Eat & Drink
Paddock-to-plate dining and village cafes
The best eat & drink in Mount Barker
From German bakeries in Hahndorf to acclaimed regional restaurants and roadside produce stalls, the Hills serves up some of South Australia's best paddock-to-plate eating.
Read our guide to eat & drink ↓Browse eat & drink by area
Adelaide Hills Farmers Market $
View →Saturday-morning regional produce market
A long-running Saturday farmers market in Mount Barker, gathering Hills growers, bakers, makers and coffee in one bustling weekly meeting.
Howard Vineyard $$
View →A family cellar door and kitchen set among towering gums, big lawns and estate-grown wines near Nairne.
Longview Vineyard
View →Hilltop cellar door and Italian-leaning wines near Macclesfield
A family-owned hilltop estate near Macclesfield in the southern Adelaide Hills, with a popular cellar door, accommodation and wines spanning Italian varieties, shiraz and riesling.
Mismatch Brewing Co $$
View →Hills craft beer at the Adelaide Hills Distillery precinct
A craft brewery at the LOT.100 producer hub in Hay Valley, near Nairne, pouring ales and lagers beside 78 Degrees gin and Hills cider.
Nairne Free
View →A historic main-street village east of Mount Barker
One of the oldest inland towns in South Australia, Nairne has a handsome heritage main street and an unhurried country feel. The Chapman's smallgoods factory was a major employer here from 1899 until it closed in 2002.
Ngeringa
View →Pioneering biodynamic wines from the Mount Barker hills
Pioneering biodynamic wines from the Mount Barker hills
Prancing Pony Brewery $$
View →Award-winning craft beer with a big taproom
A multi-award-winning independent brewery near Mount Barker with a spacious taproom, beer garden and full food menu built around its core and seasonal beers.
The Hills Cider Company $$
View →Apple and pear cider pressed in the heart of orchard country
A Hills cidery at the LOT.100 producer hub in Hay Valley, near Nairne, pouring apple and pear ciders with a restaurant and lawns on site.
About eat & drink in Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills eats well at every level, from a flaky pretzel grabbed on the run to a long, garden-driven lunch. The region's deep larder of orchards, dairies and market gardens feeds a food culture that punches far above the size of its villages. In Hahndorf the German heritage runs through bakeries, beer halls and smallgoods, while produce-led kitchens around Summertown and Uraidla build short, seasonal menus from what's growing over the fence.
Village pubs are a regional institution. Restored coaching inns like the Crafers Hotel and grand old hotels in Stirling pour Hills beer and wine alongside proper pub food, while the revived Uraidla Hotel does the same high on the ridge.
Mornings belong to the bakeries and cafes - sourdough, strudel and excellent coffee - and weekends bring farmers markets and cellar-door kitchens into the mix. Wherever you stop, you're rarely more than a short drive from the next good meal.
Eat & Drink in Adelaide Hills - frequently asked questions
What is the Adelaide Hills known for when it comes to food and drink?
The Hills is celebrated for paddock-to-plate dining built on its orchards, dairies and market gardens, paired with cool-climate wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The historic German village of Hahndorf is a drawcard for its bakeries, smallgoods and beer halls, while spots such as Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard show off the region's garden-driven, regional restaurant scene.
Where should I go to eat and drink in Hahndorf?
Hahndorf's bustling main street is lined with German bakeries, smallgoods outlets, pubs and cafes, where you can pick up traditional treats like pretzels, strudel and bienenstich. It is an easy place to wander on foot, and just outside town you can book a tasting at cellar doors such as The Lane Vineyard and Hahndorf Hill Winery. For cider, The Hills Cider Company is about 20 minutes' drive away at Hay Valley.
How many wineries and cellar doors are in the Adelaide Hills?
The Adelaide Hills has more than 50 cellar doors spread across its villages and valleys, making it one of South Australia's most concentrated cool-climate wine regions. Popular stops we list include Howard Vineyard, Pike & Joyce, Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard and The Lane Vineyard, many of which also serve food alongside tastings.
Do I need to book ahead for Adelaide Hills restaurants and cellar doors?
For sit-down lunches at acclaimed venues or a long lunch at a vineyard restaurant, booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially on weekends and over summer. Casual cafes, bakeries and many cellar door tastings are more walk-in friendly, though it is always worth checking opening days as some smaller producers open only Thursday to Sunday.
When is the best time to visit for fresh local produce?
The Adelaide Hills Farmers Market runs on Saturday mornings in Mount Barker, with stalls of seasonal fruit, vegetables, baked goods, honey and more from local growers. For pick-your-own strawberries, head to Beerenberg Farm at Hahndorf during the warmer months, roughly November to April, and look out for roadside produce stalls dotted along the Hills roads in season.