15 Adelaide Hills Cafes You Can't Miss

These top Adelaide Hills cafes set the table for the region’s best local fare.

Pause a day of weaving your way through cellar doors with a lunch break at one of the many produce-driven and seasonally-inspired Adelaide Hills cafes. Proliferated with gastronomic delights, these casual eateries may be more relaxed than the region’s fine dining restaurants, but they’re certainly equal in flavour and devotion to the craft of eating well. Start your day with a good coffee and breakfast, stop for brunch, lunch or a snack and graze your way through the hills.

1. Fourth Hill Providore

As the sun rises over the charming stone cottage that is Fourth Hill Providore , breakfast begins at 7.30am with house-made baked beans, an omelette, or perhaps a toastie filled with pastrami and provolone, by 9am focaccia is being turned out, a potato and confit garlic iteration, then come 11am, lunchtime appetites are well-provided with the likes of linguini with slow-cooked ragu or orecchiette with garlic and chilli.

the stone cottage cafe at Fourth Hill Providore, Adelaide Hills — Fourth Hill Providore is housed in a charming stone cottage.

No matter the hour of the day, the Italian-inspired menu here will convince you to take a seat on a white Adirondack chair on the sun-filtered lawn and tuck in. After all, wine-tasting is best undertaken on a full stomach.

Check out the fresh bread and pastries on offer at Fourth Hill Providore.

Address: 34 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Verdun

2. Rise Artisan Bakers

Pretty little cakes arranged in formation tempt even the most casual sweet tooth here. Just try resisting a raspberry, pistachio and rose cream bun or a strawberries and cream lamington. You may as well allow your eyes to grow as big as your stomach and sit down with a Meyer lemon meringue Danish and a good coffee.

a look inside Rise Artisan Bakers cafe in Nairne — The former church was transformed into a quaint cafe now known as Rise Artisan Bakers.

All sugary temptation is forgiven in this former church and schoolhouse in Nairne . Take a loaf of fresh sourdough away with you and some provisions of jams and preserves for afternoon tea back at your place.

little cakes and pastries on display at Rise Artisan Bakers — Pair a good coffee with pretty little cakes at Rise Artisan Bakers.

Address: 54 Old Princes Highway, Nairne

3. SUSA Kitchen

The second cafe from sisters of Mount Barker’s Lady Luck (scroll down for more on that gem), SUSA is a very attractive addition to the casual diner scene. A stop-and-stare view sets the tone here for a minimal interior style that’s as slick as it is inviting. It’s not strictly vegetarian, but there’s a lot here to satisfy plant-preferring eaters, such as a burnt Brussels sprout gnocchi or fried enoki on sourdough with dukkah. Meat-eaters will relish an elevated bacon and eggs with polenta and parsley oil or a Cuban sandwich. With a well-chosen wine list and chilled ambience, Susa Kitchen is a great long luncher.

Address: 1 Aston Parade, Mount Barker

4. FRED Eatery

Half-cafe, half-homewares store, FRED is an Adelaide Hills destination for dining with a side of shopping, or the other way round if that’s how you roll.

a plate of food at FRED Eatery — FRED Eatery offers excellent fare from breakfast to lunch.

The stylish eatery serves an early breakfast, all-day brunch and great lunch options that dart from South America to Asia and Italy, such as hot and sour noodle broth, gnocchi, and a Cuban sandwich. It’s all good and can be enjoyed alongside a local wine, beer or cider. Come Friday night to book in for The Chow Chow Session from 5.30pm.

the cafe exterior of FRED Eatery in Adelaide Hills — Drop by FRED Eatery for a Cuban sandwich.

Address: 220 Mount Barker Road, Aldgate Village

5. The Organic Market and Cafe

Passionate purveyors of organic goods, this market and cafe in Stirling is your one-stop wholesome shop.

a healthy breakfast platter at The Organic Market and Café — Turn to The Organic Market and Cafe for all things vegan.

