30+ places to eat on the way from Canberra to Sydney that aren’t Macca’s
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We love us a Quarter Pounder but sometimes you want to mix it up a little. So here are some of our favourite places to eat on the road to Sydney that aren’t Macca’s—all within half an hour’s drive from the Hume Highway.
For Canberrans, the drive between Canberra and Sydney is not an unusual one, with most of us completing the round trip multiple times a year.
As for food, always a trade-off between potentially losing time by venturing off the road in the hope of finding somewhere to eat or cruising up to the drive-thru window.
Besides, there’s nothing like a good leg stretch during a long drive, especially with little ones in tow.
Westering at Lake George Winery
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Award winning contemporary food, stunning views and rustic ambiance—if you’re going to make a pit-stop on the way to Sydney you might as well do it in style.
Westering Restaurant at Lake George offers decadent lunch options every Friday to Sunday, from 11 am until 3 pm (and it’s worth stopping for). Working closely with local artisan suppliers in order to offer a menu that matches the taste and textures of the cool climate wines from Lake George, it’ll feel like the perfect pre-holiday pick me up.
173 The Vineyards Road, Lake George | Four minutes off the Federal Highway | 02 4848 0182 | lakegeorgewinery.com.au
Café Lerida
Forget nibbling on chips in the car, enjoy lunch amongst the grapevines before continuing your journey.
Café Lerida has built up a loyal following over the years and it’s not hard to see why. With a full-time chef on hand the restaurant serves a great range of dishes—giving you plenty of options no matter if you’re looking for a quick coffee and snack or a three course lunch.
87 The Vineyards Rd, Lake George | Four minutes off the Federal Highway | 02 4848 0231 | leridaestate.com.au
Some Café
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It’s ‘Lonsdale Street meets the country’. Some Café is a must try in Collector, which is located just north of Lake George and is around a half-hour drive from Canberra.
Established by partners Oliver and Lucy in 2015, the café follows a paddock-to-plate philosophy.
There are chickens out the back to provide the eggs used at the café, and a kitchen garden is used as much as possible.
Allpress coffee and a pretty amazing Egg and Bacon Roll make this a must-visit.
5/7 Murray St, Collector | Two minutes off the Federal Highway | Facebook
Eling Forest Winery Café
Situated on a beautiful vineyard just off the Hume Highway near Sutton Forest, the Café at Eling Forest Winery is a lovely stop for breakfast, a light meal or a gourmet lunch.
Experience home-style food either sitting inside this cosy café, or sit outside and absorb the atmosphere of the beautiful surroundings.
If you are after a drink, they serve quality in house-roasted coffee, local wines, or a light beer or cider. If you’re after a peaceful spot with a good choice homestyle menu, then Eling Forest is the place to stop.
12587 Hume Highway, Sutton Forest | One minute from Hume Highway | (02) 4878 9155 | elingforest.com.au
Grit Café
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Grit Café is in Goulburn, just off the highway near the Big Merino.
The menu is filled with lots of healthy items, such as hearty soups, healthy fresh cakes, salad, wholesome breakfasts, raw dessert and homemade bagels.
Grit Cafés main motto is “life is too short for bad coffee”, so the coffee here is sure to meet high expectations.
With both indoor and outdoor seating, and a vibrant atmosphere, this is a convenient stop that is way better for you than the McDonalds down the road!
6 Sowerby St, Goulburn | One minute from Hume Highway | (02) 4822 1191| Facebook
Paragon Café Goulburn
This place is practically an institution—and for good reason! Opened in 1940, Goulburn’s Paragon Café is still dishing out homestyle meals nearly 80 years later.
With everything from pizza and pasta to a range of homestyle burgers to more substantial offerings (think Steak Diane or Surf & Turf) this is a great bet any time of day.
174-176 Auburn Street, Goulburn | Seven minutes from the Hume Highway |(02) 4821 3566 | paragoncafe.com.au
The Roses Café
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Gourmet pies, potato bakes, lasagne, quiches, wraps, pastries and more—The Roses Café is a Goulburn favourite.
Located in an heritage building, this spacious café specialises in home-made comfort food that will leave you wanting more. Perfect for grabbing something quick and easy (think crispy, crunchy, cheesy spinach and feta rolls or frittatas) or settling down to enjoy a cuppa with a well deserved lunch break, your stomach will thank you.
There are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available.
59 Verner Street, Goulburn | Three minutes from Hume Highway | (02) 4822 2248 | therosescafe.com.au
Meridian Café
The Meridian Café in Marulan is a lovely stop for a meal, a snack or just a cup of decent coffee. Only a short detour off the Hume Highway, the food at the Meridian Café is natural, fresh, and seasonal.
All their produce is sourced locally, and all food is cooked on site. This classic style café offers great customer service, serving classic breakfasts and healthy lunches – the menu is limited, however, there’s a large blackboard specials menu which changes daily.
85 George Street, Marulan | 2 minutes from Hume Highway | (02) 4841 1126 | facebook.com/meridiancafemarulan
Bernie’s Diner
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Bernie’s is an American-style diner in Moss Vale that comes straight out of the 1950s.
A rare find, with authentic diner charm and great food. Red booth seating and 50s style tables, art deco lights and tiled walls provide a cool décor and atmosphere.
