Best Blackheath Restaurants For Your Next Trip

Blackheath has become a beacon of Blue Mountains culinary excellence with a concise but considered list of places to wine and dine.

The little mountain town of Blackheath punches far above its weight with a food culture that is seasonally and locally focussed and beautifully executed. From a hatted, fire-fuelled restaurant to the region’s first natural wine bar and an agrarian-inspired farm-to-table eatery, these are the best Blackheath restaurants to dine out at now.

1. Zoe’s

For a good night out in the mountains, simply follow the red neon-lit Z. A live music venue, a sleek cocktail bar and a Mexican restaurant, Zoe’s is many things in one space that somehow seamlessly come together to create a cohesive and vibrant atmosphere.

the classy and vibrant restaurant interior of Zoe's, 35 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Zoe’s classy and vibrant interior is a standout.

Sidle on up to the bar for a well-mixed margarita or Oaxaca old fashioned, gather round a table for plates of corn esquites, tacos or carne asada, and toe-tap to the beats of local and international musicians.

a plate of Mexican food at Zoe's, 35 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Come to Zoe’s if you’re craving Mexican.

Open: Tuesday to Saturday for dinner and lunch on Saturdays, it’s a vibe you’ll want to revisit on repeat.
Address: 35 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath

2. Blaq

Set in the sleek and boutique Kyah Hotel, Blaq is an elegant and much-applauded , contemporary addition to the Blue Mountains dining scene. Local, award-winning chef Mate Herceg deftly plates the best produce of the region with sophisticated dishes that relish the season and classic cooking techniques.

a sleek and elegant dining interior at Blaq in Kyah Hotel, 13-17 Brightlands Avenue, Blackheath — Pull up a seat inside Blaq’s sleek dining space in Kyah Hotel. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

From ‘smalls’ of venison tartare with quail egg or roasted eggplant with tahini cream, to ‘bigs’ of brined kangaroo with broad beans and spinach, and vegan house-made gnocchi, as well as flame-licked cuts from the grill, Herceg’s food is both innovative and inventive.

rack of lamb with rosemary and lemon at Blaq in Kyah Hotel, 13-17 Brightlands Avenue, Blackheath — Savour the flavourful rack of lamb with rosemary and lemon. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Open: Dinner is served Wednesday to Sunday in an ambient and stylish dining room, making Blaq the perfect spot for special occasions, date nights or simply an elevated evening out.

Address: 13-17 Brightlands Avenue, Blackheath

3. Cinnabar

Star culinary duo, Corinne Evatt and Mary-Jane Craig, have been running award-winning restaurants in the Blue Mountains since they opened their four-time-hatted Ashcroft in Blackheath 2000.

the vibrant restaurant interior at Cinnabar, 246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath — Enjoy a cosy dinner in the warm-lit interior of Cinnabar.

It’s long-since closed, but their latest venture, Cinnabar Kitchen has been just as warmly welcomed with its world-inspired menu that roams from a Moroccan beetroot salad to a Punjabi spiced chicken and Parisian beef cheeks.

a plate of curd meringue at Cinnabar, 246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath — Order a plate of curd meringue.

Open: From Wednesday to Saturday, you can spend the night downstairs in the cosy, warmly lit main restaurant or, if you’re a group, book one of the two private dining rooms in ‘The Loft’ upstairs, where you can choose from one of three set grazing menus.

Address: 246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath

4. Ates

Meaning ‘fire’ in Ottoman Turkish, hatted Ates puts their 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven to work firing up Mediterranean-style share plates for lunch on the weekend and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.

the dining space at Ates, 33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Nab a spot for casual lunch or dinner at Ates.

Gathering a cornucopia of local produce from Malfoy’s wild honey to produce from Farm it Forward, head chef William Cowan Lunn and his team stoke the flames to create dishes of wood-roasted cauliflower with curry leaf butter and braised oyster blade with celeriac and horseradish remoulade, and finesse smaller plates of fresh flavours, such as the sashimi of hiramasa kingfish and classic beef tartare. For groups of six or more diners, you’ll need to embark on the chef’s banquet set menu and settle in for a parade of deliciously compiled flavours.

a table-top view of dishes at Ates, 33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Feast on wood-roasted cauliflower with curry leaf butter.

Open: Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday with lunch service available on weekends.
Address: 33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath

5. Megalong Restaurant

Nestled amid the fruit and vegetable gardens of Lot 101 farm, which supply most of the kitchen’s produce, Megalong Restaurant is a veritable example of farm-to-table eating . In addition to the gardens that guests are invited to wander through, the farm also runs cattle and sheep, which appear on the menu, along with other locally sourced meats. It stands to reason, given its agrarian underpinning, that the menu is hyper-seasonal and may include the likes of brisket empanadas with tomatillo, smoked Murray cod or local lamb.

Open: Settle in for the set menu (with or without matching wines) over a long lunch on the weekend or dinner Thursday to Saturday.

Address: Peach Tree Road, Megalong Valley

6. Frankie and Mo’s

Heralding a new era of cosy places to while away some mountain hours, Frankie and Mo’s natural wine bar is the first of its kind in the area.

The focus at this petite 25-seater venue run by father-and-son pair Bob and Tom Colman is good, affordable drops for casual wine-lovers, but you can sip as you sup on the veg-heavy menu from Thursday to Sunday with dishes such as bruleed brie toast, potato gnocchi and Brussels sprouts with leeks and almond cream.

If you like, purchase a bottle to takeaway or drink it at the bar of the former art gallery building, or if you’re staying for a short time but a good time, choose from wines-by-the-glass.

Open: Frank and Mo’s opens its doors on Thursdays and Fridays from midday to 10pm and from 10am to 10pm on weekends.

Address: 44 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath

For more great eats in the Blue Mountains, read our guide to Katoomba restaurants and check out our Blue Mountains travel guide for all you need to know.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

6 restaurants in Blackheath to bookmark for your next trip