Our Favourite Dinner Spots
Looking for the best places to enjoy dinner in the Southern Highlands? From refined restaurant dining and vineyard views to welcoming country pubs, the region offers memorable options for romantic evenings, group celebrations and relaxed weekends away.
Here are some of our favourite Southern Highlands dinner spots across Bowral, Berrima and the surrounding villages.
Robertson Public House
Location: Robertson (about 15 minutes from Bowral)
Style: Pub
Robertson Public House & Kitchen offers the welcoming atmosphere of a country pub with a modern food menu and plenty of local character. Open seven days, it’s a reliable choice for a relaxed lunch, casual dinner or drinks after exploring Robertson, Fitzroy Falls and the surrounding countryside.
The pub regularly hosts live music and community events, making it particularly enjoyable on weekends.
Its central Robertson location also makes it an easy stop during a Southern Highlands drive or an informal end to a private tour.
Ross Recommends: Check out the local Highlander Beers on tap which are made in the town of Robertson (The Pilsner is our favourite).
Lucette Bistro
Location: Bowral (High Street Arcade)
Style: French Bistro
Lucette is a French café-meets-bistro in the heart of Bowral, offering a polished but welcoming place for dinner. Its French-inspired menu focuses on seasonal ingredients, familiar bistro flavours and thoughtfully prepared dishes in a warm, stylish dining room.
It’s a particularly good choice for couples, small groups or visitors looking for a more refined evening without an overly formal atmosphere. Lucette also hosts occasional guest-chef dinners and seasonal dining events, giving returning visitors something new to experience.
Visit Lucette →
Briars Inn
Location: Burradoo (between the towns of Bowral & Moss Vale)
Style: Modern Pub/Bistro
Briars Inn is a Southern Highlands institution offering relaxed bistro dining in a historic country-pub setting. The menu includes familiar pub favourites and wood-fired pizzas, making it an easy choice for families, groups and visitors looking for a casual meal.
Its spacious grounds and relaxed atmosphere also make Briars a popular choice for a wedding recovery lunch, where guests can gather again without the formality of the wedding day. During the week, it’s a convenient option for an easy lunch or dinner between Bowral and Moss Vale.
Guests can dine inside, enjoy a local ale in the bar or relax outdoors when the weather is warm
Bistro Sociale
Location: Bowral
Style: European/Modern Australian
Set within the historic Berida Hotel, Bistro Sociale offers European-inspired dining in a warm and welcoming setting. The menu combines familiar bistro classics with thoughtful modern touches, making it a good choice for couples, groups of friends and visitors celebrating a special occasion.
Berida Hotel is a popular base for visitors spending a weekend exploring the Southern Highlands. Its central Bowral location provides convenient access to local shops, gardens, wineries and surrounding country towns.
Vino Rosso Tours offers food and wine tour pick-ups from Berida Hotel, allowing guests to enjoy a day visiting Southern Highlands cellar doors before returning for dinner at Bistro Sociale.
It has a fantastic selection of local wines & gins and has a fantastic selection of cocktails.
Eschalot Restaurant
Location: Berrima
Style: Seasonal Modern Australian
Set inside one of Berrima’s most significant heritage buildings, Eschalot is one of the Southern Highlands’ best-known destination restaurants. Its menus celebrate fresh, seasonal produce through creative modern Australian dishes, served in a sophisticated but welcoming setting.
Guests can choose from the seasonal menu or enjoy the chef’s “Feed Me” experience—a shared tasting menu designed for couples and groups. Eschalot’s knowledgeable team can also recommend wines and other drinks to complement the meal.
The restaurant is particularly well suited to romantic dinners, special celebrations and group dining.
The What if Socity
Location: Moss Vale
Style: Sustainable farm-to-table dining and wine bar.
Founded by local chef Eilish Maloney, The What If Society is a food-focused cooperative built around sustainability, strict seasonality and supporting Southern Highlands producers. Its menus change regularly according to what is fresh and available, with a strong commitment to reducing food waste.
The Studio operates as a bakery and café by day before becoming a relaxed wine bar and dining venue in the evening. Guests can enjoy house-made drinks, small-batch cocktails, a carefully selected wine list and the seasonal “Trust the Chef” menu—an excellent option for diners happy to let the kitchen choose their experience.
The What If Society is ideal for adventurous food lovers looking for something creative, local and distinctly different from a conventional restaurant. Dinner trading can vary during the week, so check current opening times before visiting.
Start With a Southern Highlands Wine Tour
Before heading out for dinner, spend the day discovering the Southern Highlands’ cellar doors, local produce and beautiful countryside with Vino Rosso Tours.
Choose a private tour designed around your group or join one of our social wine tours. We’ll take care of the planning and driving, with convenient pick-up available from accommodation across Bowral, Berrima, Moss Vale, Robertson and surrounding areas.
After your tour, we can return you to your accommodation or arrange drop-off near your chosen dinner venue—leaving you free to continue enjoying the Southern Highlands.
