As winter sets in, so does the urge to cosy up with food, and lots of it. From decadent degustations, to fine-dining with a view, paddock to plate experiences and casual lunch spots curled up by the fire, we've uncovered the cosiest places to indulge this winter.
1. Brands Laira, Limestone Coast
Red wine and cheese in a cosy cellar door? Sounds like a pretty good way to while away a winter's afternoon! Brand's Laira is home to one of the most charming cellar doors in the Coonawarra wine region. Oozing rustic charm and steeped in history, the stone cottage was originally the personal cellar of Eric Brand, the winery's founder. Exposed wooden beams, old wine barrels and Eric's old wine collection create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a glass or two of the winery's award-winning wine. Add a generous ploughman's platter and you're set.
2. Maxwell Wine's Lime Cave, Fleurieu Peninsula
A six-course wine-matched meal. In a limestone cave? Welcome to Lime Cave at Maxwell Wines in the heart of McLaren Vale. If you have an extra special event to celebrate this winter, Maxwell Wines offers the perfect unique subterranean setting – a cave dug 50 metres into a limestone hill tucked away behind the winery. Available for group pre-bookings, the cave is a magical and intimate space where you'll unearth some of the best food and wine in the region. Surely this is hibernation at its best? If you're just stopping in, there's also plenty of reasons to visit Maxwell Wines above ground. Set among picturesque vineyards that date back to 1893, stop in for lunch at the main restaurant which offers an impressive line-up of locally sourced seasonal produce, taste a local drop or two at the cellar door or explore the epic maze.
3. Lost In A Forest, Adelaide Hills
Pizza and wine on a cold winter's afternoon. What could be better? Add a charmingly converted 130-year old church complete with stained-glass windows, rustic woodwork, a gigantic pizza oven, cosy fireplaces and a moody forest backdrop and you've got the recipe for a perfect winter's afternoon. Tucked in one of the prettiest corners of the Adelaide Hills, popular Uraidla haunt Lost In A Forest is a great spot to cosy up with friends this winter and enjoy the eclectic menu of gourmet, wood-fired pizzas featuring locally sourced produce and an impressive range of local wines, beers and cocktails.
4. Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard, Adelaide Hills
Nestle up by the fire while you soak in views stretching across the rolling country side. Perched high above the Adelaide Hills, you can enjoy a long lunch with a view at Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard. Offering an award-winning local food and wine experience, the intimate, rustic cellar door features panoramic views, a 360-degree central open fireplace and modern and eclectic décor. A full seasonal a la carte menu and impressive degustation luncheon with optional wine pairings are available Thursday to Sunday while light lunch options are available Monday to Wednesday.
5. Mayura Station, Limestone Coast
Uncover the ultimate paddock to plate experience in the midst of the Limestone Coast's green rolling hills and prized farmland. Famed Mayura Station in Millicent is home to the world's best Wagyu Beef (just check out their trophy cabinet) and the most prized cuts are cooked right before you at The Tasting Room, the station's on-site restaurant, which was also voted Australia's top steak restaurant. Sit around the kitchen bar with a glass or two of wine from their extensive list with a focus on local Coonawarra offerings and watch the chef cook your steak to perfection. Mayura Station is the ultimate hearty winter's lunch experience.
6. The Barn, Limestone Coast
Continue your carnivorous culinary adventure on the Limestone Coast to Mount Gambier's The Barn. This rustic steakhouse has been dishing up mouth-watering aged steaks sourced from their own Hereford cattle raised across the region since 1988. A roaring fire place, exposed beams and wooden fixtures add to the cosy atmosphere. Great steak deserves great wine, and you can choose from over 750 drops from the extensive cellar offering. Steak not your thing? They also have a good range of alternative options from fish to vegetarian dishes.
