Not sure if you’ve heard… This town is into its food and wine. The Daylesford region is a mecca for food aficionados and gurus of gastronomic goodness. The area promises foodie nirvana for those who like their linen starched and can taste the difference a hat makes, to those who just want a parma with chips, no salad thanks. The restaurants, cafes and caterers of the region dish up plates of perfection daily. Whilst in town for ChillOut, pop a silver spoon into your mouth and indulge in the culinary delights on offer… or just use your fingers, if that’s more your style.
It doesn’t have to be schmancy to be delicious. La Luna Pizzeria boxes up gourmet and traditional pizza, to be delivered or take away. Daylesford Seafood Bar wraps up hot paper parcels of steaming fish, chips, burgers and a blackboard full of take away faves. Daylesford Chargrilled Chicken is open seven nights, and serves more than just traditional chicken and chips.
Pub dining in the region is delicious and decadent, with handcrafted in-house beers at Holgate Brewhouse in Woodend. The Farmers’ Arms in Daylesford has a great local wine list and casual beer garden. The Old Hepburn Hotel is a real country pub, with a relaxed atmosphere and classic pub meals. Back on the main street of Hepburn, the Palais will be firing up the pizza oven all weekend, as well as offering an extensive restaurant menu. The Perfect Drop Wine and Food Lounge plates up creative and delicious meals including tapas style dinners to share.
There are more cafes than you can sample in just one weekend. (oh well, you’ll just have to come back!) A sweet tooth can’t walk past the cake cabinet at Ego’s Culinaria. (Oh the macaroons!) Laze over all-day breakfasts. Haul that sweet tooth around to Sweet Decadence at Locantro for handmade chocolates and sweet café treats. Koukla at Frangos does wood fired pizza wonders, and the coffee? Oh seriously! Up the hill at Wombat Hill House, in the magical Wombat Botanic Gardens, the menu is locally sourced and delicious. At Bocconcini Delicatessen Café pick your pick of gourmet antipasto for picnics. Cliffy’s Emporium, Store and Cafe sells local produce and artisan treats. The café menu is deliciously simple. Red Beard Bakery in Trentham creates organic sourdough and Easter bun perfection on-site in their enormous and ancient wood fired oven (no it really is huge – you could park two cars in there… but don’t, parking’s out the back). Cosy Corner Café in Hepburn is intimate and yes, cosy and they do brekky, lunch and dinner all weekend. The Boathouse Café is perched on the lake with gorgeous food and views.
Daylesford House offers cafe fare as well as German and Austrian treats and sumptuous cakes. Whilst we’re touring our tastebuds abroad; Rubens @ Hepburn specialise in Mediterranean flavours paired with local wine. They also have a great gluten free menu!! For traditional Italian pastas, get your carbs on (in the most delicious way) at the historic Old Macaroni Factory in Hepburn. Kyneton’s Dhaba at the Mill is acclaimed Indian cuisine in a buzzing atmosphere, and for authentic Indian in Daylesford (plus cocktails!) head upstairs to Anshumann Da Dhaba. Indulge in the waters at Hepburn Bathhouse then head down to the Pavilion Cafe for some fresh, seasonal homemade treats in the beautiful 1908 Edwardian-heritage listed building.
Fine dining in Daylesford showcases incredible local produce and the creativity and skill of the regions’ award winning local chefs. Enjoy the seasonal menu at Sault, whilst overlooking fields of manicured lavender. Mercato @ Daylesford is a contemporary fine dining experience served up by a skillful and friendly team. But it’s not all about the food; the drinking around town is good too. With wine bars, wineries, pubs and even the boutique Daylesford Cider Company, with it’s delicious hand crafted ciders, spoil yourself, and imbibe, relax, and just, well… chill after a big day at ChillOut.
The businesses we have linked to on this page are ChillOut supporters. We encourage you to support the businesses that support ChillOut.
Anshumann Da Dhaba
Level 1. 74 Vincent St. Daylesford 3460
03 5348 2982
Indian Restaurant, Live entertainment every night and Cocktail Bar. Authentic Indian cuisine, Gay operated. Open 12pm-9pm Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays.
Boathouse Cafe
Leggatt St. Daylesford. 3460
03 5348 1387
Situated on the picturesque Lake Daylesford we are open all day, every day for breakfast and lunch. Paddle boat hire available. Great veranda Great Coffee.
Bocconcini Delicatessen Cafe
59-61 Vincent St Daylesford. 3460
www.bocconcini.com.au
03 5348 4555
A European inspired delicatessen and Cafe, providing a wide selection of Australian and imported products ensuring the highest quality to tempt any lover of gourmet foods.
Cliffy’s Emporium
30 Raglan St. Daylesford. 3460
www.cliffys.com.au
03 5348 3279
Produce store and Cafe, serving local seasonal food. We support the people who produce the food we eat.
Cosy Corner Cafe
3 Tenth St. Hepburn Springs. 3461
www.cosy-corner.com
03 5348 2576
Open for Dinner Thursday-Tuesday. Lunch Friday-Tuesday. Breakfast on weekends. Locals night Tuesday Curry and Hot-Pot night $18. Friday Fish night $24.50 and wine.
Daylesford Chargrilled Chicken
70 Vincent St. Daylesford. 3460
03 5348 1020
Open 7 nights. Lunch Weds-Sun. Mediterranean Cuisine, relaxed atmosphere featuring Local wines & produce. Seafood, Chicken, Steak, Risotto, Pasta, Gluten free options.
Daylesford Cider Company
155 Dairyflat Rd. Musk. 3461
www.daylesfordcider.com.au
0418 336 191
The tavern is the only boutique on farm cider tavern in the Victorian central highlands. Open for tastings Wednesday to Friday 12-4pm. Weekends and public holidays 11-5pm.
