The Clare Valley Riesling path is one of South Australia’s top bicycle trails, allowing you to admire the beautiful landscape while sipping superb wines from some of the state’s best wineries.
While the path is suitable for all levels of pushbike riders, it is 35 kilometres long. It has intermittent internet connectivity, making it difficult to find a location to stop your bike (or feet) for a bite to eat between winery visits.
We’ve put together a list of the greatest places to eat along the Riesling Trail, so you’ll never leave hungry, whether you’re looking for a baked good or a hearty dinner.
To prevent losing out on lunch, plan your route ahead of time and phone ahead to make a reservation, especially during school vacations and weekends.
Clare
Clare Rise Bakery, Clare, 12 Main North Road
Looking for some carbs before your ride? Clare Rise Bakery is here to help. Enjoy everything from hefty beef pies to traditional vegetarian pasties and fresh pastries, donuts, and other sweet treats from the bakery. Take the freshly baked pastries with you on the trail, or relax before you go and refuel your caffeine levels with a hot cup of coffee in the store.
The bakery is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm and is one of the first places you’ll see as you leave Clare.
For additional information, go to Clare Rise Bakery’s Facebook page.
Shut The Gate, 8453 Main North Road, Clare
Customers may browse around the mouth-watering Shut the Gate providore shop at the beautiful Clare Valley winery, lined with gooey cheeses, smoky and spicy meats, dips, and pastes. Choose your favorites from the store and let the helpful staff put together a board bursting with regional flavors.
In the Shut, the Gate atrium, enjoy your handcrafted board in the sunshine or stretch your tired legs on their lush green grounds. During the cooler months, relax in front of the fire on the winery’s comfortable couches.
Shut the Gate is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm for all your DIY picnic needs.
Go to the Shut the Gate website or Facebook page for additional information.
7 Dominic Street, Clare, Mr Mick’s Cellar Door, And Kitchen
Mr. Mick’s menu is designed to be shared and appreciated with friends, family, and numerous glasses of wine and follows the tapas style of dining. Within the contemporary venue, discover and taste the excellent food and wine of the Clare Valley region.
Don’t know what to eat? Allow the chefs and winemakers to choose their favorite dishes from the menu to pair with a glass of wine from the cellar door.
The historic Stanley Wines first opened its doors on a lush green site, with a restaurant and cellar entrance. Mr. Mick Knappstein, the Clare Valley winemaking legend, was born here, and the winery takes his name from him.
Mr. Mick’s kitchen is open daily from noon for lunch and Friday nights for dinner.
Visit stay informed, and go to Mr. Mick’s website.
Penwortham And Sevenhill
Sevenhill, Little Red Grape, 148 Main North Road
While at Sevenhill, looking for something more grab-and-go? Little Red Grape is a great place to stop for a bite before continuing your journey. It’s the perfect pit stop, with fresh, hot pies and pasties, croissants, meat, salad rolls, and delicious baked treats. You can enjoy a wine tasting before or after your bite at one of the surrounding wineries.
Visit the Little Red Grape Facebook page or contact 08 8843 4088 for additional information.
Sevenhill Cellars, Sevenhill, 111C College Road
When you visit the old Sevenhill cellar door, you can build your platter using local Clare Valley and regional SA food. As you relax on the spacious winery lawns, enjoy your curated variety of gourmet meats, cheeses, and other wonderful treats.
Sevenhill cellars are the oldest winery in the Clare Valley region and home to the St. Aloysius Church, situated on 90 hectares of grapes. The property is built around a tree-lined town green where you may sip Shiraz, Pinot Gris, and Riesling.
For further information, go to Sevenhill Cellar’s website.
Sevenhill Hotel, Sevenhill Main North Road
Sevenhill Hotel is a historic, family-owned bar in the Clare Valley region with “good old country service.” The cuisine at the hotel includes traditional pub fare like schnitzels and squid and better fare like sesame-crusted Atlantic salmon.
Enjoy your meal inside the 150-year-old hotel’s ancient walls, or relax in the beer garden while basking in the sunshine. The location is ideal for families conquering the path, with big Jenga outside for the young (or still young).
Sevenhill Hotel has won best eating in country SA for the past four years, making the pub a great place to grab a bite to eat!
Visit the Sevenhill website or phone 08 8843 4217 to make a reservation
Paulette Wines, Polish Hill River, 752 Jolly Way
Paulett Wines believes that good food deserves outstanding wine, and they have created the Bush DeVine Restaurant to reflect this belief. The menu highlights local products, ‘bushtucker’ flavors, and their Australian native garden, celebrating the Clare Valley region’s seasonal variation. Each dish is expertly paired with a selection of Paulett wines, allowing you to wine and dine in complete harmony.
Looking for something a little boozier? For $35, Paulett’s has developed a wine flight with canapés from the Bush DeVine cuisine.
To make a reservation, go to Paulett Wines’ website.
Watervale
Watervale Hotel, Watervale, 37 Main North Road
The recently restored Watervale Hotel is a pleasant place to stop for lunch before continuing your journey.
The menu changes with the seasons and all of the ingredients come from the hotel’s organic, bio-dynamic Penobscot farm. Watervale Hotel relies on fresh, distinctive ingredients, offering guests a gastronomic journey via the best local vegetables and wine. There’s also an outside pizza and empanada oven and a ‘fires of hell’ Argentinian Asado-style BBQ on occasion.
The award-winning hotel is open from 11 am to 9 pm seven days a week.
