A Weekend in Bowral: Where to Eat, Drink & Wander
Bowral is the chic, slow and endearing beating heart of the Southern Highlands. A place to shop for treasure, eat incredible food and simple wander up and down the iconic Bong Bong Street: a weekend in Bowral is a weekend well spent.
From antique hunting to wine tasting to perusing art galleries and everything in between, there is so much to do, see and taste in this special corner of the world.
Here is our dream weekend in Bowral.
Where To Stay
Budget Option
No Southern Highlands weekend is complete without a truly delightful place to stay and good news, there is no need to break the bank! For the full country charm experience, we recommend booking your stay at Links House Bowral. Complete with an in-house restaurant, secluded courtyard and a roaring fire place, if you’re after the Southern Highlands experience on a budget then this is the place for you.
Another wonderful option for those on a budget is the accommodation at Mittagong Hotel, just a suburb away (a mere 5 minute drive!). Don’t be deterred by the pub downstairs (indeed, it is one of the best in the Southern Highlands) the rooms here have been refurbished and thoroughly modernised to invoke classic sophistication.
Luxury Option
When it comes to luxury accomodation in the heart of Bowral there is no place we’d rather stay than the newly renovated Ardour Milton Park Bowral. Having under-gone a whopping $10 million make-over, this traditional country house on its sweeping estate has been re-designed through the lens of sophisticated, modern, utterly timeless interior design. Everything you could ever want for a perfect stay you can find here: a fine-dining restaurant, a bar, luxury wellness spa, heated pool, tennis courts and sprawling gardens made for long walks.
This is the luxury accomodation in Bowral.
Things To Do
Now let’s get into the good stuff…
Food & Drink
When it comes to the Bowral food scene you will find there is no shortage of cafes, bars or restaurants to try whatever the season or occasion.
Here is our breakdown of the best Bowral cafe and restaurants.
Our favourite breakfast spots in Bowral are The Press Shop for the instagram experience, Plantation Cafe for good, hearty food and Franquette Crêperie for possibly the best crepes you will eat outside of France.
For lunch, enjoy your meal surrounded by books from floor to ceiling at Harry’s on Green Lane or delight the senses at Julien’s Bowral Brasserie for some authentic French cuisine. For dinner the newly renovated Horderns Restaurant is the place to dine for exquisite fine dining, or head to the warm and cosy Bistro Sociale for a seasonal, elegant meal.
Shopping
If you’re on the hunt for homewares then good news, Bowral is brimming with options! For ethically sourced and exquisitely crafted pieces a visit to Few And Far is a must.
In the mood for a good hunt? Then the iconic Dirty Janes is the place to be. A treasure trove of vintage finds, get happily lost for hours amongst the aisles of eclectic, one-of-a-kind pieces. Finally if you’re looking for a special something to elevate your home then head to Wilson and Dorset where the focus is on up and coming designers and contemporary trends with timeless elegance.
For boutique clothing and accessories, The South Store houses luxury pieces if you’re after a ‘treat yourself’ item for your wardrobe. Alternatively both HEM and Birdhouse by HEM are family run boutiques with a curated selection of elegant pieces .
Finally, books, books and more books! The Bookshop in Bowral on Bong Bong Street is the perfect place to peruse all current market favourites as well as the classics. However, if you are after something rarer or are partial to an afternoon spent in a library - then drive the ten minutes to Berkelouw Book Farm which hosts a stunning collection of secondhand and antiquarian books: you might just find a true gem.
Read more: Best cafés in Mollymook
Arts & Culture
When it comes to things to do in Bowral, there is so much more than simply eating and shopping!
For the culturally inclined, there are three superb art galleries to be visited: The Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral Art Gallery and Ngununggula.
For (but not limited to) the sports enthusiast, the Bradman Museum is an exhibit celebrating the stories and people who shape the spirit of cricket.
Read more: Best pubs along The South Coast
Activities
Desire an activity to add to your Bowral itinerary? Our top suggestions (pending your mood) would be a wine tasting tour at the wonderful Centennial Vineyards where you can pop in for a spot of lunch afterwards. Another wonderful option would be a visit to Bowral Honey Farm where you can tour a working farm that includes a run-down of how it all works, honey tasting, morning tea, and a ‘take your own’ honey pot home.
For a slightly more relaxed experience, you can grab your tartan picnic blanket and pick up some goodies at Bendooley Estate Larder or Fermento Bakery before heading to the legendary Corbett Gardens for a picnic.
Read more: The coolest Asian fusion in Mollymook
The charming small-town of Bowral is overflowing with culture, food and history and rich with things to do, which makes it the perfect weekend away for any Sydney-sider.
Get planning, today!
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