We have been frequenting the Spa Country for more than 16 years now, and although it’s fun discovering your own little gems-of-places, we thought we’d share some of our favourites with you:
BLUE BEAN LOVE CAFE
115 Main Road Hepburn Springs 5348 1875
w: https://www.facebook.com/bluebeanlovecafe/
Although the infamous Red Star is now known as the Blue Bean Cafe, you don’t have to scratch far below the surface to see Red Star infulences in both the decor and the general vibe of the place. Fortunately, it has maintained some quirk: all things red are now all things blue, and bookcases still line the walls. The Blue Bean Cafe is a fun and funky place to eat: breakfast, lunch or dinner. I’d even go so far to say that this is the best coffee I’ve had in Hepburn Springs so far!
FRANK AND CONNIE’S KITCHEN
97 Main Road Hepburn Springs
Telephone: 5348 1156
Open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday
Lunch and dinner Friday to Sunday
Y.U.M! From the moment we walked into Frankie and Connie’s Kitchen we knew we were onto a winner: friendly staff, and a fresh, modern look with touches of elegance past. The menu is on the board and is interesting and varied: from tapa-style dishes (seared scallops on a verdant beetroot slice) to the full, ‘Flinstone’ Monty (a 550g ribeye). We did the tapas. All delicious and visually vibrant. And the coffees and dessert were 10/10. Give it a shot. You will be pleasantly surprised to find such deliciousness in Hepburn!
WINE AND THE COUNTRY
1 / 97 Vincent Street Daylesford
It’s always ‘wine o’clock’ when you’re in Daylesford, so if you feel like a glass of whatever takes your fancy, and want some top notch wine expertise thrown in, then take a wander up Vincent Street to Wine and The Country (opposite the Daylesford Information Centre). Inside you’ll find an enormous range of wines, beer and tasty olives and almonds to nibble on as you sip or skol. And if you’d like more nosh to go with your slosh, Dos Deli next door will make you up a cheese platter or toasties. They have coffee, too!
LARDER DAYLESFORD
57 Vincent Street Daylesford
t: 5348 4700
w: http://www.larderdaylesford.com.au/
Gourmet foods, great coffee, delish brekkies and lunches. It’s also licensed, so if you fancy a drop of white or red to have with your ploughman’s platter or chunky soup, this is the place to go. Yum yum gourmet bum.
RUBENS
70 Main Road Hepburn Springs
t: 5348 2843
w: http://rubensrestaurant.com/
LUNCH AND DINNER
Ideally located about 500 metres from Artisan, is Rubens, a delicious – eat in, take out – Italian restaurant. One of our sons says it has the ‘best spaghetti bolognese ever’, which is a big statement coming from the Spag Bol King. (My favourite is the Pumpkin Risotto.) Take-away orders are very prompt and just as delicious. The staff are friendly, the service is great and the atmosphere is jolly and warm.
THE FARMER’S ARMS
1 East St Daylesford
t: 5348 2091
w: http://www.thefarmersarms.com.au/
If you’re after fine dining without the fancy schmancy décor and stiff aprons to go with it, you can’t go past the Farmer’s Arms hotel. We know it looks a little shonky on the outside, but inside you’ll find delicious fare, a long and sumptuous wine list, some beers on tap and great service to top it all off. The Farmer’s Arms is very popular, and as they don’t take bookings, be prepared to not get a table at busy holiday times. (This is a definite downside.) You’ll find the Farmer’s Arms Hotel heading out of Daylesford (towards Woodend) on the right hand side, opposite the Midland Highway.
DAYLESFORD SEAFOOD BAR
62 Vincent Street Daylesford
t: 5348 2327
w: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daylesford-Seafood-Bar/117618081652541
If you don’t mind the carbs or getting your hands a little greasy, Daylesford Seafood Bar has the best fresh fish (very succulent) and chips (including pumpkin cakes!) and oysters (fresher than fresh, apparently). Just ask any local and they’ll tell you; that’s how we found out. Because of the Seafood Bar’s popularity, phone your order in beforehand, otherwise you could be up for a long wait.
THE OLD MACARONI FACTORY
64 Main Road Hepburn Springs
t: 5348 4345
m: 0404 123 153
w: http://www.macaronifactory.com.au/
If you want to step back in time – say, around 150 years – and experience authentic Italian fare in Australia’s oldest Italian building, give the Macaroni Factory a shot. You’ll be serenaded by Dean Martin and marvel at the unique frescoes that adorn the ceilings and walls. It’s a gem of a find, this one.