Pick up groceries from local growers, as well as pantry staples, snacks and sweets and settle in for a feelgood breakfast of avocado and peas on toast, smoothie or bircher, or order from the all-day lunch menu with the likes of bruschetta, focaccia, soups and salads. If you’re just after something small, nibble on a vegan croissant with your espresso.

a look inside The Organic Market and Café — The Organic Market and Cafe is your one-stop shop for pantry staples and snacks.

Address: 5 Druid Avenue, Stirling

6. Sazón Espresso

It’s Mexico meets the Mediterranean at this beloved coffee joint, where owners José and Oswaldo Estrella leverage their Mexican roots with their experience working in Italian restaurants. While the go-to dishes have a Central American lean, such as tacos, quesadillas and huevos rancheros, this petite cafe also spins a good burger, sandwich and pastry. Colourful and cool with coffee from Veneziano, this is a Mount Barker must for laidback lunches .

holding burger and fries on a plate with a drink at Sazón Espresso — Sazón Espresso spins a good burger.

Address: 1/24 Gawler Street, Mount Barker

7. Stirling Cellars and Patisserie

You don’t often expect to find a patisserie in a pub , but here you will. Tucked into the sleek Stirling Hotel, which is also home to a bistro, wine bar and chic accommodation, this delightful spot is open every day from 7am to service your croissant and coffee needs. Five Senses Coffee makes up the brew, while you can grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and cakes or take a seat to eat. Pick up a bottle of your favourite Adelaide Hills wine at the adjacent cellar while you wait for your coffee.

Address: 52 Mount Barker Road, Stirling

8. Kitchen 2C

The thirty years of hospitality experience amassed by co-owners Chany Park and Cheryl Wood (the two Cs) has steered this local haunt into a welcoming and laidback eatery with underlying polish. Local produce gets star billing with cheese from Udder Delights and spreads from Beerenberg Farm and you’ll find the menu wanders from Asian-style dishes to Spanish highlights and cafe usuals, each elegantly expressed on the plate. It’s a good vibe Hahndorf haunt, minus the German infusion of its neighbours.

Address: 43B Main Street, Hahndorf

9. Red Cacao

Take note chocolate lovers, this Stirling Cacao is an imperative addition to your Adelaide Hills itinerary. But be warned, self-restraint may not come easily at this artisan chocolatier with packets of truffles, ganache-lacquered treats, bars, blocks and boxes of chocolates lining the shelves.

the dining setup at Red Cacao cafe in Stirling — This Stirling Cacao is an imperative addition to your Adelaide Hills itinerary.

They’re all to take with you, but while you’re here, sit and sip a coffee accompanied by the most lavish tiramisu you’ve ever seen, house-made gateaux, waffles or just surrender to your cravings and opt for the dessert platter for two. If you’re on the savoury side of the fence, there are toasties, soups and tarts.

bread and coffee on the table at Red Cacao cafe in Stirling — Sit and sip a coffee paired with fresh bread at Red Cacao.

Address: Shop 3, 41 Mount Barker Road, Stirling

10. The Summit Cafe

This all-day cafe and function centre presides over the Adelaide Hills at 710 metres above sea level. From such a vantage point you’re treated to a sweeping lay of the land woven with grape vines and undulating valleys and meadows. Once you’re done absorbing the view, you’ll find the menu to be equally as expansive with everything from pizza to burgers and brisket to schnitzel. It’s also a great spot for an afternoon Aperol spritz.

an aerial view of The Summit Cafe, Crafers — The Summit Cafe overlooks sweeping views of the grape vines over Adelaide Hills.

Address: 266 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers

11. Emma & Ivy

Sitting pretty in the quaint town of Lobethal, this converted former garage is a light and uplifting space festooned with blooms and good food. Not only will you find a cafe serving very good expressions of the classics, but there’s also beautifully selected homewares and hampers, a plant studio, and a boutique bar and cellar door. Take your time to peruse and choose something savoury, such as pesto beans or souvlaki, or for something sweeter, you can’t pass up the buttermilk banoffee pancakes.

