12 McLaren Vale restaurants to book for delectable dining

This article was originally written by Alexis Buxton-Collins with updates by Megan Arkinstall.

From breezy Mediterranean fare with world-class views to stunning modern Asian flavours and cutting-edge regional dining, these McLaren Vale restaurants will satiate all tastebuds.

More than simply a wine region, McLaren Vale is a fertile food bowl that punches well above its weight when it comes to gourmet offerings. Chefs combine dazzlingly fresh local produce with techniques from across the world to create stunning dishes that transcend the picturesque regional location.

From the ocean to the rolling vineyards, these 12 McLaren Vale restaurants are worth adding to your list, whether you fancy a degustation for two or a casual and cosy pub meal.

The shortlist

Fine Dining Gem: Muni
Casual Eats: McLaren Vale Hotel
Best Views: Star of Greece
Great for Special Occasions: Maxwell Wines
Best Design/Most Instagrammable: Fiore

1. The Little Rickshaw

Cuisine: South-east Asian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Trendy

Location: 24 Old Coach Road, Aldinga

Since opening in 2019, this lively spot in a former blacksmith’s shop has quickly become the most sought-after reservation in the seaside town of Aldinga.

Owner Trinh Richards and her mother take traditional Vietnamese flavours and spice them up with influences from across Asia – think takoyaki made with fresh local squid, braised octopus with spicy sambal and chewy hand-pulled noodles doused with chilli, garlic and a housemade mushroom xo.

Opt for the Feed Me menu and you’ll get all the greatest hits (there’s also a cheaper kids version), and the equally eclectic drinks list has a focus on smaller regional wineries and aromatic drops that pair well with the fresh Asian flavours.

2. Maxwell Wines

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Location: Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale

The views over rows of vines garlanded with lush leaves and an eye-catching conifer maze would take top billing at most venues, but at this winery restaurant, they’re overshadowed by the edible works of art featured in the nine-course degustation.

Each bite is more spectacularly plated than the last, and the showstopping “pearl” of oyster mousse with a patina of sparkling silver is a contender for Australia’s most beautiful bite.

Add in a few secret weapons like fungi from the onsite mushroom cave and delicate sparkling mead hidden among the estate wine pairings and you have all the ingredients for a seriously memorable meal.

3. Salopian Inn

Cuisine: Modern Australian/Asian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Review: 4/5

Location: Corner Main Road & McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale

Dining doesn’t get more regional than the fare at this longstanding favourite, which features a map of owner Karena Armstrong’s kitchen garden on the back of the menu.

Her exquisite creations pair fabulously fresh produce with subtly balanced flavours and carry a noticeable Asian influence; perfectly plated dumplings packed with king prawns, carp and ginger beg to be dipped in the house-made chilli sauce, while the oh-so-tender master stock braised roo tail with a sweet chilli glaze is spoken of in hushed tones by locals.

The location in a 19th-century cottage surrounded by vines means there are plenty of cosy nooks for private dining experiences (as well as a walk-in red wine cellar that’s worth a visit), and local distilleries are well-represented in the selection of more than 200 gins.

4. Frankie

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 141 McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale

It’s no surprise that many of the best restaurants in McLaren Vale are located in wineries and the full name of Mitolo’s more casual dining option provides a pretty good idea of what’s on offer.

Pallet-loads of white tiles and plenty of natural light give Frankie Italo Dining & Disco Lounge a distinct piazza vibe, and the pumping disco soundtrack and giant goblets of limoncello spritz make it clear that the clock is always set to party time here.

The kitchen is generous with both flavour and serving sizes in the cucina povera that includes Roman-style pizzas and pasta laden with produce from the Mitolo family farm, and the Inferno chilli oil that comes served in an eyedropper is best approached with caution. But the showstopper is the futuristic-looking gelato cart that opens up at the end of each Sunday sitting to universal acclaim.

5. Muni

Cuisine: Japanese and Taiwanese

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Sophisticated

Review: 4/5

Location: 2/3 High Street, Willunga

The minimalist fit-out of this sleek diner on the main street of Willunga belies a seriously elegant offering inside. Step into the timber and concrete sanctum and you’ll find hints of the owners’ native Taiwanese cuisine as well as riffs on pan-Asian classics.

The degustation menu changes regularly, but expect the kitchen to breathe new life into familiar dishes – think giant croquettes of fluffy radish cake with shrimp xo – and play with your perception through offerings like an unforgettable “noodle” dish made using ribbons of freshly caught squid.

There’s a strong emphasis on sustainability that carries over into the drinks list, but the natural wines are eminently approachable and pair well with the deceptively complex food.

