Eat & Drink
Long lunches by the river
The best eat & drink in Riverland
Riverfront bistros, country bakeries, almond and citrus producers and woodfired pizza on the water’s edge. The Riverland table is generous, seasonal and unpretentious.
Eating in the Riverland means eating close to the source. This is one of Australia's great food bowls - citrus, almonds, stone fruit, grapes and vegetables grow in the irrigated country along the river, and much of it ends up on local tables within hours of harvest.
Pull up a counter meal at the grand community-owned Renmark Hotel, or make for the 1859 stone walls of the Overland Corner Hotel. The region's craft scene is growing fast too, with spirits at 23rd Street Distillery and riverside brews at Wilkadene Woolshed Brewing Co.
Don't overlook the farm gates and honesty boxes - bags of navels straight off the tree, fresh almonds and local honey. Whether it's fine cellar-door dining or a roadside bag of fruit, the food here tastes of the river that grew it.
Browse eat & drink by area
8 places
23rd Street Distillery
$$Spirits in a historic distillery
An award-winning distillery in a century-old Renmark site, producing gin, whisky, brandy and signature spirits.
Angove Family Winemakers
$$Five generations of Riverland winemaking, with an organic vineyard and St Agnes brandy heritage.
Overland Corner Hotel
$$An 1859 river-trade pub
A National Trust–listed 1859 hotel built from local limestone, once a stop for overland drovers and river traders.
Plush's Bend RV Park
Riverfront dining in a restored Renmark landmark
A riverside reserve and RV park on a wide, red-gum-lined bend of the Murray about six kilometres from Renmark, with self-contained sites bookable through the Renmark Paringa Council.
Renmark Club & Riverfront Lawns
Renmark's broad riverfront lawns and dining precinct, the green heart of the town beside the Murray.
Renmark Hotel
$$A landmark Art Deco pub on the Renmark riverfront, owned by the community for over a century.
The Almond Hut
$A roadside almond and local-produce shop in the heart of Riverland nut country.
Woolshed Brewery (Wilkadene Station)
$$Craft beer in a riverside woolshed
A craft brewery in a converted woolshed on the banks of the Murray upstream of Renmark, with riverside camping.
Eat & Drink in Riverland - frequently asked questions
What is the Riverland known for when it comes to food and drink?
The Riverland is one of Australia's great food bowls, growing huge volumes of citrus, almonds, stone fruit, grapes and vegetables in the irrigated country along the Murray. It is also the country's largest wine region by tonnage, and local tables lean on this produce, from Nippy's citrus juice made by the Knispel family to almonds, woodfired pizza and generous platters of local fruit and small goods.
Where are the best riverfront places to eat and drink in the Riverland?
Some of the most loved spots sit right on the water's edge. The Woolshed Brewery at Wilkadene pours handmade beer and cider from an old shearing shed. In Renmark, 23rd Street Distillery turns local produce into wood-oven pizzas alongside its award-winning spirits.
Is the Riverland wine region just bulk wine, or is there anything special to taste?
The Riverland still grows a large share of Australia's wine grapes, with Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon doing the heavy lifting. The exciting story for visitors is the rise of warm-climate Mediterranean varieties such as Vermentino, Fiano, Montepulciano and Nero d'Avola, which suit the region's continental climate and are well worth seeking out at the region's boutique cellar doors.
Do I need to book, and are these places family and dog friendly?
Many Riverland cellar doors and riverfront venues are relaxed and family friendly, with woodfired pizza and casual platters that suit kids. Booking is a good idea for sit-down meals and platters, especially on weekends and over holidays. Policies on dogs and opening days vary by venue, so it is worth checking directly before you visit, particularly mid-week when some cellar doors keep shorter hours.
When is the best time to visit the Riverland for local produce?
You can eat well year round, but citrus is the signature crop and Australian winter, roughly May to October, is prime time for Riverland oranges and mandarins. For the freshest local fruit, nuts and small goods, look for the farm gates, honesty boxes and roadside stalls across the district, such as the Almond Hut on the Sturt Highway near Renmark.