There’s no shortage of great places to eat in Sydney. But there are also a growing number of restaurants outside the sprawling metropolis that have made dining a destination, as the concept of “restaurants with rooms” takes hold. What better feeling than to be able to linger longer over fab food and wine, luxuriating in the knowledge that your bed for the night is within walking distance of the restaurant?

Whether you use your accommodation as a jumping-off point for the area’s attractions or you stay to enjoy the quiet pace of life is up to you. However, one thing is certain: the food, the rooms and the location will provide you with a number of great reasons to return.

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JONAH’S (pictured above)

Why VISIT?
Whale Beach is just an hour’s drive from the Sydney

CBD
It’s a see-and-be-seen sort of place, with the sculptural form of the cliffs and picturesque sweep of beach the perfect backdrop for a parade of catwalk-worthy beachgoers who may well be extras on Home & Away. With birds squawking overhead, children scrambling over rocks and bronzed surfers parading past, Whale Beach reads as an advertisement for the laid-back Australian lifestyle.

FOOD
Diners with a bird’s-eye view at Jonah’s are at risk of whiplash from looking from the food to the view and back again. The restaurant enjoys pole position, perched like an eyrie over this Northern Beaches strip of sand. The seafood-centric menu takes its cue from the view: Sydney rock oysters, seared scallops with foie gras mousse or pasta with tiger prawns.

ACCOMMODATION
Attractive, sophisticated, stylish, elegant – these are superlatives that could be applied to both this oasis of awesomeness and the polished patrons who appreciate Jonah’s seclusion as much as its million-dollar outlook. The rooms feature minimalist lines and muted tones so as not to compete with the sumptuous views over a vast expanse of sky and sea. Massage and beauty treatments are on offer, as is room service.

THINGS TO DO
Pretend you’re part of the jet set and arrive by seaplane. Although it’s tempting to cocoon yourself in your room, the terrace is fantastic for celeb spotting, with A-listers such as Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Joan Collins and Gerard Butler helping to put this oceanside retreat on the map. When you’ve had enough of mingling with the beautiful people, you can choose your own adventure: surf lessons, a walk to Barrenjoey Lighthouse and yacht charters are just a few of the options.

69 Bynya Rd, Whale Beach,
02-9974 5599, jonahs.com.au

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THE LOCH

WHY VISIT?
If you want to learn about the country way of life in Australia, The Loch holds the key. Located outside Berrima village, around an 80-minute drive from Sydney, the air is pure and the views over the patchwork of undulating farmland are spectacular. During the weekend, produce picked from the 60-hectare property is sold at the Farm Shop adjacent to a space selling antiques. Cellar doors showcasing the region’s cool-climate wines can be visited nearby.
FOOD
Dining in is optional, but the food made by New Zealand-born chef and owner Brigid Kennedy provides the perfect excuse to stay put. Flock to The Loch for relaxed fare that’s best enjoyed around a rustic communal table. The set menu showcases farm produce such as slow-roasted lamb with roasted root veg and curly fried kale, as well as a rustic rhubarb pie. A help-yourself breakfast bar is stocked with fresh eggs, bacon, bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, muesli and yoghurt.

ACCOMMODATION
A few sleights of hand have transformed what was the skeleton of an abandoned brick barn and stables into an elegant farmhouse, lovingly reconfigured down to the very last details. The rooms are all romance, with dramatic drapes, sage-green walls, swish bathrooms, four-poster beds and vintage lamps. Each room has wi-fi, a TV and DVDs, but chances are you’ll want to switch off, peruse the morning papers or curl up near the log fire.

THINGS TO DO
The Loch was named so after the Scotsman who introduced Kennedy and her partner Kevin Nott to the property used the Gaelic term to describe its 2ha dam. Do visit nearby Berrima. The 1830s town features sandstone churches, imposing manors and a stunning court house that stand as legacies to its English founders. Joadja ghost town is another heritage gem close by that’s home to Joadja Whisky, a new distillery that offers tours
and tastings.

581 Greenhills Rd, Berrima,
0411 511 244, theloch.net.au