The Best Restaurants in McLaren Vale to Add to Your Foodie Hit List

Picture this for a perfect weekend activity: rolling vineyards, lush landscapes, award-winning wineries and a tapestry of flavors that will make your dining dreams come true, all less than an hour's drive from the heart of Adelaide. Whether you're a wine connoisseur, a fussy foodie, or just seeking a charming country escape, McLaren Vale has something for you. From cosy cellar doors that serve up more than just a glass of red, to quaint bistros dishing out farm-to-table goodness, we've scoured the region to find the ultimate dining experiences.

McLaren Vale is more than just a destination; it's a feast for the senses, and we're here to guide you through it all! Gather up the girls and book in for a boozy long lunch or celebratory dinner to remember as we unveil our tried and tested pick of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale.

Heidrun Estate Cellar Door & Restaurant 

The perfect place to relax, try delicious wines, and indulge in sensational food showcasing the produce from the region has got to be newly minted Heidrun Estate. 

Surrounded by beautiful gum trees, vibrant lavender and charming green landscape, this humble cellar door and restaurant is a must for your next lunch in McLaren Vale. 

There are many little pockets to sit and enjoy the region’s heavenly backdrop. Experience a wine tasting in their big cage, pull up a picnic rug on the lawn, snuggle up by the firepit, or dine inside by the beautiful window.

From lighter fare like pork belly bites with watermelon salad, mint and cashews, duck and mushroom arancini, and tasting plates, to heartier dishes like their magnificent slow cooked lamb shoulder with hummus, pumpkin, and a tabbouleh and pistachio dukkah, you'll love every single bite you tuck into! 

67 Kays Road, McLaren Vale 

Salopian Inn

For an eclectic regional dining experience, it's hard to look past Salopian Inn, one of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale. They'll serve you up an edible story, crafted from scratch.

Settle into the bustling dining room and prepare for a feast, fuelled by seasonality and produce from the Salopian Inn's own organic kitchen garden. You're encouraged to put yourself in their hands, and partake in a $90.00 per person tasting menu. It's a showcase of their most-loved dishes from the garden, paddock and sea. 

A must-try restaurant in McLaren Vale, without doubt. 

Main Road, McLaren Vale

The Currant Shed 

Sat among the picturesque McLaren Flat, The Currant Shed offers an informed, yet informal dining experience across their six course chef’s selection menu. Originally built in the early 1900s, the structure may have modernised throughout the years, but it still holds on to its inherent charm and history.

Currant Shed's experienced team use fresh produce from the local Fleurieu Peninsula and surrounding regions of South Australia to create seasonal, visually appealing and incredibly delicious dishes. Friendly and knowledgeable staff will talk you through the varying textures and tastes on offer. 

104 Ingoldby Road, McLaren Flat

McLaren Vale Hotel

A quintessential part of the Australian culture, the local pub is a versatile venue, served as anything from a meeting point turned watering hole, dining spot, local pulse-check and function space. Nestled in the heart of the region, the McLaren Vale Hotel excels in fulfilling these diverse roles with ease. Make a booking at The Bellevue and dig in on fresh and seasonal produce-loaded dishes taking pub grub to the next level. All designed to be shared with friends, begin your feast with Kingfish sashimi, salt and pepper Sellick’s Beach squid or a hearty antipasto platter before moving on to the mighty mains. From succulent lamb shoulder and braised chicken to scotch fillet and porterhouse, this is not your average pub meal.

Be sure to follow along on socials, as the team here certainly know how to have a good time and often put together a food and wine event like no other.

208 Main Road, McLaren Vale

Star of Greece

Though the name would have you believe it to be true, the Star of Greece is not actually a Greek restaurant, though it is Mediterranean inspired! The Port Willunga favourite started out as a humble little kiosk - which still operates to this day if you’d rather enjoy your meal down on the sand – but is now more commonly known as one of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale – particularly come summertime thanks to its prime beachside location.

