Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Vale Inn
MODERN AUSTRALIAN $$$
( 08-8323 8769;
www.mvbeer.com
; 190 McMurtrie Rd; mains $16-28; 10am-6pm Mon, Thu &
Sun, 10am-9pm Fri & Sat)
This old vine-covered inn has been reborn as a beery bar/bistro.
McLaren Vale Beer Co is based here: don't leave without trying its much-awarded Vale
Ale, or the meaty Vale Dark or smooth Vale IPA. Food-wise it's zingy pizzas (try the
duck, Spanish onion and brie), curries, steaks and seafood.
Blessed Cheese
CAFE $
(
www.blessedcheese.com.au
; 150 Main Rd; mains $7-21; 8am-4.30pm Mon-Thu, 8am-5pm Fri-
Sun)
This blessed cafe cranks out great coffee, croissants, wraps, salads, tarts, burgers,
cheese platters, murderous cakes and funky sausage rolls. The menu changes every
couple of days, always with an emphasis on local produce. The aromas emanating from
the cheese counter are deliciously stinky.
Barn
MODERN AUSTRALIAN $$$
( 08-8323 8618;
www.thebarnbistro.com.au
;
tapas $6-16, mains $26-36)
Retro-mod prints and
furniture adorn this 1840s cottage bistro, which quadruples-up as a cellar door, art gallery
and wine bar. Mains are fishy and meaty, done with contemporary flair, or settle in for
some tapas and a glass or two of good local stuff.
DON'T MISS
MCLAREN VALE WINERIES
If the Barossa Valley is SA wine's old-school, then McLaren Vale is the upstart teen-
ager smoking cigarettes behind the shed and stealing nips from dad's port bottle.
The gorgeous vineyards around here have a Tuscan haze in summer, rippling down
to a calm coastline that's similarly Ligurian. This is shiraz country − solid, punchy
and seriously good.
Alpha Box & Dice
(
www.alphaboxdice.com.au
;
Lot 50 Olivers Rd; 10am-5pm Fri-Sun)
One
out of the box, this refreshing little gambler wins top billing for interesting blends,
funky retro furnishings, quirky labels and laid-back staff.
Coriole
(
www.coriole.com
; Chaffeys Rd; 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat & Sun)
Take
your regional tasting platter out into the garden of this beautiful cottage cellar door
(1860), made lovelier by a swill of Redstone shiraz or flagship chenin blanc.
d'Arenberg
( 08-8329 4888;
www.darenberg.com.au
;
Osborn Rd; 10am-5pm)
'd'Arry's' relaxes atop a hillside and enjoys fine views. The wine labels are part of
