10 must-try foodie experiences in Mudgee

Boutique wineries, award-winning food festivals, fine-dining restaurants and local produce markets make Mudgee the perfect place for a foodie getaway. Here are some of the best stops to include in your itinerary.

Destination NSW

Destination NSW

Apr 2023 -
3
min read
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Alby & Esthers

It’s easy to miss Alby & Esthers, which is hidden away up an alleyway off Mudgee’s Market Street. But you won’t want to, as this is one of the best spots in town for coffee. The beautiful grapevine-covered courtyard is the perfect spot to start your day with an artisan coffee, their famous Esthers jaffle or the Alby's breakfast. 

Couple enjoying a relaxing breakfast in Alby + Esters in Mudgee, Country NSW

Alby + Esters, Mudgee

Eltons Bar + Bites

Also known as Eltons Eating + Drinking, this cafe and restaurant serves up delicious food all day, and in the evenings on weekends. Set inside the original Eltons Pharmacy building, which dates back to 1896, you can choose to dine at the main bar or in the open-air courtyard. Enjoy brunch classics throughout the day and delicious share plates in the evening, accompanied by Mudgee wines and Australian craft beers on tap. 

Potato bombs available at Eltons Bar + Bites, Mudgee

Eltons Bar + Bites, Mudgee

The Little Cooking School

Learn how to dish up some of Mudgee’s amazing produce at The Little Cooking School. Whatever your cooking experience, you can enjoy taking part in one of the many courses on offer, from gnocchi masterclasses to kid's Asian dumpling workshops. After working away in the kitchen, you can enjoy your efforts under the wisteria canopy of the beautifully renovated historic homestead or cosy up by the fire in winter.  

Couple enjoying a cooking experience with Tamara Howorth at The Little Cooking School, Mudgee

The Little Cooking School, Mudgee

Roth’s Wine Bar

Operating since 1923, Roth’s is one of NSW’s oldest wine bars. This is a great spot to try local wines, with over 100 available by the glass or bottle. To accompany the wine, try one of the wood-fired pizzas or dine on delicious gastro-pub-inspired share plates, and visit on a Friday or Saturday night for live music. Old-timey furnishings give the quirky venue a charmingly rustic vibe, and craft beer is also available for those wanting a break from the grapes. 

Pizza at Roth's Wine Bar, Mudgee

Roth's Wine Bar, Mudgee - Credit: Mudgee Region Tourism

Mudgee Farmers’ Markets

Sample some of the region’s great produce, direct from the farmers, growers and makers at the Mudgee Farmers’ Markets. On the third Saturday of the month (come rain, hail or shine), the markets take place in Robertson Park. Listen to local musicians play as you browse the great range of goods – all products on sale have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholders themselves. The park is also the location of the monthly Makers Market, where you can find fresh produce, art, jewellery, clothing and craftwork from locals. 

Pipeclay Pumphouse

Indulge in fine dining at Pipeclay Pumphouse, part of Robert Stein Vineyard and Winery. The restaurant follows a paddock-to-plate philosophy, using homegrown and locally sourced produce. Think heirloom beetroot carpaccio with ricotta and carrot; mussel mariniere with house-made bread; and braised lamb shoulder with pumpkin and parsnip. Pair the degustation menu with some of the winery's excellent wines and enjoy the beautiful surroundings while you dine.  

29 Nine 99

Head to the tiny village of Rylstone for authentic Chinese yum cha and tea at 29 Nine 99. Here you can try more than 30 types of dumplings, steamed buns and desserts, as well as purchase frozen dumplings to take home with you. Dine outdoors in the courtyard or inside while admiring the original Chinese artworks, scarves and jewellery on display.  

Dumplings in a sunny courtyard at 29 Nine 99, Rylstone

29 Nine 99, Rylstone

Indigiearth Cafe

Learn about Aboriginal culture, traditions and food at Indigiearth, an Aboriginal-owned and -operated cafe in Mudgee. Founded by Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor, the cafe offers a variety of dishes created with native ingredients such as salt bush, wattleseed, lilly pilly and finger limes. The products are also available to purchase online and in store. In addition to the eating-in, you can also try the Warakirri Dining experience, a five-course degustation featuring Australian native foods, botanicals, culture and rituals. 

The Zin House

Located at Lowe Family Wines, The Zin House is a modern farmhouse restaurant, serving organic and biodynamic produce from their extensive kitchen gardens, orchards and farmland, along with other local produce. Expect dishes like Mudgee Valley brie gnocco frito with Tinja honey, and Zin Garden greens topped with miso cream, Arnaldo's charcuterie, Althea sourdough and saltbush butter. The seasonally changing set menu is designed to be enjoyed slowly, accompanied by excellent Mudgee wines. 

Food and drink on the menu at The Zin House restaurant, Eurunderee near Mudgee

The Zin House, Eurunderee

Mudgee Wine + Food Month

Each September, Mudgee celebrates its produce with a fantastic food and wine festival. Running for more than 40 years, the annual fiesta features an exciting line-up of events including wine tastings and masterclasses, special lunches and dinners, markets, trivia, live music and tours. 

Locals enjoying the Mudgee Wine & Food Festival in 2018, Mudgee

Mudgee Wine + Food Month in 2018, Mudgee

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