From Michelin Stars to the Best Burger in SA
From Michelin Stars to the Best Burger in SA: Clare Valley's Award-Winning Food Scene Is Having a Moment
One Michelin Star. Seven consecutive Chef Hats. Australia's best regional wine list. Plus a burger that's officially the best in South Australia. The Clare Valley is serving up something extraordinary.
For years, those in the know have been making their way to the Clare Valley for its beautiful wines, spectacular scenery and exceptional food, but the secret is out! The Clare Valley's culinary talent is turning heads, collecting accolades and giving food lovers a whole new reason to visit.
From international Michelin recognition to prestigious national dining, tourism and hospitality awards, the Clare Valley's restaurants, winery kitchens and country pubs are collecting some serious accolades. The most delicious part? They're all waiting to welcome you.
A Michelin Star for Skillogalee
Some achievements deserve a standing ovation and this is one of them. Skillogalee Barrel House has earned One Michelin Star in the inaugural Michelin Guide South Australia 2027, placing this beautiful Clare Valley dining destination among Australia's most celebrated restaurants.
Set among the rolling vineyards and wooded hills of Sevenhill, Skillogalee delivers contemporary Australian dining deeply connected to the land, local growers and the rhythms of the seasons. It's a remarkable achievement for the Skillogalee team and a proud moment for the entire region. Suddenly, that long-overdue lunch in the Clare Valley feels rather urgent.
More Michelin recognition for the Valley
Slate Restaurant at Pikes Wines and Penobscot Restaurant at the Watervale Hotel have both earned places in the inaugural Michelin Guide South Australia as Michelin Selected Restaurants. Antidote Kitchen in Clare has also been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, recognising exceptional food at excellent value.
Three very different dining experiences, each showcasing the extraordinary depth of culinary talent in our region.
Consistency is an art form and Slate Restaurant at Pikes Wines has mastered it. Alongside its Michelin recognition, Slate has also secured seven consecutive Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hats, from 2020 to 2026.
Led by Head Chef Louis Ritchie, the restaurant brings a beautifully refined approach to modern Australian dining, showcasing regional produce, seasonal ingredients and fresh harvests from its kitchen garden. Set within the stunning Pikes estate at Polish Hill River, the experience is complemented by exceptional estate-grown wines and beer brewed on site.
Where outstanding food meets the land
If ever there was proof that the Clare Valley's food story begins in the vineyard and the garden, it's Bush DeVine Restaurant at Paulett Wines. The winery and restaurant recently celebrated two outstanding wins at the 2027 Best of Wine Tourism Awards, taking home honours for Culinary Experiences and Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices. Add a 2026 Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat with 13 points and there's plenty to celebrate.
Under the direction of Head Chef Thomas Erkelenz, Bush DeVine brings native Australian ingredients, seasonal produce and imaginative flavours together in dishes inspired by the region's landscape. The restaurant's beautiful native bush food garden and vineyard setting only add to the experience.
Some things are worth the wait
And while the awards keep rolling in, there's another reason for food lovers to celebrate. After 12 years, restaurant dining has returned to Eldredge Wines with the opening of The Brasserie, born from a chance meeting between the winery team and a chef searching for the perfect home for his restaurant. Expect French-inspired classics, delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas and a seasonal menu that changes weekly, all served in the beautiful, relaxed setting of Eldredge's Spring Gully cellar door.
A little taste of Europe, with a Clare Valley soul
Who says you need to travel to Europe for exceptional European dining? Not us and certainly not the judges of the 2026 Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence. The UPPside European Restaurant & Wine Bar in Penwortham took home the title of Best European Restaurant, a wonderful achievement for owners Christian and Caity Uppill.
Drawing on European traditions, family heritage and a genuine love of good food, The UPPside delivers generous flavours in a relaxed regional setting. It's warm, welcoming and full of personality, with the kind of cooking that invites you to linger a little longer over another glass of Clare Valley wine.
The best burger in South Australia
Fine dining might be making international headlines, but the Clare Valley also knows how to serve up a seriously good pub meal and at Bentleys Hotel in Clare, they've got the award to prove it.
The hotel's Deluxe Burger, created by chef Cristian Carbone, took home the coveted Best Burger title at the 2026 Australian Hotels Association SA Awards. That's right. The best burger in South Australia is waiting for you in Clare. It's another delicious reminder that exceptional food doesn't have to be complicated.
More award-winning country hospitality
The accolades don't stop there. The Watervale Hotel continued its impressive run in 2026, with Penobscot Restaurant winning Best Restaurant in a Pub or Club at the Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence, marking the team's sixth consecutive win in the category.
From celebrated restaurants to much-loved country pubs, these achievements are a testament to the passion, creativity and hospitality that make dining in the Clare Valley so memorable.
Come hungry. Leave a little in love.
The Clare Valley has always been a region that rewards those who take the time to explore. Where a leisurely lunch can become the highlight of your weekend. Where beautiful wines meet inspired cooking. Where talented chefs transform local ingredients into something extraordinary and where exceptional food comes with something you can't award a star for: genuine country hospitality.
With international recognition now shining a spotlight on our talented chefs, restaurants and hospitality teams, there's never been a better time to discover what's on the menu.
Our advice? Book the table. Order another glass. Make a weekend of it.
Because some of Australia's most exciting dining experiences are waiting right here in the Clare Valley.