Address: 24 Main Street, Lobethal

12. The Good Pantry

This wholefoods coffee shop is keen on an all-day breakfast and is rather fond of cake – all with a healthy lean, of course. Gluten-free and vegan cakes are whipped up onsite and served with well-made coffee. For something more substantial, The Good Pantry caters to the Gumeracha community and wine-tasting transients with brunch-ish meals of French toast, smashed avo, eggs in all guises, salads and burgers with optional (but highly recommended) hash browns.

Address: 35 Albert Street, Gumeracha

13. Charlie Boy’s Coffee

Judging by the logo and namesake of this cute Stirling spot, Charlie Boy is a very good dog. Inside, there’s a cosy fire and excellent coffee, as well as pastries and sandwiches to go or plates to sit and savour, from breakie wraps to toasties and cupcakes featuring the floppy-fringed Charlie. On Fridays, a $10 pork bahn mi is a regular hit. You might even see the Charlie Boy mobile coffee caravan doing the rounds about town serving hot cuppas to spectators of local sports at nearby netball and footy fields.

the cafe exterior of Charlie Boys in Stirling — Charlie Boys serves hot cuppas and cupcakes.

Address: 4 Mount Barker Road, Stirling

14. The Pallet Cafe

Pouring cups of local Adelaide Hills’ Husky Coffee Co, this casual Nairne spot pairs your brew with a rotating menu of breakfast to brunch to lunch eats finessed with regional produce. It’s all friendly classics here with the likes of a Rueben, eggs benny, smoked salmon bagel and eggs your way complete with all manner of upgrades.

Address: 73a Main Street, Nairne

15. Lady Luck Cafe

Sisters Maddy and Taylah are the ladies behind this bright cafe, but luck probably has little to do with the delicious delights and good coffee at Lady Luck . Instead, put it down to an astute curation of local produce and flavours for a menu with everything from warming mushroom and truffle toasties to pillowy pork dumplings and soba noodle soup. Coffee is by way of De Groot and the interiors feature a fondness for cowboy boots.

Address: 16 Walker Street, Mount Barker

Head into the city to continue your brunching tour of the region and start your day at these unmissable Adelaide cafes.

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Australia’s extraordinary landscapes make this vast continent like no other place on Earth, offering an unforgettable feast for the senses as you traverse deserts, cruise on vast inland lakes and dine under star-studded skies. What makes this land special is the people you’ll meet along the way, and the chance to forge a deep connection with the country and its people. The new AAT Kings small-group tours focus on the incredible experiences available in remote places that might otherwise seem daunting.

With an average of 16 guests and a maximum of 24, the tours offer intimate access to the best Australia has to offer, with special behind-the-scenes encounters led by knowledgeable experts.

1. Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer

aerial shot of flinders island tasmania — Fly over beautiful Flinders Island as part of a tour of Tasmania. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

Escape the tourist trail in north-eastern Tasmania while still seeing everything the island state has to offer. From coastal villages to bucolic rural scenery, the six-day Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer tour offers world-class food and wine, with the bonus of a flight to Flinders Island.

From Launceston, the tour winds through the verdant Tamar Valley and includes a stop at Fork It Farm , where guests are given insight into sustainable farming while snacking on a house-made charcuterie platter paired with Tasmanian wines.

Fly by private plane to secluded Flinders Island, uncovering pristine beaches and savouring local seafood and wine. Explore the main settlement and learn about the history of Settlement Point and Wybalenna before soaking up views of the island and Bass Strait and exploring part of Strzelecki National Park . From there, it’s another scenic flight to Bicheno, flying down the east coast of Tasmania and across the stunning Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay (a taste of what’s to come by land).

Other highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Brickendon Estate , still run by the same family since its founding in 1824, where the property’s convict history will be revealed.

