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.
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1
Penwortham
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.
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2
AuburnTerroir Auburn
A celebrated French-inflected restaurant set in a heritage stone building at Auburn. Expect refined, produce-led plates and thoughtful regional wine pairings - one of the valley's standout dining rooms.
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3
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.
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4
SevenhillEldredge 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.
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5
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.
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6
ClareSeed Winehouse & Kitchen
A contemporary wine bar and kitchen on Clare's main street showcasing local producers. It is the spot for share plates and a glass of Clare Valley Riesling without leaving town.
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7Clare
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.
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8
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.
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9
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.
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10
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.
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11
PenworthamBush 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.
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12
WatervaleThe Watervale Store
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.
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13
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.
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14Sevenhill
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.
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15
WatervaleWatervale 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.
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16
BurraBurra 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.
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