Tucked away in a quiet street of Bowral [yes, they do exist!] is a food and bevvie fave escape of ours.
Housed in the beautiful Berida Hotel, Bistro Sociale is a relaxed yet elegant and contemporary European-style bistro with a French twist.
The team is super passionate about delivering fresh, seasonal food and delicious drinkable delights for us Highlanders to enjoy in a friendly and warm atmosphere.
Here’s how they’re doing it and why we are lovin’ it!
1 // It’s a most excellent spot for a G & T
Fans of gin [guilty] are gonna love this one!
The bar here has over 100 varieties of local, imported, vintage, rare and craft gins for you to try… not all in the one sitting, of course!!
Add a range of house made and premium tonics and fancy garnishes into the mix and you’ve got yourself quite the tasty tipple experience!
2 // Year-round dining options
If there’s one thing the Southern Highlands has got going on – it’s the whole four seasons thing (sometimes in one day!).
We love that you can cosy up in front of the fire at Bistro Sociale in the cooler months and head outside for some on point al fresco dining on the terrace in summer.
Extra points for the Insta-worthy ivy-covered walls outside BTW.
Image :: Abbie Melle
3 // There’s cocktails!
Yes, we know there may be a little bit of a theme running here but we ARE big fans of pretty drinks that taste yummo and make us smile, and the cocktail menu here definitely does that.
Go stylish with a Barrel Aged PX Negroni [how incredible does that sound?]Highlands iconic with a Berida Sling or mix it up with something cheeky and order a Coconut Margarita. Bula bella!
4 // Breakfast deliciousness
Did you know Bistro Sociale is open for brekkie seven days a week? And it’s a buffet? [we LOVE buffets!]
And it’s not just for guests of Berida Hotel…. Highlanders can add this fab restaurant to their list of local brekkie spots too.
Awesome for hosting visiting friends or family, the crew here serves up quite the delicious start to the day with a European twist on the breakfast buffet.
Oooh and it also includes eggs your way, pancakes and omelettes, soooo good
5 // The incredible Prix Fixe Lunch Special
If we said there was somewhere fabulous to meet your friends for lunch with easy parking in Bowral, would you fall off your chair? Probz.
Not only is Bistro Sociale easy to get to, they’re open seven days a week and they’ve got the most amazing Prix Fixe Lunch Special on every single day.
The European inspired menu has something for everyone, with the option of two or three courses [three all the way, baby] and a glass of wine included.
Our pick? It’s hard to go past the MB5+ Black Onyx Angus rump with pommes frites and café de Paris butter. And yes, we’ll also take the rosewater pavlova with chantilly cream and balsamic strawberries… lush.
6 // Escape to the beautiful [and quiet] Bar & Lounge
This is an ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle of Bowral.
Think lush velvet lounges, dark and opulent décor, and the largest selection of whisky in the region.
Choose from Scottish [of course], Japanese, American and Australian whiskies, or tempt your tastebuds with a whisky based cocktail. We see a Smoky Nail in our future.
But you don’t need to be a whisky lover to enjoy this superb spot. There are plenty of other sippable concoctions on the menu too including that epic range of gin and cocktails we mentioned earlier.
Drop in for a wee dram or something else any night from 5pm to 10pm. Another big tick.
7 // They have a fabulous private dining room
We love this space! Bistro Sociale has a gorgeous private dining room where you and up to 30 of your closest friends or family can exclusively wine and dine your day or night away.
It’s a fantastic option for special occasion birthdays, anniversary celebrations, mini meet-ups or work functions.
Such a great space for an intimate private event.
8 // Curated and extensive wine list
Oh wow….we could stare at Bistro Sociale’s wine list allllll day.
Cellared on site, the wine list is extensive and includes local wines as well as premium Australian wines and a huge selection of international options from the trifecta of wine heavyweights – France, Italy and Spain – and of course, plenty more.
You can live it up and order something super fancy or run with a local favourite, with plenty available by the glass as well as by the bottle.
9 // A very cool Sans drinks menu
The no or low alcohol movement is building quite the head of steam and we think it’s awesome.
Not everyone likes to drink alcohol and of course, there’s designated drivers to think of too.
We think it’s very cool that Bistro Sociale offer up a Sans Menu which is their alcohol-free drinks menu.
Choose from delicious mocktails like the Grapefruit No-Groni (cute!), a selection of zero alcohol beer, cider and wine in a number of varieties – nice one, guys!
10 // Special event destination
We love heading to Bistro Sociale for brekkie, lunch and dinner any old day of the year but when it’s time to celebrate something special like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas or you’re getting a bunch of friends together for something like the Melbourne Cup, Bistro Sociale can really turn it on with specially themed menus, fab packages and a fun atmosphere.
Keep an eye on our Event Directory and their socials to be the first to know about these sorts of events – they book out pretty quickly so no dilly dallying!
Berida Hotel’s signature restaurant, Bistro Sociale, specialises in contemporary European cuisine.
With a fresh, new menu inspired by quality local produce, this is the perfect place to enjoy a romantic evening, social gathering or a fab private event.
Bistro Sociale is open seven days for brekkie and lunch and Friday to Sunday for dinner. Book your table online here – easy!
…
This blog features friends and advertisers of The Fold Southern Highlands and is fully endorsed by The Fold Southern Highlands. We strongly believe in the businesses and all the information we share with you on The Fold and we’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses. We want to say a BIG thank you to you for supporting our sponsors who help make The Fold possible.