It’s no secret that the Hunter Valley is fast becoming one of the best foodie precincts in NSW, and just like an aged wine, it just keeps getting better. The region attracts people of all ages, from young trendsetters to sommeliers who have been visiting the area for years. One thing they all have in common- a love for good food, stunning backdrops, and even better wine. For tips on where is worth visiting, here are the 13 best restaurants in the Hunter Valley.
Table of contents
- 1. Muse Restaurant
- 2. Margan Restaurant & Winery
- 3. Restaurant Botanica
- 4. Emerson’s Restaurant
- 5. Eremo Restaurant
- 6. Bistro Molines
- 7. Hunters Quarter
- 8. Leaves & Fishes – The Restaurant
- 9. Yellow Billy Restaurant
- 10. EXP. Restaurant
- 11. Twine Restaurant
- 12. Esca Bimbadgen Restaurant
- 13. The Gates Restaurant @ Leogate Estate Wines
- General FAQs
You’ll also like:
12 Best Hunter Valley Wineries & Vineyards
25 Best Farm Stays in NSW
The Best Wines in Australia Have Officially Been Named
1. Muse Restaurant
Muse is one of the best restaurants in the Hunter Valley if you’re looking to treat yourself to a touch of luxury and fine dining. Everything from the setting to the delicious menu is exquisitely refined with a focus on contemporary Australian cuisine. Located at the entrance of Pokolbin, Muse truly is a Hunter Valley gem.
Address: 2450 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 4998 6777
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 5 pm – 11 pm
2. Margan Restaurant & Winery
Offering some of the best of the Hunter Valley lifestyle, Margan Restaurant & Winery is leading the way when it comes to agri-dining. The menu is sourced locally and comes from whatever is available from the owner’s kitchen garden! This doesn’t mean a compromise on taste; however, Margan is renowned for its innovative and delicious dishes.
Address: 1238 Milbrodale Rd, Broke
Phone: (02) 6579 1372
Hours: Monday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
3. Restaurant Botanica
Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley among the grapevines and gumtrees outside of Pokolbin at Spicers Vineyards Estate, Restaurant Botanica shines a light on what the stunning region has to offer. Using local produce and naturally sustainable practices, the team at Botanica know how to cook a feast and serve plenty of vegetarian options. We recommend the roasted baby eggplant, caponata, polenta, baba ganoush with puffed rice- it will have you coming back for more!
Address: 555 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: 1300 192 868
Hours: Monday – Thursday 6 pm – 10 pm, Friday- Sunday 12 pm – 3 pm/ 6 pm – 10 pm
4. Emerson’s Restaurant
Emerson’s Restaurant provides the quintessential Hunter Valley experience. Located in Adina Vineyard with an onsite cellar door, spa, and accommodation all within reach, you’d be a fool not to visit. The food here is designed for sharing, and the laid-back atmosphere to match makes Emerson’s the perfect place to come for a relaxing meal with friends.
Address: 492 Lovedale Rd, Lovedale
Phone: (02) 4930 7029
Hours: Wednesday 12 pm – 4 pm, Thursday – Friday 12 pm – 4 pm/ 6 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 8 am – 11 am/ 12 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 10 pm, Sunday 8 am – 11 am/ 12 pm – 4 pm
5. Eremo Restaurant
Are you looking for a luxe dining experience? Eremo Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in the Hunter Valley for quality Italian cuisine. The modern Italian restaurant connects with local producers and offers innovative, unique dishes. The wine list is also enough reason to visit in itself! Indulge in delicious food and some of the Hunter Valley’s best vintages, and a curated international selection from the rest of the world.
Address: 57 Ekerts Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: 1300 590 075
Hours: Monday – Friday 6 pm – 9 pm, Saturday – Sunday 12 pm – 3 pm/ 6 pm – 9 pm
6. Bistro Molines
Fine dining with a view, Bistro Molines is a French-inspired restaurant loved by locals and travelers alike. The closest thing we’ll be getting to the South of France for a while, the Hunter Valley restaurant is run by a powerhouse husband and wife team who know everything there is to know about hospitality. Simply sit back, sip on champagne, and delight in the many tasty dishes on offer.
