Alby & Esthers
It’s easy for you to miss Alby & Esthers. This hidden gem is located in an alleyway just off Market Street. You won’t be able to miss this place, which is the best coffee spot in town. Start your morning in the beautiful courtyard with an artisanal coffee, the Esthers Jaffle, or Alby’s Breakfast.
Eltons Bar + Bites
This cafe-restaurant, also known as Eating + Drinking, serves delicious food throughout the day and on weekends. You can dine in the courtyard or the main bar of the 1896 Eltons Pharmacy. You can enjoy brunch classics all day long and share plates at night with Mudgee wine and Australian craft beer on tap.
The Little Cooking School
Learn to cook some of Mudgee’s incredible produce at the Little Cooking School. You can choose from many different courses, including gnocchi masterclasses and Asian dumpling workshops for kids. You can relax after a hard day in the kitchen under the wisteria-covered canopy of this beautifully renovated historical homestead or by the fireplace in winter.
Roth’s Wine Bar
Roth’s has been in business since 1923 and is one of the oldest wine bars in NSW. Over 100 local wines are available in bottles or by the glass. Try one of their wood-fired Pizzas or delicious gastro-pub-inspired Share Plates to go with the wine. Visit on a Saturday or Friday night for live music. The quirky venue has a rustic charm thanks to the old-timey furniture. Craft beer is available for those who want a change from wine.
Mudgee Farmers’ Markets
Mudgee Farmer’s Market offers a great opportunity to buy fresh produce from local farmers and producers. Robertson Park hosts the market on the third Saturday of every month, rain or shine. The stallholders will be playing local music as you shop. All the products are grown, raised, caught, brewed, or pickled by them. In the park, you’ll also find the Makers Market, where you can buy fresh produce, jewelry, clothing, and crafts from locals.
Pipeclay Pumphouse
Enjoy fine dining in Pipeclay Pumphouse. This is part of Robert Stein Vineyard and Winery. The restaurant uses locally sourced and home-grown produce. You can expect to find heirloom beetroot with ricotta, carrots, and house-made bread. Mussels mariniere and braised lamb with parsnip and pumpkin are also on the menu. Enjoy the stunning surroundings and the excellent wines while pairing the degustation with the menu.
29 Nine 99
Visit 29 Ninty Nine in the small village of Rylstone to enjoy authentic Chinese yum-cha and tea. You can purchase frozen dumplings or try over 30 different types of dumplings. Enjoy your meal in the courtyard or indoors while you admire the Chinese artifacts on display.
Indigiearth Cafe
Indigiearth is an Aboriginal-owned cafe in Mudgee. The restaurant was founded by Sharon Winsor, a Ngemba-Weilwan woman. It offers a wide range of native dishes made with ingredients like saltbush, wattleseeds, lilly pills, and finger limes. The products are available online and in-store. You can try Warakirri Dining, which is a five-course experience featuring Australian native food, botanicals, and culture.
The Zin House
The Zinhouse is located at Lowe Family Wines. It’s a modern farmhouse that serves organic and biodynamic products from the extensive farmland and kitchen gardens of Lowe Family Wines. You can expect dishes such as Mudgee Valley brie gnocco with Tinja honey and Zin Garden greens topped off with miso cream and Arnaldo’s charcuterie. Set menus are designed to be slowly enjoyed with excellent Mudgee wine.
Mudgee Wine and Food Month
Every September, Mudgee hosts a wonderful food and wine festival to celebrate its local produce. The annual fiesta has been running for over 40 years. It features a variety of exciting events, including wine tastings, masterclasses, lunches and special dinners, markets, and trivia, as well as live music, tours, and needs.