Riverland: Where to eat, drink and shop | delicious.SA: Regional 50

Cruisy times by watery bends, cliffs and reedy banks … these Riverland drawcards also provide the best real estate for great noshing nooks.

People enjoy a dip at Lake Bonney, Barmera.

Cruisy times by watery bends, cliffs and reedy banks … these Riverland drawcards also provide the best real estate for great noshing nooks.

COFFEE | LIGHT MEALS

Make an early stop on the Riverland rim at Eudunda where the renovated Mt Mary Hotel is winning raves for truly good pub grub. The same goes for the smiling chef and great burgers at the Terminus hotel in Morgan. Tucked behind a roadhouse shop on the highway out of Waikerie, Viewpoint cafe is a hidden gem. It has simple light meals, Loxton Bakery goodies and good coffee on a sunny deck with arguably one of the best river views. Just up the road, Newland Bakery does an absurd mix of good pizzas and excellent Vietnamese rolls. Go the crispy roast pork and chilli.

23rd Street Distillery at Renmark is a popular spot. Picture: SATC

Renmark has the popular 23rd Street Distillery for fab gin experiences, all-round snacks and meals with some Italian influence. Or book well ahead for a coveted table at hot spot Eleni’s, Mallee Estate’s Greek restaurant. On the other side of the river and across from tourist attraction the Black Stump, Paringa Bakery has its own following for the delish bee sting that comes in a wedge so chubby and packed with cream you must surely share. It does a mighty good egg’n’bacon sarnie as well.

Linger again at the aptly named Woolshed, high on the river bend at Murtho. Order a tasting paddle of boutique beers, and shop from its cheese fridges to create a platter for a kickback afternoon on the deck.

The Berri Hotel’s chef is calling on local native-food providers, rejigging the pub’s Aussie-tucker menu. Right on Berri’s waterfront, River Jack’s Cafe offers good cuppas and generous Mediterranean food. Board the punt to Lyrup, where some 25 wineries are showcased at the chic new Pike River Riverland Wine and Food Centre. Italian Cucina 837 at Selena Estate Wines, between Berri and Loxton, stars chef Vincenzo, who makes all the pasta in house.

For more ideas on where to eat across SA, check out our delicious.SA: Regional 50 guide for the best restaurants for your road trip.

Tom Freeman, owner of the Woolshed Brewery on the Murray River near Renmark. Picture: Simon Cross

SHOPPING

Next door to that Viewpoint cafe out of Waikerie is Illalangi, a gourmet shop extraordinaire, now also stocking local foods in bulk. Nomads can fill their own containers.

The educational Nippy’s plant and factory in Waikerie includes a farmgate shop. Rollbusch Quality Meats, now in Waikerie and Barmera, draws customers from across the region. Both butchers are one-stop style, also stocking fruit, veg, poultry and fish.

For wines with a difference there are organic/biodynamic drops at Whistling Kite, New Residence, 20km northwest of Loxton. Bassham Wines at Barmera also produces organics, while Top Block Wines, in big-playground-town Monash, has a newly opened cellar door (Sun only).