The gardens outside Horderns Restaurant resemble wildly patterned wallpaper. The dining room within Ardour Milton Park Bowral mirrors the botanical theme with soft blush tones, earthy banquettes and floral touches layered throughout the space. The menu follows the seasons, with dishes like slow-braised Cowra lamb designed for sharing. 200 Horderns Rd, Bowral; worldsapart.club

Lunch at Three Blue Ducks will help you get your bearings in Burradoo. The restaurant at Burradoo Park Farm presents the perfect tableau of the kind of rustic farmhouse setting we’ve come to expect from the brand, but with a more elevated slant. Housed within a restored farmhouse dating back to 1823, the restaurant relies heavily on the property’s own produce. Burradoo Park Farm, 6 Railway Road, Burradoo; threeblueducks.com

The duo behind Franquette Crepêrie, Julien and Romy Besnard, have lured Paris-born Guillaume Dubois (ex-Monopole) to lead the kitchen at Lucette. Expect air kissing over coffee and viennoiserie for breakfast followed by bistro classics for lunch. Stay for dinner at Lucette, where Guillaume pays homage to French cuisine and technique. Shop 17, 310-312 Bong Bong St, Bowral; lucettebistro.com.au

Ask a Moss Vale matriarch what’s good in the ‘hood and she will likely point you to Oliver’s Restaurant + Bar. From the team behind Bowral’s Harry’s on Green Lane and Plantation Café, OIiver’s runs with the ease of a European-style bistro. The kitchen works with seasonal ingredients and can be relied on for standout dishes like Snowy Mountain’s venison ragout. 490 Argyle St, Moss Vale; oliversmossvale.com

There’s a primal pull to seeing food cooked over coals at Fire Kitchen. Nothing could be more perfect in winter than enjoying the art of asado as the chefs tend to the meat smouldering over the grill. Set within Osborn House, Fire Kitchen pairs seasonal Highlands produce with expansive views over Morton National Park. Order the Argentinian-style Black Angus vacio. 96 Osborn Ave, Bundanoon; osbornhouse.com.au

Sitting on the main drag in Bowral is The Press Shop, a beloved fixture when it comes to all-day eateries. Grab a cup of Gabriel Coffee, alongside a hearty morning meal, with a menu that ranges from salmon eggs benedict to butterscotch pancakes. 5/391-397 Bong Bong St, Bowral; instagram.com/the_press_shop

Paste Australia chef Bee Satongun takes diners on a most exquisite tasting journey around Thailand in her relaxed dining room in main street Mittagong. Think Phuket-style moo hung, a rich pork dish that arrives lacquered in a sticky-sweet sauce, or a northern Thai chicken curry. Order a well-structured local white to balance the fiery flavours. 105 Main St, Mittagong; pasteaustralia.com

The new owners of the Robertson Pie Shop (est. 1961) have given the interiors a refresh with a palette of soft greys and eucalyptus greens that echo the surrounding bushland. The old-school nostalgia of a road trip is heightened when you’ve got your hands wrapped around a chicken, leek and camembert pie. An absolute highlight in the Highlands. 4400 Illawarra Hwy, Robertson; robertsonpieshop.com.au

Convince your better half to throw on a tie and tweed jacket so he looks the part when you waltz into Bistro Sociale. The terrace fills fast with ladies who like to lunch and compare notes about their latest equestrian pursuits. As night falls, it’s all white tablecloths, low light and a crackling log fire. Expect a menu that moves with the seasons but is grounded in classic French technique. 6 David St, Bowral; beridahotel.com.au

The Book Barn at Bendooley Estate is part bookshop, part lunch stop, and one of the best places to eat, drink and stay in Berrima. Browse rare titles in a light-drenched nook before settling in with a glass of local wine and something seasonal like spiced cauliflower and wood-roasted eggplant. A levelled-up cellar door and public art also await visitors at Bendooley Estate. 3020 Old Hume Hwy, Berrima; bendooleyestate.com.au

Set inside a sandstone cottage in Berrima, Eschalot has long been one of the Highlands’ most reliable dining rooms. While much of the produce is pulled straight from the kitchen garden, chef Matty Roberts also works closely with local growers. Expect a menu that transforms seasonal bounty into a bespoke menu, from crisp croquettes to slow-cooked lamb at a table in the sunlit garden or fireside. 24 Old Hume Hwy, Berrima; eschalot.com.au

Onesta Cucina is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with the extended fam. The menu changes daily, informed by what’s been plucked from local fields, forests, farms and cellars. That might mean starting with a goat’s cheese mousse with poached pear or prosciutto-wrapped chicken with Swiss browns. The family-run restaurant has been one of Bowral’s best in show for two decades. Shop 1-3/5 Boolwey St, Bowral; onestacucina.com.au

Moss Vale has levelled up with Divaa, adjacent to the old post office. The elegant Indian eatery celebrates regional cuisine from the subcontinent such as tandoori lamb cutlets, which arrive charred and smoky, masala dosas that are crisp and fragrant, and a Tamil-style fish curry layered with spice and tang. For something richer, there’s lamb korma, dal makhni and a butter chicken that holds its own. 2/249 Argyle St, Moss Vale; divaa.com.au

Chef Eilish Maloney (ex-The Ledbury in London, Saint Peter in Sydney) is at the helm at The What If Society, which serves as a community hub in Moss Vale. There’s no fixed menu so trust the chef or order a special such as battered pak choy with fermented chilli, curry sauce and a crumbed hen’s egg. This zero-waste operation has a co-op a few doors down and operates a cooking school. 443 Argyle St, Moss Vale; thewhatifsociety.com

The Polo Bar within Ardour Milton Park Bowral is perfectly placed for a catch-up with fellow equestrians. With its palette of dusky pinks and apricots, the newest addition to the Southern Highlands scene is designed for guests to take pleasure in the estate’s bucolic views. Build your own grazing board in the dedicated charcuterie space to take into the gardens, cocktail in hand. 200 Horderns Rd, Bowral; worldsapartclub