The Best Regional Restaurants in New South Wales You Must Visit

Zin House is located on the biodynamic and organic Tinja farmlands of Mudgee. You won’t find foams, droplets, smears or deconstructed dishes on the menu here. The kitchen is about serving real food cooked freshly, from scratch. Seating is all communal, at large farmhouse tables, with plenty of personal space and a long leisurely approach to dining.

One of the NSW South Coast’s most iconic dining destinations, Rick Stein at Bannisters pairs fresh local seafood with sweeping ocean views in Mollymook. Blending classic French and English seafood dishes with hallmark Mediterranean and Asian influences, creating a menu that feels perfectly suited to its coastal setting. 

 Few dining rooms in regional NSW come with views as dramatic as Darley’s Restaurant in the Blue Mountains. Set inside Lilianfels Resort & Spa, the restaurant pairs grand heritage interiors with a refined seasonal menu – and the fireplaces make it especially inviting during the cooler months. 

 Part luxury stay, part Southern Highlands dining destination, Osborn House has quickly become a sought-after venue in its own right. Dining experiences range from relaxed terrace lunches at George’s to the popular Fire Kitchen feasts, where live-fire cooking takes centre stage. Surrounded by bushland and overlooking Morton National Park, it’s the kind of place that encourages not just long lunches – but overnight stays. 

 Tucked inside a historic sandstone cottage in Berrima, Eschalot has long been a favourite for refined Southern Highlands dining. The intimate, art-filled space sets the tone for a seasonal menu that blends French influences with Modern Australian cooking, all driven by premium local produce. 

 Nestled among bushland in Mount White, Saddles has become a favourite Central Coast escape for relaxed country dining. The sprawling venue overlooks a peaceful lake, but it’s the produce-driven menu that truly shines, featuring house-baked pastries, hearty breakfasts and long lunch favourites. An easy detour for Sydneysiders chasing a slower pace. 

 Bendooley Estate has become one of the Southern Highlands’ most recognisable dining destinations, thanks to its stunning Book Barn setting and vineyard surrounds. The menu focuses on seasonal plates designed to share – and to pair with drops from the estate cellar door. Whether you’re stopping in for a long lunch or settling in for dinner after a wine tasting, the setting is every bit as memorable as the menu. 

Set in a former surfer motel on Cabarita Beach, Paper Daisy is the in-house restaurant of boutique hotel Halcyon House. Overlooking the resort pool, the airy dining room is graced with views of the beach and its spiky pandanus trees. Expect refined yet relaxed dining centred around seafood, seasonal vegetables and wood-fire cooking. 

 

The Northern Rivers region is known for its exceptional produce and creative dining scene, and Pipit Restaurant is no exception. Located in Pottsville, the restaurant embraces woodfire cooking, sustainable seafood and hyper-seasonal ingredients sourced from local growers. The open kitchen and intimate dining room create an immersive experience that feels deeply connected to the region. 

Ates has earned a loyal following in Blackheath for its bold woodfire cooking and modern Turkish influences. Much of the menu is cooked in the venue’s 150-year-old oven, with dishes ranging from smaller share plates to roasted meats and seafood designed for the table. The warm, moody interiors make it an especially popular stop during mountain getaways. 

 

 A favourite stop for road-trippers through regional NSW, Graze at the Willow Tree Inn pairs country hospitality with a polished dining experience centred around premium local produce. Best known for its dry-aged Angus beef from nearby Colly Creek, the restaurant brings rustic charm to its refined menu – so refined it has earned it a loyal following far beyond the New England region.  

Warakirri Dining by Indigiearth offers one of the most unique dining experiences in regional NSW, celebrating native Australian ingredients and Indigenous food culture in the heart of Mudgee. The immersive menu showcases bush spices, local produce and storytelling through food, creating a dining experience that feels deeply personal and connected to Country. 

Located in the heart of Orange wine country, The Greenhouse of Orange champions seasonal Central West produce in a relaxed yet elevated setting. The menu highlights local ingredients and cool-climate wines from across the region, making it a popular stop for long lunches, weekend getaways and anyone exploring the thriving food scene in Orange.