The Best Foodie Finds in Daylesford, Castlemaine and the Macedon Ranges

DAYLESFORD & SURROUNDS

Start your epicurean adventure at Daylesford’s acclaimed and multi-award-winning Lake House, where destination dining pioneer, Alla Wolf-Tasker’s focus has always been on championing local, small-scale, artisan producers.

Daylesford is home to myriad fine-dining experiences that echo Wolf-Tasker’s local ethos. Sault is a sustainability-focused venue set among a breathtakingly beautiful 100-acre property. Flanked by lavender and sunflower fields, Sault’s extensive food garden supplies the kitchen, bringing food miles down to just metres.

For an authentic experience of omotenashi (a Japanese concept meaning to wholeheartedly look after guests), head to Kadota in central Daylesford. Here you can enjoy a kaiseki (multi-course) menu blending delicate Japanese flavours and techniques with local ingredients.

Cosy and welcoming with dark timber floorboards and exposed brick is Daylesford’s French-chic Bistro Terrior. Chef-owner Matthew Carnell has created a classic bistro menu featuring perfectly cooked wagyu rump with shoestring fries, and a delicate pork and pistachio terrine. The perfect spot for a meal with a view is The Boathouse Restaurant on the banks of Lake Daylesford, where the exquisitely presented dishes capture the seasons.

At Passing Clouds Winery, just outside Daylesford, food is cooked predominately over a charcoal fire pit, delivering a mouth-watering three-course shared lunch. An a la carte menu is also available. Another winery restaurant well worth visiting is Glenlyon’s Le Bouchon at Attwoods Wines, where the minimal intervention wines complement the French- inspired menu.

In Hepburn Springs sits The Argus Dining Room, where a pre-dinner drink by the fire is the perfect beginning to a night out. Expect modern Australian dishes heavily skewed towards the region’s finest foraged and harvested produce. The name might be fun and playful, but the food at The Surly Goat is seriously good. The prix-fixe four-course menu changes daily and each dish is a seasonal, regional delight.

In Trentham, Annie Smithers’ du Fermier stands out for its generous, ever-changing menu of classic French farmhouse dishes, crafted with fruit and vegetables sourced from Annie’s nearby farm in Lyonville.

CASTLEMAINE

The old Castlemaine fire station has been put to good use now that Wild Food and Wine is in the building. Plant-based diners in particular love the dishes, especially the crispy eggplant and smoked mozzarella croquettes (note: Wild is currently closed, due to reopen in spring). A short stroll away is Bar Midland, where the food is exclusively from Victorian farmers, fishers and foragers, with a strong focus on sustainable producers.

Local food is also on the menu at Boomtown Wines located within The Mill Castlemaine, where the shared style menu is inspired by the regional cuisine of southern France and northern Italy.

KYNETON

At Marchesa, on Piper Street in Kyneton, chef Daniel Whelan uses seasonal local produce to create simple yet sophisticated dishes based on regional Italian recipes. Across the road, European-style diner Prato is a go-to spot for Italian pinsa (pizza) and Meditteranean bites.

Also on Piper Street, Midnight Starling showcases its Gallic bent with pride through dishes like roasted spatchcock with creamy celeriac puree. Further along, inside one of Piper Street’s historical pubs is Fook Shing, where the vibrant Southeast Asian-inspired dishes hum with flavour.

WOODEND, MOUNT MACEDON & ROMSEY

Just outside Romsey, the rustic yet refined four-course set menu at Mount Monument’s restaurant showcases local producers. Opt for more casual, shared bites at the adjoining cellar door.

For a winning dose of country charm, pop into UUMM Restaurant at Mount Macedon Winery for its hearty seasonal dishes and oh-so-cute highland cattle. Nearby, you’ll find Mount Towrong Vineyard, a sustainable family-owned winery serving rustic Italian fare to match their crisp wines.

Finish off in Woodend at Kuzu Izakaya where head chef Eriko Pannam shines by creating Japanese pub food. It’s hard to go past the JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken) and tomorokoshi tempura (golden corn fritters with a dollop of burnt soy butter).