The Best Restaurants in Bendigo (and other great places to eat and drink)

Less than a two hour drive from north of Melbourne (150 km), Bendigo is perfect for a day trip. And even better for an overnight stay.

Bendigo is Victoria’s fourth largest city and the state’s fastest growing regional city. It is blessed with a progressive, laid-back lifestyle that offers numerous cultural attractions. It has blockbuster exhibitions, street art, a fascinating history and wonderful architecture showcasing its Gold Rush legacy.

Bendigo is also home to dozens of excellent restaurants, local wineries, bustling eateries, laneway cafes and vibrant bars. Moreover, it’s an easy-to-walk-around city, with a regular train service to Melbourne – so leaving the car at home is a real option.

It’s an indication of the quality of Bendigo restaurants that the city and its surrounding region has recently been recognised by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy. It’s the first city in Australia to be awarded this designation.

The honour recognises Bendigo’s rich and diverse food culture and the community’s commitment to local, sustainable, healthy, tasty and creative produce.

The Bendigo Art Gallery does an excellent job in keeping the city on the must-visit cultural map. It regularly holds exclusive exhibitions that draw in thousands of visitors from both interstate and overseas. Part of the charm of Bendigo is that the whole city gets behind the show with events, promotions, themed menus and inventive cocktails.

We, at Eatability, have visited Bendigo many times, most recently in July 2022 to take in the Elvis: Direct from Graceland Exhibition. For us, any excuse to head to Bendigo is welcome. It’s always a great opportunity to get in some serious eating and drinking.

So here is our ever expanding guide to the best restaurants in Bendigo. And not solely restaurants. We recommend cafes, bars and little hole-in-the-wall eateries as well. We recommend that you visit soon. Viva Bendigo!

Malayan Orchid

Location: 155/157 View St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5442 4411

Opening Times: Open for dinner, Monday to Saturday, from 5pm. Dine in and takeaway

We’re launching our look at the best restaurants in Bendigo with a much-loved institution.

The Malayan Orchid has been a feature of the Bendigo dining scene since the mid-1990s. Centrally located, directly opposite the Queen Elizabeth Oval and near the Bendigo Art Gallery and Capital Theatre, this is an excellent venue for Asian-fusion cuisine.

This family-run, small and intimate eatery, was a recent national finalist in the Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering Awards for best Asian restaurant. The menu is inspired by Australian, European and Asian flavours, with dishes as exotic as Kangaroo Spicy Plum Jus, Red Cooked Camel, and Crocodile Gyoza Broth.

The extensive menu also makes good use of classic Malaysian and Chinese dishes. The Sambal Chilli Prawns come with a kick and the Beef Rendang is gloriously sweet and juicy. The Pineapple Nonya Curry Duck Leg was highly recommended by my dining companion and we both loved the richness of the Adobo Pork Belly.

There are also a good number of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and the kitchen does their best to work around any dietary requirements.

We didn’t get to try the dish, but the Dessert Tasting Plate looks delightful. Four truly Instamazing desserts – a sweet custard bun, sago with palm sugar and coconut cream, coconut vanilla panna cotta with palm sugar, and a mango sorbet.

If you love savoury tang of adobo, see our piece on Filipino Catering Food Ideas for some similar dishes.

Masons of Bendigo

Location: 25 Queen St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5443 3877

For us foodies at Eatability, a trip to Bendigo isn’t complete without a meal at Masons. We’ve visited this gem of a restaurant a number of times and have enjoyed every dish we’ve tasted.

Masons of Bendigo has evolved over the years. When we first came, the dishes were a generous mix of bold, rustic flavours with pleasing, surprising tweaks.

A stand-out plate was actually a humble side: a firm, but perfectly yielding, hunk of roasted pumpkin smothered in melted, tangy cheese, scattered with toasted hazelnuts. My dinner companions and I still talk longingly about it.

These days, the menus at Masons of Bendigo are more clearly fine dining. But, happily, the focus on flavour remains.