7. Hentley Farm, Barossa
Converted stables dating back to the 1880s featuring exposed stone walls and wood beam ceilings create the perfect setting for an epic winter feast in one of SA's best contemporary restaurants. With an impressive resume of international awards under its belt, Hentley Farm embodies the rich culture of South Australia's Barossa. A meal at the Seppeltsfield restaurant will have you dining on and drinking in the highest quality produce the Barossa and surrounding regions have to offer, with much of the produce served sourced from the farm's 150 acres, including foraged ingredients growing wild, as well as fruit, vegetables and herbs grown on site.
8. 1918, Barossa
On frosty winter evenings, you'll find red gum logs crackling in open fireplaces and tables filled with hearty fare featuring local ingredients at Tanunda's 1918. Set in a century old home in the heart of bustling Murray St, generous meal sizes, an extensive wine list and cosy atmosphere make this Barossa establishment a popular haunt for locals and visitors alike.
9. Ember, Barossa
All your winter comfort food cravings will be fulfilled at Nuriootpa's Ember Pizza & Grill. Another popular Barossa hangout, relaxed vibes, wood-fire pizzas and a smorgasbord of grilled and smoked meats will leave you in a blissful food coma. Paired with a carefully curated drinks menu showcasing local winemakers and beer brewers? Now you're talking.
10. Crafers Hotel, Adelaide Hills
Warm up with some of the most sophisticated pub grub on offer in South Australia at Crafers Hotel. Oozing style and cosy winter vibes, this popular Adelaide Hills watering hole boasts an avant-garde interior featuring reclaimed wood, leather, iron, copper and exposed stone. A menu influenced by the richness of French cuisine (plus all the usual pub fare) and an award-winning wine room featuring rare and classic labels, the Crafers Hotel is sure to warm up you up on even the chilliest winter's day. After dinner, grab a quick nightcap and curl up fireside on one of the luxurious red velvet couches.
11. Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, Adelaide Hills
Picture this: a degustation dinner with a view spanning across the picturesque Piccadilly Valley, misty on a winter's evening. Winter is the time for decadence so treat yourself to an incredible feast at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant in Crafers. This Adelaide Hills restaurant has quickly made a name for itself with a timeless menu and sommelier-matched wine list earning Hardy's Verandah 3 Chef Hats and countless national and international awards. Cozy-up by Mount Lofty House's roaring fireplace for a pre or post dinner wine and soak up the history and glamour of one of South Australia's most iconic properties.
12. Leonards Mill, Fleurieu Peninsula
Located in insta-famous Second Valley and set in a restored 160-year-old flour mill with exposed ceiling beams, Leonards Mill epitomises the charms of country dining with a sophisticated twist. The ever-changing seasonal menu showcases produce sourced from across the Fleurieu Peninsula as well as grown on site with vegetable gardens and fruit trees adding to the cosy cottage farm ambiance. All that's left to do is loosen your belt and decide between the two, three or five course degustation menus. You'll know where to find us this winter!
13. Seed, Clare Valley
Restaurant meets gin-lounge and wine bar at Clare's Seed Winehouse and Kitchen. With old stone walls and twisting gum pillars, the former 1880s chaff mill radiates character. The interior is a rustic-yet-contemporary mix of stone, timber and steel and the perfect setting to tuck in to a seasonal winter feast. Take your pick from a carefully-curated European-inspired menu, matched with some of the Clare Valley's finest wines.
14. Africola
A spicy North African inspired feast at popular city haunt Africola is the perfect way to warm up a chilly Adelaide evening. Johannesburg-born Duncan Welgemoed serves red hot, authentic cuisine with an emphasis on vegetables, pulses and grilled and smoked meats, paired with natural wines. We recommend tucking in to the 'feed me' menu to make the most of what's on offer.
Discover the magic of South Australia in winter
Has a warm haze of food and wine inspired you to cosy up in South Australia this winter? Discover our tips for the cosiest hideaways, spots to drink red wine by a roaring fireplace, bathtubs with a view and the best winter adventures.