In Devonport, a heritage train ride will track alongside the Don River to Coles Beach before returning to learn more about Tasmania’s railway history and vintage locomotives at Don River Railway .

2. South Australian Outback Adventure

aerial of Anna Creek Painted Hills — Fly over the Anna Creek Painted Hills. (Image: Emile Ristevski)

From Adelaide, the highlights of the eight-day South Australian Outback Adventure tour open up the rugged grandeur of the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola. Home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years, the natural beauty and wide open spaces of this remote region unfold as you explore from both land and air.

Looking to the skies for a new way to experience South Australia’s outback, a scenic flight over the striking outcrops of the colourful Anna Creek Painted Hills and the shimmering saltpan of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is an eye-opener like no other.

Wilpena Pound Resort, owned and managed by the Indigenous community, is a haven in the midst of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park . It’s worth the hike to enjoy sweeping views over the natural amphitheatre before your journey continues through dramatic gorges, where you may spot endangered yellow-footed rock-wallabies.

At the award-winning Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, dive deep into the region’s billion-year-old geological history with an expert guide as you tackle the steep ascent of the Ridgetop Track in an open-air 4WD. When the sun goes down, look up at the dazzling wonders of the Milky Way in this International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

3. Broome and the Kimberley Highlights

small plane flying over the Bungle Bungle Ranges — See the iconic Bungle Bungle Ranges from the air. (Image: Tourism WA)

From Broome’s sparkling beaches to the red dirt of Kununurra, the Kimberley region is one of Australia’s most extraordinary and unforgettable places. It’s a region of contrasts, beginning with multicultural Broome and the history of pearl divers.

Kick off your Broome and the Kimberley Highlights experience with a tour of Broome led by a local Aboriginal guide. You’ll learn about 40,000 years of culture as you explore historic landmarks, discover bush foods and medicinal plants and enjoy a private didgeridoo performance.

Learn about Broome’s rich pearling history at Willie Creek Pearl Farm , on the banks of a turquoise tidal estuary that provides the perfect environment for growing the South Sea pearls for which Broome is world-renowned. Then cruise the calm waters to see the oyster farm before a masterclass that reveals the secrets of the pearl industry.

As you continue your discovery of the Kimberley, fly over the dramatic striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, the Argyle Diamond Mine and gorgeous Lake Argyle, Western Australia’s largest freshwater body of water. Take a sunset cruise on the lake, which is dotted with more than 70 islands and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The water teems with freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bream and cod.

Complete your seven-day exploration of the Kimberley in Kununurra with a local Aboriginal guide to hear Dreamtime stories and wander through the ‘mini bungles’ of Mirima National Park.

4. Outback Contrasts

aat kings small group tours at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience — Expand your knowledge at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. (Image: Tourism NT/ ArchieSartracom)

From Alice Springs, the six-day Outback Contrasts adventure includes the wonders of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, offering premium accommodation and exceptional experiences. Ancient rock art, creation stories and the spiritual essence of the land will be revealed as you discover some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

A highlight of your stay in Alice Springs will be meeting chef Rayleen Brown, who shares her knowledge of Aboriginal native foods with a tasting of the many flavours of Central Australia’s wild harvest bush tucker. More culinary indulgence will follow at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon in the heart of Watarrka National Park, where you’ll enjoy a degustation menu and paired fine wines under the desert moon.

After a sunrise walk on the rim of Kings Canyon, head off to the Wanmarra community to learn about the Luritja and Pertame people’s spiritual connection to the land at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Crossing desert scenes, you’ll arrive at Uluru and end the day watching the setting sun’s changing palette on the ancient landscape.

More awe-inspiring landscapes will be revealed as you wander between Kata Tjuta’s tallest domes in Walpa Gorge and explore the rugged beauty of Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Start planning your small group adventure with AAT Kings.

15 Adelaide Hills cafes you can’t miss