Favouring simplicity, the menu consists of mouthwatering dishes using local and fresh ingredients (think King George whiting and squid delivered straight from Kangaroo Island) and the crew here don’t take things too seriously, encapsulating a ‘fine-and-friendly-dining' approach.  Be sure to add this to your list for the next time you want to enjoy the highly sought after trio of good food, breathtaking views, and excellent wine.

1 Esplanade, Port Willunga

Frankie's Italo Dining and Disco & Little Wolf Osteria

When you need a fun spot for lunch, head Mitolo Wine's Frankie’s Italo Dining and Disco. Disco music plays throughout the modern restaurant, creating a fun atmosphere as customers partake in tipples from the extensive cocktail and wine list. Terrazzo tables and funky branding clearly call for a photoshoot to capture the vibe. The perfect place to kick your feet up, let your hair down and feast. Perhaps a Roman style pizza or a handmade pasta? Frankie’s menu has been carefully curated to share, making it one of the best new restaurants in McLaren Vale. 

For something a little more understated, Little Wolf Osteria serves up meals for lunch that proudly show off the best produce in the area, in a chic and sleek space. Think fresh pasta, house made cheeses, salumi, traditional bread and bounty from the local waters. Check out the menu here.

141 McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale

Vigna Bottin

It’s all about authentic Italian food, wine and family time at Vigna Bottin. The family-run venue – that originally started out simply as a spot for the owners' family and friends to gather - is extremely proud of their Italian heritage and Italian wine varieties, and they want to share the very best parts of it with you by crafting their own ‘little slice of Italy’ right in the heart of McLaren Vale.

Knowing that food and wine go hand in hand, the simple menus are designed to complement one another to create an unforgettable feast that is best when shared. Make your way through arancini, polpette (meatballs), spinach and ricotta ravioli and cotoletta – veal schnitzel with herb roasted potatoes, a glass of Vermentino or Sangiovese in hand and a broad grin upon your face. Buon appetito!

192 Main Road, Willunga

Maxwell Wines

There is so much more than just stellar interior design at Maxwell Wines. This award-winning winery and restaurant is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the tastebuds. Take a seat in the chic and modern dining room and gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows that boast unobstructed views of rows and rows of rolling vineyards.

An outstanding spot to celebrate a milestone - this elegant venue is complemented by a curated tasting menu showcasing the best South Australian produce. Head Chef Fabian Lehmann boasts world-class experience from Michelin-Star restaurants throughout Europe and brings his culinary class to create a degustation that explores a variety of intricate flavours and textures. This is fine dining at its best, so prepare to be pampered and dine in on a feast – there is no a la carte service here. Of course, if you want to keep it a little more casual, the cellar door is open daily for tastings.

For fine dining, this is far and above one of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale. 

Restaurant open for lunch Friday – Sunday from 12pm, dinner service from 6.30pm Saturdays only

19 Olivers Road, McLaren Vale

Ekhidna Wines

This leafy locale offers one of the most picturesque dining experiences in the region, with the winery nestled amongst never-ending vineyards and lush landscape. Ekhidna Wines is home to a casual cellar door for the days you want to hop from one winery to the next as you try a selection of premium drops and tasty share plates, while the restaurant offers a slightly more refined experience as one of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale.

Indulge in a 6-course chef’s degustation and add in paired wines for a true taste of fine dining, and if you prefer to choose the dishes you'll be spoilt for choice, with everything from chicken liver pate and roasted cauliflower through to Kiev cut chicken breast and baked barramundi with haloumi and smoked honey. Fun, casual fine dining never looked this good or tasted this flavoursome!

67 Branson Road, McLaren Vale

The Kitchen at Bec Hardy

Boasting a seasonal menu that is fresh and full of flavour, The Kitchen at Bec Hardy is proud to serve dishes crafted from sustainable produce from the Fleurieu Peninsula and nearby regions. Nestled in a converted winemaking shed with rustic charm and upscale décor, this is a relaxed yet elevated space for savoring some of McLaren Vale's finest wine and food.

