Where to Eat in Mansfield: Best Cafes, Pubs & Restaurants
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With so many great places to eat in Mansfield, Victoria, it can be hard to know where to start. Whether you’re visiting for a Mt Buller ski trip, a summer weekend by Lake Eildon, or just passing through on a High Country camping trip, this little town has an impressive food scene for its size. With classic country pubs, family run cafés and new restaurants serving up old favourites, Mansfield has something for everyone.
If you’re planning a warm-weather getaway, also check out my Mansfield Summer Weekend Itinerary for the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and local flavour.
Below, I’ve put together my top picks on where to eat in Mansfield – Everything from the best breakfast and brunch spots, my dinner favourites, and quick takeaway options.
Best Cafés in Mansfield for Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch
Mansfields cafés have a lot to offer, there is no shortage of options for a sit-down breakfast or lunch, a quick takeaway bite or your morning coffee.
Coffee Merchant is my top pick for a Mansfield Café. Tucked around the corner from the main street it’s got a large indoor dining area as well as a few street side tables. You can pick up a great coffee and takeaway meal if needed, with delicious bagels to go. But where they really shine is their eat-in menu, and what a menu it is, full of delicious options, you’ll be hard pressed to make a decision. My all time favourite is the Lamb flatbread, though the gnocchi and zucchini fritters are close seconds. Keep an eye out for their specials as well, they’ve often got some tasty options on there.
The Produce Store: This cozy little café is the perfect spot to start your day with a hearty breakfast, grab a bite for lunch, or even just pop in for a cup of tea. It’s something of an institution in town, and plenty of locals will tell you it’s their go-to spot. Along with having great food, it’s also good for a spot of shopping. The shelves are packed with local goodies, like jams, chutneys and honey. There is also a little wine section, a couple of freezers where you can pick up some pre-made meals – and importantly, dumplings.
Steam café: Located right out the front of FoodWorks Supermarket, this underrated little café is the perfect place to stop off for a coffee (they even roast their own beans in-house), some crispy fried chicken or a roti wrap. They’ve got the basics covered for both breakfast and lunch and they also open for the occasional dinner special. What the menu lacks in volume, it makes up for in quality.
Best Restaurants & Dinner Spots in Mansfield
When it comes to dinner, Mansfield’s restaurants offer everything from classic country pubs to seasonal modern menus.
Pubs
In typical country town fashion, there is no shortage of pubs to choose from. If you’re staying in town and looking for somewhere you can get to on foot, the Commercial Hotel, Mansfield Hotel and Delatite Hotel are your options. All three do a solid counter meal, however, the Mansfield would be my pick of the bunch. Here you can get your classic pub favourites like a parma, steak, burger or fish and chips, but they also have some Asian inspired options too. Try the poke bowls, teriyaki pork belly, or tuna tartare.
If you’re open to heading around 20 minutes out of town, The Hunt Club in Merrijig and The Bonnie Doon Hotel are both well known and loved spots, serving quality pub food. If you’re giving the Hunt Club a try, I highly recommend the homemade lasagna and the cauliflower popcorn.
For those looking for something a bit different to the standard pub fare, Mansfield has a number of cuisines to choose from.
Italian
If you’re looking to get a pizza fix, you’ve come to the right place. With two dedicated pizza shops right in town, these being O’Malleys and Mansfield Pizza. Both serve up all the classics, along with a few specialities and of course garlic bread. O’Malleys do also sell parmas and have a bigger range of starters, if you’re looking for some more variety.
For a woodfired pizza, check out the Anvil Brewing Co, they have a great range of pizza choices, a full menu of pub style food and of course, top notch beer.
For a nice sit down Italian meal, Stallion, Mansfield’s newest restaurant, offers traditional Italian food with a modern twist. While I haven’t had a chance to try them out myself, so far I’ve heard only good things, particularly about the feed me menus. There is also a dedicated dietary menu if you need to be careful about what you eat.
Asian
If noodles and rice are more your style, Mansfield has a Thai shop, a noodle shop and a pan Asian restaurant, The Fields.
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know The Fields is a favourite of mine, it has a seasonally changing menu which is inspired by local produce. It seems to only get better each time I eat there. If it’s on offer when you visit, try the bluefin tuna, it melts in your mouth. I also can’t go past the dumplings, though I’ll admit, I am a bit of a dumpling tragic. And as I always say – try the cocktails, they’re pretty great.
For a Thai craving, Bangkok Corner is the local Thai place, and while it might not be the best Thai food you’ve ever had, It’s still tasty with good quality ingredients and will satisfy those cravings.
Mansfield Noodle House has an extensive menu of Chinese noodle and rice dishes. I’ve never had a bad meal from here but my personal recommendation is the Mongolian noodles with beef. The service is always great and the food comes out relatively quickly, even on a busy night.
– Bonus Tip –
Keep an eye out for the dumpling truck that frequent the Ampol carpark, the menu is small but the steamed dumplings in their homemade sauce are a winner
Indian
With only one restaurant in town, your choice is fairly easy if you decide on Indian for dinner. Curry Garden serves up classic Indian dishes, and there is an extensive vegetarian section if you’re not a meat eater. Otherwise, be a bit adventurous and try out the Goat Biryani.
Takeaway & Quick Bites in Mansfield
If you’re short on time or just looking for something to tide you over until dinnertime, there are options for that too.
The quickest option is the Bowser Bean Cafe at the BP, don’t be put off by the fact it’s a petrol station, they keep a well stocked bain-marie full of takeaway favourites such as potato cakes, dim sims, jam donuts and even some burgers. The turnover here is fairly high too, so your dim sim probably hasn’t been sitting there too long – it’s the perfect grab and go option when you’re on the road.
For a made to order option, Roundabout Takeaway is your classic takeaway shop, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, they serve up snacks and burgers at very reasonable prices.
Caroline’s House of Chicken Cafe is also a great option for a takeaway meal, specialising in chicken, you can pick up half a roast chook for dinner, or give their chicken and waffles a try. They do also have non-chicken options if you’re after a bit of variety, such as a beef burger or fish and chips.
Tips for Dining in Mansfield
As Mansfield is a very seasonal town with an influx of visitors through both the winter ski season and summer period, restaurant hours can vary throughout the year. Be sure to check ahead to confirm opening hours before you visit. It is also worth booking a table if you are going to be there during a peak time, as places do fill up.
If you’re self-catering, Mansfield has two supermarkets in town to choose from, Foodworks and IGA. Both offer a fairly large range and while slightly pricier than a Coles or Woolworths, they often run some great specials.
My Favourite Places to Eat in Mansfield
With so many great dining options in Mansfield, there’s really no such thing as a wrong choice, it just depends what you’re in the mood for. Whether you’re after a hearty breakfast before hitting the trails, a relaxed pub meal after a day on the slopes, or something a little more romantic for date night, Mansfield delivers.
My personal favourites? The Fields for dinner: it’s hard to go past their seasonal specialties, the food is full of flavour – and The Coffee Merchant for lunch, especially if you can snag a fireside table in winter.
But like most things in the High Country, half the fun is exploring and finding your own favourites. The food scene in Mansfield is constantly evolving, with new spots popping up all the time, so don’t be afraid to try something new next time you’re in town.
