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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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5 of the best day trips from Hobart

(Credit: Samuel Shelley)

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
    Continue
    Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

    In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

    Where to stay

    Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick hotel
    Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

    Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

    For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline, and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique from your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

    For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

    1. Bruny Island

    Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island.
    Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Credit: Elise Weaver)

    Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

    Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

    Catch a rare glimpse of the white-furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

    2. Mount Wellington

    Mount Wellington Summit tasmania
    Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Credit: Samuel Shelley)

    At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

    Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes, which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

    For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

    2. Port Arthur

    Port Arthur tasmania
    Wander through convict-built grounds and gardens. (Credit: Alastair Bett)

    Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

    The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

    Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

    3. Launceston

    Duck Reach Power Station Bridge Cataract Gorge launceston
    Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)

    You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

    Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

    4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

    woman with wombat at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
    Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

    Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

    Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

    5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

    Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart.
    Trace the river through history and wine country. (Credit: Alastair Bett)

    Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol, said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

    Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.