The Thirsty Horse Hunter Valley

The Thirsty Horse sits on High Street in Greta, at the northern edge of the Hunter, and runs as three spaces under one roof. A coffee lounge opens early for the morning, a brasserie does all-day breakfast and pub classics through to more modern plates, and the Giddy Up sports bar carries TAB, