Ezard at Levantine Hill
There are two dining experiences at Levantine Hill, with both under the purview of Teage Ezard in conjunction with Head Chef Luke Headon. The first is the helpfully titled All Day Dining, which is the flexible and casual option, while Ezard and Headon’s skills are on full display the estate’s Signature Restaurant, with five or eight course menus available (degustation only).
A: 882 Maroondah Hwy (enter via Hill Road), Coldstream VIC 3770
Ph: (03) 5962 1333
W: levantinehill.com.au
Healesville Hotel
The Healesville Hotel has become a beacon of all things Yarra Valley, with everything from a counter meal at the public bar to a snack and a pint in the beer garden to a multi-course meal in the dining room matched with one of the country’s best regional wine lists. You can also buy any of those wines to go from the adjoining Harvest café, which also covers breakfast and lunch offerings and coffee from 8 am every day.
A: 256 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777
Ph: (03) 5962 4002
W: yarravalleyharvest.com.au
Heartswood
Matt Binney was the head chef at Northcote’s much-mourned Merricote, under the executive eye of Rob Kabboord, who was Peter Gilmore’s right-hand man at Quay. Binney and his wife Bianca have renovated an historic bank building in the tiny township of Yarra Glen. While his fine-dining skills are on ample show, they are knit into a more casual style focusing on breakfast and lunch, with Fridays and Saturdays the only after-dark options. Local micro-producers take centre stage on the wine list, which is written by Bronwyn Kabbord.
A: 25 Bell St, Yarra Glen VIC 3775
Ph: (03) 8201 7470
W: heartswood.com.au
Meletos Café
From the owners of Stones of the Yarra Valley and The Stables restaurant, Meletos is the more casual dining venue (on the same property), with wood-fired pizza at its heart, though the menu trips through antipasti, entrées and mains, too. The Taphouse is also a short walk away, for those looking to settle in for the afternoon to sample the Detour Beer Co.’s wares.
A: 12 St Huberts Rd, Coldstream VIC 3770
Ph: (03) 8727 3030
W: meletos.com
TarraWarra Estate
Chef Mark Ebbels crafts a seasonally evolving menu primarily sourced from Tarrawarra’s quarter-acre kitchen garden. Two or three course options are available, along with an optional cheese course.
A: 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Healesville VIC 3775
Ph: (03) 5962 3311
W: tarrawarra.com.au
No.7 Healesville
Essentially an innovative winemaking facility designed to give young makers a start in the industry by providing facilities and mentoring (currently from Damian North of Journey Wines and Behn Payten of Payten and Jones), No.7 also acts as restaurant and live music venue from Friday through Sunday.
A: 7 Lilydale Road, Healesville VIC 3777
Ph: (03) 8727 3000
W: no7healesville.com
Graceburn Wine Room
Although this acts as Mac Forbes’ cellar door, it is far more than that, with the pocket-sized Healesville central venue acting as both bistro and global wine bar, too. A must visit.
A: 11a Green St, Healesville VIC 3775
Ph: (03) 5962 3704
W: graceburn.com