For dinner there is a Chef’s Selected Roaming Menu at $95 pp. Another $50 gives you matching wines – an addition that we thought was well worth the cost for a selection of interesting and delicious local drops.

Quail dish from Masons of Bendigo. One of the best restaurants in Bendigo

On the night we ate, highlights included the delicate Crispy Fried Quail, Guanciale, Fregola, Red Witlof and “Waldorf Salad”, and the Lamb Rump, Parmesan Polenta, Jerusalem Artichoke, Salted Radicchio, Crisp Chicken Skin and Fresh Horseradish.

For a detailed review of Masons of Bendigo, please click here.

In fact, I would have been happy with just a bowl of the creamy, savoury polenta!

Masons is definitely one of the best restaurants in Bendigo and we are eagerly awaiting an excuse to return.

Update: Great news. Masons of Bendigo has been given One Hat in the current 2023 Age Good Food Guide Awards.

And if you’re looking for another ‘out of Melbourne’ dining scene, see our guide to the best eating and drinking in Ballarat

Out of Order

Location: 352 Hargreaves St, Bendigo, VIC 3550

Over at Out of Order, the food philosophy is pretty straight forward. If you can’t stuff it inside a bagel, it’s not worth eating.

This bright and cheery coffee shop with its perky, friendly staff serves bagels. And that’s it.

But let’s rewind a bit.

Firstly, the folks here get their coffee from Cartel Coffee Roasters over in Geelong. What’s more, they claim to have the largest range of coffee beans in town. We can’t vouch for that, but we do know that our double shot latte was strong, powerful and had a great mouth-feel – just the way we like it.

Secondly, is there a better brekkie/snack option than a fresh bagel, loaded with yummy fillings? We think not.

Personally, as much as I love the sound of combos like the Loaded Chicken, featuring Chicken, Spinach, Avo, Tomato, Red Onion, Cream Cheese & Seeded Mustard Mayo, when it comes to a bagel, I’m strictly old-school. So it was a classic Reuben, packed with Layers of Pastrami, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, Pickles and a rather fabulous Horseradish Mayo for me.

Take your lunch time favourites up a notch with the Breville Sandwich/Panini Press & Toastie Maker. Quick, easy to clean and efficient, you’ll never have to eat a boring, regular sandwich again.

My partner also went with tradition and choose the Lox – rich with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, sharp Capers, Red Onion and Tomato.

For a grab-and-go breakfast or a no-fuss lunch, Out of Order is a real find.

The Woodhouse Restaurant

Location: 101 Williamson St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5443 8671

Next on our list of the best restaurants in Bendigo is a steakhouse which prides itself on the care shown to its prime cuts and revels in the challenges of woodfired cooking.

At the Woodhouse Restaurant, the smoky aromas of the red gum-fuelled char-grill waft towards you the moment you walk in, hinting at the temptations to come.

Though vegetarians and gluten-free dieters can be catered to, and Snapper, Tiger Prawns, Pork Belly and Lamb Shoulder feature on the extensive menu, The Woodhouse Restaurant’s passion is obviously for Beef in its many incarnations.

Sher Wagyu is present in various forms, from a Tartare, Cornichon, Cured Golden Yolk, Giaveri Caviar & Wagyu Tendon through to a Scotch Fillet with Wood-Roasted Chat Potatoes and Confit Garlic. And there are plenty of other options along the way.

Smartly, the team at the Woodhouse steakhouse offer a ‘Woodhouse Experience’. This gives diners a run through the kitchen’s top hits starting with Snacks that include Sher Wagyu Beef Cheek Croquettes, Black Garlic, Wagyu Bresaola and Manchego Wafer to a Harcourt Apple Sorbet, Strawberry Soup and Fingerlime.

At $125 pp for 2 people, this isn’t a cheap night out. However, the quality of the produce speaks for itself.

