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  • Sydney
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  • The Best Restaurants in the Southern Highlands to Add to Your Foodie Hit List

The Best Restaurants in the Southern Highlands to Add to Your Foodie Hit List

This country region is blessed with the best. Here's our edit of the best restaurants in the Southern Highlands that you should be hitting up.

Dinah's at Osborn House

The Southern Highlands has long been the favourite weekend escape for city-fatigued Sydneysiders, and with such lush scenery and charming towns to visit, it’s no wonder why. There is so much on offer in this picturesque region, but the icing on the cake is the delectable dining scene awash with high-calibre venues keen to lure in locals and visitors with menus packed full of homegrown goodness. The restaurants of the Southern Highlands mean business and foodies are reaping the rewards. 

Whether you’re just passing through or making a weekend of it, when hunger calls, these are the best restaurants in the Southern Highlands to add to your hitlist. 

Katers Restaurant

Katers Restaurant

Nestled in the tranquil Southern Highlands, Katers Restaurant at Peppers Manor House in Sutton Forest is a delightful restaurant find. Under the culinary guidance of Chef Lorense Aguinaldo, the menu dances with the seasons, spotlighting exceptional creations like the house-cured beef rib and the tempting Persian-spiced lamb neck.

But Katers is more than just a dining destination; it's a sensory journey. In the colder months, crackling log fires envelop you in warmth and intimacy, while in the sunnier seasons, the lush gardens burst to life, painting an enchanting backdrop for your gastronomic adventure.

Peppers Manor House, Kater Road, Sutton Forest

Salters

Salters

Right in Bowral's Dirty Janes vintage emporium, Salters is the go-to spot for Southern Highlands locals in the know. With its inviting red awning and quaint outdoor tables, this Southern Highland restaurant welcomes you warmly. Step inside, and you'll find a cosy mix of recycled timber, whitewashed brick, and eclectic vintage decor that sets the scene for memorable catch-ups with friends and family.

Their signature Eggs Benedict, served on homemade cheese-infused hash browns, is a local favourite and has quickly become a Bowral staple. For lunch, try the toasted bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, and Spanish onion, perfectly paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio.

13-15 Banyette Street, Bowral

La Palette Restaurant

La Palette Restaurant at Mount Ashby Estate

In the picturesque Southern Highlands, La Palette Restaurant at Mount Ashby Estate earns its spot among the region's restaurant gems. With a view that's as comforting as an old friend's smile, this charming French-inspired eatery is a local secret well worth sharing.

From the moment you step onto the estate, it's evident that they take their paddock-to-plate philosophy seriously. The slow-cooked pork belly, adorned with Mount Ashby rosé jus, cauliflower purée, and crackling, stands as a testament to their commitment to quality and flavour.

Post-meal, stroll through the picturesque grounds, breathe in the crisp country air, and then settle indoors at a farmhouse table with a glass of their finest vino. So, if you're looking for a low-key but utterly delightful dining experience in this neck of the woods, consider paying them a visit.

128 Nowra Road, Moss Vale

Paste Australia

Paste Australia 

Trust us when we say you've never had Thai food like this. With a Chef's Hat to their name, Paste fuses the region's freshest produce with innovative techniques and ancient recipes and the result is nothing short of spectacular. You can expect everything from delicate canapes to curries, charred meats, braised and roasted dishes to noodles, stir-fries and fish. 

105 Main Street, Mittagong 

Bistro Sociale

Bistro Sociale

Bistro Sociale, situated within Bowral's historic Berida Hotel, is a dining destination that transports you to a bygone era. Divided into three charming dining spaces, it exudes an air of classic sophistication. Period-style chandeliers and pristine white tablecloths complete the high society ambience.

What truly sets Bistro Sociale apart is its ever-evolving menu, changing from daily to weekly, so you’re always bound to try something new. This menu features seasonal, French-inspired cuisine crafted from locally sourced produce. Your dining experience won’t be complete unless you cosy up by the fireplace with a gin or cognac in hand.