Daylesford House
105 Vincent St. Daylesford. 3460
www.daylesfordhouse.com
03 5348 3557
A Cafe in the European tradition offering breakfast and lunch as well as sumptuous cakes and imported chocolates and other treats from Germany and Austria.
Daylesford Seafood Bar
62 Vincent St. Daylesford. 3460
03 5348 2327
Best Fish’n’Chips in Daylesford. Takeaway Burgers, Fish & Souvlaki. Fresh Seafood, Oysters, Prawns. Open Weds to Sunday, Public Holidays, long weekends & School Holidays.
Dhaba at The Mill
18 Piper St. Kyneton. 3444
www.dhaba.com.au
03 5422 6225
Dhaba offer all the elements of a memorable meal. Simple, yet acclaimed Indian food, a buzzing atmosphere and good company. Serving a locally based fortnightly changing menu.
Ego’s Culinaria
10 Howe St. Daylesford. 3460
www.egosculinaria.com.au
03 5348 4001
Renowned for its artisan cakes, pastries and biscuits, all day breakfast and lunch specials, All made by our team using regional, seasonal produce and traditional methods. Great Coffee.
Farmers Arms Hotel
1 East St. Daylesford. 3460
www.farmersarmsdaylesford.com.au
03 5348 2091
The Farmers is a fantastic corner pub with a bar and beer garden serving delicious food throughout. We have an extensive wine list and good selection of beers on tap. We are open 7 days a week.
Holgate Brewhouse
79 High St. Woodend. 3442
www.holgatebrewhouse.com
03 5427 2510
Independent craft brewery centrally located in picturesque Woodend. Visit the brewery right inside the historic hotel with its own popular restaurant and boutique accommodation.
Koukla
82 Vincent St. Daylesford. 3460
www.frangosandfrangos.com
03 5348 2363
Discover the casual bohemian vibe of Koukla. Great Coffee, crispy wood fired Pizza, located in the heart of Daylesford. Fully Licensed Open 8am till late.
La Luna Pizzeria
24 Albert St. Daylesford. 3460
www.pizzerialaluna.com.au
03 5348 4123
Gourmet and traditional pizza, Takeaway and home delivery.
Mercato @ Daylesford
32 Raglan St. Daylesford. 3460
www.mercatorestaurant.com.au
03 5348 4488
A Contemporary fine dining experience awaits you with a creative menu of modern Australian cuisine showcasing regional produce, fine wines & friendly service.
Pavilion Cafe
Mineral Springs Reserve Road. Hepburn Springs. 3461
www.hepburnpavilion.com.au
03 5348 1900
Celebrate the sunshine on our fully licenced outdoor tables with a bottle of wine or an icy cold beer. Our lunch menu is available every day with a range of seasonal specials & favourites such as our open steak sandwich on local sourdough bread, nachos with spicy beans or a ploughmans lunch with local Istra sliced meats.
Perfect Drop Wine & Food Lounge
5 Howe St. Daylesford.3460
www.aperfectdrop.com
03 5348 3373
Dedicated to offering an alternative to a traditional dining experience by using locally sourced produce & wines to create a constantly evolving menu. Beautiful outdoor courtyard, intimate dining and front bar.
RedBeard Bakery
Old Bakery Lane. Trentham. 3458
www.redbeardbakery.com.au
03 5424 1002
See artisan bakers produce organic sourdough and Easter buns using RedBeard’s huge historic oven. Winner: National Baking Industry Association Award 2011. Licensed Cafe open daily.
Rubens @ Hepburn
70 Main Rd. Hepburn Springs. 3461
www.rubensrestaurant.com
03 5348 2843
Mediterranean Restaurant. Open 7 nights. Lunch Wednesday-Sunday. Features local produce and wine. Steak. Seafood. Chicken. Pasta. Risotto. Pizza. Dine in or take-away. No BYO.
Sault Restaurant
2349 Ballan Rd. Daylesford. 3460
www.sault.com.au
03 5348 6551
Our seasonal menu utilizes the best of regional produce. Open for lunch and dinner Friday Saturday and Sunday from 11.00am and Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm for dinner.
Sweet Decadence at Locantro
87 Vincent St. Daylesford. 3460
www.sweetdecadence.com.au
03 5348 3202
Cafe serving meals & chocolate shop. With homemade Chocolates.
The Old Hepburn Hotel
236 Main Rd. Hepburn. 3461
www.oldhepburnhotel.com.au
03 5348 2207
‘A real Country Pub’ music venue, with great food, relaxed attitude & friendly service. Meals 7 days. Music every Fri-Sat-Sun.
The Old Macaroni Factory
Lucini’s Historic Pasta Restaurant
64 Main Rd. Hepburn Springs. 3461
www.macaronifactory.com.au
03 5348 4345
The Old Macaroni Factory Heritage Building’ Oldest Italian Building in Australia. Tours $10. 10.45am Sat & Sun. Lucini’s open Fri, Sat & Sun. Lunch and Dinner.
The Palais
111 Main Rd. Hepburn Springs. 3460
www.thepalais.com.au
03 5348 4849
The Palais – Putting the spring back into Hepburn since 1926. Come and let us wine, dine and entertain you in our beautiful iconic venue.
Wombat Hill House
Wombat Botanical Gardens. Central Springs Rd. Daylesford. 3460
www.wombathillhouse.com.au
03 4373 0099
We offer simple food, sourced locally wherever possible and served in a relaxed cafe, with outside gardens, or fireside armchairs. Located in the stunning and magical Wombat Botanical Gardens.