You know….the long, relaxed Sunday lunches where kids ran around while the grown-ups kicked back on big tables overloaded with delicious food [and wine!].
Maybe we should bring that tradition back! Because who doesn’t love a long, Sunday lunch that ends with full bellies, happy memories and maybe a sneaky arvo nap?
We’ve put together a list of local restaurants, pubs and cafes that are perfect for a fun and loud extended family gathering – grab your aunts, uncles, parents, cousins and grandparents [if you’re lucky enough to have them living nearby]!
Or if your local besties are your family in the Highlands, start a new Sunday lunch tradition with them. Fun!
KID-FRIENDLY
Raw and Wild Market & Cafe
Raw & Wild Market & Cafe is fantastic for the whole family every day of the week. Plus, with a menu packed full of fresh, local ingredients, you can totally enjoy your Sunday lunch without any guilt. They’ve even got a special menu for your four-legged friends, so they can join in on the weekend fun too!
Kids menu // You bet! And a Four Legged Kidz menu too!
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // That they use fresh produce from their own organic market and can cater to a wide variety of dietary needs, including many vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options on the menu.
Bowral Bowling Club
With a fab play area for kiddos, a roast special every Sunday and a menu full of classics like pizzas, pasta, steaks, sharing bits and burgers, it’s hard to go past Bowral Bowling Club.
Why not have a go at Barefoot Bowls whilst you’re there to work off some of that lovely lunch indulgence.
Kids menu // 5 different choices for kiddos under the age of 14
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // The friendly community vibe here.
Robertson Public House and Kitchen
Who doesn’t love drawing on the ‘tablecloth’?
This kid-friendly pub gives out coloured pencils and have paper on the tables, so kids can channel their inner Picasso while they wait for a yummy pub meal.
Big tables in the sunshine inside or outside on the verandah with a grassy area for kids to run off all that excess energy.
Kids menu // Yep, pub classics FTW.
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // Sitting in the sunshine on the verandah watching the kids run around on the grass.
The Scottish Arms Hotel
The Scotland Yard Beer Garden at The Scottish Arms Hotel has plenty of space for the whole crew to get comfortable. And both the indoor and outdoor spaces can accommodate large bookings so you can even invite the extended family.
The menu here is full of hearty faves like pot pies and pork ribs to keep every tummy satisfied.
Kids menu // Yes and every kids meal comes with a complimentary ice cream, yummo!
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // The impressive chicken schnitty menu! Are you brave enough to try the Angel of Death one? It comes topped with smoked habanero chilli sauce, ay caramba!
Farm Club Australia
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned pie lunch on a Sunday?
Farm Club Australia is serving up not only Wagyu beef pies but also cool twists like mushroom & leek and Shanghai pork. Of course, there are sausage rolls and even minute steak rolls, so all appetites are satisfied.
There’s plenty of room to stretch the legs at the outdoor tables and scrummy milkshakes for the tiny sweet tooths.
Kids menu // No, but there are plenty of options on the board to keep them totally happy!
Price // $
The Fold Loves // The takeaway freezer, perfect for next week’s dinners.
Il Trullo Ristorante Pizzeria
Why not have a Sunday lunch just like mamma used to make [or at least we can pretend she did] at Il Trullo?
Authentic Italian food right here in our part of the world and we love it! Tuck it into delish pizza and pasta that will satisfy both big and little kids alike. Don’t forget to save room for their choccy mousse cake… dream!
Kids menu // Sure do- they got those bambini covered.
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // Their regular changing specials so there’s always something new to try.
Imperial Hotel
If you’re catching up in the cooler months, this place is always deliciously warm in winter!
The bistro at the front of the pub has a lovely big fire, but we are fans of the fire and the huge long table in Imperial Pizza.
Book that table right near the fireplace, order seriously yum wood fired pizzas followed by gelato and you have got yourself a cracking Sunday lunch for the fam bam!
Kids menu // Pizza and gelato! Who needs a special menu for the kidlets when this is on offer?
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // The Nutella Pizza served with Vanilla Gelato…..hellllllooooo!
AL FRESCO
Sutton Forest Inn
Views, space and sunshine! Sounds like a great Sunday lunch, right?
Sutton Forest Inn offers up all three with large tables on their back verandah and ‘backyard’, gorgeous views of local farms [and one of the best spots in the Highlands to catch a sunset] and a big grassy area and playgrounds where kids can run around.
They have an extensive bistro menu with a fab selection of daily specials to choose from too.
Kids menu // Plenty to keep the kids full
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // Having a family game of footie on the grass after lunch.
Mittagong Hotel
A pub feed really has a way of satisfying the whole fam-bam.
Mittagong Hotel is a great spot to load up on all the good stuff. Burgers, pizzas, pasta, schnittys, slow braised lamb shank [a Sunday classic]
There’s a kid’s menu with a few options and a courtyard with their famous tree for providing shade on sunny days.
Kids menu // Yep!
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // Their recent refurb- classy and contemporary but also warm and inviting.
Briars Inn
The recently refurbished Briars Inn has got plenty of space and lovely outdoors areas.
There’s loads to keep the kids busy – from the playground to the outdoor cinema to the cute wooden creations in the gardens that the kids can climb on and let’s not forget a grassy hill to roll down!
Kids menu // Yep, and each meal includes a free ice cream.
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // The huuuuge playground area for kids
Eschalot Restaurant
The beautiful stone cottage this restaurant in Berrima is housed in is just stunning, but we love the outdoor courtyard area where you can sit back on a big table with family and settle in for a long lunch of beautiful seasonal and local produce.
Chef Matty Roberts and partner, Cass have breathed fresh, new life into this fab local restaurant.
