Sitting just outside of Milton’s town centre, Milk Haus is a charming garden-to-plate restaurant where ingredients from your dish are grown just steps away from the dining room. You can wander the kitchen garden where seasonal greens and veggies are grown. Not only is the garden a source of inspiration for the restaurant’s seasonal menu, but it’s also perfectly manicured and truly picture-perfect. Make sure you snap a photo for the ‘gram. When it comes to the food, head chef and co-owner, Nat Taylor, is a true master of creating dishes that feel homely, but elevated. One of Milkhaus’ signature dishes is the seasonal galette and it’s a must. For spring, the buttery, flakey pastry holds together a rich mixture of asparagus, ricotta, manchego and parmesan cheese that is drizzled with a fresh housemade salsa verde. milkhaus.com.au

Bar Yuki is for the night owls. Inspired by downtown Tokyo, the pocket-sized bar serves up delicious Japanese inspired snacks – think edamame dressed in kanzuri and lemon, Ebi Katsu Korokke (prawn croquette, curry ketchup mayo and sesame) and Hiyayakko (chilled tofu, sesame sauce, chilli crisp, tempura crisp) – as well as casual mains like fish sando, chicken karaage, and our personal favourite the Yuki Mac. The signature burger consists of a local angus smash patty paired with iceberg lettuce, yum-yum sauce, onion and pickles. Don’t skip the drinks menu. There’s a Yuzu Margarita and Sakura Old Fashioned, which will pair perfectly with any dish on the menu. The small bar is open till late Wednesday through Saturday so stay for a night cap as local singers and DJs keep the good vibes going. bar-yuki.com

Head to Milton Hotel and order something from the menu under ‘from the fire’. Some of the finest local produce is cooked in a woodfired oven, which you can see (and feel the warmth of) from the dining room. The wagyu beef short rib with wombok slaw and sesame crumb and wood fired prawns with curry butter, tamarind and lime are standouts. It’s also home to award-winning food and craft beers, Dangerous Ales, which are brewed on-site. themiltonhotel.com

Just 10 minutes out of town, in Mollymook, is Bannisters by the Sea where you’ll find Rick Stein at Mollymook, an iconic dining venue that is best for sampling the best the region has to offer from the sea. In winter you can’t look past the Bannisters Fish Pie – pieces of local fish, scallop, prawns and mushrooms are stewed in a creamy fish veloute sauce. The resort is just as impressive as the restaurant. Depending on the season you can watch whales breach from the deck of the infinity pool which overlooks the ocean. The resort has been at the pinnacle of seaside luxury for more than 20 years and still lives up to its reputation. bannisters.com.au

You’ll want to set aside a couple of hours, minimum, for Cupitts. The family-run winery and restaurant is located just minutes from Milton. The property has been in the family since 2003 and has evolved from a vineyard to a winery with a restaurant, wine garden and luxury accommodation. The venue feels like it could be picked up and plonked in Southern France and it would blend in nicely, which isn’t by chance. Rosie, the matriarch of the Cupitt family, used to run tours around the south of France and was inspired by the vineyards and wineries, which influenced a lot of the design of Cupitts in the early years. Today, that extends to the wines produced. Cupitts makes everything from Vermentino, to Fiano, to Sangiovese and Arneis, on top of classic Aussie varietals like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Settle in for a long lunch in The Dining Room, or pop in for a casual drink and snack in The Wine Garden. If you’re visiting with tots in town you’re best to opt for the later option. The wine garden is set atop a grassy hill and looks out onto the vineyard. Kids can expend their energy running up and down the hill while you sit back with a glass of vino in hand. Wine lovers should make a beeline for the cellar door and book in a wine tasting experienc. cupittsestate.com.au

Located on the main street of Milton, Pilgrims Cafe is a popular brunch spot all year round. The vegetarian cafe is famed for its pies and juices. The curry lentil pie and spinach pie are the most popular. Sit in or simply take away as you pass through town on the way to or from the beach. pilgrimsmilton.com.au

In the heart of Milton sits Small Town Provisions. A shop that is packed with delicious wine and snack foods that are sourced locally and abroad. If you’re feeling peckish but not in the mood for a big meal, this is the place for you. All produce here is hand-picked from the team behind the shop. Small plates include delicious items like pastrami bagels with sauerkraut, oysters with kombu and yuzu hot sauce, anchovy nduja and lardo toast and more unforgettable bites. smalltownprovisions.com.au

You’ll feel like a kid in a candy store at Woodstock Chocolate Co. The chocolatier handmakes Belgian chocolates using the finest ingredients, like mint, chilli, honey and nuts to produce a wide range of delicious morsels. You can’t leave without grabbing yourself or a loved one a Chocolate Cow, which comes in three flavours: milk chocolate Hereford, white chocolate Friesian, Belted Galloway or dark chocolate Black Angus. woodstockchocolateco.com