The Southern Highlands, about 90 minutes from Sydney, is a great place to go for a weekend away from the city. It’s home to country townships like Mittagong, Bowral and Berrima, and has an abundance of eateries, shops and walks to explore.

We visited for a long weekend recently and had a great time relaxing, spending time in nature and trying some of the area’s restaurants and cafes. We had a wonderful stay at the Old Bank Boutique Hotel in Mittagong, a hotel in the restored old bank building that exudes homeliness and charm.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the trails and lookouts at Mount Gibraltar, Lake Alexandra and Fitzroy Falls. Once you’ve tired yourself out from all of the walking, there are plenty of places to have a break and enjoy some food.

Eschalot

Nestled inside a historic building in the quaint town of Berrima, eschalot heroes seasonal ingredients and serves them in a humble way.

The menu is brief and lists the ingredients of each dish, so you won’t know what it looks like until it arrives to the table. It adds a nice bit of theatricality to the experience.

These wings are a winner. They’re sticky and sweet and come with a delicious maple and shallot sauce. This is a good-sized entrée for sharing – there are four double wings which is sure to please both mid wing and drumette lovers. I can’t help but use my hands to get all of the meat off the bone.

This is a modern take on traditional fried chicken. It’s a generous serving, with four boneless thighs battered and coated in a sriracha honey glaze. The chicken is tender and has a nice spicy kick. Burnished leeks add a little bit of extra crunch. It’s a good idea to order a fresh side dish to balance out the strong flavours.

This dish are a lot more pared back compared to the fried chicken. The duck takes centre stage here, it’s roasted until crispy on the outside and served with smoked shiitake mushroom and what looks like ribbons of daikon. The broth is clean and simple – it’s a great way to cleanse the palate from the heaviness of the fried chicken.

We could not stop eating these brussel sprouts. They’re crispy and charred on the outside and cooked in a sweet, salty speck and maple syrup sauce. So, so good.

Website: https://eschalot.com.au/

Gumnut Patisserie

Gumnut Patisserie is a well known bakery in the Southern Highlands, with shops in Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong. We got some of their pies to takeaway and eat for lunch in the park next to Lake Alexandra.

The pies are absolutely delicious. The pastry is golden and flaky on top, and sturdy enough on the bottom to withstand the filling. The lamb and rosemary pie reminds me of a lamb roast, with tender pieces of pull-apart lamb and a delicious gravy. The beef, cheese and bacon pie has all the best parts of a beef pie and cheese and bacon roll. We also polish off a classic sausage roll.

Website: https://www.gumnutpatisserie.com.au/

The Boston

This is picturesque café in Mittagong serves specialty coffee and is located in a heritage stone building. The green courtyard out the back is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a morning caffeine hit and pastry. The coffee is nutty and strong, and the banana and chocolate muffin bar is delicious when warmed up.

Website: https://www.theboston.com.au/

The Shaggy Cow

This café is popular among locals. We go for breakfast one morning and the dish that attracts our eye is the Canadian-style sourdough pancakes, which come with bacon, sausage and maple syrup.

I’m a big fan of these sourdough pancakes – they have a lovely tang and light, fluffy texture. The combination of maple syrup is a clear winner – it’s sweet, salty and crispy all at once. The pancakes are huge so one each was more than enough for us.

Website: http://www.theshaggycow.com.au/

Orange Vietnamese Restaurant

This restaurant is recommended to us by our hosts at the Old Bank Boutique Hotel. It’s a friendly, home-style restaurant with lots of Vietnamese favourites on the menu.

We’re craving something light so opt for the beef pho. It’s a big bowl with a generous amount of beef and rice noodles, and the soup is well-seasoned with a good amount of depth.

Website: https://www.orangerestaurant.com.au/

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