Best places in the Southern Highlands for outdoor dining
Highlands Property | October 2026
A long lunch overlooking the vines, a café catch up or a relaxed meal in a pub garden can turn a simple outing into something special. The Southern Highlands offers outdoor dining for different moods and occasions. Here are six places worth considering, selected for their outdoor settings and the experience they offer. This is a curated shortlist, rather than a ranked list.
Where can I enjoy a scenic long lunch
Bendooley Estate Book Barn Restaurant Berrima
Bendooley’s Book Barn Restaurant serves seasonal lunches, with its outdoor terrace opening in warmer weather. It is a lovely option to consider when you want to make an occasion of lunch and spend some time exploring the estate’s bookshop.
Ask specifically about terrace availability when booking. The restaurant recommends advance bookings, particularly for weekends and public holidays.
View Bendooley dining and bookings
Where can I dine overlooking the vines
Centennial Vineyards Bowral
Centennial offers two different ways to enjoy its vineyard setting. The restaurant has a verandah that opens up for alfresco dining in warm weather. The cellar door’s terrace offers a more casual option, with a small food selection and space to enjoy a glass of wine.
Choose the restaurant for a seated meal or ask about the cellar door terrace for lighter grazing. They are separate experiences, so check the correct menu and booking arrangements.
Explore the cellar door terrace
Where can I enjoy a relaxed country pub meal
Sutton Forest Inn Sutton Forest
Sutton Forest Inn, known as The Sutto, has a relaxed beer garden overlooking the surrounding countryside. With pub classics and a country setting, it is worth considering for a casual meal with family or friends.
Ask for outdoor seating when booking and confirm which areas are available. The venue accepts online bookings for smaller groups and asks larger groups to contact the team directly.
View Sutton Forest Inn and book
Where can I enjoy pub food in a village setting
Surveyor General Inn Berrima
Bistro 1834 offers pub dining on the verandah or in the beer garden. It is worth considering for a casual lunch with friends, with the historic village of Berrima nearby for a wander afterwards.
Request outdoor seating when you enquire. The verandah and beer garden offer different settings, so ask which is available for your group and the weather.
Where can I find a shaded outdoor space
Scottish Arms East Bowral
The Scottish Arms’ Scotland Yard Beer Garden has shaded areas for dining and drinks. Its bistro and outdoor spaces make it another option for a relaxed meal with friends or family.
The venue takes table reservations by phone. Ask about outdoor seating when you call, especially if you are bringing a larger group.
Explore the Scottish Arms outdoor spaces
Where can I stop for a café meal outdoors
Raw and Wild Market and Café Bowral
For a café outing in town, Raw and Wild combines a seasonal menu with an outdoor deck and courtyard area. Its focus on local producers and a range of dietary options makes it worth considering for a breakfast or lunch catch up.
Confirm outdoor seating and your dietary needs with the café before visiting. Its location on Bong Bong Street also makes it easy to pair your meal with a browse around Bowral.
View Raw and Wild venue details
What should I check before visiting
Confirm current opening hours, menus and outdoor seating directly with the venue. Ask about shelter, accessibility or pet arrangements if these matter to your visit. Outdoor service may depend on the weather, and a general table booking may not guarantee an outside seat.
Finding your place in the Highlands
The places where we meet, share a meal and spend time together are part of what makes a community feel like home. At Highlands Property, we enjoy helping people discover the region as they plan their next property chapter.