We love the selection of menu’s and while there isn’t a kids menu, if you give the guys a call to organise a big fam catch-up in the courtyard, the guys will sort something out for you.
Kids menu // No, but can work with you on something for the kids depending on ages.
Price // $$$
The Fold Loves // The Chef’s ‘feed me’ menu [who wants to make decisions at a long lunch – let Matty do it for you!]
Artemis Wines
Not only does Artemis Wines in Mittagong have a kickarse cellar door, they also have an awesome outdoor space which is perfect for laying down the picnic rugs, kicking back with delicious homegrown wine, wood fired pizzas and cheese plates.
Plenty of space for the kids to run around in and they’ll LOVE the pizzas.
Bookings are essential at the moment, FYI.
Kids menu // Don’t need it with all the delicious pizza coming out of the woodfired oven!
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // Taste testing all the Artemis creations [they do gin too!!]
Bundanoon Hotel
Not many pubs can boast about having a pool!
That’s why we love the Bundy Hotel for a super cruisy, al fresco option in the warmer months.
The pub’s pool parties with live music, special drink prices, large tables and big colourful picnic mats are an absolute hit in the summer months!
Kids menu // Sure thing – kiddos meals are $12
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // Cooling off and floating on a blow up unicorn in the pool.
Burrawang Village Hotel
A local favourite and always worth the drive to the gorgeous village of Burrawang, we love The Wang!
There is plenty of outdoor dining options to choose from. Tuck in under one of the two covered and paved areas, you can sit out in the sun (it’s sooo good in autumn and spring) or head down to the grass and set up camp with the family under the shade of a tree.
Pub classics on the menu and an awesome view.
Settle in for the arvo.
Kids menu // Yep!
Price // $$
The Fold Loves // The Maugers Gourmet Pork & Fennel Sausages served with mash, peas and gravy!
FOR GROWN-UPS AND ALMOST ADULTS
Centennial Vineyards Restaurant
For families with older children who are on the cusp of all things grown-up, Centennial Vineyards Restaurant is a beautiful Sunday lunch spot.
Sophisticated and stylish, but with warm hospitality and stunning views, this is a perfect spot to relax with friends, family, fab food and fine wine.
They also have a group menu option available for parties of 12 or more people.
Price // $$$
Kids Menu // Yes
The Fold Loves // The Centennial Tasting Slate to start with!
Bistro Sociale
We absolutely love the light and the space in this gorgeous restaurant [ with their resident gin bar AND whisky bar] at The Berida Hotel in Bowral.
It’s casual but elegant, traditional but contemporary, modern but rustic…..you’ll feel totally at home settling in for a gatho with the family here.
The Terrace is open during the summer months too, so plant yourself outdoors if you like.
Oh, and the food? Contemporary European… think Sydney rock oysters, tasty pasta dishes, lamb rump, salmon, succulent scotch fillet and super delicious sides.
Price // $$$
Kids menu // Yes
The Fold Loves // A sneaky pre [and post] lunch aperitif.
Kaffeine Bowral
For a caffeine-fueled Sunday lunch then head to Kaffeine in Bowral, because as the name suggests they serve up some pretty top-notch go-go juice.
They also do a great selection of brunch and lunch faves as well as something a little different like Buddha Bowls and Tasty Tacos mmmm.
Kids Menu // No, but there are chippys and kids’ milkshakes, so we’re sure the little ones will be satisfied.
Price // $
The Fold Loves // The selection of fresh juices, perfect to shake off anything leftover from Saturday night.
Peppers Manor House Sutton Forest
Another special Sunday option here. Katers Restaurant is available for lunch and has lots of delish options to choose from.
The roasty-toasty fire is the perfect spot to relax in the winter and the views of the grounds are just a treat for the eyeballs. They’ve also got a wonderful grazing menu, The Nook bar is also open for all day dining and on weekends they do high tea if you’d prefer your lunch on the sweeter side.
Kids Menu // No but there are plenty of options for bigger kids on the regular menu
Price // $$$
The Fold Loves // The Devonshire tea for afters
Milton Park – Horderns
For a real fancy-pants/ treat yo’ self Sunday Lunch then you just gotta go to Horderns at Milton Park. There are 2 and 3-course lunch options as well as a full-tasting menu, with the option to add matching wines [it’s Sunday, go on].
Book ahead and try to score a table overlooking the STUNNING gardens and just take in the whole beauty of the place.
Kids Menu // This one’s for the grown-ups.
Price // $$$
The Fold Loves // Pre or post-meal drinks in The Polo Bar followed by a stroll around those gorge gardens.
Bendooley Estate
Housed within the Book Barn, this restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. Books all around you, delish meals in front of you, and of course incredible wines to sip as well! What more could the crew ask for?
The menu is inspired by the seasons of the Southern Highlands and has a wonderful range of choices to suit most tastes.
We also LOOOOVE the sound of the Long Lunch option which can be booked for groups of 10 adults or more. Think incredible-sounding share platters like slow-roast whole lamb shoulder and crispy pumpkin salad all laid across the table for the entire gang to dig into. FYI: Bookings for this need to be made at least 2 weeks in advance, so it’s a plan-ahead kind of dealio.
Price // $$$
Kids menu // No
The Fold Loves // The epic wine list, Salut!
Flour Bar
A bakery, a wine bar, a deli, and an awesome place for a lunch sesh. You really can have it all here! Choose from smaller plates to big sharing ones and pair it with a cocktail or vino from their lovely menu. Where else can you get a classic bacon and egg roll OR an indulgent Beef bourguignon all on the same menu? So cool!
Price // $$
Kids menu // No, but there are options on the regular menu that would satisfy younger eaters
The Fold Loves // Picking up some goodies from The Deli inside the vault on the way out.
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