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The best cafes in the Clare Valley

Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission

Rebecca Foreman Rebecca Foreman
Start the day right at one of these top spots.

In the Clare Valley, mornings matter. Before the first cork is pulled or the Riesling Trail claims its cyclists, locals and visitors gather over espresso, pastry flakes and breakfast plates built to sustain serious wine touring.

The region’s cafe culture is unfussy but confident. Produce is close, portions are generous and hospitality leans warm rather than showy. Some spots hum with pre-winery energy; others invite you to sink into a chair and forget the time entirely.

Here are some of the best cafes in Clare Valley worth building your day around.

The shortlist

Best coffee: Cafe 1871
Best pastries: The Little Red Grape Bakery & Cafe
Best work-friendly atmosphere: Zest Cafe Clare
Best for dog-friendly dining: Dog House Café at the Magpie & Stump
Best for brunch: Watervale General Store & Providore
Budget-friendly: Clare Rise Bakery 1895
Best design: Velvet & Willow Cafe and Pantry

1. Cafe 1871

a grilled cheese sandwich at Cafe 1871
Indulge in a hearty cheese toastie. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Best for: coffee purists, couples, slow starts

Café 1871 is where serious coffee drinkers go. Beans are treated with respect, the team knows extraction, and plates lean seasonal with much of the produce drawn locally. Cosy, peaceful and detail-oriented, you’ll find rotating art on the walls, giving the place a gentle creative pulse. With a personalised order screen, you can’t go wrong building your own breakfast with whatever is freshest that week.

Insider tip: arrive early; seating is limited and locals are loyal.

Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: intimate, thoughtful, produce-driven
Location: 245A Main North Road, Clare

2. Watervale General Store & Providore

Watervale General Store & Providore, Clare Valley
Settle into the General Store for a relaxed breakfast. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Best for: destination brunch, cyclists, food lovers

A short stroll from the Watervale Hotel, the General Store delivers a seamless extension of that kitchen’s produce-first philosophy just in a more relaxed, drop-in form. Mornings cover the spectrum from excellent egg and bacon comforts to more composed plates. Expect pastries and cakes with serious pedigree, and dishes that might have seen time in the wood-fired oven. Coffee comes from a Mexican fair-trade blend, while the tea list includes Indigenous botanicals from Warndu. Juices are bright, smoothies plentiful.

Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: country charm
Location: 29 Main North Road, Watervale

3. Antidote Kitchen

brunch with wine at Antidote Kitchen
Savour brunch plates with punchy Indian flavours at Antidote Kitchen.

Best for: stylish brunch, groups, modern cafe lovers

Antidote Kitchen brings a little metropolitan polish to Clare’s morning scene. Coffee is taken seriously, and the menu walks a smart line between nourishing and indulgent, with vibrant produce, punchy Indian flavours and options that suit both the health-minded and the happily hungry. There’s a modern cafe fluency here by day: colourful dishes, stacked brunch plates, and wholesome Indian-inspired classics that look as good as they taste without feeling try-hard.

Insider tip: Peak hour comes quickly, so arrive early and order a masala omelette.

Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: lively, contemporary, confident
Location: 308b Main North Road, Clare

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4. The Little Red Grape Bakery & Cafe

Best for: pastries, quick stops, trail fuel

Award-winning, much-loved and strategically placed near both cellar doors and the bike trail, Little Red Grape is a magnet for travellers who understand the power of a good pie and pasty. Coffee is solid, service efficient, and the cabinet is heroic. Order whichever pie just came out of the oven and buy two. One will vanish faster than expected.

Average price: $–$$
Atmosphere: classic country bakery energy
Location: 148 Main North Road, Sevenhill

5. Velvet & Willow Cafe and Pantry

Velvet & Willow Cafe and Pantry, Clare Valley
Wine is also served at the cafe. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Best for: date mornings, design lovers

Velvet & Willow makes people linger. Indoor nooks, leafy patio, beautiful pantry items, it’s the kind of space that slows conversations in the best way. Coffee uses quality beans and weekend hot breakfasts are particularly popular. Order a latte with a croissant, perhaps a haloumi breakfast burger or something from the grazing selection. The ideal first stop when driving up from Adelaide.

Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: stylish, garden-framed
Location: 17 Main North Road, Auburn

6. Dog House Café at the Magpie & Stump

Best for: dog owners, weekend wanderers

Attached to one of the region’s most historic pubs, Dog House Café understands simple pleasures: good coffee, solid breakfast options and room for the dog to settle beside you, naturally. Order the homemade crepes with salted caramel sauce or the Dog’s Breakfast with all the trimmings if you’re feeling hungry. Follow breakfast with a wander through Mintaro, it’s ridiculously pretty.

Average price: $$
Atmosphere: relaxed, country-friendly
Location: Burra Street, Mintaro

7. Clare Rise Bakery 1895

pastries at Clare Rise Bakery 1895
Order classic Aussie sweets at Clare Rise Bakery 1895.

Best for: early starts, takeaway

When the day’s schedule is tight, Clare Rise delivers speed without sacrificing satisfaction. Expect classic Aussie bakery fare, hot coffee and efficient service. Order the steak pie plus something sweet for later.

