This is not a pub - it is a gourmet restaurant attached to a hotel. We thought it was so good we went for both lunch and dinner. Our dishes included Kingfish Ceviche, Kangaroo Pie with Quandong Relish, Kangaroo Loin with Black Rice, and Slow-Cooked Pressed Camel. These were all delicious, innovative and reasonably priced. There is a good wine list and service was excellent. Highly recommended.

Great food but perfunctory service at best. Waitstaff were disinterested and forgetful. Had to ask after 15 minutes for our bread so that it wasn’t delivered at the same time as the mains. Kept wanting to take our wine glasses as we hadn’t ordered a bottle but we’re waiting for a glass of wine to be poured. Tatty dessert menus plonked on our table. We were asked when we booked if it was a special occasion which it was - our wedding anniversary but this was not noticed when we arrived. It’s a great venue and superb food and the owner probably sensed we were disappointed so showed us around at the end. But the wait staff need a lesson in providing service comparable to the food and price. Frankly we had much better service from the backpackers at the William Creek Hotel.

We enjoyed our Charcuterie board, wine, beer, and desserts on Sunday. We stopped here for lunch on a whim and were so impressed. We will definitely be back again soon and are already sharing our thoughts on this unexpected venue with others

Popped in for lunch. Had the feed me menu at $85pp. Sounds expensive but I have to tell you it was worth every cent. I think it was 7 or 8 courses of chefs selections.
I can remember going to the Watervale Hotel years back when it was a rundown pub and now it is an amazing venue. Would love to know how much was spent on the renovations.
Highly recommend this place for a simply stunning dining experience.
Sorry we didn't take any photographs.
There is accommodation and I can only assume that it would be simply stunning.

We absolutely loved the Degustation menu at the Chefs Table for lunch. The venue is just beautiful, the staff were so attentive and knowledgeable and the food and wine were amazing. The wine list was extensive and it was great to be able to try a couple of half glasses of wine and some great original mocktails. We would highly recommend a visit

A ‘light’ lunch. A wagyu burger and chips. Duck sliders.
We shared both and it was heaps! Burger was terrific. Hand cut chips and a house made mayo dip. Sliders (3) were very tasty.
Service very friendly and very good. A must do stop.
A great looking wine list which unfortunately couldn’t partake as tastings to continue through the rest of this amazing valley

Incredible lazy lunch in a beautiful setting with wonderful staff.
We had the feed me experience which was stunning- exceptional quality fresh ingredients, starting with three small entrees, ( tuna on feta with crunchy skin, duck pate) and delicious home baked bread before moving to a goat ragú pasta and finished by kangaroo loin with amazing lamb fat roasted potatoes and baked beetroot. The dessert was a Catalan cream with the thinnest of crispy tops!
Everything was exquisite and presented at a lovely leisurely pace by engaging and knowledgeable staff.
We’ll be back!

Just wow Watervale! This is a stunning old pub with a French food influences and a massive wine list the boot They have won multiple awards and it was an incredible experience in the Hell Hole the old prison I had the Carpaccio and the beetroot cigars and I wasn't left disappointed! The food is on the smaller portion side and fancy so is you love degustaion menus this is the place to come. I was very happy with the food wine and service a great venue for a wedding or large event with a perfect outdoor and indoor areas I'll definitely be back!

Absolutely awesome spot! 🌟 We stopped for lunch after hearing great things, and it totally delivered. Incredible food 🍷🍽️, warm and attentive service, and a beautiful setting. Even when we arrived soaked from the rain, they welcomed us with open arms. Loved the asparagus risotto and wine tasting with half glasses! Highly recommend. Will be back! 🙌

— Alex from Perth

A group of 5 of us stayed at the Watervale guesthouse on our walk on the Riesling trail. The accommodation was superb, very spacious and comfortable. Dinner at the hotel was amazing, the food, wine and service was perfect. A lot of thought has gone into preparing a menu with beautiful fresh local ingredients. Breakfast at general store was equally as good. Warrick was a wonderful host , very attentive with great attention to detail. He couldn’t do enough for us which was greatly appreciated. Wonderful premises and location. Highly recommended.

Bloody awesome. We stopped here for lunch on the way into Clare having been told about how amazing the food was, and we were not disappointed. The service was outstanding. The food was delicious and plentiful. We all left happy.
We also ordered a $60 bottle of wine which was clearly priced on the menu which we enjoyed a lot.

Five of us had a lovely lunch there. All the food was great and everybody was very happy. Barramundi from NT was excellent according to our two guests. One eats it regularly in Darwin. So that’s pretty good!

