Scenic Rim:
Where to eat and drink            

19 JANUARY 2023

Known for its abundant natural beauty and flourishing culinary scene, the Scenic Rim – less than an hour away from Brisbane – has a bevy of passionate producers and chefs dishing up local and seasonal goodness by the plateful. From rustic rainforest restaurants to vineyards with a view, we’ve discovered the best places to eat and drink in this wonderful region.  

IN THIS ARTICLE
IN THIS ARTICLE
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Binna Burra Tea House, Scenic Rim

These Scenic Rim cafes and restaurants will really hit the spot

Right on Lamington National Park’s doorstep, the Binna Burra Tea House is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and boasts breathtaking views out over the Numinbah Valley. Treat yourself to the three-course set menu packed full of flavours from local Scenic Rim produce, including the Canungra mushroom risotto, sirloin with bush-spiced salt, and native lemon myrtle tea cake.  

For a cosy, casual vibe, mingle with your fellow walkers at the nearby Groom’s Cottage Bushwalker’s Bar – one of the last remaining heritage buildings at Binna Burra. Perch at the outdoor tables with a well-deserved beverage while sharing stories from your day, before ordering a hearty meal off their blackboard menu as the sun goes down. 

Located in Mount Tamborine’s architecturally designed North Stores precinct and serving up local, seasonal produce, Picnic Real Food Bar is your one-stop-shop for salads, house-baked pastries, and healthy wholefoods made with love. Enjoy micro-roasted Reuben Hills coffee or a cold-pressed juice on the deck with a breakfast burger or their blackbean and pumpkin fritters or ask staff to pack you a picnic to enjoy alfresco on the mountainside.   

A popular local haunt, the welcoming Three Little Pigs Bar and Bistro on Mount Tamborine’s Main Street is known for its rustic dining style, friendly service, and generous portions. Try their famous slow-roasted pork belly, the salt-and-pepper prawns, or the 13-hour beef cheek ragu, before treating yourself to something sweet to finish. 

You know what they say about variety – and you’ll find plenty of it at Spice of Life Cafe & Deli, just further down Main Street. From delicious brekky and lunch options to catering platters, impressive handmade cakes, and a selection of deli bits-and-pieces from Australia and abroad, a visit here will be a thoughtful treat for your taste buds. 

Raise a glass to the Scenic Rim’s best vineyards and breweries

Growing and preserving many of their own ingredients, Kooroomba Kitchen – the on-site restaurant at the outrageously dreamy Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm – serves up an inventive menu showcasing the Scenic Rim’s finest produce. Enjoy live music on the terrace every Sunday and take in the amazing purple fields and mountain views as you sample a house-made drop or assorted lavender-infused delectables. 

Wine tasting, cafe lunches, gourmet picnic baskets, stone baked pizzas, sweeping views, a stunning creekside location, and even friendly on-site alpacas – there’s a lot to love about O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards. Gaze out over the 6000 grape vines – including Shiraz, Chambourcin and Verdelho varieties – as you dine, sip and swirl the day away. 

Housed in a charmingly renovated historic general store in the tiny town of Mount Alford, the Scenic Rim Brewery and Cafe serves up character-filled craft beers alongside European-inspired homemade goodness such as bratwurst and bitterballen (a type of Dutch mini beef croquette). Brewed on-site in large copper tanks, their range has something for even the most adventurous beer drinker: quench your thirst with their Digga’s Pale Ale or Shazza’s Mid Strength, or for superior depth and flavour, try the Giddy Gout Milk Stout or Beauy & Blue Spiced Pumpkin Ale. Bottoms up!

Mount Tamborine’s Witches Falls Winery and Cellar Door is an innovative award-winning, family-run winery with a minimal intervention approach. Be sure to try their wild fermented Sauvingon Blanc, Nero d’Avola or Provenance Shiraz during your tasting, and afterwards park your picnic rug between the vines to soak up the ambience and snack on locally sourced cheeses, chutneys and crackers – just magic.  

Let your cup (or wine glass) runneth over at The Overflow Estate 1895 – a vineyard featuring an architecturally designed cellar door, cafe and restaurant, nestled into the banks of Lake Wyaralong. Pair your wine with their seasonal lunch menu from The Two French Chefs – the famous sand crab lasagne with a creamy crustacean sauce is a particular highlight.  

Get your Scenic Rim sugar-fix

Famous for all things fudge, Granny Mac’s, named after the macadamia nut found in many of its products, is something of a Mount Tamborine institution. Making fresh bars of the sugary stuff in a mind-boggling array of flavours for more than 25 years – think chocolate ginger; chai; lavender rose; and lemon meringue – the team here might just be the best fudge makers in the world (just don’t tell your granny we said so).  

Catering not just to the citrus fans, but to chocoholics, berry enthusiasts and vegans too, the nearby Lemon Lovers Gelato makes everything on site using real fruit and local ingredients. With a range of traditional and modern flavours sitting alongside sorbets and creamy vegan offerings, your only conundrum is which to try first - and how quickly you can come back for your next fix.  

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Hop On Brewery Tours, Scenic Rim

Eat and drink with the experts with these Scenic Rim food tours and classes

If you’re crazy about all things craft beer, join the knowledgeable team at Hop On Brewery Tours to experience the best independent breweries the Scenic Rim has to offer. Their full or half-day tours will take you behind the scenes to meet the makers and hear their stories – raise a glass, have some fun, and maybe even learn a thing or two about the beer-making process along the way. To absorb the spectacular scenery whilst making your way through Tamborine Mountain's unique food and wine trail, all aboard The Vino Bus. Indulge in a decadent two-course lunch and guided tastings at boutique wineries for a fun wine tasting day with a difference.

‘Kiff’ is South African slang for something that’s cool or awesome, and you’ll find plenty of epic epicurean finds when exploring Mount Tamborine with the crew at Kiff & Culture Tours. Started by two friends who are in the know about the best local, sustainable spots, you’ll enjoy wine, food and views for days on this carefully curated (and extremely Instagrammable) adventure.  

Hubble, bubble, toil and… tipple? Craft your own delicious bottle of gin from over 100 botanical options at Cauldron Distillery’s Gin Making Class. In this small, intimate class you’ll be guided through the history of gin and the art of gin-making by an expert instructor, before enjoying a few well-deserved G&Ts and a cheese platter on their verdant 18-acre grounds. 

Tempted to eat and drink your way around this beautiful region? Book your Scenic Rim foodie adventure today.  

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