Where to eat in Clare Valley
From lake-view winery restaurants to country pubs and award-winning bakeries, here is where to eat your way across the valley.
The Clare Valley feeds you as generously as it pours. Famous for Riesling, the region has quietly built a dining scene to match - paddock-to-plate pubs, restaurants tucked into heritage stone cottages, winery kitchens with long views over the vines, and village bakeries that fuel cyclists along the Riesling Trail.
How we chose
We have spread these picks across the valley's towns - Clare, Sevenhill, Penwortham, Watervale, Auburn, Mintaro and beyond - and across styles, so there is something here whether you want a white-tablecloth dinner or a pie eaten in the sun.
When to go
Cellar door restaurants and cafes are busiest at weekends and during vintage, so it pays to book ahead for the sit-down spots. The bakeries and casual eats are perfect for a mid-ride refuel or a roadside lunch between tastings. Wherever you land, expect local produce, regional wine by the glass and the easy, unhurried welcome the Clare Valley does so well.
-
1Penwortham
Skillogalee Wines
A picturesque boutique winery and much-loved restaurant tucked into the Skilly Hills near Penwortham. It is a Clare Valley classic for a long lunch among the vines, pairing estate wines with seasonal regional cooking.
See place → -
2
WatervaleWatervale Hotel
A revived 1847 country pub at Watervale with a paddock-to-plate kitchen and its own kitchen garden. It is the place to go when you want serious cooking in a relaxed, genuinely local setting.
See place → -
3Sevenhill
Eldredge Vineyards
A boutique family winery with a lake-view restaurant tucked into the hills above Sevenhill. The setting alone is worth the drive, with estate wines poured alongside a seasonal menu.
See place → -
4
MintaroReillys Wines
A heritage cellar door and restaurant inside an 1856 bluestone cottage in the slate village of Mintaro. It serves regional plates alongside the estate's wines in one of the valley's most atmospheric rooms.
See place → -
5Clare
Mr Mick Cellar Door
A relaxed Clare town cellar door and kitchen from winemaker Tim Adams, serving share plates and approachable wines. An easy, central choice for a casual bite over a tasting.
See place → -
6
AuburnRising Sun Hotel Auburn
A historic stone hotel in Auburn with a well-regarded kitchen and cosy rooms. It is a classic Clare Valley country pub for a hearty meal at the southern end of the region.
See place → -
7
MintaroMagpie & Stump Hotel
Completed in 1850 at the entrance to Mintaro, the Magpie & Stump once served the bullock drivers hauling ore. Today the heritage pub is a characterful stop for a meal in the historic slate village.
See place → -
8
SevenhillSevenhill Hotel
A friendly heritage pub in the heart of Sevenhill and a handy refuel for Riesling Trail cyclists. Expect honest pub fare and a welcoming local atmosphere.
See place → -
9Penwortham
Bush DeVine Cafe
The cafe at Paulett Wines in the Polish Hill River area, set among a celebrated native bush garden. It is a scenic spot for coffee or lunch with sweeping valley views.
See place → -
10
WatervaleWatervale General Store and Providore
A restored 1870s general store in Watervale combining a cafe, providore and local produce. Stop for a meal or stock up on regional goods on your way through.
See place → -
11
AuburnCogwebs Hub Cafe & Bike Hire
At the southern end of the Riesling Trail in Auburn, Cogwebs pairs a cafe serving locally roasted coffee with bike hire. It is the ideal launch or finish point for a day on the trail.
See place → -
12Sevenhill
The Little Red Grape Bakery
Sevenhill's much-loved bakery turns out nationally awarded pies and sausage rolls from a long-running local institution. It is the obvious choice for a quick, excellent feed on the road.
See place → -
13Watervale
Watervale Bakery
A village bakery on the Riesling Trail at Watervale, beloved for pies and pastries. A perfect mid-ride refuel for cyclists and a reliable roadside stop for everyone else.
See place → -
14Burra
Waters Burra Bakery
A welcoming country bakery in heritage Burra, fuelling visitors exploring the town's historic mining sites. A friendly stop for baked goods and coffee at the region's northern edge.
See place →
More like this
The Best Long Lunches in the Clare Valley
The long lunch is the Clare Valley's true regional specialty. These ten tables - vineyard decks, slate-village dining rooms and farm-fed pubs - do it best.
Top 10
Best things to do in Clare Valley
Our pick of the best things to do in the Clare Valley, from world-class Riesling cellar doors and the Riesling Trail to Burra's copper-mining heritage, grand manors and panoramic lookouts.
Top 10
Where to stay in Clare Valley
Our pick of the best places to stay across the Clare Valley, spanning historic homesteads, vineyard cabins, holiday parks, heritage cottages and country pubs with rooms in towns from Clare to Burra.
Guide
Cycle the Riesling Trail
The Riesling Trail follows a disused railway line for 35 km through the heart of the Clare Valley - gentle gradients, vineyard views and a cellar door every few pedal strokes. Here is how to ride it well.
Guide
A Clare Valley Cellar Door Day
You could spend a week tasting your way around the Clare Valley. With one day and a designated driver, this route hits the icons without feeling rushed - book a long lunch in the middle and let the afternoon drift.
Top 10
Top 10 Clare Valley Cellar Doors
The Clare Valley punches far above its size when it comes to wine, with a cellar door for every mood. These ten span the icons, the boutiques and the long-lunch destinations.