One of McLaren Vale’s most beloved venues has been named ‘Australia’s Regional Hotel of the Year’, and it’s a total hidden gem of good drinks, delicious food, and great vibes. In the heart of South Australia’s renowned wine region, the iconic McLaren Vale Hotel has achieved another milestone and added another trophy to the cabinet.
With a rich history in the region, the hotel has garnered a long list of awards, most recently being named Australia’s Regional Hotel of the Year by Australian Hotels Association. Known for bringing world-class chefs and dishes to McLaren Vale locals, the venue has become one of the region’s finest and most sought-after destinations in its nearly 170-year history.
“We are immensely proud to be named the Best Overall Hotel for the second consecutive year at the AHA SA Awards”, shared venue manager Beau Monley.
“Additionally, winning awards for Best Casual Dining and Best Bar Presentation and Experience. The real cherry on top was taking out Best Overall Hotel at the National AHA Awards. Such accolades serve as a fantastic recognition of the dedication and passion we invest in the work we do.
“We consider ourselves the heart of McLaren Vale, and we view this award as a community achievement, as we couldn’t have reached this milestone without our incredible staff and loyal patrons.”
South Australian venues took home 11 awards at the 2024 AHA National Awards for Excellence, including the Arkaba Hotel for Overall Hotel of the Year Metropolitan category.
Australian Hotels Association (SA) CEO, Anna Moeller, said, “The National Awards represent the best of the best in our industry each year. Our winners cement us in pole position as best hospitality state in the nation.
“I am in awe of the McLaren Vale Hotel and the Arkaba Hotel, bringing home best Overall Hotels of the Year – Regional and Metropolitan respectively.
“South Australia has become the Destination State, which makes the wins last night all the more significant,” Anna said.
As the accolades pile on, the hotel has become known for being more than a simple pub, it’s a true destination.
Beau says “The local pub is a special place in the Australian psyche, performing a kind of civic service from meeting place to eating place, drinking place, local grapevine and general barometer of the local community – particularly in rural areas. We class ourselves as the heart of McLaren Vale.”
Established in 1857 and dubbed ‘The Clifton Hotel’, the venue was bought by Thomas Hardy in 1901, adding the gable wing and renaming it to ‘The Bellevue Hotel’ until 1939.
Now the name of the dining room, the Bellevue is a spot within the hotel where you can kick back and enjoy views that span picturesque gardens of Hardy’s Tintara and of the oldest Moreton bay fig tree in the southern hemisphere.
Here, enjoy a classic pub fare prepared by Head Chef Zak Kranjcec and his team. With a strong focus on the use of quality local ingredients and South Australian seafood.
Dine indoors or outdoors, enjoy relaxed table service, and of course match your meal with world-class wines from McLaren Vale, other Australian wine regions, and beyond.
If it’s a drink you’re after, they have no shortage. The Bellevue Bar is a place for a casual tipple, a curated tapas plate with an afternoon gin, a full-service lunch or dinner, or the place to be to enjoy McLaren Vale’s nightlife as it transitions from dinner tunes, to dance moves in the later hours.
For newcomers to the McLaren Vale Hotel, Beau recommends trying the amazing food produced by their chef Zak Kranjcec, and also the stunning grounds of Hardy’s Tintara where they hold a pop-up bar called “CLINK AT TINTARA”, open every weekend for spring and summer.
The newly renovated venue is open Sunday to Thursday 9am to 10pm and Friday and Saturday 9am to 12pm. The hotel is a one-stop shop for all things McLaren Vale, delicious meals showcasing local produce from the region and some of the best local wines, gins, beers and all the rest.
McLaren Vale Hotel
Where: 208 Main Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
When: Sunday to Thursday 9am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to 12pm
For more information, click here.
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