Aah, that view… the sweeping panorama of vines, paddocks and ancient gums at The Lane Vineyard makes it hard to focus on the menu curated by chef Cameron Ahl (ex-Penfolds Magill Estate), designed around the finest seasonal produce from the Adelaide Hills. Plump for the Signature Provenance tasting menu or the Gathering Experience at the cellar door, featuring a guided wine tasting paired with thoughtfully curated snacks. If you’re after a shorter lunch, opt for the Demi Provenance menu mid-week. 5 Ravenswood Lane, Hahndorf; thelane.com.au

Visitors to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills don’t need to travel far to get a taste of Bavaria. The Haus blends German staples such as a trio of wurst and braised pork hock and a proper beer paddle with a menu that has a modern Australian twang. Do your wurst with the thick German sausages or tuck into tapas, wood-fired pizza and cakes worth the calories. Check the specials board for chicken, eggplant or barramundi parmie specials on Tuesdays and pizza for a special price Mondays and Thursdays. The balcony over Main Street is prime real estate on a sunny afternoon. 38 A Main St, Hahndorf; haushahndorf.com.au

Hahndorf Hill put Grüner Veltliner on the Australian map, importing the first Austrian clones in 2006 and releasing the country’s debut vintage, GRU, in 2010, before becoming Australia’s first producer of blaufränkisch, zweigelt and Saint Laurent too. The cellar door’s ChocoVino experience, chocolate matched to wine by terroir, remains one of the more interesting tastings in the Hills. 38 Pain Rd, Hahndorf; hahndorfhill.com.au

Right on the main road into Hahndorf, Ambleside grows a good number of its own botanicals in the garden out front of the distillery and distils them on a copper still nicknamed Doug. The Gin Blending Masterclass lets you choose from more than 20 botanicals to build two bottles of your own gin, guided by the distillers, after a tasting flight and a talk on how it all works. As well as opening its doors for tastings, there’s a share plate menu and $65 Feed Me option if lunch is the plan. 1 Ambleside Rd, Hahndorf; amblesidedistillers.com

Built in 1863 and run by the Holmes family for generations, this two-storey stone pub is the closest thing Hahndorf has to an institution. The traditional beer hall and beer garden, housed in the old Borchers Blacksmith Barn next door, pours imported German beer alongside South Australian drops. The kitchen stays on brand with pork knuckle, bratwurst and apple strudel all staples on the menu. Log fires in winter, vine-covered laneway dining in summer. It has been serving travellers through the Hills for more than 150 years and shows no sign of slowing down. 35 Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf; hahndorfinn.com

Ten minutes from Hahndorf, Barristers Block is one of the most family-friendly cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills. There are deer and alpaca wandering the lawns and a sandpit to keep the kids busy while adults work through interactive wine flights, including a zero-alcohol option, in a converted hay shed. Wine masterclasses and a Sabrage class round out the offering, plus there’s gourmet pizza and tapas for anyone planning to stay the afternoon. 141 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Woodside; barristersblock.com.au

Sheltered by eucalypts at Hahndorf’s gateway, Sidewood pours its Mappinga, Signature and Estate ranges plus sustainably made cider from a cellar door upcycled out of the property’s old apple shed. Try a Sabrage masterclass or settle into Feed Me Like Family ($100pp) for a seasonal shared spread. Vegetarians will be sated with the savoy charlotte, ancient grains, cranberry and savoy cabbage with almond bechamel. 6 River Road, Hahndorf South Australia; sidewood.com.au

It’s not a bar. But no Hahndorf drinks list is complete without mentioning the Beerenberg Family Farm. The Paech family have farmed this land since 1839 and transformed it into one of Australia’s best-known jam and condiment brands, with the sixth generation now at the helm. You can pick-your-own strawberries between November and April. But if that’s not your jam, pop into the farm shop and café or keep that pinkie finger poised for the high tea, a genuine drawcard. 2106 Mt Barker Road, Hahndorf; beerenberg.com.au

Main Street’s ice cream institution has been trading on nostalgia for more than two decades. Now known as Evercream Ye Olde Icecreamery, there are more than 70 flavours in rotation and – here’s the scoop – they are free of artificial flavours, colours and preservatives. Enjoy signature treats like hot, dark Dutch chocolate fudge or waffles with coffee. And join the generations before you heading here for a sweet treat on a sunny afternoon, no matter the season. 2/24 Main St, Hahndorf.

Drive 20 minutes south past Echunga to find Longview, run by the Saturno family. Expect a strong Italian sensibility and nebbiolo and barbera among the 65 hectares under vine. The cellar door and kitchen work out of an 1918 pink sandstone cottage on a former dairy, serving Italian-inspired fare alongside four-and-a-half-star accommodation and a day spa for anyone keen to turn the tasting into an overnight stay. 154 Pound Road, Macclesfield; longviewvineyard.com.au

There are nine off-grid retreats dotted around the grounds of artist Hans Heysen’s expansive property, minutes from the heart of Hahndorf. The tiny cabins look out over the grey-green surrounds of the picturesque Adelaide Hills and provide the perfect base for exploring the cosy South Australian town. Unplug and reconnect in the comfort of your hideaway. Or get out and about with a hike up Mount Lofty followed by a crawl around the local cellar doors. 59 Sandow Road, Verdun; cabnlife.com

Download a few page-turners on your Kindle in anticipation that you will want to curl up with a good e-book at the recently reimagined Reisen Hotel. The 50-room hotel, which includes a heritage sandstone cottage, was transformed by an architect and photographer who reopened the hotel in 2025. Reisen Hotel is on Hahndorf’s main street just a short swagger away from the town’s main bars, boutiques and restaurant. Plump for a package that includes a cheeky glass of Champagne on arrival. 25 Mt Barker Road, Hahndorf; reisenhotel.com.au

Haus Studios add to the charm of Hahndorf’s leafy Main Street, offering a perfect blend of contemporary design and homely comfort. The self-contained studio apartments are thoughtfully designed to cater to a diverse demographic from couples, to families, and grey nomads who want a break from #vanlife. The Haus Studios place you within walking distance of Hahndorf’s charming shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Dine on some hearty wurst at the Haus Restaurant and explore the rich, cultural heritage of Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. 34 Main Street, Hahndorf; haushahndorf.com.au

Hahndorf sits just 28 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, a straight run up the South Eastern Freeway that takes about half an hour by car. Free parking is available at the far end of Main Street, handy given the strip fills up fast on weekends. No car? The 801 Adelaide Metro bus runs from the city centre and drops you on Mount Barker Road, journey time under an hour. The freeway also links through to Melbourne, so Hahndorf works just as well as a stopover for anyone driving interstate.