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

When you think of food and wine in our state’s South East, the Coonawarra is probably top of mind. But there are so many other gems waiting to be discovered.

Katnook Estate in the Coonawarra. Picture: Melbourne Mornington Peninsula Photographer

When you think of food and wine in our state’s South East, the Coonawarra is probably top of mind. But there are so many other gems waiting to be discovered.

COFFEE | LIGHT MEALS

Many a thirsty traveller heads to the South East to soak up the spoils of Coonawarra’s wine region but there’s more going on in the glass than finely crafted booze.

A long drive is best fuelled by coffee and a hearty breakfast. An essential stop-off on the drive from Adelaide is Keith’s Henry and Rose, a pretty, gift-packed cafe with a ‘Build Your Breakfast‘ option (don’t skip the local free-range Earth Eggs) and a pancake stack for the kids.

Further south, Mount Gambier kicks some serious coffee goals. Boutique coffee roaster Bricks & Mortar Coffee Co. is a stylish brew bar-meets cafe selling their local brews and snacks (the egg and bacon bagel is a winner). Nearby, just a short stroll from the vivid Blue Lake, Bay Blue Espresso Bar serves freshly roasted coffee with house baked bites such as bacon and egg omelette toasties and bliss balls. For a laid-back evening meal, Natural Born Grillers serves burgers (two hands required), beer and local wines.

In the heart of the Coonawarra, Fodder is a must (see our delicious.SA: Regional 50 guide). Nearby, cafe in the Vines (by Hollick Estate) serves up brekkie staples and a variety of burgers.

Dumplings at Fodder, Coonawarra

To start the day with a seaside view, Port MacDonald’s Periwinkles cafe dishes up breakfast burgers, waffles, smashed avo and eggs all ways imaginable. Drop in and grab a large, fluffy scroll and classic soda (including Blue Lake Lemonade by Mount Gambier’s Moloney’s Soft Drinks) from Moorak’s ScRoll Queen. Dylan McQueen’s Cinnascroll is the classic but there are savoury options too.

Robe’s Mahalia Coffee serves a mean cup, as does Adventurous Spoon which also boasts an inspired breakfast menu. The maple baked beans with bacon and parmesan savoury doughnuts, sauteed spinach, fried eggs and toasted sourdough is a serious mouthful. Locals also recommend “hidden gem” The Pastry Place where you can stock up on wonderful croissants, pastries and superb coffee.

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

BARS | BREWERIES

There’s a movement brewing in the state’s South East and it smells like beer. When in Robe, head to Loophole Bottle Shop (located next to the Caledonian Inn – also a top spot for a frothy and a curry) where Loophole Brewing Co’s specialty brews are sold and poured. The new Juicy Timely IPA is a must-try. The brewery also has a ‘Beer Drinking Room’ at Cape Jaffa Wines.

The seaside town is also home to Robe Town Brewery, a boutique family-run business making handcrafted specialty ales and non-alcoholic bevies. Mount Gambier also has a new brewery opening soon … keep your eyes peeled for Woolshed Brewery on Margaret Street.

Back in Robe, The Black Swan (sister venue to Adventurous Spoon) makes funky cocktails to complement its tapas-style menu and old school vibe. Wines by Aunt Alice has a delightful little cellar door (open by appointment), as does Karatta Wine Room & Gallery on the main drag. In nearby Mt Benson, Wangolina is a lovely pet-friendly place for a glass of wine and a platter (the Beachport Berkshire Board is full of local treats). Best of all, it’s open seven days.

Some Coonawarra cellar doors go the distance to offer something special. Raidis Estate winemakers Steven and Emma Raidis host regular ‘shindigs’ and food events at their newly expanded cellar. Their ‘Winery Lunch with the Winemakers’ and ‘Wine and Dine Under the Stars in our Vineyard’ experiences can be booked online. Anyone glamping in Bellwether Wines’ Bell tents or powered camping sites are able to book in for winemaker Sue Bell’s ‘Drinks After Work’ experience (4pm – 5pm). It includes eight wine tastings and a nibbles platter. Few cellar doors exude such rustic beauty.

Long Beach on the Limestone Coast near Robe. Picture: SA Tourism Commission

SHOPPING

Got a hankering for fresh seafood? Head to Coorong Wild’s seafood cellar door near Meningie where Glen and Tracy Hill serve up tasting plates of their fresh caught fish and offer fresh, frozen and smoked seafood for purchase.

For pantry-fillers, head to Mount Gambier’s Limestone Coast Pantry which sells their sauces, relishes and preserves alongside produce hampers (full of goodies by the likes of Pine Ridge Honey, Kalangadoo Organic and Limestone Coast Cheese Company) and take-home meals. They also serve The Crouch Potatoes (baked spuds topped with regional produce and condiments) and Limestone Coast wines by the glass.

An abundance of veggies, local produce and the people who grow and make it can be found at Mount Gambier Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning. It is quite the wholesome, spectacular experience thanks to the beautiful Cave Gardens location.