Insider tip: brilliant pre-cellar-door logistics for lining the stomach.

Average price: $
Atmosphere: quick, practical, nostalgic
Location: 12 Main North Road, Clare

8. Mog’s Cafe

Mog’s Cafe in Burra
Immerse yourself in the warmth of this cosy cafe. (Credit: Mog’s Cafe)

Best for: early risers, flexible brunchers

Opening from 6am most days, Mog’s is a saviour for travellers covering distance. The menu runs from build-your-own breakfasts to wraps and grazing plates, with good coffee anchoring the lot. Order the custom breakfast plate if you’re particular, and strategically use it as the ideal bridge stop between heritage exploration and wine country.

Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: upbeat, contemporary
Location: 25 Commercial Street, Burra

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9. Flinders Food Co, Clare

Best for: brunch lovers, work-from-cafe days, casual catch-ups

Flinders Food Co is Clare’s new all-day cafe darling where fresh meets friendly in every corner. Think bright interiors, plates built around local growers and producers, and espresso that hits the sweet spot every time. Breakfast is never rushed here, waffles with seasonal fruit, smashed avo that satisfies, and house-made pastries begging for a second round. With lunch favourites like loaded toasts, crisp saladsand a rotating range of chef’s best small bites, it’s the sort of place you actually want to linger in with pals or a notebook.

Atmosphere: bright, communal, produce-forward
Location: 268 Main North Road, Clare

10. Daily Grind Coffee on Main

a bagel at Daily Grind Coffee on Main
Grab a bagel and a brew. (Credit: Daily Grind Coffee on Main)

Best for: coffee lovers, quick catch-ups, laid-back starts

Clare’s beloved daily pick-me-up destination, Daily Grind Coffee on Main is where great coffee and good vibes go hand-in-hand. Baristas know their beans, the espresso is balanced and bold, and the breakfast lineup leans fresh and clever, think perfectly poached eggs, smashed avo with a twist, and house-baked treats that disappear fast. This is all about warm service, relaxed vibes and local feels, the sort of place you swoop into for a caffeine hit and end up staying for a second round and a chat.

Insider tip: hit up Daily Grind mid-week mornings to beat the brunch queue (locals will tell you it’s the best time to linger with a flat white).

Average price: $$
Atmosphere: casual, friendly, community-driven
Location: 232 Main North Road, Clare

11. Room 21 Café

Best for: scrummy scones and slow coffee dates

Located a short drive to Auburn, this is the kind of hidden gem that makes mornings in Clare Valley feel gracious and unhurried. Tucked into a lush garden setting, this cafe pairs excellent coffee with simple, seasonal fare that feels thoughtfully curated, from scrummy scones and cream to bright breakfast bowls and light lunch plates that hit the sweet spot between comfort and creativity. With plenty of outdoor seating shaded by a leafy canopy and the scent of flowers in the air, this is a peaceful oasis for wanderers and locals alike. Swing by mid-morning when the garden is at its quietest and the espresso is still fresh from the first pull.

Average price: $$
Atmosphere: serene and easy-going
Location: 21 Main North Road, Auburn

12. Zest Cafe Clare

Zest is Clare’s unofficial headquarters. By mid-morning, tables are stacked with cyclists in Lycra, growers in boots and travellers mapping out cellar doors. The menu is broad from all-day breakfast, burgers, salads, sweets, and the coffee is fast, hot and consistent. Importantly, there’s space. Big groups fit. Prams fit. Perfect when nobody can agree what they want, there’s something for everyone. Order the big breakfast or a classic bacon-and-egg roll.

Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: lively, sunny, community hub
Location: 260 Main North Road, Clare
Best for: groups, families, pre-winery meet-ups

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Rebecca Foreman

Rebecca Foreman

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7 pinch-me moments I had at the new Monarto Safari Lodge

    Katie Carlin Katie Carlin
    Continue
    Monarto Safari Resort’s new Safari Lodge delivers so much more than a memorable stay; it’s packed full of unforgettable moments.  

    Just a year after the 78-room Monarto Safari Resort opened, the new Safari Lodge brings a more intimate and exclusive overnight African safari experience to Australia just outside of Adelaide. But just how similar is it to an African safari?

    Consider these pinch-me moments I had during my stay and decide for yourself. 

    1. Cheetah sightings at check-in

    monarto safari lodge cheetahs
    Spot cheetahs before you even check in.

    Safari Lodge is set within the Wild Africa precinct of the expansive, open-range Monarto Safari Park. I expected to see animals, but I didn’t expect to see two cheetahs stalking the fenceline just behind my tent at check-in.

    I cross the paddock to get a closer look. Both are now perched like a sphinx on a hill overlooking the 20 premium tents that make up Safari Lodge. I stand here, locked in place, waiting to see if they make a move. After 10 minutes like this, I turn to get settled into the tent but throw a final look in their direction; they’ve slinked back down, now barely visible in the grass. I’m sure I’ll be dreaming about this encounter later tonight. 

