Best breakfast in Daylesford, Vic
February 15, 2019 / By Oceana Setaysha
A trip to Daylesford would hardly be complete without sampling the local breakfast offerings. While Melbourne might get all the attention with its trendy hipster cafes, Daylesford didn’t get its reputation as a foodie hub for nothing. The region has a surprising number of fantastic cafes, restaurants and eateries, offering high quality and seriously delicious dishes, many using local produce and specialties. Here are six of my favourites Daylesford breakfast offerings, rest assured they’re just the beginning of what's out there...
To say that Larder is passionate about local produce in Daylesford would be something of an understatement. Their menu bears the words “Every plate, dish and bowl at Larder is a dedicated and reverent showcase to the bountiful local produce of this region”, and they deliver on this promise enthusiastically in their breakfast menu. Bold, bright and colourful, the folks at Larder pair breakfast classics with a few modern and Daylesford twists. Popular for a reason, Larder is one spot you’ll be happy you stopped in when searching for the best brekkie in town.
There’s something magical about the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, and that magic has certainly spread to Wombat Hill House, nestled right in the centre of the Botanic Gardens in a caretaker’s cottage. Choose to sit in the café by the open fire, under a heater pergola, or out in their ‘garden within a garden’ if the sun is out. Serving up simple and delicious seasonal food, from local sources as much as possible, the Wombat Hill House menu isn’t published because it changes from day to day. That means it’s always a surprise and there’s always something new!
Cliffy’s Emporium (image above)
From the front Cliffy’s Emporium might not look like much, but inside this historic destination delivers foodie delights for the modern palate. Having been a corner store, antique dealer, and bicycle shop before being renovated into a café in 2001, Cliffy’s Emporium is the perfect unexpected Daylesford surprise. Their hash browns are downright legendary, made with aged cheddar and local spuds, and the selection of cakes is to die for. This spot can get busy, so keep this in mind if you’re working up a hunger!
The story of the Himalaya Bakery (and now café) is impressive enough to deserve a spot on this list, and that’s before you sample their range of drool-inducing baked goods. Originally opened in 1992, destroyed by fire in 2005 and then rebuilt, the bakery serves organic sourdough and bread from their own leaven. When Himalaya reopened, they fortunately had space for a café, which now delivers high quality food with lots of vegetarian and vegan options, plus smooth and delicious coffee, all centred around their bakery products.
The Boathouse Restaurant (image above)
If you’re looking for something a bit fancier settled on one of Daylesford’s most iconic local attractions, you have to have a try of The Boathouse Restaurant. There’s no takeaway coffees here, but there is an elegant menu served 7 days a week with a lookout over the beautiful Lake Daylesford. The breakfast offerings include modern delights such as French toasted brioche and buttermilk waffles along with a few unexpected additions like slow cooked chickpeas. There isn’t much better than enjoying a scrumptious breakfast lakeside, so this is one to check out.
The name might be a mouthful, but so is the delicious food and coffee being served up at the Blue Bean Love Restaurant. Located in Hepburn Springs, the Blue Bean is widely reported to serve up some of the best coffee in the region, cycling out single-origin beans on a weekly basis. Cosy and comfortable, the Blue Bean’s menu has lots of delicious local produce and treats, and they even have a number of vegan options that are sure to satisfy.
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