Our guide to Adelaide Hills 2026
Katie Spain shares her pick of the best places to eat, drink, play and stay in Adelaide Hills
Cool climate wines grown and made in a leafy setting, with little towns that are home to lovely community markets, fresh produce, and great eateries. It feels like a world away, but it’s just a 30-minute drive from the CBD.
In the glass
Cellar doors, distilleries, bars and breweries
Ambleside Distillery
1 Ambleside Road, Hahndorf
It’s always gin o’clock at this distillery, which sits at the gateway to the little German settlement of Hahndorf. Let the team lead you through a tasting or learn to make a cocktail or two.
Ashton Hills Vineyard
126 Tregarthen Road, Ashton
Piccadilly Valley is home to this corrugated iron-clad cellar door known for world class pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling. Look out over the beautiful vineyard as you enjoy a ‘build-your-own’ platter.
Bottle Shock
24 Victoria Street, Gumeracha
The team behind Unico Zelo, Applewood Distillery and the popular Bottle Shock YouTube channel serve fun wine flights in a relaxed setting, with over 150 wines spanning the globe and snacks by chef Jeff Trotter. There’s zero pomp here.
CRFT Wines
45 Rangeview Drive, Carey Gully
Good things come in small packages, especially cellar doors. This charming tasting room has backyard-shed vibes, with winemakers Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries on hand to pour their small batch, certified organic, minimal intervention drops.
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Deviation Road
207 Scott Creek Road, Longwood
Winemaker Kate Laurie mastered the art of making premium sparkling wine in France; she and husband Hamish run this family-owned boutique winery and cellar door with love. Kick back with a regional platter and exceptional wine to toast their hard work.
Jauma
677 Mawson Road, Lenswood
This brand-new, wholesome little tasting space is a dream come true for Jauma winemakers Sophie and James Erskine who serve natural wines in a farm setting. Look out over chooks scratching for grubs, butterflies flitting through the garden and an orchard of organic cherries ripening.
Shaw + Smith
136 Jones Road, Balhannah
This Hills icon was founded by cousins and wine legends Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith. Looking out over rolling hills, expect globally renowned wines. The sauvignon blanc is a fresh white winner, but a glass of M3 chardonnay, pinot noir or award-winning Balhannah Vineyard shiraz also goes down a treat.
Simon Tolley Wines
278 Bird In Hand Road, Woodside
This family-run gem rose from the ashes after a 2019 bushfire ripped through the property. There’s accommodation and sweeping lawns that beg for lazy afternoons in the sun. Try their recently released smoked brandy, made using smoke-tainted grapes.
Vinteloper
589 Cudlee Creek Road, Lobethal
Family-owned and operated wine brand Vinteloper’s beautiful new home is located in the lovingly reimagined ruins of a 1920s farmhouse tragically destroyed in the Cudlee Creek bushfire. An architectural marvel embracing history and modernity, it’s a welcoming spot for seasonal shared plates and grazing boards.
On the plate
Adelaide Hills’ proximity to the city means you can rest your head in the city and be tucking into scrambled eggs in Hahndorf for breakfast. Ernest Delicatessen is a hit for brunch: the continental breakfast (cured meat, coddled egg, pickles, cheese and house-made focaccia) is excellent. Nearby, Sidewood cellar door is a great place for a long lunch surrounded by art. A picnic hamper at The Lane cellar door is always a good idea (book ahead), or for something fancy and unforgettable you can’t go past Woodside’s LVN Restaurant on Bird In Hand’s leafy property. Here, executive chef Jacob Davey (ex-Restaurant Botanic) serves fine dining inspired by a bountiful kitchen garden. Or a leisurely lunch at new restaurant Ondeen might just be the ticket: there’s a no-waste attitude to the menu, served in a beautifully refurbished 1850s homestead.
Hilltop cellar door Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard also serves meals surrounded by spectacular landscape, while European style bistro Thelma is a lunch destination famed for chef and co-owner Tom Campbell’s wholesome, local produce-driven menu and natural wine list. Walk it off later at nearby Mount Lofty Botanic Garden or explore the Hills on horseback via Petaluma’s new Horse Trail Ride And Tasting Experience.
For a pub dinner (which Hills folk do so well), hit The Scenic Hotel, The Crafers Hotel, Uraidla Hotel, Aldgate Pump Hotel or Stanley Bridge Tavern. It’s also hard to go past the fried chicken and a Bloody Mary at Dirty Doris Diner in Aldgate.
After all the excitement, rest your head at CABN’s eco tiny houses or Pavilions At Lenswood’s luxury hideaways with Swiss alpine chalet, Japanese onsen and art deco aesthetics. Then there’s historic hilltop manor Mt Lofty House, home to Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. Or turn things up a notch and opt for luxurious Sequoia Lodge and its spring-fed hot pools and Gatekeeper’s Day Spa. Treat yourself.
Getting here
A TrailHopper bus is the easiest way to get to the Hills or catch the bus in Hahndorf. Taxis/Uber can be difficult to find, so plan ahead. Tours available.