Berida Hotel, 6 David Street, Bowral

Eschalot

Eschalot Restaurant 

Set in one of Southern Highland's most picturesque and historically significant buildings, Eschalot brings intimate dining and delicious Australian-French fare together. Settle in at a table in front of the fire or overlooking the gardens while tucking into a menu that's made mostly from ingredients grown on-site.

The menus change with the season, delighting at all times of the day. Starting with breakfast (weekends only), before moving on to lunch, chef's choice, or if you are after something extra fancy, go all out with the six-course degustation menu. 

24 Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Highlands Merchant

Highlands Merchant

This beautiful chic café on Moss Vale’s main drag is just the place to drop in to for an afternoon recovery session following a busy day trawling the area’s boutiques.

Excellent coffee and a vast array of homemade treats sit temptingly along the counter at Highlands Merchant. Take a little of this Southern Highlands restaurant home with you with something from their handsome range of pantry fillers and gourmet gifts. 

405 Argyle Street, Moss Vale

Bendlooey Estate

Bendooley Estate

Sitting on 200 acres, Bendooley Estate has built its reputation on dishing up produce sourced from local suppliers. The restaurant is housed inside the iconic Berkelouw Book Barn, renowned for its collection of new, second-hand, rare and antiquarian books – needless to say, this is a book lover and coffee aficionado hangout.

They offer a lunch and dinner menu with a garden-to-plate ethos, while the Cellar Door offers wine-centered casual dining, ranging from finger food to something more substantial. 

3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Onesta Cucina

Onesta Cucina

Onesta Cucina is a family-owned Southern Highland restaurant that shines a spotlight on traditional Italian cooking while using the region's freshest ingredients. Set just off Bong Bong Street in Bowral village, Onesta Cucina is a long-time favourite that locals have been flocking to when craving pasta-filled dishes. So, take our advice and go hungry, because the food is delicious.

5 Boolwey Street, Bowral

Horderns Restaurant

Horderns Restaurant

Hidden away from prying eyes within the secluded Milton Park Country House Hotel in Bowral, Horderns Restaurant is a fine dining experience with a French leaning. The grand hotel – once an impressive home – has been sympathetically restored and is now renowned for its elegant Southern Highland restaurant and excellent hospitality. And to add to the glitz and glam, a sommelier is on hand to match your meal with wines from their private cellar.

Milton Park Country House Hotel, Horderns Road, Bowral

Harry's on Green Lane

There's cute and then there's Harry's on Green Lane. This adorable book-adorned restaurant specialises in classic, provincial cuisine accompanied by an impressive, international wine list. Enjoy their mouth-watering Pacific oysters, spinach and ricotta ravioli and mushroom frites as you soak up the old-timey atmosphere and marvel at the stunning travel memorabilia and plant life scattered throughout this charming haunt. Make sure you save room for dessert because their bread and butter pudding is a spiritual experience! 

15-17 Banyette Street, Bowral

Dinah's at Osborn House

Dinah's at Osborn House

For a truly unforgettable experience, book a table at Dinah's. Situated within the impeccably designed five-star boutique hotel, Osborn House, and surrounded by rolling hills and manicured grounds, this is top tiered-dining at its finest. 

Dinah's transforms traditional rustic recipes into sophisticated, savoury dishes while spotlighting all the best and most fresh produce the Southern Highlands has to offer. Our top picks of the menu include the Snowy Mountain rainbow trout, the hanger steak with taleggio sauce, homemade spicy marmalade and paprika chips and the porchetta with pork jus, apple puree with a fennel, orange and shallot salad. 

96 Osborn Avenue, Bundanoon 

Finished feating your way around the Southern Highlands and after more inspiration? Check out our edit of the best wineries in the Hunter Valley. Then, take a look at our definitive guide to the most romantic getaways in NSW for two.

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