A Weekend Guide to Bendigo’s Under-the-Radar Food and Drink Scene

The Bendigo region may be best known for its gold rush history, but its food and drink scene remains one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets.

Named Australia’s first Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy in 2019, the Bendigo region has grown into one of the state’s strongest regional dining destinations. Agriculture underpins much of the region’s food culture with many venues drawing on local produce, while nearby Heathcote is home to one of the state’s leading wine regions. Whether you’re planning a weekend away or simply passing through, here’s where to eat, drink and stay this winter.

Eat

Start the day at Madame Jude, where handmade muffins and pies have earned a loyal following. But don’t overlook the American barbeque-inspired breakfast plates, featuring pickle-brined fried chicken, smoked pork shoulder, eggs Benedict and brisket breakfast burritos. In nearby Quarry Hill, The Drawing Room occupies a restored white-brick building that retains much of its heritage character. Stop by for breakfast, seasonal dishes and a cabinet stocked with locally made baked goods.

For caffeine, head to Awaken Coffee, tucked inside Bendigo’s historic Old Flour Mill. Undercover Roasters beans are brewed to your liking, alongside specialty drinks such as dot cake-inspired lattes.

Terrae has become one of Bendigo’s defining restaurants, showcasing regional produce – much of it grown in the venue’s own kitchen garden – in a former bank in the Arts Precinct. Handmade pasta, chargrilled meats and seasonal seafood sit alongside smaller dishes such as Jerusalem artichoke, leek and parmesan tart, or fresh tuna with scorched blood orange, avocado, pomegranate, pistachio and lemon thyme. Downstairs, a cellar bar is a fitting stop for dessert and a nightcap.

Drink

Bendigo Brewing opened in the heart of the Bendigo CBD in 2024. Its core range and seasonal releases draw inspiration from the region, while the kitchen turns out woodfired pizzas. Trivia, live music and board game nights keep the venue busy after dark.

Part restaurant, part speakeasy, Ms Batterhams is equally suited to a pre-dinner drink or a longer evening. Velvet booths and low lighting set the mood, while local gin takes centre stage, served neat, with tonic or soda, or in a Martini.

If you’re after something to take back to your accommodation, Alcohol by Victoria specialises in small Victorian producers. Shelves are lined with spirits from independent distilleries, alongside local wines, craft beer and cocktail accessories, with staff on hand to help navigate the selection.

Stay

Within the area, Hotel Ernest Bendigo pairs heritage bones with contemporary rooms and original artwork. Ten suites sit above Terrae, so dinner and a nightcap in the cellar bar require nothing more than a trip down the stairs.

If you’re wanting to explore more of the region, The Cellars at Heathcote II features luxury villas that come with their own walk-in wine cellar, stocked with an extensive collection of local and international bottles. Set among vineyards and olive groves, it’s an easy place to settle in for the night.

For a more off-grid escape, The Yellow Box Wood offers safari-style glamping tents across 40 hectares of bushland outside Heathcote. Spend the evening around the firepit, or use the in-room telescopes to make the most of the region’s clear night skies. 

Do

Beyond food and drink, Bendigo has long been a hub for artists and makers. Clayful Pottery Studio continues that tradition with pottery classes for all skill levels, including workshops where you can make your own chip-and-dip bowl or breakfast set in just a couple of hours.

 The region also counts more than 60 wineries and cellar doors, most of them small enough that you’ll often be poured by the person who made the wine. Heathcote’s shiraz draws the most attention, but the surrounding vineyards reward anyone willing to take the long way between tastings.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with City of Bendigo Region.