To make a reservation, go to the Watervale Hotel’s website or phone 08 8843 022
Watervale General Store, Watervale, 29 Main North Road
Looking for some light refreshments and regional cuisine? Watervale General Store has everything you need. The store sells great sandwiches, burgers, and locally made or iconic Villi’s pastries, in addition to being the neighborhood supermarket and post office — ideal for that mid-ride energy boost.
The store is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and on weekends it closes at 1 pm.
Go to the Watervale General Store’s Facebook page or website for further information.
Leasingham
7093 Horrocks Highway, Leasingham, O’leary Walker Wines
The best of South African produce is at the heart of the O’Leary Walker restaurant, where local flavors shine throughout the rotating seasonal menu. Their current winter menu features rich, slow-cooked meals such as lamb ragout with pappardelle and beef striploin with Shiraz jus.
Share a gourmet platter with pals packed with local cheeses, smoky meats, pasta, fruit, and nuts if you’re looking for something lighter before finishing your day of biking. Thanks to O’Leary Walker’s kid’s menu, everyone may enjoy a meal at the Leasingham vineyard.
The restaurant is open three times a day, from Thursday to Sunday (11 am-1 pm, 12 pm-2 pm, and 1:30–3 pm). Enjoy a delicious platter from 10 am to 3 pm seven days a week.
Visit the O’Leary Walker Wines website to make a reservation.
Auburn
30 Main North Road, Auburn Cogwebs Hub Café
Cobwebs Hub Café, located at the southern end of the Riesling Trail, is your one-stop-shop for all your pastry and coffee needs. Enjoy’seriously delicious’ local SA produce in the form of handcrafted pastries, sausage buns, and cakes. Cobwebs Café also has gluten-free alternatives and other items that would be ideal for a trail picnic.
The café rents bikes to those who want to cycle the trail and provides thorough information on the duration, so you know what to anticipate before you go. Booking in advance is suggested due to current COVID restrictions. To make a reservation, call 0400 290 687
Stay up to date by liking the Cogwebs Hub Café Facebook page.
Auburn’s Rising Sun Hotel, 19 Main North Road
With its 169-year-old country charm, the Rising Sun Hotel serves a variety of classic pub fare, sharing platters, and dinners that will fill the bellies of all hungry bike riders. In their beer garden, order a variety of burgers, creamy pasta, or steak while sipping one of the numerous locally brewed beers, wines, or ciders. A small goods plate and oysters are available for smaller bites at the pub.
The hotel accommodates vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free guests, ensuring that no one goes hungry!
Call 0888 492 015 to make a reservation or visit the Rising Star Hotel website.
17 Main North Road, Auburn, Velvet & Willow Wines And Pantry
The winery’s pantry, located next to Velvet & Willow Wines, is a great place to get off the bikes and enjoy a glass of Riesling, an artisan coffee, or a little lunch. The small pantry and cellar entrance is an excellent area to rest your weary legs after a hard day’s ride, surrounded by a vibrant green garden. A slice of homemade cake, a granola bowl, or a gooey toastie made on fresh ciabatta will boost your energy levels.
The pantry is available for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 am to 2 pm. Velvet and Willow’s cellar door is open from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm on weekends.
Visit Velvet & Willow’s website for additional information.
Away From The Trail
Sevenhill, Slate Restaurant, 223 Polish Hill Road
Slate Restaurant, a fine-dining culinary experience overlooking the region’s undulating vineyards, is located inside the famed Pikes Winery. The Slate Restaurant exhibits the best flavors of the Clare Valley Region with their delectable cuisine, which uses local products from the region and Pikes kitchen garden.
Choose from various foods on the a la carte menu, or opt for a $75 three-course dinner. For an additional $30, Pikes can match the wine to the flavors of your meal. Just a heads up: Pikes is in the area.
From Thursday to Sunday, the restaurant is open from 12 pm to 3 pm.
Visit the Pikes Slate Restaurant website to make a reservation.
Sevenhill, Pikes Beer Company, 223 Polish Hill Road
Pikes Beer Co, the younger brother of Pikes Winery, is located adjacent to the popular vineyard. The brewhouse’s alfresco eating section serves classic cheeseburgers, fish & chips, and small bites. There are also options for children, so picky eaters, and hungry tummies will not go hungry
Enjoy a drink of Pikes wine or beer on the vast grounds in front of the fishpond on one of SA’s many beautiful evenings. Because the outside dining area offers limited shade, it’s better to go when the weather isn’t too hot and humid.
Visit the Pikes Beer Co website for additional information.
Clare Valley, Seed, 268 Main North Road
The modern deli, lounge, and rooftop restaurant offer casual regional dining while exhibiting the region’s distinctive characteristics. Enjoy a wood-fired pizza on the rooftop during the day and take in the 180-degree view of Clare. By night, savor a selection of shared meals that highlight the valley’s simple, high-quality ingredients while sipping your favorite wine from earlier that day
To make a reservation, go to the Seed website or follow them on Facebook.
Clare, Umbria, 308B Main North Road
Umbria, the cafe that celebrates the traditions and methods of the Tuscany Valley in the heart of Italy, will satisfy all your Italian appetites. As Umbria mixes local flavors with Italian recipes, tuck into house-made pasta and pizza. Try a glass of local wine or one of the more complex Italian kinds to complement your meal. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended.
The restaurant is open from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday.
Call 08 8812 1718 or follow Umbria on Facebook to make a reservation.
That concludes our tour to the top lunch locations along the Clare Valley Reisling Trail.
Have fun cycling!