    2. Sipping champagne as a giraffe sips from a waterhole

    giraffes at monarto safari lodge
    Enjoy champagne while meeting the locals. (Credit: Katie Carlin)

    The all-inclusive stay includes a 2.5-hour Sunset Safari that takes guests into the Wild Africa precinct onboard a purpose-built Safari Land Cruiser for a chance to see free-roaming herds of African animals up close.

    The safari drive culminates in a champagne and canapé stop in a fenced and sheltered viewing area of the precinct. A chance to watch the sun set as animals gather around one of the many waterholes. And we’re in luck! Two giraffes are stripping leaves from a nearby tree as three white rhinos graze to my right. One giraffe starts galloping, in that funny head-bobbing way giraffes do, to the water’s edge. It splays its legs and bends its long neck down to start slurping up water. I find giraffes endlessly entertaining, and sipping champagne while watching the scene play out is the icing on the cake. 

    3. A rain shower with views of a waterhole where African animals gather

    monarto safari lodge King Safari Tent
    Enjoy views from the King Safari Tent.

    I am staying in tent 17, one of the best positioned tents for animal encounters, due to its proximity to the waterhole. Not only does the spacious 71-square-metre King Safari Tent feature a king bed, lounge area, separate dressing room with kitchenette, coffee machine, kettle and fully stocked mini bar, and ensuite bathroom. But you can even glimpse the waterhole from the rain shower. It’s thoughtful details like this that keep you connected to the safari experience no matter where you are located.  

    4. Feeding lions from within a caged dome

    Lion 360 experience at monarto safari resort
    Step into the Lion 360 experience. (Credit: Katie Carlin)

    Monarto Safari Park isn’t a zoo. Set across 1500 hectares of South Australian bushland, it’s an expansive safari experience. It’s been designed to support complex social groupings, natural behaviours and long-term species management. Entry is included for guests, but I’ve decided to upgrade my experience with tickets to Lion 360. 

    Senior Keeper Rachel Hemming herds 15 of us into a domed cage for the unique lion feeding experience. She leads Monarto’s care and conservation breeding programs for their iconic big cats. “Make sure you don’t get too close to the edge of the cage; the lions like to mark their territory,” she warns. 

    She starts making cat-like calls to Kubwa, Kashka and Kito, the three male lions lazing somewhere out of sight behind the tree line in the distance. The promise of food eventually lures the lions over. I’m in awe of their size as they pace back and forth, pausing to take the meat as it’s fed to them via tongs.

    In her excitement, one lady has inched too close; a lion takes aim and hits his mark before she realises her mistake. I see her leaving the gift shop with a new jacket not long after the tour ends. 

    5. A swim in a private plunge pool with a floating charcuterie board

    Monarto safari Lodge swim in a private plunge pool with a floating charcuterie board
    Tuck into a poolside treat. (Credit: Katie Carlin)

    The Safari Lodge reception is also home to a restaurant and bar, heated swimming pool and several private plunge pools available to book. After a morning spent at Monarto Safari Park, a dip in one of the private plunge pools sounds too good to skip.

    I change into my swimmers and make my way to the lodge. A generous charcuterie board arrives shortly after I slip into the pool. I’m told floating trays are already on order, but picking at the selection of cheeses, meats, nuts and fruit while perched on the edge sipping champagne is just as indulgent as it is having it float in the water. I never make it to the gym or pickleball court beside the lodge, but I have no regrets. 

    6. A front-row seat to a male rhino rejected by two females

    male rhino grazing
    Watch a rhino’s unlucky day. (Credit: Lucas Alexander)

    Louis Tonkin, our Wild Africa Tour host, is giddy with excitement when he spots the three white rhinos on our Sunset Safari drive. He has an inkling that we’re about to get a show.

    He pulls to the side and tells us what terrible eyesight white rhinos have, struggling to spot a motionless animal or object even from a short distance. However, they make up for it with acute hearing and an incredible sense of smell. Which explains why the larger male rhino is methodically creeping towards the two disinterested females grazing metres in front of him, then suddenly freezing on the spot. He’s hoping one will be open to mating with him. He takes another wary shuffle forward and suddenly the smaller of the two turns and charges towards him, butting him hard with her head. It’s a firm no. The male, denied, sheepishly backs away. 

    7. Watching a dazzle of zebra from the comfort of a luxury safari tent

    monarto safari resort zebra
    Wildlife encounters abound.

    Rain clouds loom, and the wind is howling, but thankfully it hasn’t deterred the zebras. I’m brewing a cup of Monarto’s Serengé-T – a vanilla rooibos blended with Daintree black tea and butterfly pea flower when I spot them. Six zebras are prancing across the plains for a drink at the waterhole. I watch their antics from the deck of my King Safari Tent, wrapped in a merino blanket made by Australian-owned Grampians Good Co. and marvel at the fact I get a front-row show to these wild animals. 

    After they disappear from view, I sit with the sketch pad and pencils I find in the cupboard and start drawing some of my most memorable animal encounters from the weekend – starting with the two hippos I saw ravenously munching on grass at dusk as we made our way out of the Wild Africa precinct last night. This really is as close to an authentic safari experience as you can get outside of Africa. 

    Start planning a wild stay in the luxurious Safari Lodge at monartosafariresort.com.