And finally, bonus points to the sommelier for thinking outside the box when it comes to the wine matches for the ‘Woodhouse Experience’. Opening with a Rhubarb and Gin Spritz and closing with an Espresso Martini is my kind of meal!

Combine all this with attentive staff and a welcoming ambience and you have a red meat-lovers ideal night out.

Wondering which are the Best Steak Restaurants in Melbourne? Check our recommendations.

Harpoon Social Club

Location: 36 High St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: 0412 345 678

This fabulous little Japanese fusion eatery describes itself as a ‘Ramen Bar & Drinking House’. Whilst true, that really does over-simplify the many attractions of this highly-rated addition to the Bendigo dining scene.

Ramen is the confessed focus here, and boy are their steaming bowls of yumminess good! Chewy noodles and deep, rich broths, complimented by interesting toppings. The Yuzu Pork Ramen – Chashu Pork, Gyoza, Bone Broth, Yuzu Kosho, Sansho, Chilli Oil and Onsen Egg – is ticks all the right flavour boxes. And a vegetarian friend raved about the Spicy Miso Ramen with Shitake Broth, Pumpkin Croquette, Moyashi, Onsen and Sweetcorn.

And this is the first big plus point for the Harpoon Social Club. It’s a great dinner venue is you are veggie, vegan or gluten-free.

Furthermore, whilst ramen is in the DNA here, it’s not the only winner on the menu. There is a range of delicious Bao Buns, with the Pork Belly version getting particularly strong feedback from the omnivores. Then there’s a selection of Sharing plates, that includes a moreish Chicken Karaage with Gochuang Glaze and loaded Okonomiyaki Fries that are impossible to leave alone.

Finally, there’s the drinks menu. If you want to try something different in on the beer-front, this is the place to visit. And they’ve got some superb gins too.

Harvest Food & Wine

Location: 55 View St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5442 4095

Continuing our look at the best restaurants in Bendigo we have another excellent day time dining choice.

Perfectly situated down the hill and across from the Bendigo Art Gallery, Harvest Food & Wine has a number of strings to its gourmet bow.

The right side of the establishment is a bustling bistro. Smartly, it offers 2 seperate menus across the day. Breakfast runs from 9 to 11 and features a deli-infused twist on some time-honoured classics. There’s Grilled Thick Cut Bacon – Beetroot Relish, 64-Eggs, Pea Shoots & Sourdough and an Insta-worthy Chia Pudding with Raw Cacao, Banana, Nut Seed Crunch & Freeze Dried Raspberries. Croissants appear in various forms and should be given serious consideration, as all the pastries at Harvest Food & Wine are superb.

Then, from 11 until 3, the menu evolves into ‘Brunch’. Some of the Breakfast dishes remain, but there are additions such as Burratta – Cauliflower Puree, Pickled Mushroom, Leek, Hazelnut Crumble and Crumbed Flathead – Mixed Salad Leaves, Tartare & Fries.

Providing many of the cured and preserved ingredients for the Bistro is the Harvest Deli on the left of the building.

Operating from 9-5, the Delicatessen has a cold cuts and cheese counter, shelves of preserves and tempting nibbles and racks of their own wine – North Run. Handily, there is also a good selection of Take Home Meals – great for both time-poor locals and visitors who feel like eating in their holiday accommodation.

When we visited, the Bistro kitchen was short-staffed. So on the suggestion of a hassled, but helpful waitress, we nipped into the ‘Deli for a toasted sandwich stuffed with cured meats and cheese from their chilled shelves. We’re happy to report, we weren’t disappointed.

Harvest Food & Wine shares many attributes with Winespeake in Daylesford. Read more here.

The Dispensary

Location: 9 Chancery Lane, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5444 5885

We initially stumbled across The Dispensary back in early 2017. Happily, our evening in this laneway gem was so good that we’ve returned a number of times since.

Firstly, the D, as it’s affectionately nicknamed, is both a funky bar and cool little dining spot.

