The Barossa Valley, an hour's drive from Adelaide on Peramangk Country, is best known for its robust red wines, but according to Clare Falzon, a restaurateur and chef who moved there in 2018, the region offers far more than wine. Falzon, who opened her restaurant Staġuni in late 2024, says the area is evolving, with a new generation of winemakers adopting contemporary styles such as biodynamic farming and producing more delicate wines alongside traditional favourites.
Falzon recommends Artisans of Barossa, a co-op of seven small-batch winemakers whose restaurant Essen allows diners to choose from over 100 wines, unlike typical winery restaurants that only serve their own. She also praises Casa Carboni, an Italian wine bar in Angaston run by chef Matteo, which serves lunches and monthly Friday dinners, along with a cooking school. Vintners Bar and Grill is a long-standing local institution with a phenomenal wine list and refined but unstuffy menu; Falzon always starts with the crispy pigs ears.
For coffee and breakfast, Fleur Social in Nuriootpa offers modern options like pour-overs and cold brews, with tight menu of sandwiches and bagels, and flowers from nearby growers. At her own restaurant in tiny Marananga, Falzon cooks Mediterranean-style food influenced by bistros across Europe, with a one-page wine list that rotates frequently. The restaurant is housed in a historic 1922 primary school with original features.
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, 25 minutes from Angaston, with the easy one-hour Stringybark hike or the two-hour Wallowa hike offering panoramic views of the Mount Lofty ranges. Barossa Bushgardens is a community project restoring native vegetation, featuring about 200 endemic plant species, with wheelchair-friendly areas. Other spots include the old Cornish copper mine at Kapunda, New Wave Wines for contemporary tastings, and Barossa Distilling Co. with heritage stills and Neapolitan pizza next door. Art lovers can visit Wonderground gallery, which opens a new exhibition every seven weeks.
