It might feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but the number of restaurants open in Broken Hill will have you stunned (and stuffed).

To an unlearned outsider, the dusty expanse of far west NSW might not suggest itself to enormous choice in the food department. But you only have to spend a day or two in the outback town of Broken Hill before you realise the mistake. As well as a whole heap of things to do and discover here, the old mining centre has its food scene to recommend it as well.

From desert fine dining to a stop by a retro diner, here are the best cafes and restaurants to check out when you’re in Broken Hill.

In short

If you only go to one restaurant, make it The Old Salt Bush Restaurant and Catering. An award-winning take on outback fine-dining, you’ll get desert feasting with an elevated twist.

Alfresco’s Cafe

Best for: a big range of brekkie options

From lemon and sugar-dusted buttermilk pancakes to a big brekkie resplendent with sausages, bacon and hash browns, Alfresco’s is a real crowd-pleaser when it comes to breakfast time. And it doesn’t stop when the clock strikes 12 – there is also a heap of fresh lunches to choose from, like tropical prawn and avocado salad and steak sandwiches with all the Aussie trimmings.

Address: 397 Argent Street Broken Hill, NSW

Bell’s Milk Bar

Best for: a milkshake out at a retro diner

Broken Hill is full of opportunities to take a step back in time, and here’s another one. From its fifties-style furniture to its checkerboard floors, Bell’s Milk Bar will give you all the Grease feels.

So get that hair combed back, swagger on in to sit among the chrome fittings, and order one of their over 50 traditional-style milkshakes and soda spiders on the menu. Afterwards, pop by their Milk Bar Museum to get an understanding of the history of Australia’s milk bars.

Address: 160 Patton Street, Broken Hill, NSW

The Deli

Best for: fancy cheese

If you want a treat from the boujee side of life, this gourmet grocer and cafe should be your next stop. From the baking counter to the lunch cabinet stocked with everything you need to hand for a picnic out at the Living Desert Park, coming here is a no-brainer.

While there are always baked goods like fresh pies or sweet treats like sfogliatella here to pair with your coffee, if luck is with you, you’ll arrive on doughnut day.

Address: 7-9 Chloride Street Broken Hill, NSW

The Old Salt Bush Restaurant and Catering

Best for: award-winning fine dining

Got a special occasion while visiting Broken Hill? Head to The Old Salt Bush for mouthwatering fine dining that prides itself on its regionally sourced ingredients. For omnivores, the saltbush-dusted lamb rump is an absolute must, while lemon-myrtle prawns and gin-cured Atlantic salmon will tempt one and all.

Address: 1 Oxide St, Broken Hill NSW 2880

Lancy’s Takeaway

Best for: an all-rounder takeaway night that’s a real crowdpleaser

You know the drill: one person wants fish and chips, the other a hamburger, the other is being frustratingly vague. When this happens on your road trip to Broken Hill, veer away from disaster and take the family straight to Lancy’s Takeaway. Lancy’s has all these, as well as Aussie takeaway classics like steak sandwiches, chiko rolls and bacon egg rolls – and at affordable prices.

Address: 282 McCulloch Street, Broken Hill, NSW

Silverton Bakery

Best for: doughnuts in Silverton

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again. Is it even a road trip without a bakery stop? Luckily, Broken Hill and nearby Silverton (just twenty minutes away) have plenty to deliver when it comes to warm bakery treats. Before the Mad Max 2 Museum and after the camel rides, stop by Silverton Bakery. Here you will find fresh donuts, dusted in cinnamon and sugar, as well as turnovers, pies and sausage rolls: all baked onsite.

Address: 10 Layard Street, Silverton, NSW

Old McLeod’s Bakery

Best for: a nostalgic feed in a Broken Hill bakery

Over in Broken Hill, Old McLeod’s Bakery has been feeding hungry road trippers and locals alike for years. And – having been baking up a storm for that long – you better believe the hype is worth it. With flaky pastry, classic vanilla slices, and pies in a wide range of flavours (pulled beef and mushroom has us drooling) and a homey local spirit, you’ll find it impossible not to sneak by for a peek.

Address: 501-503 Chapple St, Broken Hill, NSW

Sufi Bakery

Best for: artisan sourdough bread

Before you’ve even come here, you might have already tried the bread from this hole-in-the-wall bakery. How? Other cafes around town use their stellar products, of course. For more than just a slice or two with your scrambled eggs, stop by Sufi Bakery for their traditional sourdough, as well as olive bread, Bavarian rye, danishes and sourdough pasta.

Address: Corner Bromide & Argent Street, Broken Hill, NSW

Tipsy Camel at the Old Brewery

A 19th-century brewery with a new lease on life as a bistro, bar, and stage for stunning drag performances by owner Shelita Buffet. As well as gigs by local queens and bands, Tipsy Camel goes all out with its extensive cocktail menu, two dozen schnitty variations, plus weekly night specials on dishes like tapas and pizza.

Address: 81 Buck Street, Broken Hill NSW

Line of Lode Café

A must when visiting Broken Hill is the Line of Lode Miners Memorial. Created in memory of the 800 workers who have died over the history of this mining town, its rusty-red steel body is located upon an enormous hill made of mining waste – and one of those names is the ancestor of the new owners of the Line of Lode Café. After a touching visit to the memorial itself, it’s the best spot nearby for brunch with a view.

Address: 1 Federation Way, Broken Hill NSW