Don’t leave the Barossa Valley without ticking off these culinary institutions.
Despite Vintners being one of the longest-running restaurants in the region, locals claim it’s getting better every year. It’s won a host of awards over the years including, most recently the #1 People’s Choice in Delicious South Australia’s Regional 50, and is a must-visit restaurant for lunch or dinner. With a menu featuring freshly shucked oysters, scallop pie, chargrilled scotch fillet and passionfruit soufflé, Vintners nails classic, old-school hospitality while dishing up mouth-watering modern fare, so be sure to make a reservation before arriving in the Barossa.
Appellation
Located just down the road from Torbreck Vintners, Appellation puts on a modern masterclass in Australian fine dining courtesy of Executive Chef Kyle Johns and his team. Freshness is the name of the game, with the vast majority of ingredients coming from the Barossa Valley and greater South Australia to help support local farmers and growers. Salami and sausage is produced in-house, as is the sourdough bread, and they even collect and carbonate their own rainwater. Nothing is wasted and the menu depends on what’s in season, paired, of course, with a range of outstanding local wines. The restaurant is attached to The Louise, a boutique hotel that’s perfect for those looking to really indulge themselves while visiting the Barossa.
The quality food, excellent service and ever-welcoming atmosphere at 1918 has kept locals coming back again and again over the years. It's set in a 100-year-old home – think open fires once the temperature dips – and serves up dishes like steamed mussels, a huge Tomahawk steak and stuffed capscicums for the vegetarians, to name a few. Our suggestion? Book in for the Taste Experience (min. two people) and let the chefs present their five favourite dishes of the day.
Set among illustrious neighbours in the enclave of Seppeltsfield, Hentley Farm is one of only three Australian restaurants to be a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association, founded over 60 years ago in France. The restaurant was awarded Three Chef Hats in the Australian Good Food Guide 2021, thanks to the talents of Executive Chef Clare Falzon and her team. They tend the farm’s garden beds, forage for wild produce and work with local farmers and growers to create exceptional dishes that are a true taste of the Barossa.
This stunningly renovated property may date back to the 1890s but make no mistake, it’s right up there with the Barossa’s most-loved local spots. The restaurant calls Greenock home and is all about bringing people together for good food and wine, focusing on ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable dishes with a South American spin. Expect dishes like huevos rancheros and chilaquiles for breakfast, and cazuela de mariscos (seafood stew) for dinner. Friday nights are especially popular here, featuring woodfired pizzas, local wines, cocktails and a whole lot of laughs.
Harvest Kitchen is based at Calabria Family Wines and is known for serving excellent food in a relaxed setting. It was established in 2015 by Tracy Collins and Pete Little – the former making it to the Top 5 on Masterchef – and has gone from strength to strength, opening daily for lunch and on Saturday evenings for dinner. The menu features an enjoyable mish-mash of dishes including buttermilk fried chicken, chickpea hummus and flatbread, charred squid and octopus and the all-important bowl of hot chips, though there’s plenty of menu rotation happening throughout the year. Local wines and craft beers make up the drinks menu, perfect for a relaxed afternoon in the South Australian sunshine.
Think you know pizza bases? Think again, because Ember Pizza’s sourdough pizzas are on another level. This is casual, family-friendly dining with an easygoing atmosphere and a great range of local wines, and if you’re staying in Nuriootpa, it makes for a wonderful way to wind down after a day of wine tasting.
Australia’s regional bakeries are the best in the world and the Barossa is no exception. The team at Tanunda’s Apex Bakery, which was established in 1924, are the region’s original wood-fired wizards and their sausage rolls, scrolls, buns and bread are the stuff of legends. It’s been family owned and run for four generations, so if you’re looking for a pastry, look no further.
Barossa Farmers Market
The Barossa is filled with farmers and this is the iconic farmers market. It’s open every Saturday, in Angaston, running from 7.30–11.30am behind Vinters Bar and Grill. Expect a huge selection of Barossa produce including vegetables, fruit, meats, breads and cheese, as well as pastries, cakes and local specialities. The market has been running for nearly 20 years and is a wonderful opportunity to not only taste the Barossa’s best food, but also meet the people producing it.
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