10 Excellent Katoomba Restaurants To Dine At Now

Whether you fancy a fine dining affair or a more low-key night out, you’ll find a menu to whet your appetite in the beautiful mountain-side town of Katoomba.

From grand hotel dining rooms to a restaurant set in a historic picture theatre and even an old church, Katoomba’s hospitality scene is varied and rich. It encompasses everything from casual ambience to consciously crafted menus, all showcasing the incredible produce of the Blue Mountains region and its exceptional culinary talent.

Here are the best Katoomba restaurants to book to keep you fuelled for all of the must-do activities.

The shortlist

Best Date Spot: Tempus
Great for Special Occasions: Darley’s Restaurant
Casual Eats: Bowery
Family-Friendly Spot: Boiler Haus Restaurant

1. Darley’s Restaurant

Darley’s Restaurant, Katoomba — A refined dining experience awaits at Darley’s Restaurant. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Take your velvet, buttercup-yellow seat at the lavish dining room of Darley’s Restaurant at Lilianfels Resort and Spa and give yourself a moment to absorb the ornate styling and sweeping views across English gardens and the Jamison Valley beyond.

Glinting crystal chandeliers, two fireplaces, and coloured stained-glass windows cast soft glows on the elaborate black-and-gold wallpaper and thoughtfully selected paintings. With starched-white tablecloths and such stately furnishings, you can’t mistake Darley’s for anything but special-occasion fare. The fine-dining menu is seasonal and local and may include the likes of duck breast with fermented cherries, Kinross lamb backstrap or Hokkaido scallops with samphire, all plated as if standalone works of art. Take your time; this is a place to relish the elegance of times past.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Location: 5/19 Lilianfels Ave, Katoomba

2. Echoes Restaurant and Bar

Meals unfold back-dropped by the large-format beauty of the vast Jamison Valley that seems to sprawl endlessly onwards. Plates of modern Australian flavours blended with Asian inspiration do well to compete for diners’ attention against the attention-seeking views. Set in the boutique hotel of the same name, Echoes Restaurant and Bar is open from breakfast through to dinner and serves classics such as Riverina lamb backstrap to more novel dishes of beluga lentil gnocchi, all alongside an astute local and international wine list. The perfect place for a pre-dinner drink, we suggest arriving in time to catch the nightly light show as the sun retreats beneath the mountains beyond. Keep in mind, there is a minimum of three courses for Saturday and Sunday dinner. On other nights, two courses are available.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Location: Echoes Boutique Hotel, 3 Lilianfels Avenue, Katoomba

3. Jamison Views Restaurant

dining at Jamison Views Restaurant — Tuck into comforting classics overlooking scenic mountain vistas. (Credit: Jamison Views Restaurant)

This Katoomba classic is a lovely, casual spot for a breezy breakfast, long lunch or dinner out. Tuck into comforting classics and inventive plates executed elegantly with a menu that spans everything from ham hock and duck liver terrine to beef bourguignon and twice-cooked pork belly. When it’s cold out, there’s plenty of rib-sticking flavour and for the warmer months, fresh seafood brings a lighter touch. Set in the Mountain Heritage Hotel, you’ll dine overlooking fabulous mountain vistas.

Cuisine: Classic European

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Casual but elegant

Location: Cnr Apex and Lovel Streets, Katoomba

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4. Tempus

dinner at Tempus Katoomba — The menu celebrates the region’s produce. (Credit: Maja Baska)

Bringing a community-minded and sustainable ethos to everything they do, the team at Tempus champions eating locally and seasonally with beautifully crafted food that crowns the region’s produce with the halo it deserves. Pickling, dehydrating and preserving ingredients to ensure nothing is wasted, the menu is both inventive and thrilling, leaning toward Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours. Relish plates such as the wild rabbit and duck manti and lamb rump with hummus and green sauce, all paired with an all-Australian drinks list. Bright, stylish and accented with warm wood tones, this diner heralds in a new generation of Blue Mountains hospitality.

Cuisine: Australian with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern sensibilities

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Refined but casual

Location: 66 Katoomba Street, Katoomba

5. The Bootlegger Bar

fried meat at The Bootlegger Bar, Katoomba — Enjoy the crisp crunch of barbequed meats at The Bootlegger Bar.

Settle in for an evening of smoky flavours and punchy drinks at this bar and smokehouse where low and slow wins the race. Taking cues from the Southern US barbecue culture and Cajun cuisine, here you’ll tuck into saucy, tender cuts licked by delicious curls of smoke, from pork ribs and brisket to tomahawk steaks and smoked mac-and-cheese. It all goes well with a cocktail or a fresh, chilled beer and is exactly what you need to replenish calories following a long hike in the mountains. If you’re eager to lean into the theme, you can select a whisky flight, where you can choose from a tasting of bourbon, Japanese, Australian, rye or Islay whiskies.

