Haydon Hall

The pick of the tables is way out the back, through the art gallery in this imposing Art Deco building - built in 1937 by the Commercial Bank of Sydney - and beyond even the small dining nooks by the kitchen. They're outside in the courtyard, a tranquil spot overlooking a well-tended garden. Explore further and you'll find the Pages River. Don't come to Haydon Hall expecting fine dining, rather, nicely cooked food that tastes exactly as you'd hope. Bruschetta changes with the seasons. in late summer it will be piled high with diced ripe tomatoes, shiny with olive oil and shreds of basil; in autumn, grilled mushroom with garlic aioli. A puy lentil salad bristles with good health, while slow-baked lamb shoulder with rosemary and tomatoes and served with a dollop of mash is home cooking at its best. Homely charm persists with a moist almond cake with lashings of cream and a pile of berries. Utterly charming.