However, popping in for a quick drink is a challenge – in a good way – as the Drinks menu is extensive. The generous wine list includes a smattering by the glass and many of the cocktails include house made components. The Bouzy Persian Lemonade, which marries gin, honey and rosewater soda and scorched rosemary goes down way too easily. And whilst we are talking gin, 4 pages of them is enough to keep even Eatability happy. Oh. And the whisky section is even longer.

Food at the Dispensary is devised to share. Amongst the Smaller plates, the Lamb Cutlet – Miso, Eggplant, Pomegranate & Sesame is delicious, with the umami miso complementing the fragrant meat and bitter/sweet fruit. If you enjoy seafood, order the Moreton Bay Bug Spring Rolls with Yuzu Mayo & Samphire. It’s a great update of a classic dish.

With Mains featuring Chargrilled Steak, Chimichurri Dressing & Miso Buttered Onions, and Cantonese Roast Duck, Brussel Sprouts, Chinese Sausage, Pumpkin & Five Spice, choosing can be tough. Luckily, there are 2 set price menus where the team pick your dishes for you.

Finally, the self-confessed ‘beverage geeks’ at the Dispensary also run a Gin Experience and a Whisky Experience. These classes take you through a number of tipples whilst regaling you with stories and info. Sounds fab to us!

As long as the Dispensary keeps knocking out great food and drink and maintains it’s quirky charms, it’ll remain one of the best restaurants in Bendigo.

Wine Bank on View

Location: 45 View St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5444 4655

It’s back to View St for number 8 on our guide to the top restaurants in Bendigo.

Once the home to the Union Bank, Wine Bank (get it?) is housed inside a rather spectacular heritage listed building. Don’t be intimidated by the striking facade. Climb the steps, pass between the towering columns and enter through the heavy doors. Inside, you’ll find a welcoming wine bar sat in the old banking hall.

Set back in the room is a wooden bar, ladened with a cheering array of bottles. In front of it are tables and chairs, with a couple of cosier corners set up with sofas and low tables. Add in a roaring fire, and this is the kind of place where you pop in for a quick glass of vino, sink into a couch and find yourself still quaffing 4 hours later!

And whilst we’re talking about wine, this place has plenty to choose from. Indeed, bottles line the shelves covering both side walls and boxes can be glimpsed behind the commanding bar. It’s not surprising, really. For Wine Bank is a a wine merchant as well as a watering hole.

Pleasingly, the Wine Bank drinks list champions an impressive range of Victorian wineries. However, if you feel like a gutsy French red or a light Italian Pinot Grigio, they have that too. Better still, they also have beers on tap and a good selection of spirits.

Wine Bank On View - best restaurants in Bendigo

But is there food? I hear you ask.

There certainly is.

The menu leans towards sharing plates. It’s a smart decision, as splitting a bottle of wine and a few tasty dishes leads naturally to a relaxed, convivial atmosphere.

So there’s light, bright Star Anise-spiked Kingfish Ceviche, matched cleverly with an Orange and Fennel Salad. Similarly, Marinated Tofu is transformed from potentially bland cubes in to flavour bombs thanks to Soy, Maple, Ginger and Garlic. Other delights include Traditional Italian Style Meatballs and (Eatability’s personal Achilles Heel) Lobster Rolls. Special mention also has to be made to any kitchen that brings out a Charcuterie Board with their own bread and a Cheese Board complete with home made lavosh.

Next time you’re in Bendigo, give Wine Bank on View a go. We reckon you’ll stay for more than one drink.

If you’re looking for one easy-to-use kitchen appliance that can do it all, take a look at the Instant Pot 9-in-1 5.7L Electric Pressure Cooker. It makes meal times a breeze.

OKAMI Bendigo

Location: 215-217 Barnard St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5442 688

The Okami Restaurant franchise had more than 44 outlets open across much of Australia the last time Eatability checked.

Okami Bendigo is on Barnard St and offers the same ‘meal deal’ that has made this chain of Japanese restaurants so successful – their ALL YOU CAN EAT menu.

