The Best Yarra Valley Cafes (2024) | Australian Traveller

From inventive takes on brunch classics to comforting, tried and true dishes, you can find just about anything at these Yarra Valley cafes.

The glut of great local produce hasn’t been lost on these Yarra Valley cafes, which are as committed to purveying outstanding coffee as they are to offering nourishing, elevated and indulgent seasonal dishes.

Planning a visit to the Yarra Valley? Punctuate a day in this bucolic pocket with pit stops at these eight Yarra Valley cafes for maximum caffeine, sustenance and joy.

1. Round Bird Food & Wine Merchants

Best for: Brunch, comfort food

When the former head chef at Yering Station’s restaurant, Laura Webb-James, and the restaurant manager, Evan James, decided to break away and do their own thing, they wanted to create a place where they’d cook the kind of food they’d make for house guests.

the cafe exterior of Round Bird Food & Wine Merchants in Yarra Valley — Stop by Round Bird Food & Wine Merchants for brunch.

And what lucky friends they must have, because at Round Bird Food & Wine Merchants those dishes might include truffled mushroom ‘croque monsieur’ on brioche with mornay sauce, shaved ham and comte, and hotcakes with banana fritters, maple, peanut butter mousse and toasted seeds.

a close-up shot of brunch at Round Bird Food & Wine Merchants, Yarra Valley — Indulge in comforting brunch classics at Round Bird Food & Wine Merchants.

Address: 170 Main St, Lilydale

2. Nancy’s of the Valley

Best for: Retro charm

At Nancy’s of the Valley you may find yourself smiling as soon as you step through the door. There’s something about the mish mash of retro laminate and old wooden tables with mixed chairs from different decades that feels good even before you’ve seen the seasonal and, where possible, organic menu options.

a look inside the Nancy’s of the Valley cafe in Yarra Valley — Nancy’s of the Valley cafe features a nostalgic design.

There’s a separate menu for vegans, and coeliacs are also well catered for, and along with the organic fair trade and locally roasted Silva coffee there are organic teas and turmeric and chai lattes. And there’s a good milkshake selection too if you’re feeling that retro theme.

a vegan-friendly dish at Nancy’s of the Valley cafe — Nancy’s of the Valley is a go-to cafe for vegans.

Address: 3/2460 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction

3. Black Vice Cafe and Roastery

Best for: Caffeine fiends

On the region’s outer fringe, Hurstbridge Village (or Hursty, as it’s endearingly known) flies a little under the radar. Its major claim to fame is arguably Greasy Zoe’s, a standout local restaurant. But just a few paces from the hatted micro-venue, you’ll find another crowd-pleaser: Black Vice Cafe and Roastery .

a man carrying his child to Black Vice Cafe and Roastery, Yarra Valley — Black Vice is kid- and dog-friendly cafe.

As the name suggests, this kid- and dog-friendly cafe roasts its own beans, drawing in coffee enthusiasts from across the region; there’s a two-page menu that lists the available blends and single origins alone. The indecisive, or overwhelmed, can opt for the ‘caffeinate me’ set, which includes a milk coffee, a batch brew, and an espresso, all from its seasonal single origin menu.

people dining at Black Vice Cafe and Roastery, Yarra Valley — The under-the-radar Black Vice Cafe and Roastery is an ultimate crowd-pleaser.

The all-day brunch menu offers a more tightly curated selection, spanning the classics (eggs Benny, avo toast etc), as well as a handful of burgers.

the milk coffee at Black Vice Cafe and Roastery, Yarra Valley — Sip on single origin coffee.

