The Best Flinders Ranges Restaurants To Dine At

From cute diners championing native ingredients to classic country pubs and a pop-up bakery with a difference, here’s your guide to the best Flinders Ranges restaurants.

Gorgeous sunsets that stretch from horizon to horizon, impossibly cute rock wallabies silhouetted against the golden glow and a deep silence that settles over everything once the sun goes down… There are plenty of things to love about the outback, but those star-filled nights can lose their lustre if you forget to pack enough food.

Fortunately, the days of having to make do with lukewarm roadhouse pies are long gone. It doesn’t matter if you’re camping remotely or living it up in the region’s best accommodation; a new crop of eateries bringing fine dining to every corner of this majestic landscape means you’re never far from your next meal. Whether you’re looking for a paddock to plate feed on a working sheep station, a mixed grill with a difference or an iconic quandong pie, here are the best Flinders Ranges restaurants to help you get the most out of your outback adventure.

1. Flinders Food Co

a table-top view of hands holding out drinks at Flinders Food Co — Fuel up at Flinders Food Co.

Homemade barbed wire chandeliers set the scene at this welcoming Hawker diner that specialises in finding inventive new uses for locally sourced materials. Native ingredients find their way into most dishes on a modern Australian menu that would be at home in any capital city: cornbread with avocado and feta gets a dusting of native dukkah, while the sticky eggplant is doused with a delicious Korean BBQ sauce spiked with native pepperberry (you can also buy bottles to take home).

Add in taps pouring craft beers, coolers and cold press juices, plus cans of refreshing quandong or golden wattle soda, and you’ve got a winning formula.

2. Woolshed Restaurant

the dining area at Woolshed Restaurant, Flinders Ranges — Woolshed Restaurant offers spacious seating.

Dining options begin to thin out as you head further north, so the Woolshed Restaurant on Rawnsley Park Station is a godsend for anyone staying in or near Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Don’t be fooled by the rustic fit-out that goes heavy on the corrugated iron; the kitchen here turns out seriously sophisticated dishes (just skip the pizza).

The property is a working sheep station, so homegrown lamb finds its way into meatballs, stewed hash and pizzas, but there’s also a seasonal menu featuring fresh vegetarian options like lemon zucchini pasta with roasted cherry tomatoes if you’re in the mood for something lighter.

3. Prairie Hotel

the Prairie Hotel in Flinders Ranges — Prairie Hotel is a classic pub in town. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Harvey Keitel and Kate Winslet have stayed here, John Williamson wrote a song about the venue, and it’s even featured in Home & Away. Not bad for a pub in a town with a single-digit population. But it’s the Feral Mixed Grill at the Prairie Hotel that has made Parachilna’s pride and joy a fixture on outback itineraries for decades.

Portions are among the most generous of any Flinders Ranges restaurants, so you’ll need to bring a serious appetite to finish the platter laden with an emu rissole, camel sausage, grilled roo fillet and goat tomahawk. Or you can check out the menu of native proteins that includes everything from roo schnitzel and wild boar orecchiette to a leafy salad with chardonnay dressing.

After lunch, peruse the walls adorned with Aboriginal artworks from across South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, before heading to the stylish front bar pouring session ales, IPAs and hazies from the 500-litre microbrewery in the corner.

4. The Miners Crib Cafe

The former copper mining settlement of Blinman is South Australia’s most elevated town, but there’s nothing highfalutin about the local bakery . Their hunger-busting pies come in an impressive variety of flavours, including kangaroo curry, goat curry, roast lamb and roast pork, while their version of a Cornish pasty packs a little apple pie filling into the trademark thick crusts so you can finish your lunch with a little dessert. You’ll also find scones with quandong jam and cream as well as a range of takeaway soups, curries and stir-fries in case you don’t feel like cooking dinner.

5. North Blinman Hotel

a vehicle parked outside The North Blinman Hotel, Flinders Ranges — The North Blinman Hotel is a classic country watering hole in the Flinders Ranges. (Image: Ranch Glapers)

When this classic country watering hole opened in 1869, it aimed to keep customers satisfied with ice-cold beers and hearty pub meals. More than 150 years later, the “pub in the scrub" is still going strong on both fronts. The classic counter meals taste even better after a long day on the road, and it’s easy to spend an entire evening admiring the unusual decorations; the bar walls are almost entirely hidden by business cards and other mementoes left by satisfied customers.

6. Farina Bakery

a finger bun on white background at farina, Flinders Ranges — Swoon over sweet finger buns at Farina Bakery.

Head north from Leigh Creek, and after half an hour, you’ll hit the railway siding at Farina , which was home to 600 souls in its heyday. These days, the ghost town is mostly populated by tumbleweeds, but for eight magical weeks each winter, a group of enthusiastic volunteers helps to bring the town back to life.

The chief attraction is an underground bakery where mulga fenceposts are fed into a vintage scotch oven, turning out a range of rolls, cobs and loaves, including the infamous one-kilogram fruit loaf. A more modern bakery also produces pies, lamingtons and swoon-worthy cream cakes that are worth the trip alone. It’ll be open again in 2026 from 23 May to 19 July.

7. Over The Edge

If the day doesn’t truly start until you’ve had your caffeine fix, head to this surprisingly cosmopolitan Over the Edge cafe in the small mountain biking hub of Melrose. Racks of bikes and accessories share space with a bright red espresso machine pouring shots of single-origin Guatemalan coffee – order an affogato and you can also try the delicious (and palm oil-free) Golden North ice cream from nearby Laura. A cabinet filled with vegan cakes, slices and tarts is perfect for breakfast on the go, and even if you’re not hungry it’s worth grabbing one of the famous chocolate and raspberry brownies to enjoy later.

8. Quandong Cafe

Spend any time in the Flinders and you’re bound to encounter quandongs in one form or another. Also known as the native peach, this hardy tree thrives throughout the arid ranges, and the tart, vitamin C-rich fruit has long been a local favourite. The cute Quandong Cafe , set a street back from the grand country pubs in the former railroad hub of Quorn, lives up to its name with offerings like quandong milkshakes, waffles, cheesecakes, pies and fluffy scones with whipped cream and quandong jam alongside a range of brunch standards.

For more inspiration and itinerary tips, read our travel guide to the Flinders Ranges.

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

Skip the roadhouse pies at these Flinders Ranges restaurants