Best restaurants in Orange
With a thriving hospitality scene and burgeoning cool-climate wine region, it’s no secret that Orange has developed a reputation as a premium food and wine destination. Thousands of visitors flock to Orange each year for its increasingly popular food and wine festivals. Autumn’s F.O.O.D Week is Australia’s longest running regional food and wine festival, while the Orange Wine Festival offers a suite of exclusive food and wine experiences across the region throughout October. If you’re after authentic, intimate and unique experiences with the best wineries and restaurants in town, this is the time to visit.
In between, Orange offers a great choice of places to eat and drink that are open all year round. With a wide range of restaurants offering cuisines for all tastes and budgets, here are some of our favourite local dining spots that keep us coming back for more:
Honourable Mention: Indulge with Swinging Bridge
Whilst we’re not *technically* a restaurant, our 5-course degustation lunch is an experience not to be missed.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of our spectacular Hill Park Vineyard with stunning views of Mount Canobolas (Gaanha-bula), followed by a five course degustation lunch at our newly renovated cellar door. Each course is accompanied by a selection of current and Museum release wines, thoughtfully curated by our Head Chef and team of Sommeliers. Learn about the intricacies of cool climate winemaking, the rich history of Swinging Bridge and taste the premium nature of the Orange Wine Region.
Available at 11am and 1pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, bookings are essential.
Book Indulge at Swinging Bridge
1. The Union Bank Schoolhouse Restaurant
Snagging themselves a coveted Chef’s Hat in both 2023 and 2024, The Union Bank offers refined elegance delivered in classy family style. Open 7 days, stop by the courtyard and bar for a delicious array of cocktails, wines, and an extensive shared-style menu. Better yet, book a table at The Schoolhouse Restaurant to be treated to the pinnacle UB experience.
Address: 84 Byng St, Orange NSW 2800
Opening Hours:
Sunday & Monday: 12pm – 10pm
Tuesday & Wednesday: 12pm – 11pm
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 11:30pm
2. Lucetta Dining
Nestled in the heart of Orange, Lucetta Dining is the newest addition to our best restaurant list. Celebrating Italian cuisine made with rich local produce from around the region, its inviting atmosphere and contemporary menu makes it a must-visit for food enthusiasts.
Address: 211-213 Lords Pl, Orange NSW 2800
Opening Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday: 5pm – 11pm
Thursday to Sunday: Lunch 12pm – 3pm | Dinner 5pm – 10pm
3. Mr Lim
Oozing with charm and fun, this Korean/Chinese diner is one of the best places to head to in Orange. Chef-owner Sammy Jeon offers a modest and delicious menu, ranging from dumplings, steamed pork buns and delicate hiramasa kingfish sashimi for entrée, to main courses including KFC (Korean fried chicken), Chinese-style ‘drunken duck’, and Sam’s twist on Aussie steak.
Address: 282 Summer St, Orange NSW 2800
Opening Hours:
Monday: 5:30pm – 10pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 5:30pm – 10pm
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: Lunch 12pm – 3pm | Dinner 5:30pm – 10pm
4. Sweet Sour Salt
A long-time favourite for the local Orange community, Owner-chef Ivan Podres delivers a menu that perfectly embodies the restaurant’s name; flavourful, punchy and tasty.
The menu resembles an Asian tasting sampler, ranging through Thailand, China, Malaysia and Korea. This is a buzzy, welcoming, fully-licensed spot that’s great for a casual night out or fun Friday lunch.
Whenever we’re there, we can’t go past the pork and prawn wontons with black vinegar and Sichuan chilli sauce to start, then the super-fragrant chilli basil pork belly or a delicious Thai green curry.
Address: 179 Anson St, Orange NSW 2800
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday: Lunch 12pm – 2pm | Dinner 5:30pm – 9pm
5. Raku Izakaya
Opening in 2018 and quickly becoming a mainstay of Orange’s dining scene, this fully licensed contemporary restaurant on Summer Street offers lunch (the short lunch-only ramen menu is delicious) and dinner. With a cosy atmosphere, excellent service and fantastic Japanese cuisine, this is a great stop for an intimate dinner for two.
If you’re up to it, we recommend the six course omakase menu with matching wines from the region; a fantastic six-course Japanese degustation.
Address: 129 Summer St, Orange NSW 2800
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: Lunch 11:30am – 2pm | Dinner 5:30pm – 9:15pm
