Delicious food & wine experiences in Jervis Bay

Top regional restaurants  

Rick Stein at Bannisters Mollymook  

English celebrity chef Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant sits inside boutique hotel Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook. The food is simply prepared, but of the highest quality – think Goan-style mussels from Jervis Bay, grilled scallops from Shark Bay – and is perhaps only outshone by sweeping ocean views from the breezy, light-filled dining room.   

Bangalay Dining  

Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads has an applauded restaurant known for its use of native Australian ingredients, including lemon myrtle and bunya nut. Try the five-course chef’s selection, packed with delicious bites like South Coast oysters with fingerlime and Murray cod with nduja glaze. If you can’t tear yourself away, check in to one of the self-contained villas.  

The Gunyah at Paperbark Camp  

Check in to Paperbark Camp to sleep in elevated safari-style glamping tents, set amid eucalypts and replete with wraparound decks, hardwood flooring, tubs overlooking the native forest and private ensuites. Your meals are served at the retreat’s beloved restaurant, The Gunyah, where dishes might feature cured kingfish with horseradish or grilled lamb with labne. The good news is that you don’t have to be staying here to enjoy the restaurant – although once you glimpse the accommodation, you’ll want to.    

Milk HAUS  

This character-filled garden-to-plate eatery on the outskirts of historic Milton is located in a 19th-century converted cheese factory – on site at Milk HAUS there’s also an expansive kitchen garden and a four-bedroom farmhouse welcoming overnight guests. The menu is seasonal, and is loaded with fresh fruit and veggies plucked by the chefs just moments before you dine.  

Local seafood and produce  

Jim Wild’s Oysters  

Shuckers don’t get any more experienced than those at Jim Wild’s Oysters, occupying a shack at Greenwell Point. The estuary of the Crookhaven and Shoalhaven rivers is the breeding ground for Jim’s distinctive Sydney rock and Pacific oysters – the only other thing on the menu is fresh prawns. The motto here is, ‘nothing fancy, but everything’s fresh’.  

Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market  

As its name states, Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market prides itself on serving up just-caught, local seafood. Weekly specials are chalked up, and might include black tiger prawns, squid, lobsters, crab and mussels. You can also grab delicious fish and chips to take away. There are plenty of waterfront spots nearby to enjoy your meal al fresco.    

Clyde River Berry Farm  

Open seasonally over the summer months, Clyde River Berry Farm grows everything from blueberries and blackberries to strawberries. You can pick your own, or purchase farm-made jams, wild bush honey and ice-cream loaded with the farm’s fruits.  

Winery cellar doors 

Cupitt’s Estate  

There are more than a dozen wineries to choose from along the Shoalhaven Coast, known for producing a diverse range of varietals, from chardonnay to shiraz. Set between Ulladulla and Milton, you’ll find Cupitt’s Estate, which not only bottles standout wines but also has an on-site craft brewery and restaurant.   

Silos Estate   

Occupying historic buildings that were once a dairy farm, Silos Estate is as in demand for its wines as its wide-eyed alpacas and guest cottages, nestled amid the vines. Check in or visit the cellar door for outstanding views over rolling green hills, all the way to the Great Dividing Range. Pick up a bottle of shiraz or sauvignon blanc from the cellar door, or enjoy your tipple in the restaurant. Why not stay overnight in one of their suites? 

Two Figs Winery  

With views over the beaches of Shoalhaven Heads, Two Figs Winery produces small-batch, hand-crafted wines produced using sustainable practices. Savour everything from chardonnay to shiraz at the cellar door, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Shoalhaven River. If you’ve got a pooch on board, grab a picnic table on the large swathe of grass and soak up the views.  

Coolangatta Estate  

Family-owned and operated since 1946, Coolangatta Estate offers a casual dining and wine-tasting experience overlooking the winery. Experiences range from wine flights in the cellar door to luxe, styled picnics and tours of the estate. If you can’t bear to leave, you can check in to one of the historic lodges on site.   

Mountain Ridge Wines  

Sustainability is the credo behind Mountain Ridge Wines, which has a cellar door, restaurant, market garden and accommodation on its site at the base of Cullunghutti Mountain. Sample wines at the cellar door on one of two tasting experiences (the Coast to Country Tasting or the Personalised Wine Flight) or sip your way through their wine paddle. Tuck into mod-Australian cuisine in the dining room.  

Cambewarra Estate Winery 

At the foothills of the majestic Cambewarra Mountain, ​Cambewarra Estate Winery is a family-run boutique vineyard that grows four varietals: chardonnay, verdelho, chambourcin and cabernet sauvignon. Enjoy a glass of wine on the deck or in the vines. Also on-site, check out the Shoalhaven Community Art Gallery, feast at the restaurant, or stay overnight in their converted dairy or boathouse. 

Small-batch breweries and distilleries  

Jervis Bay Brewing Co  

Located in coastal Huskisson, Jervis Bay Brewing Co creates a range of intriguingly named drops that reference local history and landmarks like the Point Perp Pilsner and the Rainbird Dark Lager. There’s a relaxed beer garden to enjoy those beers (and non-alcoholic offerings, too). Order snacks and burgers from the 5 Little Pigs food truck, enjoy trivia on Thursdays, live music on Sundays and a monthly open mic night. 

Flamin Galah Brewing Co  

There are plenty of places to perch at Flamin Galah Brewing Co including tables on the front lawn, inside at the bar or in the back beer garden. As well as more than a dozen beers on tap at any time, the brewery produces its own hard sodas and vodka, and has an array of popular cocktails on offer. The Nest, an on-site food truck, dishes up handmade pizzas, crispy chicken bao, tacos, dumpling salad and more. 

Old Salt Distillery  

This small and charming distillery makes a range of artisanal gins, vodkas and fruit liqueurs that take home awards across the country. Old Salt Distillery also makes small-batch beers and tonics. Enjoy a drink paired with snacks at the bar or a more substantial meal in the restaurant.    

Tours and food events  

Kenny Escapes Food and Wine Tours  

If you want to take in the best of South Coast food and wine, but don’t want to drive, Kenny Escapes Food and Wine Tours are for you. Trips include tastings around Shoalhaven’s cellar doors, but just talk to the team if you would like to organise a bespoke itinerary.   

Coastal Forage 

Set along a breathtaking 6km stretch of the Jervis Bay coastline, the Coastal Forage sees guests venture down beaches and along coastal trails enjoying gourmet offerings at ten food stations along the way. Begin at Moona Moona Creek Reserve, where small groups of guests depart every 15 minutes, and finish your journey at Orion Beach, where a van will return you to your starting point. Held annually in September, meet the region’s most celebrated chefs, producers and artisans – including the talent behind Bangalay Dining, Cupitt’s Winery, Paperbark Camp and Old Salt Distillery - before you taste their delicious creations.