Yep, for a set price of $36.80pp (min 2 people) you can graze your way through as much food as you wish.

Now call me cynical, but offers like this always sound too good to be true. I expect a very limited menu at the very least. However, at Okami Japanese Restaurant you can choose from more than 30 dishes, from Entree to Main through to Dessert.

What’s more, there’s a good chance that your favourite Japanese delicacies are present. For example, Miso Soup, Edamame, Prawn Gyoza and Sushi Nigiri Platter all appear amongst the Entrees. Whilst Seafood Tempura, Teriyaki Steak, and that perennial favourite, Chicken Katsu, make the Mains section.

With a clean, uncluttered dining space, easy to follow menus, helpful staff and fresh ingredients on high rotation, Okami Bendigo is a great place to grab dinner with friends or to treat the family.

GPO Bendigo

Location: 60-64 Pall Mall, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5443 4343

Tapas and Pizzas with a side of Paella are the big attractions at GPO Bendigo. That, and their rather yummy jugs of Cocktails.

Whilst the focus of the food is Spanish/Mediterranean, the team aren’t precious about it. So don’t be surprised to find a Thai Beef Salad ($26.5) or Satay Wagyu Beef Skewers ($19) sitting happily next to the Panko Crumbed Cauliflower Wings ($15.5) and Chicken & Chorizo Paella ($36).

This is a menu designed for sharing – from the food to the drinks. Whether you go for the Popcorn Chicken ($17) or one of the hand-stretched Pizzas, all the flavours are bright and fresh. Undecided on what to order? Then why not settle in with the GPO Indulgence Package at $72 pp? This set menu gives you selections across the 3 courses, plus a glass of something refreshing.

With a smart, modern fit out at the front and a chilled courtyard out the back, GPO Bendigo is ideal for a long lazy lunch or sociable dinner with friends.

What’s more, this trendy spot isn’t solely for the adults. We’re pleased to report that they also do a Children’s Menu combining a Kids’ Main, Dessert and Drink for the bargain price of $14. What more could a discerning mini-foodie want? Pop it on your list of the must-try restaurants in Bendigo.

Ms Batterhams

Location: MacKenzie Quarters, MacKenzie St, Bendigo, VIC 3550 Ph: (03) 5444 2497

If you’re not familiar with it, MacKenzie Quarters is the recently revamped buildings around and including MacKensie Hall – within stumbling distance of the Bendigo Arts Precinct.

Ms Batterhams itself is a real find, hidden away in the basement of the old school hall. Doubling as a chic speak easy-style bar and a restaurant with a Euopean-leaning, with Chef Travis Rodwell overseeing the menu

The fare flexes as the seasons pass and most plates are designed to share. Though personally, I’d fight anyone who tried to take the Seafood Fritters, Sauce Gribiche & Watercress Salad ($24) from me! A solution comes in the form of the $90 pp Chef’s Share Menu (+ $75 for Matched Wines). This currently includes temptations like Duck Liver Parfait, Toasted Brioche & Cherries and the amazing sounding Kangaroo Wellington, Bordelaise Sauce & Green Leaf Salad.

As stated above, Ms Batterhams is also a rather fancy bar. In the optics you’ll find a strong array of local Gins – amongst other delights. If Wine is more to your liking, the cellar stocks mainly Victorian bottles, though a few interlopers have managed to sneak in. And, of course, there is a tight selection of Cocktails and a couple of Mocktails for those who like to mix it up.

Finally, you can also grab a refined lunch here from Thursday to Sunday. And why wouldn’t you, when the ambience is great and the food is fabulous?

It might be comparatively new, but we’re calling it. Ms Batterhams is one of the top restaurants in Bendigo.

Editor’s Note: We are revising our list of Bendigo eateries and restaurants to reflect our recent visit to the city (July 2022). Please come back to this page soon for the updated version with a number of additional recommendations.

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