Top Restaurants in Hepburn Springs
Where to Eat in Hepburn Springs: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Discover the best restaurant in Hepburn Springs, Australia including Lake House, Mercato @ Daylesford, The Farmers Arms, Old Hepburn Hotel, Rubens, Blue Bean Love Restaurant, The Perfect Drop, Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, Kazuki's, Larder Daylesford & L1 Filter Bar
Things to do in Hepburn Springs
1. Lake House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 691 reviews
In the kitchens, a talented young team under the guidance of Owner and Executive Chef Alla Wolf- Tasker works from the ground up producing cutting edge, modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal and regional ingredients. The kitchen creates most items on the daily menu from the ground up – ranging from bread, charcuterie, preserves, smoked goods, chocolates and more.
Reviewed By Marilyn M - Melbourne, Australia
We dined here on a Saturday night as part of a weekend getaway whilst staying at the Lake House hotel. We opted for the degustation menu which we often like to do. My husband also had the matching wines. Each dish was beautifully presented and...MoreThank-you for your recommendation and support. We look forward to seeing you back at Lake House soon.
2. Mercato @ Daylesford
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 494 reviews
Reviewed By oceandreamings - Melbourne, Australia
We have visited the Mercato before and loved it so much that we decided to re visit for a romantic special occasion. Unfortunately the new owners have not inherited the level of professionalism as their predecessors. The quality of food has noticeably declined and the staff were attentive leading up to entree but it all went down hill from there. The ambience of the restaurant has changed and is very noisy for a fine dining experience. Goodluck to the new owners but it is going to take a lot more than crisp white table cloths and candles to keep this restaurant ahead of other fine dining restaurants in the area.
3. The Farmers Arms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 834 reviews
The Farmers Arms Daylesford offers a perfect blend of country charm combined with a sophisticated menu, extensive wine list and professional service. Our clientele is a great mix of locals and visitors who mingle very well and very happily together. While it is a more relaxed style of service, with people coming to the bar to order food & drinks, the menu itself is not your typical pub menu. Each dish has been carefully considered by our Executive Chef and our menu changes regularly depending on the season and the local produce available. That said, the pub also has the tradition of a Friday night meat raffle where we raise money for local charities. So please come along and enjoy the magic that is the Farmers Arms. Please note our kitchen is open for lunch from 12-3pm and dinner orders from 5:30-9pm. Gluten Free & Vegetarian options available.
Reviewed By saltandpepper1000 - Melbourne, Australia
Make sure you arrive early, no bookings taken. Have a drink at the bar and wait for a table if none available upon arrival. Well worth it. You are sure to bump into someone you know . Meet your friends there for a great night out. The food was fabulous each time we have been there.
4. Old Hepburn Hotel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 134 reviews
An authentic country pub with a focus on food, family and entertainment.
Reviewed By KarynM26 - Daylesford, Australia
This is our favourite local, great spot for the kids & for us!! Staff are always friendly & helpful and make you feel right at home. Kids have lots of choice on the "Little Humans" menu and we can never decide what to have... everything always sounds so yummy and the food does not disappoint!!! This venue is perfect for families, lots of space and service is very quick & efficient.Try the housemade pie of the day .... best pie I have every had!!! Perfect for a cold winters pick me up!!!
5. Rubens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 622 reviews
Reviewed By Shirley M - Aberdeen, United Kingdom
From the take away menu, we weren't sure what to expect but were pleasantly surprised by everything - the service, dish selection, ambience and business of this wee restaurant in Hepburn Springs. Very enjoyable evening and delicious wine - I had the baked Tasmanian salmon; my husband had the risotto. Sandy Farm Cab Merlot wine was yummy. Lovely staff.
6. Blue Bean Love Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 371 reviews
Friendly Staff, contemporary comfort food for a great price, many vegan options, disabled toilets, single origin and blended coffee (roasted locally), craft beer (bottles, cans & taps), specialty spirits, local wine & produce, spacious venue, courtyard, family & dog friendly, always a one of a kind experience! Free Live music all weekend and happy hour's are 4-6pm.
Reviewed By _tracyanndavey - Barcelona, Spain
Great food and great service at an interesting venue. Good coffee and a good selection of food, the venue also has live music in the evenings. The venue has an eclectic collection of books, bottles and musical instruments which is fun and interesting.
Recommend for everyone families and all.