Dined in the restaurant for lunch, the staff were attentive, knowledgeable and were great! The food was incredible and loved our long lunch. We didn't feel rushed and loved the experience. Can't wait to come back again

Had an amazing lunch here this weekend, with some of the best customer service I have ever received. We arrived dripping wet after being unexpectedly caught in rain showers on our bikes, and must have looked like drowned rats - but not an eyebrow was raised. In fact, the owner went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and taken care of. The food was excellent, with our diverse vegetarian, gluten free and allergy needs taken care of. The asparagus risotto in particular was beautiful, an incredible amount of flavour. I enjoyed the half glasses of wine which enabled me to try more delicious options! I can’t wait to return.

Always an incredible experience at the Watervale Hotel! From the moment I walked in, I was blown away by the stunning decor and inviting atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious, made with fresh ingredients sourced daily by the owner himself. He's a real character, and his passion for quality shines through in every dish and the beautiful details of the venue. The service was also fantastic, with one French waiter in particular going above and beyond to accommodate vegans and other dietary requirements. I can see why the Watervale Hotel has been recognized as one of the best culinary experiences in the Adelaide. If you're ever in the area, this is definitely a must-visit spot!

15 out of 10 No words to explain how good this was especially the kangaroo and the duck sliders 15 out of 10 perfect.................

Watervale Pub rip off! We had high expectations about this old pub, unfortunately we were shot down in flames. Ordered two of the Wagyu burgers for $30 a pop, expecting a burger you couldn't jump over which is the norm for a country pub. What was delivered to our table was a burger the size of a slider, on it was the patty and a piece of lettuce with a drizzle of sauce, on the side was a spoon full of onions and a small bowl of dip. There were exactly 8 chips on each plate. To rub salt into the wound we were charged $60 for a bottle of Kilikanoon Pinot Gris which you can purchase at the cellar door for $25. I will add this, initially we were told that they did not have any Pinot Gris so we looked no further on the price list, only when the waiter brought out two glasses of Sav Blanc instead of the bottle did he make us aware that the Pinot was in fact available. Without having access to the price list at our table I was shocked at our lunch time bill of $120.00. I hope Watervale pub is satisfied and everyone pays attention to the finer details when ordering, I have learnt my lesson and will never be back to be financially violated again.

Absolutely fabulous dinner experience at the Warervale Hotel We had a stunning degustation dinner at the Watervale Hotel. The food, wine, service, atmosphere were all superb ! Highly recommended.

10/10 This is an amazing experience. The degustation offering was superb. Every dish delicious and beautifully presented. Fantastic staff gathered from all corners of the earth. All polite, helpful and knowledgeable. Certainly lives up to the reputation and totally worth going out of your way to find it in a beautiful part of South Australia. 10/10

Sublime degustation lunch We had the very great pleasure of dining at the Watervale Hotel for lunch one Friday recently. We opted for the degustation menu and paired each course with a mocktail each as we don't drink alcohol. Our experience was sublime. The delightful wait staff alone provided a lovely, enjoyable and informative experience. Each degustation course showcased the effective combination of fresh, local beautifully cooked food along with faultless and very enticing presentation on the plate. The mocktails were stunningly produced drink combinations of spice, herb and other flavours and essences to mimic the varieties of wine which would normally accompany such dishes. Impossible to pick any food favourites, though the duck was scrumptious! We will definitely return and try out the other dining options available. Thanks to a great team for a lovely lunch! Kim and Dave

Superb Birthday dinner with friends. Porthouse and eye fillets. Perfectly cooked and oh so delightful. Paired with potatoes. Definitely worth the visit. Plus a sneaky lemon dessert and coffees.

The front is unassuming but you walk in and the attention to detail is unmissable. Coming out to the back, seeing the open kitchen with dining is simply stunning. Add to that, our beautiful French waitress was so attentive to our needs. And food that was at the highest level; comforting, flavourful and filling. For an experience that we booked last minute, on a birthday jaunt to the Clare valley- we could not be happier.

Rude owner Yesterday, my family and I lunched at the beautiful Watervale Hotel for the first and last time yesterday. We were impressed with the gentrified surroundings and superb food however sadly let down by the rudeness of the owner. He personally rebuked me whilst I congratulated a staff member for the many awards they had won by saying the staff member “is busy and doesn’t have time to talk”. I sat down back down with my family and shared the experience feeling stunned. The owner bustled around other tables but didn’t approach us. The owner promises ‘an ethical epicurean experience’, I suggest he google the meaning again because we didn’t leave happy and merry, instead left with terrible taste in my mouth. Murray Willis

Sensation!!!! Some of the most flavourful and perfectly cooked food I’ve ever eaten. Have traveled overseas and to many renowned restaurants within Australia, and this food surpasses expectations! Steak was outstanding. The must visit and must experience, Watervale hotel!