Choose from ‘The Short Story’ and ‘The Long Story’ set menus (depending on how hungry you are), that pair beautifully with wines from the Bec Hardy and Pertaringa collections. Enjoy an offering of braised lamb shoulder, house-made steam buns and seasonal desserts as you sit back, relax and enjoy the true McLaren Vale experience. Heads up, you might not want to leave. 

Full menu available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

327 Hunt Road, McLaren Vale

Serafino Wines

Set amongst more than 300 acres of prime vineyard real estate, Serafino has been serving up delectable and uncomplicated food to pair with their expertly made Italian wines for decades. The restaurant is adorned with a modern aesthetic and scenic views of Lake McLaren, and the team promises an exceptional dining affair.

A recipient of the coveted Chef Hat Award, the contemporary menu highlights natural flavors, foregoing unnecessary complexity, and ensuring an honest and unpretentious approach to cooking that consistently delights. Choose to order la carte with dishes like cornfed duck breast, Spencer Gulf prawns and pork belly with Granny Smith puree and maple glaze, or treat yourself to the 6-course seasonal degustation menu, which pairs best with wine, naturally.

This is the kind of place you could stay a whole weekend if you so desire, with the restaurant and cellar door being accompanied by a heated swimming pool, picturesque grounds and luxurious accommodation. No designated driver needed when you’re staying the night!

Visit here for more information on degustation availability.

39 Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale

The Little Rickshaw

If you’re okay with the extra 10-minute drive from McLaren Vale Main Road to Aldinga, then do we have the spot for you. The Little Rickshaw is home to some of the best modern-Asian cuisine in the region, as well as a warm and inviting atmosphere inside a cosy converted tin shed. The ever-changing menu will have you coming back for more, with dishes like green papaya and mint salad, chicken and daikon dumplings and a jackfruit and spiced rum sorbet currently catching our eye.

Understated and uncomplicated, friendly and fresh, after a meal here we are sure you’ll agree The Little Rickshaw is absolutely worth that little extra drive.

24 Old Coach Road, Aldinga

Down the Rabbit Hole

If you’re across the most Instagram-worthy venues across Adelaide, there’s a high chance you’ve glanced at the gorgeous set-up at Down the Rabbit Hole. Led by a team who are genuinely passionate about great wine, great company and great vibes, the restaurant is set in a stunning landscape and boasts a relaxed ambience. The cellar door is open for casual drop-ins, and on sunny days you can enjoy a picnic on the lawn, but if it’s a feast you’re after – the DTRH restaurant is for you, quickly becoming known as one of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale.

The day of the week determines your dining experience. Weekday lunch is a two or three course a la carte menu, and weekends hold a generous feed me option, where the team will bring you a selection of their most popular dishes all made from the best local produce. Dine in on Friday evenings to experience the pasta and good times at ‘Nonna’s Table.’

233 Binney Road, McLaren Vale

Pizzateca

When the weather is toasty warm, the expansive lawn at Pizzateca is filled with white tables and plastic chairs to enjoy your meal in the sun, while in winter you can cosy up inside the weather-proof pergola. The wood-fired pizza being turned out from the imported Italian pizza oven is unbelievably fluffy and light– and the option for a gluten free base means no one misses out! There are plenty of share plates on offer, and if you opt for their ‘Feed Me’ menu, we highly recommend wearing your stretchy pants. Come for the pizza, stay for the good vibes.

319 Chalk Hill Road, McLaren Vale

Got the taste for the magic of McLaren Vale restaurants and hungry for more? Take a deep dive into the wine region with the best things to do in McLaren Vale, or venture to another of South Australia’s world-famous landscapes of rolling vineyards and hit up the best wineries in the Barossa Valley.