They serve classic American diner food, which the menu includes: burgers, house-made beer smoked pastrami and corned beef, subs, hot dogs, sundaes and dessert pies, shakes & floats, and classic American sides; fries, cheese fries, wings, onion rings, slaw and corn on the cob.
402 Argyle St, Moss Vale | 25 minutes from Hume Highway | 02 4869 1502 | berniesdiner.com.au
The Press Shop
Would you like stationery with your latte? When you see it lined up in all its handcrafted glory in The Press Shop it will make perfect sense.
The menu is a locavore’s delight—everything from the meat, mushrooms, vegetables and even spring water are sourced from the region.
And if you happen to need some bespoke stationery created on a vintage letterpress, then wander into the artist’s studio…
5/391-397 Bong Bong Street, Bowral | 30 mins from Hume Highway | thepressshop.com.au
Raw & Wild Market Café
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Raw & Wild Market Café is a health food store with an organic café situated at the back of the shop on the main street of Bowral.
The shop itself is filled with plenty of delicious and fresh produce and bundles of organic goods. The Café has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with an extensive and delicious organic menu.
The wholefood café is full service à la carte, and is open every day with all-day breakfast and a seasonal lunch menu.
250 Bong Bong Street, Bowral | 8 minutes from Hume Highway | 02 4851 5155 | rawwild.com.au
South Hill Kitchen
Billed as “simple food done right”, South Hill Kitchen offers a delicious range of breakfast and lunch options in Bowral.
Shop 1, Bong Bong Street, Bowral | 4861 7411 | 10 minutes from Hume Highway | southhillkitchen.com.au
Briars Historic Inn
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Inside the Briars Historic Inn, you will find the Briars Bar and Restaurant, serving contemporary food, boutique beers and premium wines in an original Southern Highlands Inn.
It offers a real country atmosphere with quality food, local wine and boutique beers.
It’s a great place to stop in the colder winter months with a warm and cosy ambience, and even better in summer with a sunny balcony overlooking greenery surrounding the inn.
Serving a range of local and fresh produce, you can find items like roast Southern Highlands free-range chicken, slow-braised lamb shanks and Australian salt & pepper calamari on the menu.
They also have a char-grill, where you can cook your own steak or have a chef personally cook one for you.
653 Moss Vale Road, Bowral | 21 minutes from Hume Highway | 02 4868 3800 | briars.com.au
Schmokin Aus
Craving some classic café style food? At Schmokin Aus you’ll find all that and more.
Serving everything from coffee, bacon and eggs rolls and pizza to Banh Mi (and basically all the yummy street food you can think of), it’s a great place to stop and stretch your legs.
With classic, cosy country interiors, it’s been designed specially for motoring enthusiasts, so you’ll also find plenty of cool merch to take home.
1 Market Place, Berrima | 26 minutes from Hume Highway | 0456565651 | schmokin.com.au
Lil Piggy
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Lil Piggy in Mittagong is a funky little café with plenty of treats to get you through your big day on the road, especially if you have dietary requirements (or just love yummy food).
As well as serving great coffee, 95 per cent of the menu is available gluten free and all of the ham, pastrami, brisket is smoked in house. With everything from mushroom bruschetta to a Southern fried chicken bowl on the menu, you’ll find plenty of old classics with a modern spin. Oh, and it’s dog friendly.
Just don’t forget to grab a coconut custard tart on the way out!
6A Bowral Rd, Mittagong | 17 minutes from Hume Highway | 02 4801 0482 | Facebook
And then there’s…
Grazing
42 Cork St, Gundaroo | grazing.com.au
Cork Street Café
Cork St, Gundaroo | corkstreetcafe.com
Café 3:sixteen
5 Hercules St, Murrumbateman | Facebook
Olive View Café and Restaurant at Fedra Olive Drove
5796 Federal Hwy, Collector | fedraolivegrove.com.au
The Historic Bushranger Hotel
24 Church St Collector | thebushrangerhotel.com.au
Trapper’s Bakery
4 Sowerby St, Goulburn | trappersbakery.com.au
Harvest
175 Auburn St, Goulburn | Facebook
Café Book
140a Auburn Street, Goulburn | taic91.wixsite.com
Gumnut Patisserie
Shop 7, Grand Arcade, Bong Bong St, Bowral and Corner of Cavendish &, Dalton St, Mittagong | gumnutpatisserie.com.au
Exeter General Store
1 Exeter Road, Exeter | facebook.com/ExeterGeneralStore
Magpie Café Berrima
28 The Old Hume Highway, Berrima | bowralgueststays.com.au
The Courtyard Café Berrima
Shop 2-4/Lot 117 Old Hume Hwy, Berrima |thecourtyardcafeberrima.business.site
The Old Hume Café
78 Yass Street, Gunning | facebook.com/TheOldHumeCafe
Merino Café
62 Yass St, Gunning | Facebook
The Midge Tallong
90 Caoura Road, Tallong | themidgetallong.com
The Shaggy Cow
112 Main Street. Mittagong | theshaggycow.com.au
Station House Café
12 Bowral Rd, Mittagong | Facebook
Paste
105 Main St, Mittagong | pasteaustralia.com
Highlands Merchant
405 Argyle Street, Moss Vale | highlandsmerchant.com.au
Bundanoon Hotel
6-18 Erith Street, Bundanoon | bundanoonhotel.com.au
Feature image of The Press Shop via Facebook.
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