6. Star of Greece

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Review: 5/5

Location: 1 Esplanade, Port Willunga

Forget Sydney Harbour views – this restaurant perched on the limestone cliffs in Port Willunga offers the best waterfront dining in Australia. It’s easy to get distracted by the ruined jetty and postcard-perfect turquoise water below, but dive into the menu and you’ll find a mod oz masterclass (the name comes from a nearby shipwreck rather than the cuisine).

European, Asian and Australian influences are given equal weighting, but the location makes it hard to go past seafood options like sweet gin-cured ocean trout and locally caught Szechuan salt and pepper squid, washed down with a crisp white from the excellent cellar.

If you’re too late to get a booking, simply head to the adjacent fish and chip kiosk to enjoy the same views with slightly more humble fare.

7. Vigna Bottin

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 192 Main Road, Willunga

With a rich heritage shaped by successive waves of European immigration, it’s not just the climate that has a distinct Mediterranean feel. This cellar door osteria is one of several Italian restaurants in McLaren Vale delivering down-to-earth fare that fuses the owners’ heritage with the best local ingredients.

Grab a seat in the vine-shaded courtyard and feast on plates of rich pork and veal meatballs made using nonna’s secret recipe, slices of eggplant parmigiana laden with gooey mozzarella and freshly filled tubes of cannoli while working your way through a list of Italian varietals such as crisp vermentino, silky smooth sangiovese and juicy Montepulciano drawn from the estate vineyard.

8. Fiore

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Intimate

Location: 233 Binney Road, McLaren Vale

The magical Down the Rabbit Hole winery, where organic wine tastings are hosted in a restored mint-green double-decker bus, is also home to Fiore, a diner that is all about nourishing, feel-good food.

The cheery restaurant is housed within a bright and airy weatherboard, heated by a fireplace in winter and where sunshine and cool breezes flow through summer. Helmed by executive chef Nick Tadija, the menu is focused on seasonal and local produce, with a Feed Me option for long, leisurely lunches, pizzas on Thursdays, and a Nonna’s Table experience on Friday nights where heart-warming Italian classics are served.

Casual bites are also available to enjoy in the idyllic garden, which is the setting for live music on Friday nights from November to April.

9. Willa

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 17a High Street, Willunga

Start the day right at this quaint coffee shop, which has a down-to-earth community vibe in a heritage Willunga building. The menu celebrates all things Australian, particularly from small growers and artisans.

Choose from an all-day brekkie, loaded sandwiches and bagels, or wholesome bowls. There are housemade ingredients throughout including dukkah, bechamel sauce, and beans. Much of the produce is sourced locally such as Willunga Meats, The Sourdough Story and Onkaparinga Creamery, with juices from The Garden Farmers, kombucha by Gather Brewing and all-important coffee from Altura.

10. McLaren Vale Hotel

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 208 Main Rd, McLaren Vale

There’s nothing more cockle-warming than a meal in a country pub, and this one is a beauty. Built in 1857 as The Clifton Hotel, the historic building underwent several extensions and became The Bellevue Hotel until the mid-1900s, and more recently underwent a beautiful restoration as McLaren Vale Hotel. Its charming ironstone walls and brickwork meld with modern features such as a marble bar and contemporary furniture.

But we’re all here for the pub grub: think burgers, schnitties and fish and chips alongside scotch egg, braised lamb and ploughman’s platters. The warm hospitality and casual dining here have earned the establishment several nods at the Australian Hotel Awards.

11. CLINK at Tintara

 Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 202 Main Road, McLaren Vale

Adjacent to McLaren Vale Hotel, CLINK started as a pop-up in collaboration with Tintara Wines but is now firmly on the to-do lists of anyone seeking a lively atmosphere to eat, drink and listen to good music.

Set on the lawns of Tintara, CLINK has been dubbed McLaren Vale’s biggest beer garden and is open on weekends. The simple menu comprises street-style foods, including sandwiches, grazing platters, a kids’ menu and even options for your dog. Unwind under the fig trees and listen to the regular live music performed by homegrown artists or check out the calendar on the website to see what special events are being held.

12. Vale Restaurant and Bar

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 128 Ingoldby Rd, McLaren Flat

Set atop a hill in Blewitt Springs, this restaurant and bar shares the same bucolic property as the family-owned winery Beresford Estate. It makes for a fabulous lunch spot – with the whole family including kids and pets – thanks to its sweeping vineyard views.

The local produce-focused menu is designed to share, with starters such as Coffin Bay oysters and beef tartare to large hearty plates such as a 1.4-kilogram Tasmanian smoked lamb shoulder.

Home to Vale Brewing, it’d be remiss not to book a beer flight to sample the refreshing ales and lagers. Wine, gin and whisky tastings are also available.