Ben and Kirsty took on a small Lovedale cafe twenty years ago, and it is now the longest-running cafe in the Hunter Valley vineyards, sitting on a 100-acre property on Majors Lane with a deli and a cooking school attached. The kitchen smokes its own meat, with bacon, sausages, pates and terrines all made on site, which no other shop in the vineyards does. It is a family-run place set among the vines.
The cafe opens Thursday to Monday from 10.30am to 3pm, and the kitchen stops taking orders at 2.30pm, so this is a lunch stop rather than a dinner one. Some days run booking-only, so check before driving out. Chef Ben's outdoor cooking classes run at weekends and work through low-and-slow barbecue, Thai street food and Greek cooking, for anyone who wants to do more than eat.
At this restaurant
- Tasting
- Cellar-door tastingWalk-ins welcomeBuy on site
- On site
- Dining on site (Lovedale Smokehouse Cafe)Masterclasses
- Who it suits
- Family-friendly
- Getting there
- Views
Photos
What’s on offer
- Majors Lane Cooking School Class
A hands-on outdoor class with Chef Ben covering low and slow barbecue, Thai street food or Greek cooking
No price is published on the site; classes are booked through the school's schedule.
Food & stay
Lovedale Smokehouse Cafe
| Thu – Mon | 10:30am – 3pm |
|---|---|
| Tue – Wed | Closed |
The kitchen closes at 2.30pm. Open on the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends. Some days run as booking-only, so check before driving out.
Background
- Best Cafe in the Hunter ValleyTriple M listener vote · 2023
Getting here & good to know
Lovedale Smokehouse Gourmet Pantry is at 64 Majors Lane, Lovedale, in Hunter Valley.
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Nearby places to visit
Details last checked 2026-08-07.