Address: 946 Heidelberg – Kinglake Rd, Hurstbridge

4. Locavore Studio

Best for: Creative, elevated flavours

Helmed by chef Jessie Rae Crossley, whose resume includes stints behind the burners at restaurants across Europe, as well as in the kitchens of super yachts and ski chalets, the menu at Locavore Studio is decidedly cheffy.

the cafe exterior of Locavore Studio, Yarra Valley — Dine al fresco at Locavore Studio. (Image: Hugh Davison @hughdavison_)

Forget your garden variety eggs on toast: at Locavore, you’ll find complex flavours with nods to several different corners of the globe on the ever-changing seasonal menu.

a look inside Locavore Studio, Yarra Valley — Sit down inside the sleek and classy cafe. (Image: Hugh Davison @hughdavison_)

Those in the savoury breakfast camp might opt for a chilli scramble served with fermented garlic and preserved lemon labneh, oyster mushrooms, sesame and peanut crisp and fried mint, while sweet tooths can gorge on a towering heap of black sesame pancakes that feature cameos from rosella jam, peanut butter ganache and fermented strawberry ice cream.

a delectable dish at Locavore Studio, Yarra Valley — Choose from Locavore’s creative and delectable menu. (Image: Hugh Davison @hughdavison_)

Almost any dietary (nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, veggie or vegan) will find a delectable option to pursue here.

Address: 148 Main St, Lilydale

5. The Yarra Valley Smokery

Best for: Carnivores

While a smattering of vego options lie on the menu at this Lilydale eatery, it’s the locally sourced and house-smoked meats that are the real trump card. The 18-hour-smoked beef brisket is a standout, and comes in three different iterations. And for a wildcard appetiser, try out the smoked dim sims. Stock up on provisions from The Yarra Valley Smokery’s cafe larder, such as pastrami, salmon, cheese and butter. Two words of advice for first timers: come hungry.

Address: 96 Main St, Lilydale

6. Harrow and Harvest Cafe

Best for: Parents after their brunch fix, insta-friendly food

A cosy, eclectically styled venue in Lilydale, Harrow and Harvest Cafe ticks all kinds of boxes. Artfully plated breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes in a riot of colours.

a cafe staff in pink apron holding a bowl of pink food at Harrow and Harvest Cafe — Harrow and Harvest Cafe serves up insta-worthy dishes. (Image: Chapter and song photography)

An array of innovative and decadent drinks (hello iced white chocolate with matcha dust and whipped cream). An open fireplace to cosy up next to in winter, as well as a sun-licked courtyard to exploit come summer.

a table-top view of food at Harrow and Harvest Cafe, Yarra Valley — Hit up Harrow and Harvest Cafe for an artfully plated breakfast. (Image: Chapter and song photography)

Not to mention a huge indoor kid’s playroom, packed with beautiful wooden toys. All packed into a cute little converted former church that dates back to the 1890s.

pouring sauce over a breakfast meal at Harrow and Harvest Cafe, Yarra Valley — Each plate is bursting with colours and flavours. (Image: Chapter and song photography)

Address: 42-44 Castella St, Lilydale

7. Arthurs Creek Coffee Company

Best for: Community vibes, coffee nerds

The focus at this Warrandyte cafe might lie primarily with the coffee — they roast their own fair-trade sourced beans after all. But you’ll find a small selection of pastries, cakes and toasties on offer here too, including some gluten-free options.

Arthurs Creek’s knowledgeable baristas are on hand to help you select the perfect single origin beans for your brew. And you can stock up on coffee gear, peruse the collection of locally made jams, and admire the local artworks lining the walls too.

See also Silva Coffee Roasters , Warburton.

Address: 272 Yarra St, Warrandyte

8. My Little Kitchen Cafes & Bar

Best for: Inventive twists on classic dishes

Something of a local haunt, the guiding philosophy at My Little Kitchen (or MLK to regulars) is to put a fresh spin on classic brunch dishes.

a brunch meal alongside drinks at My Little Kitchen, Yarra Valley — Enjoy inventive takes on classic brunch dishes.

Think avo on toast, but with lemon cream cheese, coconut sambal, and Four Pillars gin hollandaise. Or a shakshuka, zhuzhed up with braised lamb shoulder and a harissa-spiked tomato sauce. Given its popularity, online bookings are highly recommended on weekends.

a close-up of a dish at My Little Kitchen, Yarra Valley — My Little Kitchen puts a fresh spin on classic brunch dishes.

Address: 274 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville

Check out the 10 best Yarra Valley restaurants for 2024.

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat , now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate , whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor , who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will , who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods . “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield , embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House .

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument , which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds .

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens , hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

8 of the best Yarra Valley cafes