Here's where to dine for special occasions in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is home to a host of award-winning, excellent restaurants, so celebrating a special occasion at one is a no-brainer.

Whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary, an engagement, or any other milestone, here’s where to dine for special occasions in the Hunter Valley.

Bistro Molines

A Hunter Valley institution, Bistro Molines is brought to you by the husband-and-wife team of Robert and Sally Molines. Bistro Molines is French-inspired, rustic yet sophisticated, and boasts not only one of the best menus in the Hunter Valley but enviable views of the Mount View region. It's also racked up plenty of chef hats as part of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide over the years, so you know you can expect an elegant dining experience perfect for a special occasion.
Where: 749 Mount View Rd, Mount View

Boydell’s Cellar Door and Restaurant

If you haven’t yet explored the charming Hunter Valley town of Morpeth, let Boydell’s Cellar Door and Restaurant get you started. A visit to this atmospheric spot is itself alone worth the trip – expect a considered menu of modern Australian dishes with global influences, handled with care and finesse by the kitchen team. Whether you visit in the summer months or when the fire is roaring throughout winter, you can always expect an incredible experience.
Where: 2 Green St, Morpeth

Circa 1876

Before you even set foot into the cottage that is Circa 1876, you get the feeling that you're in for something a little bit special. Circa 1876 is the perfect example of the farm-to-fork ethos, with its menu featuring fresh local produce, most of which is from the onsite organic kitchen garden. Expect modern Australian cuisine presented in one of the most stunning buildings in wine country.
Where: 64 Halls Rd, Pokolbin

Duke’s Restaurant & Bar

If you find yourself wanting to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, or any other milestone in Maitland, look no further than Duke’s Restaurant & Bar. Located in a historic building with plenty of character, it’s a lovely option for a romantic lunch or dinner. The menu is a la carte and switches to a set menu on Friday and Saturday nights, but it’s always fantastic value, with two courses for $65 or three for $80.
Where: 9 Day St, Maitland

éRemo Restaurant

The luxurious Spicers Guesthouse in Pokolbin is where you’ll find the equally luxe dining experience that is éRemo Restaurant. A destination in itself, éRemo Restaurant showcases modern Italian cuisine that connects diners with some of the region's best local producers. The menu is complemented by a very extensive and well-travelled wine list, including some of the Hunter Valley’s best vintages and a selection of those from further afield.
Where: 57 Ekerts Rd, Pokolbin

Esca Bimbadgen

As you enter Esca at Bimbadgen, you can see that the restaurant has taken full advantage of its hilltop views, which makes for lovely vistas while you dine. Enjoy a seasonal menu separated into the sections From the Garden, From the Land, From the Sea, and Cheese & Dessert. You can choose from three to five courses, and even add on a wine-matched experience featuring six premium Bimbadgen wines if you’re feeling extra fancy.
Where: 790 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin

EXP. Restaurant

This recently two-hatted Hunter Valley restaurant is bringing something a little different to the table. EXP. Restaurant has introduced us to a new way of dining that is experimental and we can't get enough. Preferring to steer away from the typical entrée, main, and dessert formula, EXP. offers a tasting menu, allowing guests to experience a wide range of stunning flavours all in one sitting. Make sure you arrive hungry!
Where: 2188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

The Gates Restaurant

Take a seat at one of the Hunter Valley’s most spectacular dining experiences – The Gates Restaurant at Leogate Estate. Offering two-, three-, and a five-course degustation menu, The Gates Restaurant features a fine display of locally-sourced ingredients and quality produce. Plus, you can taste Leogate Estate's award-winning wines while you're at it, which makes for an indulgent and very special experience. Don't miss the dry-aged steaks, which are a specialty of the restaurant.
Where: 1693 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

Hunters Quarter

Elegant and sophisticated, the food, service, and views are all spectacular at Hunters Quarter. Located at Pooles Rock Vineyard, Hunters Quarter is a Hunter Valley must-visit. With an a la carte menu, a five-course degustation, and even a vegan degustation, everyone is catered for at Hunters Quarter. All of its dishes are so artfully presented that they look too good to eat – but we don't think it will take long for you to dive in!
Where: 576 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin

Iron Gate Kitchen

With a sharp focus on fresh, seasonal produce, and bold Iberian flavours, Executive Chef Joey Ingram’s relaxed, rustic approach to Mediterranean cuisine is made for sun-drenched dining, and is heavily influenced by the elements of wood, smoke, fire, and grill.
Where: Oakey Creek Rd, Pokolbin

Margan Restaurant

Prepare to be blown away when you dine at Margan Restaurant, the Broke restaurant that has consistently been recognised with a chefs hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide thanks to its incredible farm-to-table dining experience. Eat food made with ingredients that have come straight from the on-site kitchen garden, olive grove, and farm. It’s hyper-local dining at its finest.
Where: 1238 Milbrodale Rd, Pokolbin

Muse Restaurant

For a truly exquisite one-of-a-kind dining experience, book a table at Muse Restaurant. The brainchild of chef Troy Rhoades-Brown, this iconic dining institution has been the go-to for special occasions for both locals and visitors since its inception in 2009. Awarded two chef hats since 2015 in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards, Muse Restaurant focuses on cooking that is technical yet restrained, and delicately presented.
Where: 2450 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

Restaurant Botanica [currently undergoing renovations]

Experience warm, approachable, and regional dining at Restaurant Botanica at Spicer’s Retreats. Restaurant Botanica has been broadening the appeal of its dining experience to casual diners who are keen to discover delectable cuisine, a superb wine list, and impeccable service.
Where: 555 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin

The Wood Restaurant

Situated at Brokenwood Wines in Pokolbin, The Wood Restaurant serves contemporary Australian cuisine with a strong focus on using local produce.
Where: Brokenwood Wines, 401-427 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin

Yellow Billy Restaurant

Yellow Billy Restaurant is named for a local gentleman bushranger in the 1800s named William White, AKA Yellow Billy. Having cooked over fire and foraged for food, this bushranger inspired the ethos of the Pokolbin restaurant, where a custom-built fire pit is used to cook its outstanding food, imparting each dish with the flavour of cooking over flames.
Where: 697 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin

The businesses featured within this article have not paid to be featured, the content has been curated by the HUNTERhunter editorial team. We only promote businesses we love and think our readers will love too!

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