7. The Perfect Drop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 574 reviews
Our focus is on local produce, we know all the farmers directly; we focus on ethical and buying whole animals direct from the source. We employ a full time butcher who looks after all of our meat, including curing and ageing, for both our restaurant and our newly renovated pub (located in Creswick 15 mins from Daylesford). We have several kitchen Gardens and grow a lot of our own produce. Our award-winning executive chef, Hugh Maxwell and his team create some of the most incredible contemporary dishes, sure to wow your senses. Our French restaurant manager and his talented team will ensure the best fine dining experience. We aim to be your ultimate dining experience, one that you cannot forget. There is a separate wine bar and courtyard for pre-dinner drinks and happy hour 4pm-6pm daily, half price oysters and cocktails.
Reviewed By LC888 - Melbourne, Australia
Came here as it was #1 on TA for Daylesford.
The standard of fine dining here is definitely not on the par with Melbourne's fine dining.
They do cater for my lactose intolerance which was good but I felt compromised in the sense that they replaced scampi with risotto ball even though scampi doesn't contain lactose!
First course was the aged beef carpaccio. I think fresh beef would have been better. 4/5
Second course as pan fried scallop with oyster yogurt ice cream. The lactose free version didn't have the yogurt ice cream which I didn't think I was missing out on anything. With the oyster yogurt ice cream, i would rate it 4/5 but without it, 5/5
Third course was the scampi with bisque or lactose free version was risotto ball with eggplant bisque. Both were great. 5/5
Fourth course was a salmon dish. We both felt the almond dressing is a but off putting and there wasn't enough sauce. 4/5
There was a bonus palette cleanser dish which was made with sorbet. I think one of them was supposed to be pineapple flavoured which was obviously made out of flavouring rather than fresh pineapple, or that was how it tasted. 4/5
Final course was the lychee panna cotta or raspberry sorbet version for the lactose free. Original lychee version was 5/5 but the lactose free version is a bit too sweet. 4/5
Service was excellent. 5/5
Price came in at $213 for two people before tips.
Overall: 4.1/5
8. Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm
Overall Ratings
4 based on 218 reviews
Please note, we are an open garden that offers a gift shop, cafe, tours of the historic homestead and charge a gate entry of $4 per adult and $1 per school-aged child. Lavandula Farm is open every day during school and public holidays.
Reviewed By smanning78
We planned on visiting this place for morning as my wife loves all things Lavender. We arrived at the property to see a sign staying it was $4 per adult to enter and $1 per child. We assumed this would only apply if you visited the Gardens or farm. We were both shocked to find it also applied to enter the cafe. The lady in the gift shop stated this was because the cafe was part of the Gardens and explained there were many things other things to do once inside (which we were not interested in doing and did not have time for). For us having to pay $8 to get into a cafe before having to pay for morning tea was not worth it. The lady at the gift shop grudging let my wife into the cafe to see what we could by if we went in. My wife was shocked to find that 2 lavender scones would cost $10 and a peice of cake $8.50. We frequently go to cafes and we both found these prices obscene.
After having read the managers of this places response to other people who have had the same experience as us they appear to be marketing it as a 'destination' but to us there was no way it would of been worth it. I would of given no stars but thats not an option.
9. Kazuki's
Overall Ratings
5 based on 436 reviews
Lunch - Saturday & Sunday from 12 noon Dinner - Thursday to Monday from 6 pm
Reviewed By BlackBootGirl - Melbourne
My fiancé took me here for a birthday dinner and we had the seven course tasting menu with matching wines. In short the food here is extraordinary!
I thoroughly enjoyed the pescatarian menu, whilst my partner had the vegetarian, which I too got to sample. We were amazed that the restaurant does not highlight these menus as they are amazing.
Having experienced other fine dining tasting menus of the veg variety and left ultimately disheartened by similar tastes and presentations for each course, the chefs at Kazuki's offer an array of umami flavours and incredible artistry in presentation. Much has been said previously of the delights that the pescatarian menu delivers; the bug dumplings, King George whiting, and cured salmon are still singing on my tastebuds.
Desserts for both menus were the same; the pear sorbet with Roquefort shavings was a delicious savoury/sweet segue into the true sweet treat to finish.
If I have one down side, it is that the sommelier did not seem overly confident in recommendations for the two separate menus, but at least had the humility to confer with me as to my preferences for the pescatarian menu. The majority of the wine was fine, (some indeed superb), but there were a few minimal misses.
Regardless, I simply cannot speak highly enough of these menus. Treat your tastebuds (and memory) to this delicious food journey. I can't wait to return. Thanks for your creativity and genius chefs!!
10. Larder Daylesford & L1 Filter Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 489 reviews
A great local eating place in Daylesford
Reviewed By Karen M - Daylesford, Australia
We met friends for breakfast here on a busy Sunday morning & were pleased with the prompt service & the helpfulness of the staff. The menu has changed recently & some of our favourites have gone, but we all found something yummy to eat at a reasonable price. This restaurant is wheelchair-friendly with entry from the back.