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 92 Bathurst Road, Katoomba

6. Bowery

Bowery restaurant in Katoomba — This all-day eatery is set in the former St Andrews Church. (Credit: Bowery)

Find your holy side with a visit to a 1914 Federation Romanesque church. Despite setting up shop in the former St Andrews Church, Bowery, perhaps sacrilegiously, only pays mind to the deity of a more bacchanalian nature. All about simple, beautifully prepared food enjoyed with good people, Bowery is a relaxed, light-filled dining hall where you can allocate many hours to sampling small plates and sipping well-mixed drinks. From brunch to lunch, dinner and drinks, it’s an all-day eatery ready to welcome with dishes that amble across cuisines, such as plant-based tacos, prawn koliwada and duck spring rolls.

Cuisine: A bit of everything

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 56-64 Waratah Street, Katoomba

7. Boiler Haus Restaurant

Boiler Haus Restaurant in Katoomba — Sip on great wines amidst scenic greenery at Boiler Haus Restaurant.

Located in the grand Hydro Majestic Hotel, Boiler Haus is a laid-back alternative to the hotel’s white-clothed Wintergarden Restaurant. Serving comforting, universally adored classics of pizza, pasta and a few classics alongside some truly dazzling scenery and great wines, this casual eatery is all polished concrete and industrial style, as opposed to the opulent stylings of Wintergarden. There’s even a dedicated kids’ menu to make life just a little bit easier.

Cuisine: Italo-Australian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Casual and family-friendly

Location: 52–88 Great Western Hwy, Medlow Bath

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8. Wintergarden Restaurant

If you’re going to partake in high tea in the Blue Mountains, this is absolutely the place to do so. Winged velvet chairs, crisp linens and captivating Megalong Valley views set the scene for an elegant soirée at Hydro Majestic’s refined restaurant. While it’s best known for its high tea service, Wintergarden also offers a daily dinner service, where guests can enjoy a two- or three-course dinner. However, this is the spot for early birds, as dinner is done and dusted by 9pm.

Cuisine: Contemporary

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Location: 52–88 Great Western Hwy, Medlow Bath

9. Avalon Restaurant

Avalon Restaurant, Katoomba — The scenic Avalon Restaurant is a local favourite.

This main street Katoomba restaurant is secreted behind an unassuming entrance, but once inside, you’ll discover you’re dining in the old dress circle of the historic, 1930s-era Savoy Picture Theatre. Filled with the ambience of bygone glamour, Avalon Restaurant and Bar is a little bit quirky and a lot of fun. A bit like dining in an antiques store, you’ll be served robust classics, such as slow-roasted lamb, pulled beef croquettes and duck breast, amid mannequins dressed as flappers and vintage curios. The drinks list favours local breweries and Australian spirits and wines, which you can sip as you tap toes to local musicians at the Friday night Supper Club.

Cuisine: A bit of everything

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 18 Katoomba Street, Katoomba

10. Miss Lilian

dining at Miss Lilian in Katoomba — The menu is a tour of full-flavoured Asian dishes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Another of the well-curated restaurants that form the dining options at Lilianfels Resort, Miss Lilian is set in a sweet cottage with high ceilings, from which hang delicate birdcage lanterns. The scene here is set for a rollcall of Asian flavours, from Vietnamese to Thai and Cantonese dim sum. From crowd-pleasers of spring rolls and Wagyu beef gyoza to the larger Thai beef salad and ‘heo nuong’ pork chop, the menu is a tour of full-flavoured hits. You can dine a la carte, but if you’re with a group, you may be better to go for one of the set menu options. Don’t skip one of the fruity and fun cocktails or a sweet and peppy Vietnamese coffee.

Cuisine: Asian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 5-19 Lilianfels Ave, Katoomba

With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

Where the vines tell a story

A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food. — Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

At the table

A flat lay of a steak. — Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

From the source

A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish. — Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

Mark your calendar

A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith. — Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.

11 excellent Katoomba restaurants to dine at now

Whether you fancy a fine dining affair or a more low-key night out, you’ll find a menu to whet your appetite in the beautiful mountain-side town of Katoomba.

The shortlist

1. Darley’s Restaurant

2. Echoes Restaurant and Bar

3. Jamison Views Restaurant

4. Tempus

5. The Bootlegger Bar

6. Bowery

7. Boiler Haus Restaurant

8. Wintergarden Restaurant

9. Avalon Restaurant

10. Miss Lilian

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Every unmissable Blue Mountains cafe to fuel your next weekender

This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

Where the vines tell a story

At the table

From the source

Mark your calendar

Whether you fancy a fine dining affair or a more low-key night out, you’ll find a menu to whet your appetite in the beautiful mountain-side town of Katoomba.

The shortlist

1. Darley’s Restaurant

2. Echoes Restaurant and Bar

3. Jamison Views Restaurant

AI Prompt

4. Tempus

5. The Bootlegger Bar

6. Bowery

7. Boiler Haus Restaurant

8. Wintergarden Restaurant

9. Avalon Restaurant

10. Miss Lilian

There’s a Chilean bakery hiding in the bush on this Blue Mountains walk

After years of restorations, Jenolan Caves is finally reopening

Australia’s first sauna festival is coming to the Blue Mountains

Every unmissable Blue Mountains cafe to fuel your next weekender

With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

Where the vines tell a story

At the table

From the source

Mark your calendar