Thank you guys!

My husband and I had the most wonderful dinner at the Watervale Hotel. We opted for the feed me menu and loved every mouthful of it. We were blown away with every course. Absolutely sensational!

Most scrumptious food, tastiest the duck and steak I've had in I don't know how long.

The presentation of the food was immaculate, the staff were very friendly and took a lot of pride in their kitchen.

Warwick & Veronica are lovely hosts and are doing wonderful things with biofarming and having a farm led kitchen causes the most amazing looking and tasting produce.

lack of interested service I have been waiting to dine here every time we drive by and go straight on to Clare. finally we booked and looked to a lovely afternoon. the food was on par, very good and the feed me menu flowed well. What was lacking was the service, the staff didn't seem to be interested in well, anything. happy to pop the plate in the middle of the table, say what it was and walked away. seems they may have been doing it all weekend but I think it should be with enthusiasm and genuineness. Such a shame, it really brought down the experience. Food is not pub food but the service was.

Great place for food and drinks, friendly staff. I was in the village doing work on my new place. I'd already treated myself to a couple of sundowners in the beer garden - the ginger beer is the real thing. I decided to treat myself on my last night: steak and chips. The locals said I had no chance but they even have a burger on the menu as well as a kids menu. All the food is of good quality from the devastation menu down. Sure, quality ingredients, well trained staff to cook and courteous front of house staff all cost money but for my meal and lashings of ginger beer and Cooper's stout it was less than $100 and the last meal elsewhere with my wife cost more for less, in Sydney. Viewed purely as a pub, it will get my business: no screens, no ponies, good decor and good drinks. Needless to say, the wine list is fantastic and really does showcase the Clare valley's wines. As a restaurant, going solo was as good as its ever going to get but it really is a place for getting together with friends and family over a relaxed meal in a very informal atmosphere. Highly recommended 👌

What a disapointment! From the moment we sat down inside we were continually annoyed by flies. The charcuterie platter was so cold nothing had any flavour. The Kingfish wings were wonderful. Plenty of flesh and beautifully moist but sitting on a dreadful oily mayonnaise that completely detracted from the wings. The pasta with ostrich was fine, ordinary and could have been any kind of flesh. The kale was cold, wet and very short on crumbs. We did not bother to look at dessert. After waiting for several years to visit this lauded establishment it was a huge disapointment.

You've heard the stories... Best pub in Australia. It's all true! I am not a foody but the food was amazing!! The smoked butter and house made bread was heavenly; the duck sliders were delicious; the fillet steak cooked perfectly; the chocolate mouse was great and of course they have amazing wines from the Claire Valley.

Great dinner This hotel has obviously been renovated with attention to its history and has several very pleasant dining areas. We had an excellent dinner with an interesting selection of local wines. The prawn dish was amazing and the steak much better than the one we were served at a far more expensive establishment in the city. I just wish the hot food had been served on hot serving dishes. It’s worth saving room for the sorbet!

What a disapointment! From the moment we sat down inside we were continually annoyed by flies. The charcuterie platter was so cold nothing had any flavour. The Kingfish wings were wonderful. Plenty of flesh and beautifully moist but sitting on a dreadful oily mayonnaise that completely detracted from the wings. The pasta with ostrich was fine, ordinary and could have been any kind of flesh. The kale was cold, wet and very short on crumbs. We did not bother to look at dessert. After waiting for several years to visit this lauded establishment it was a huge disapointment.

Beautiful. Visiting from London for a week and heard such good things about this restaurant. We had the degustation which was nothing short of stunning. Highlights were the crispy fish skin, the kingfish ceviche with lime sorbet (omg) and the chicken, which my chicken-loving husband declared the best chicken dish he had ever had. Polite, friendly but not overbearing staff. Beautiful but relaxed surrounds. We bought some dear friends a voucher for the same meal before we left the country as a thank you gift.

Beautiful. Visiting from London for a week and heard such good things about this restaurant. We had the degustation which was nothing short of stunning. Highlights were the crispy fish skin, the kingfish ceviche with lime sorbet (omg) and the chicken, which my chicken-loving husband declared the best chicken dish he had ever had. Polite, friendly but not overbearing staff. Beautiful but relaxed surrounds. We bought some dear friends a voucher for the same meal before we left the country as a thank you gift.

We enjoyed our lunch here after riding from Clare to Watervale on the rail trail. Our meal was delicious and the service was excellent. The menu had a wide selection and the wine list was outstanding. A wonderful place! The hotel dog gets a special mention also - what a gentle, friendly boy.

