A good pub isn’t just about the food and drinks – it’s also about the atmosphere. If you’re looking for a great place to relax and enjoy a drink in the Yarra Valley, you’ll find a number of options here.
Hatted Oakridge is one of our favourite winery restaurants in the Yarra Valley, serving up a culinary journey like no other. It’s a great place to try some unique Indigenous ingredients and some of the region’s best wines.
Eleonore’s Restaurant
Located in the heritage-listed Chateau Yering, Eleonore’s Restaurant delivers destination dining in a 19th century chateau. Executive Chef Mark Ebbels dishes up five-course tasting menus under gold leaf ceiling roses and antique brass light fittings. He also offers two options for omnivores and vegans, while sommeliers pair their wines with each dish.
Guests at this heritage-listed mansion in the heart of the Yarra Valley can enjoy gourmet dining with local wines from their original stone cellar. Eleonore’s has won a number of awards including Restaurant of the Year at the 2012 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards.
A good pub is about the atmosphere, not just the food and drinks. At Matilda Bay Brewery they get a green tick for operating off 100% renewable energy, a beer tick for their old-school beers with contemporary twists and a good food tick for their local and seasonal bar menu.
With a great selection of local beers on tap, it’s easy to sink a cold one here. Nashville cauliflower with smoked jalapeno cream, mussels in OWL beer and a Beyond Meat Burger are just some of the dishes on the menu.
The team at Heartswood make sure to use local and sustainable sourcing whenever possible, and they have a focus on breakfasts and lunches that are healthy, tasty and filling. They also serve up wood-fired pizzas and pastas with a good local wine list to finish off your meal.
Healesville Hotel
With its country charm and outstanding food & wine this is the best pub in the Yarra Valley. Whether you are looking for a degustation wine dinner in the private dining room or a special occasion to celebrate with your family & friends this is the place to be.
This contemporary restaurant has a warm and welcoming feel with excellent food, great wine and friendly staff. Guests can sample pizza or wine and enjoy sharing plates or mains from a range of local and international producers.
The food here is really delicious with plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans as well as a selection of gluten free choices. This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
If you are looking for a place to sit back and relax this is a great place with lots of different seating areas. The lounge area is lovely with a big fire going and it is a good place to catch up with friends.
Healesville Hotel is a 3.5-star property that offers a full-service spa and a restaurant. It also has a bar/lounge, a snack bar/deli and a terrace. Its 14 rooms offer air conditioning and minibars, plus coffee/tea makers and televisions with digital channels.
Fondata 1872
If you’re looking for a great pub to watch the game, enjoy a hearty meal or grab a quick drink with friends and family, Goldy’s is a solid choice. They offer all your favourite draughts and a good selection of burgers, fish and chips and steak.
If it’s a nice day, the beer garden is a popular spot to spend time. During my visit, it was filled with people and their dogs enjoying the sunshine.
The best pub in the Yarra Valley, Fondata 1872 has been open for a few months now and is already a locals’ favourite. It has a bluestone cellar and tasting room, a function room and stunning views of Kangaroo Ground’s rolling hills.
It’s also a popular wedding venue. Its historic property combines the beauty of the countryside with the elegance of a professional team to create an exceptional experience for your big day.
Located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, it offers multiple gorgeous indoor and outdoor settings and bespoke styling options to make your day special and unforgettable. Its rustic country charms complement contemporary city style and will leave you with a memory to last a lifetime.
It is the latest venture of the Frazer family, behind nearby cafe-provedore Meletos and dining and events space Stones of the Yarra Valley. The 38-seater is set in a charming space with rustic barn doors, vintage windows and an imported 1860s olive press. The menu is a nod to the family’s other establishments and reflects their relaxed approach to cooking.
Heartswood
The latest project from Matt Binney – former head chef at Merricote – Heartswood is an airy all-day eatery. A truckload of Yarra Valley craft beers join a list of contemporary Americana, including burgers and fried chicken with waffles.
Yarra Glen is brimming with restaurants and bars to suit all tastes, but Heartswood stands out from the crowd. With its cosy nooks inside a heritage building or out front on an umbrellaed deck, it’s a great place to enjoy local wines and small dishes with a view of the beautiful garden.
Another Yarra Valley favourite is Hutch & Co, a hip brunch spot that serves pressed brisket benny and other brunch classics. For a unique twist on brunch, try the Son In Law Eggs that combine pork belly with chilli caramel.
A few blocks away, there’s also Yering Station, a stunning restaurant with expansive panoramic views. The wine barrel-shaped booth and helipad are among the impressive features.
There’s also a chapel underneath century-old oak trees. This is a great option for a special occasion.
Yarra Valley is also home to Matilda Bay Brewery, which gets a green tick for operating off 100% renewable energy and a good food tick for its local and seasonal bar menu. Organic ingredients are often used and a range of vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options feature.
Hutch & Co
A great pub doesn’t just serve good food and drinks, it also has the right atmosphere. You’ll want to visit a place that has a friendly and relaxed feel, so look for restaurants and pubs that are popular with locals.
Located in Healesville, Hutch & Co is one of the best places to eat in the Yarra Valley. It was originally an 1800s ironmongery store, and it now serves as a modern restaurant and cafe.
The design of Hutch & Co is an interesting mix of layered elements that rebrand the heritage of the site to reflect contemporary design. It showcases a seven-metre wide insignia that stretches across the black facade, which was inspired by the surrounding countryside and the 1800s ironmongery store.
This restaurant focuses on local Yarra Valley produce and offers a five-course tasting menu and a ‘Chef’s Table’ dinner option. The kitchen team uses only the freshest ingredients and a sommelier pairs each dish with wines.
It is a great place to eat before heading out on a wine tour in the Yarra Valley, and it has comfortable indoor and outdoor seatings. The menu is varied and the staff are very friendly.
This Yarra Valley restaurant is a fine example of how family owned business can create a wonderful experience for both locals and tourists. The restaurant has a rustic feel and is located in a vineyard, so you can enjoy the picturesque views while you eat.
Yering Station
If you’re looking for a great place to start your Yarra Valley tour, Yering Station is the right choice. Originally established in 1838 as Victoria’s first vineyard, it’s one of the most impressive landmarks of this iconic wine region.
Located just an hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is known worldwide as the quality producer of chardonnay and pinot noir. This small group wine, bubbles and gin tour will take you on a scenic journey through bushland, vineyards and farmland to visit a mix of small, medium and large wineries to experience the best that this wine region has to offer.
With a wine expert guide, enjoy tastings at Coldstream Hills, Medhurst and Payten & Jones wineries, before enjoying lunch at the stunning Yering Station and savouring their wines and cheese at De Bortoli. This is a fantastic tour for those new to the Yarra Valley as it gives you a taste of premium wines from the area, paired with perfectly matched food.
Yarra Valley Pinot Noir is among the region’s finest, and Yering Station’s 2008 Little Yering Pinot Noir is an excellent example of this. With lots of lovely Pinot character and ripe cherry notes, this light-bodied red is smooth to drink with a nice flavour impact and lingering finish.