Address: 749 Mount View Rd, Mount View
Phone: (02) 4990 9553
Hours: Sunday- Monday, Thursday 12 pm – 3 pm, Friday – Saturday 12 pm – 3 pm, 7 pm – 10 pm
7. Hunters Quarter
For one of the best restaurants in the Hunter Valley for a relaxed dining experience, head to Hunters Quarter. Located in the Cockfighters Ghost Vineyard of Pokolbin, the restaurant offers a picturesque setting for you to enjoy your meal and wine. Chef Brian Duncan combines first-class ingredients, bright, balanced flavors, and even a vegan menu. We recommend the Tasmanian salmon and scallop en Ccoute with rainbow chard, mussels, and citrus if you’re dining here for dinner.
Address: 576 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 4998 7776
Hours: Friday – Saturday 11:30 am – 3 pm/ 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm, Sunday 11:30 am – 3 pm
8. Leaves & Fishes – The Restaurant
Leaves & Fishes offers a fresh approach to informal dining in the heart of the Hunter Valley. The menu follows a take-away style with a significant emphasis on seafood and a heavy Asian influence, which is innovative in the Hunter Valley dining scene and attracts plenty of crowds. Try their crisp-skinned ocean trout, miso and lime slaw, togarashi- it’s 10/10!
Address: 737 Lovedale Rd, Lovedale
Phone: (02) 4930 7400
Hours: Saturday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Leaves & Fishes – The Restaurant
9. Yellow Billy Restaurant
Yellow Billy Restaurant loves all things fire when it comes to cooking. Their motto is ‘food over fire,’ which literally means their food is cooked over an open fire, everything from vegetables to meats. The menu is designed to share, so come here with your whole Hunter Valley weekend getaway gang, and you won’t be disappointed.
Address: 697 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 6574 7204
Hours: Sunday, Wednesday – Thursday 11 am – 4 pm, Friday – Saturday 11 am – 4 pm, 6 pm 10 pm
10. EXP. Restaurant
EXP. Restaurant will give you a dining experience with a difference. The team at EXP. aim to create a delicious dining experience that celebrates Australian cuisine; with a seasonal menu sourced from the best local produce. The dining room is intimate and adorned with hand-crafted local furniture. The restaurant perfectly balances a casual yet sophisticated dining experience.
Address: 2188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 4998 6585
Hours: Friday – Monday 5:30 pm – 12 pm
11. Twine Restaurant
One of the best restaurants in Hunter Valley for picturesque views, Twine is a must-visit next time you find yourself in the stunning wine region. The menu showcases the finest modern Australian cuisine and works with the freshest local produce. We suggest coming for a long, boozy lunch – a smokey beef brisket or wild mushroom gnocchi on your plate and a wine in hand. What could be better?
Address: 310 Oakey Creek Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 4998 7449
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, Friday – Saturday 11:30 am – 3 pm/ 5:30 pm – 10 pm, Sunday 11:30 am – 3 pm
12. Esca Bimbadgen Restaurant
A winery restaurant like no other, Esca Bimbadgen manages to match wines with simple, elegant food that’s equally as enticing as the wines themselves. In fact, it may even be the food that keeps you coming back, or the views, or the wine- we can’t decide! Expect each meal and accompanied drop to be beautifully curated for you to enjoy.
Address: 790 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 4998 4666
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 12 pm – 3pm, Friday – Saturday 12 pm – 3 pm/ 6 pm – 9 pm
13. The Gates Restaurant @ Leogate Estate Wines
The Gates Restaurant has everything you could ever imagine for the ultimate dining experience. There is both an a la carte offering and a premium degustation menu expertly curated with Leogate Estate award-winning wines to match each course. A long lunch will go down a treat in the stunning alfresco dining or opt for an intimate dining room for dinner.
Address: 1693 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
Phone: (02) 4998 7499
Hours: Thursday, Sunday – Monday 11:30 am – 3:30 pm, Friday- Saturday 11:30 am – 3:30 pm/ 6 pm – 9 pm
The Gates @ Leogate Estate Wines
General FAQs
Margan Restaurant & Winery is the Hunter Valley winery with the best food.
The best fine dining restaurant in the Hunter Valley is Muse Restaurant.
For the best lunch in the Hunter Valley, head to Twine Restaurant.