Mothers Day Amazing Lunch Wow, just finished the most amazing mother's day lunch Well worth the two hour drive A big thank you to the staff for making my wife's day special

Underwhelming Underwhelming food and a totally disinterested male waiter. Such a beautiful venue deserves better service which always has a way of elevating food. Disappointed

Magical weekend in Watervale We had the best 24 hours in Watervale! Started with checking into Penebscot Cottage before a fascinating tour of the bio-dynamic farm from owner Warrick. We then enjoyed an epic degustation at the Watervale Hotel sitting up at the counter watching the chefs in action .Each course was introduced by one of the chefs and we were served excellent wines to accompany. The next day we enjoyed a fantastic breakfast at the Watervale General Store which has to be one of the best cafes / bakeries in the region. Warrick & Nicola and their team were so welcoming and we left knowing that we’d be back again soon! This was all part of a package found on their website. Highly recommend and great value for money.

Dinner at the Watervale My mum and i went for Dinner - i ordered the broad beans that are on the menu were quite hard - i asked how they were prepared and they are pan fried , however they were cold and still felt raw- i was offered more however i didnt want exactly the same as i was served. . if you are looking for an "up to date " menu - phone first as the website "sample menu is not correct - my mum wanted the Tagliolini Pasta with beetroot ,however it was not on the menu when we go there and that was the only thing that she wanted to order as she has limited appetite and false teeth and is elderly. so she was disappointed so she shared some of my meal - the roasted potatoes. other than that very friendly staff - The Kingfish Ceviche was delicious

Good gastropub but far from fine dining upmarket than standard pub fare but far from fine dining. If you want a gastropub experience- great- but did not live up to fine dining reviews.

An incredible meal, every dish was a hit! Staff were so helpful and lovely, and really enhanced the experience! Would recommend to everyone

Wonderful Foodie Experience Lovely atmosphere in this hotel’s restaurant. We sat inside as it was too hot outside. Large menu with plenty of good choices - there was even a degustation menu. The large meals can be shared which I did with the roast chicken. The mung bean salad was wonderful, lots of flavours with the vinaigrette; beetroot cigars were unusual and the zucchini in minted yoghurt was lovely. The menu changes regularly which is a good idea. Wish I lived nearer to return sooner!

More than just an outstanding meal We did a package of farm tour, degustation dinner at the hotel, overnight in Penobscot farm cottage then breakfast next morning at the Watervale General store. The farm tour was very interesting, the co owner and chef conducted the walk through the trees and beds, picking some baby beetroot and chard that she used in our dinner later. The cottage was charming, had everything you needed The degustation dinner at the hotel was outstanding. Excellent cooking skills, exquisitely presented knowledgeable service. Breakky next morning at the Watervale General store. Wonderful experience planning a return visit.

Fantastic Lunch - Highly Recommend Had heard good things about Watervale Hotel and certainly did not disappoint! It’s a must do in the Clare Valley!! We were greeted the minute we arrived & staff were amazing from start to finish. The food was exceptional and will definitely be revisiting on our next trip to Clare!! Thank you

No Response to Customer with Prepaid Booking I have booked and fully prepaid $1100 for a degustation and accommodation package 8 months in advance. I have been trying to make an alteration to the booking for the last 3 weeks. I received no response to email 15/1, they phoned after I left a voicemail 24/1 and said they would look into it and email to confirm, no email has been received. My follow up voicemail 30/1 & email 2/2 have received no response.

We had the most fabulous tour of the farm and 6 course degustation dinner here. The flavors of the food were fresh and authentic and each of the dishes simply delicious. The icon wine tasting was a great way to sample so many beautiful Clare Valley wines and it was great to share in Warrick’s knowledge of the local wines. . Beyond the food and the wine, the service was excellent and our kids were made so welcome. Thank you so much for a fabulous afternoon and evening. We will be back.

A memorable and utterly delicious meal. Beautiful food prepared with flair. The service was perfect. The staff were friendly and attentive. The venue is wonderful. One of the beat meals I have had in a long time. This restaurant should have at least one hat.

A wonderful, delicious, marvellous meal One of the most delicious meals I have ever eaten. Beautiful food, wonderful venue and friendly service. The degustation dinner was full of vivid flavours and fresh ingredients. The courses were well balanced and memorable. Wow. What a fantastic dinner!

Most expensive lunch we have had and worst on our travels. NT Barra was really terrible tasting(farmed for sure). The burger was the size you would serve a two year old. So disappointed. The building was lovely and could be a real gem with decent food and some happy staff.

