10 must-stop places to eat between Canberra and Sydney

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Planning a road trip to Sydney? While Macca’s Chicken McNuggets always hit the spot, sometimes you need stretch your legs and treat your tastebuds.
Here are 10 must-stop places to eat on the road to Sydney that don’t involve a drive-through – all within half an hour’s drive from the Hume Highway. Your stomach will thank you for taking the scenic route.
Cork Street Café
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Freshly made pizza, filled focaccia, salads, Barrio coffee, wine and more – this little café is equal parts cosy and mouthwatering.
Set in the old Police Stables, Cork Street Café is only open Thursday to Sunday, and is available for takeaway or dining in. For the pizzas, gluten-free bases are available with notice and half-and-half options are available on medium and family-size pizzas (so there’ll be no need to fight over flavours).
24 Cork Street, Gundaroo | 30 minutes from Hume Highway | corkstreetcafe.com
Westering at Lake George Winery
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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 delicious dining options every Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am until 5 pm (and it’s worth stopping for).
Working closely with local artisan suppliers to offer a menu that matches the taste and textures of Lake George’s cool climate wines, from mushroom risotto to pizza, it’ll feel like the perfect pre-holiday pick-me-up for the whole family.
173 The Vineyards Road, Lake George | Four minutes off the Federal Highway | lakegeorgewinery.com.au
Some Café
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A cute little café with the perfect mix of a cosy atmosphere and a good cup of coffee, Some Café is a must-try in Collector, just north of Lake George and around a half-hour drive from Canberra.
Established by partners Oliver and Lucy in 2015, the café follows a paddock-to-plate philosophy, with chickens out the back to provide eggs, and a kitchen garden to add some fresh flavour to their dishes. Looking for something you can eat on the go? Keep an eye out for the cake cabinet and the selection of sausage rolls and brekkie burritos.
5/7 Murray Street, Collector | Two minutes off the Federal Highway | Facebook
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 a heritage building, this spacious café specialises in homemade 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 | therosescafe.com.au
The Paragon Café
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This roomy, long-running café has been serving locals and travellers old-fashioned, good-quality, fresh foods since 1940.
One of the few famous traditional cafés left in Australia, it’s fully licensed and offers both cafe and restaurant-style meals. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday, choose from options like Fillet Steak, Salmon Fillet a Mediterranean Chicken Burger and more.
174-176 Auburn Street, Goulburn | Six minutes from Hume Highway | paragoncafe.com.au
The Post Office
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If you’re waiting for a punchline, there’s not one coming because this is genuinely the name of a gorgeous café in Moss Vale.
Built in the late 1800s, The Post Office was exactly that – and it was originally the main official building of this small town. Delivering mail for over 100 years, the heritage-listed building now houses a café that serves classic Australian breakfast and lunch options seven days a week.
Paired with a Five Senses coffee, we can guarantee it’s much better than a McMuffin.
1/249 Argyle Street, Moss Vale | 12 minutes from Hume Highway | thepostofficemossvale.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
The Plantation Café
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Serving Double Roasters coffee, fresh bakery goods, and hearty breakfasts along with an affordable all-day menu, The Plantation Café is not only delicious, but also beautiful.
With lofty ceilings, lots of foliage and a spectacular artisan mural. It’s the perfect antidote to a long trip in the car. And if you happen to want to explore some vintage goodies, wander into Dirty Janes right next door…
21 Banyette Street, Bowral | 30 mins from Hume Highway | greenlanebowral.com
Bundanoon Hotel
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Nestled in the hills of the Southern Highlands, the Bundanoon Hotel is a charming place to stop for a rest and reset.
Oozing village charm with a modern menu, the relaxed bistro is open for lunch and dinner. Offering share plates, pizza and nice cold drinks that promise to wash away a long day.
6-18 Erith Street, Bundanoon | 10 minutes from Hume Highway | bundanoonhotel.com.au
Paste
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Craving something more than café food? Forget turning off the highway for a quick coffee, because you can dine at a Michelin-starred chef’s restaurant – Paste.
Owned and run by celebrated chef, Bee Satongung, and her Mittagong-born chef husband, Jason Bailey, the pair take a bold approach to Thai cuisine by reimagining ancient Thai recipes. Packed full of flavour, from Kanom Jeen Sao Nam to Jeen Juan Chicken Curry, you’ll be transported to Thailand.
105 Main Street, Mittagong | Five minutes from Hume Highway | pasteaustralia.com
Feature image: Some Cafe, Collector. Credit: Tim Bean Photography.