Considered the slow food capital of Australia, the Blue Mountains is a destination for foodies and hikers, with an array of quaint, home-style cafes, cute delis, family-owned bakeries and award-wining, top-notch restaurants, all oozing country charm.
Saturday
Kick off your weekend in the mountains by enjoying breakfast outside on the terrace at The Potager Mount Tomah. Providing a synergy between the natural surrounds of the Botanic Garden and cafe restaurant interior, The Potager pays homage to its stunning surrounds. It may have a to-die-for view, but the menu has been given a lot of thought too, with the breakfast menu featuring honey ricotta with spiced poached pear on sourdough drizzled with locally sourced honey, alongside classics such as eggs Benedict.
Whether you’re staying at the property or not, a visit to the stunning, ultra-luxurious Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains for a spot of English-style high tea is a must. Sip on champagne or coffee as you work your way through the triple-tiered plates laden with high tea staples—think miniature sandwiches, scones, petit fours and fruit galore—you’ll scoff the lot while looking out over the mountains. We feel relaxed just thinking about it.
Once high tea has gone down, head to Leura Garage for lunch whilst soaking up the sunshine in the restaurant’s outdoor courtyard space. With rustic-chic décor and industrial car-themed art, share a selection of delicious plates or stone-baked pizzas.
Turns out jaw-dropping scenery really works up your appetite, so for dinner head to the only hatted restaurant in the Blue Mountains, Darley’s. Part of Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa, Darley’s is the undisputed queen of the mountains, highly awarded for its impeccable cuisine and its beautiful garden setting in a heritage-listed house.
Sunday
A local secret that deserves to be shared, the Red Door Cafe is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast and kick off Sunday morning. Be prepared to be greeted by a soundtrack of frothing coffee, eclectic ‘80s rock and contemporary techno as you walk through the café’s namesake red door, with local artists’ work adorning the lining-board walls, hanging plants and a blackboard sporting daily specials.
If the timing is right, after breakfast make sure to have a wander through one of Blue Mountains farmers market, either Leura Sunday Markets or Blackheath Growers Market, and have a chat with the friendly stallholders. Both markets are where locals stock up on some of the freshest and best produce the region has to offer: think honey, jams, preserves, fruits, veggies, meats, bread, cheeses, olive oils, and wine.
A slice of Surry Hills in the heart of the Blue Mountains, Anonymous Café, between the hikes, the lookouts and exploring, is the perfect fuel stop for lunch. This bohemian café offers an incredible all-day breakfast menu, featuring brioche French toast with seasonal poached fruit and scrambled eggs with sourdough and house-made relish along with a lunch menu and some of the best coffee in the region – no longer is it an insider’s secret.
For your final night in the mountains, enjoy a drink (or two) at the Station Bar, located next to Katoomba’s train station (the name kind of give that one away) along with a couple of delicious wood-fired pizzas, revered by locals as the best in the region!
Fire up the car and dust off that ‘90s pop playlist—we feel a road trip coming on.