Not for vegetarians Hard to believe that the renowned Watervale Hotel does not offer a selection of balanced vegetarian dishes. If you are sick and tired of having to settle for either risotto or pasta, do not go to there. I was offered a ‘vegetarian option’ to the main courses which meant, for example, that instead of half a chicken I could have haloumi. Really? I did opt for that in the end and the three slabs of haloumi were well haloumi, these overwhelming the meagre vegetable accompaniments. With little protein in the main course to satisfy my hunger (it was a late lunch), I selected a slice of pecan pie for dessert which was disappointingly dry and bland. In short, I will not be returning to the Watervale Hotel.

After arriving with high expectations we endured the most disappointing dining experience. Our medium steaks had to be sent back as they were very rare and the food in general was bland and tasteless. Food quality was questionable and the service was uninviting and lack lustre. We left utterly disappointed and questioning how a highly rated restaurant could fall short on so many elements of the overall dining experience.

Stopped in for dinner as the restaurant is renowned for its food in the area. Unfortunately, the meal and evening fell short.
We ordered the carpaccio, lamb sausage, duck sliders, malloreddus pasta and the large format steak.

It started with the fit out, parts of the service and then the steak.

It was cooked badly and overall was a extremely lack lustered dish. The salad was oil coated and bland, the potatoes has great flavour but were not crispy on more than one side.

This brought the whole meal down and if I would describe the experience as Aggressively Mediocre.

Have been to this excellent establishment before but not since being diagnosed as a coeliac. Grateful to receive such care from waitstaff to check ingredients and ensure my food safety without comprising quality. Food and wine list continues to be wonderful. As the designated driver, especially love the availability of the sampler wine pours. Thanks team.

Terrible front of house Was very disappointed with one front of house we had brought our friends from Adelaide to see the hotel as I’ve been a few times and loved the atmosphere and food . We walked in about 1.30pm and asked for a table for coffee and dessert and she turned around and said oh if you want just coffee and cake you could go to out general store they make better coffee we were stunned so we turned around and walked down to the store very basic and no cakes left. I said sorry to our friends for the awful reception at the hotel and drive back to Adelaide. Watervale Hotel lift up your game every customer should be treated with respect even if they want afternoon tea. Very disappointing

Wow! Wow! Wow!
The numerous awards speak volumes to the quality of this hotel.
The food, the service, the heritage, the EVERYTHING!
The owners are super knowledgeable about the history and the area.
The food is sourced locally and from their own personal farm. ???? FABULOUS!

We had a farewell for a friend who was going back to Tasmania to live. We had a sheltered table in the beer garden with 14 friends. What a great venue the food is exceptionally good, service is very good and the atmosphere is brilliant we have been several time and would say this is must visit restaurant in South Australia let alone the Clare Valley.

Highly Recommend Visiting the Watervale Hotel was something to remember with exquisite food, delicious cocktails and wine along with a cosy venue to relax in while soaking up the atmosphere. The customer service was of high quality and friendly with great recommendations to local spots to visit while staying in Auburn. Highly recommend.

For all the hype (in the social/media etc.) and awards that it has received (such as best restaurant etc), it was honestly a very disappointing experience. In terms of what was true and really hit the mark, they do have an extensive wine list and decorations that match the character of the place. But the food was really no where near as good as the hype has made it seem. The sirloin steak needed some more flavour (pepper or garlic? or some sauce). The lamb fat roasted potatoes were good. The prawns were really too small (6-7 prawns for $28). The bread was good. The presentation of the food for me was... very "extra" (like the flower and fluff on the prawns really not necessary, but I get that there's the "instagram" angle for everything nowadays). I do have to say, the overall service from the staff was good. Overall, for the almost $90pp., I would say, yes, stop by if along the way but probably not worth going out of the way for... unless you are actually interested in the extensive wine list.

Went to this location on our bikes as we were riding through the area. When we arrived, we picked up a munu and were interested
in the degustation when we were approached by the owner who proceeded to tell us that they were paddock to plate and if we wanted simpler food there was a general store down the road. After been offended because we were not dressed correctly for a pub!! we left. Only visit this venue if you look the part as they appear to judge. I have no idea what the food is like as the owner is too arrogant to serve people that don't look rich. Paddock to plate is meant to be simple food. Good luck with the glorified pub filled with nonna's furniture and lack of hospitality.

The food is very expensive, I waited 8 minutes for a portion of bread, then 40 minutes for the main course. I went with my partner and the owner kept interrupting us. You can find the same wines in any restaurant in Clare at a much lower price. Very bad experience, not recommended.