There’s not much Bella Vista can’t do. On top of being home to some of the best markets, food truck antics around (we’re looking at you Park Feast) and the iconic Bella Vista Farm, this delicious precinct is studded with next level venues to eat, drink and get your boogie on.
Loaded with bagel joints, tradie rolls, bounty frappes and Stranger Things-inspired cocktails, Bella Vista has a sling of no-frill gems serving up insane feeds.
Here’s everywhere to eat and drink in Bella Vista.
Cafés
Rusty Flute
The Rusty Flute is your go-to for stellar staples. They serve up some of the best-caffeinated frappes around plus they’ve created a solid burger take on the classic eggs benedict which means a toasted brioche roll packed with halloumi, all the avocado, poached eggs, dill and hollandaise.
Good Fella Coffee
Enter the local bagel joint. Good Fella Coffee has a small but concise offering with salads, bagels, sandwiches and big slab-style pizzas. Headed by the Baron boys (you know them from The Baron) who have also done some sneaky collabs with Rollers and Buffalo Dining Club, this gem churns out might fine cold brew and a housemate cream cheese and chive bagel to boot.
The Bella Local
These legends have a menu so long, we’re gonna need a minute. The Bella Local heads an all-day breakfast filled with burgers, tacos and fish and chips. On top of this you’ll find a killer bounty frappe (which can be served hot come the cooler months) and a tradie roll full of caramelised onion, bacon, egg, cheese and the option to add a hash brown — which you will.
Chef’s Café
Chef’s Cafe has you covered from that crucial morning cup (of Adore Estate Jackson 5 Blend coffee) to an express breakfast or lazy lunch. The crew serves up a mean taro latte and breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, tomato, chilli salsa and avocado for when you’re on the go but if you’ve got time up your sleeve, the berry and honeycomb French toast is bomb.
Stage Door Espresso Bar
Milkshakes, burgers, and sandwiches. Stage Door Espresso Bar plates up next level feeds. On your hit list should be the granola bowl served with orange blossom and buckwheat, pistachio, fresh seasonal fruit, rose and vanilla coconut yoghurt. For the ultimate sugar hit, the deluxe milkshakes are calling your name and they take the form of a Nutella, salted caramel and cotton candy concoction.
Frango’s
The key when heading into Frango’s is to make sure you head in there hungry. You can keep it simple (and feed an army) with their Portuguese-style BBQ chicken and salads, or go all out with one of their double chicken burgers. But whatever you do, add chilli mayo. Trust us.
Restaurants
Zac’s Great Food
Zac’s Great Food has everything from Australian beef, seafood to more Afghani-inspired feeds. Sourcing ingredients from local growers markets, the menu handles everything from breakfast all the way through to dinner. Be prepared to order the slow cooked lamb here with flatbread a few times and you’ll definitely want to hit up the share-worthy biryani mixed with chilli, garlic, ginger, onion (plus chicken or lamb pending your go-to).
Jags Ristorante
Jags Ristorante is where you’ll find the ultimate pizza feast. Along with tasty slabs of the good stuff, there’s a hefty lineup of pasta, risotto, ribs, chicken, veal and seafood. It’s hard to pick favourite here but you can’t go past the ‘prawn delight’ topped with fresh garlic sauce, cheese, prawns, tomato and chilli.
Bars & Pubs
Bella Vista Hotel
The Bella Vista Hotel is a not-so-hidden gem in The Hills. The team here serve up delicious food alongside even better cocktails. Locals know that Saturday nights here are absolutely heaving, with live music, a pumping dancefloor and that when it comes to gathering the crew—this is the place to do it.
Cheddr
For 90s beats, cocktail and cheese — Cheddr is your main man. This bar pairs the eats and drinks to perfection so expect jerk chicken, a brisket burger, a number of cheeseboards and smashed chat potatoes with rosemary salt and truffle mayo to soak up all the tipple. To quench your thirst, say hello to the ‘stranger tings’ cocktail (can confirm — it’s a straight 11) pumped with gin, falernum, grapefruit topped with Colonial IPA. And shout out to the boozy tiramisu here made with Mr Black Coffee liquor, mascarpone and topped with Belgian chocolate shavings.
And here's where you can wash back gin bowls every week.
Image credit: The Good Fellas | Chef's Cafe | Jags Ristorante | Cheddr