce does the talking here, from lazy breakfasts through to dinner with charm by the tractorload thanks to those bucolic views. 433 Ulsan Road, Mudgee; bluewrenfarm.com

Grand stone archways, geometric lead lighting and a floor-to-ceiling mural of iconic British singer Elton John give this heritage building – a pharmacy from the 1920s until 1992 – plenty of personality. These days, the menu at Eltons Bar + Bites is not remotely prescriptive, trading in snack plates and craft beers that suit a long lazy lunch in the country. A top spot to get a feel for the pulse of Mudgee. 81 Market St, Mudgee; @eltonsmudgee

The Stein family’s wine-growing lineage dates to 1838, making Pipeclay Pumphouse a prime location for a long lunch. Set against the Robert Stein Vineyard eight kilometres north of town, the kitchen’s commitment to local, seasonal produce hasn’t changed, just the pace. Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours now drive a shared-plate menu designed for grazing. The vineyard views remain among the best in the region. Robert Stein Vineyard & Winery, Pipeclay Lane, Mudgee; pipeclaypumphouse.com.au

Food tourists might want to pick up a few souvenirs from the High Valley Mudgee Cheese Co. which is known for producing some of the region’s best artisanal cheeses. The milk used to produce the cheese is sourced from the Little Big Dairy Co. in Dubbo. allowing the small-batch cheesemakers to produce the finest quality cheeses. Get your fix of the High Valley Fetta. Or order a wheel or wedge of the Colly Blue when in season. 137 Ulan Rd, Mudgee; highvalley.com.au

Those chasing a meaningful meal in Mudgee will find it at Gigi’s Restaurant at The Clairfield, Mudgee’s new city-chic resort-style hotel. Gigi’s opens for breakfast and dinner seven days a week with a menu built around Mudgee’s bounty. Mornings are about smashed avo on sourdough and good coffee; evenings shift to generous share-style plates such as slow-roasted pork shoulder ragù. Expect warm service, regional wines and a room that is a fave with families.1 Sydney Road, Mudgee; gigismudgee.com.au

Named for his children and born from two decades in fine dining, MillBrie is chef-owner Andy Crestani’s latest chapter and a Mudgee must for brunch during an escape to the country. Trading Tuesday to Saturday from 7am to 3pm, the Market Street kitchen turns out honest, produce-driven dishes with a deft touch: think linguine with prawns, mussels and squid, or smoked trout with fennel, orange and cucumber. 89 Market St; millbrie.com.au

Licensed as a wine bar for more than a century, Roth’s remains Mudgee’s go-to for a good time. It has evolved into one of Mudgee’s most dynamic spaces with a wine bar, cellar, bottle shop and entertainment venue under one roof. More than 100 local wines are available to drink in or take home and the live music line-up demonstrates the same creative flair as the wider food and wine scene. You’ll also find craft beer, woodfired pizza and tapas on the menu; 30 Market St, Mudgee; rothswinebar.com.au

Take part in a wine tasting with Mudgee Explorer, which introduces visitors to a curated range of wines and local cheeses as part of its big day out visiting Mudgee wineries. Try everything from naturally sparkling pet nat from Edan, an LMB chardonnay, tempranillo from Manners, and shiraz from the Black label. Mudgee Explorer Tours can also arrange for some of the region’s hero wines, beers and spirits to be shipped direct to your door. mudgeeexplorertours.com.au

The dinky little Church Market is held on the first Saturday of the month. It’s filled with apple-cheeked locals wearing beanies and boots and hefting eco bags filled with seasonal produce. There are children lolling in squares of light, stallholders selling everything from goat’s milk soap to embroidered textiles, vintage glassware and olive oil with a grassy tang. You’ll also find fresh loaves of bread, cheese, salami, eggs fresh from the farm and wine. 6 Church St, Mudgee; visitmudgeeregion.com.au

Mudgee Brewing Co operates from The Woolstore, a century-old exposed brick-and-timber building in the heart of town with 16 rotating taps of beers brewed onsite. Work through the pale ale, the mid-strength or the west coast IPA before landing on the Mudgee Mud, a legendary drop first poured in 1883. Pub grub, live music and a beardie and Blundstones crowd round out this Mudgee stalwart. 4 Church St, Mudgee; mudgeebrewing.com.au

The Gilbert winemaking story stretches back to 1847, when Joseph Gilbert planted the Eden Valley’s first riesling. Five generations later, Simon Gilbert and his son Will are crafting elegant, structured wines in Mudgee from the rich clay loam of nearby Apple Tree Flat. The rosé is a great place to start. Tastings take place in The Cellar, a sandstone building with a vine-covered courtyard made for a long, lazy afternoon. 137 Ulan Road, Mudgee; gilbertfamilywines.com.au

Perched at the top of a hill with the vines falling away in every direction, Logan’s Tasting Room is one of the great cellar door settings in the region. Owner and winemaker Peter Logan continues his father Malcolm’s tradition of championing the exceptional fruit of Mudgee and Orange, with five ranges and global reach to show for it. Open seven days, 10am to 5pm, 15 kilometres from town. Bookings recommended on weekends. 1320 Castlereagh St, Mudgee; loganwines.com.au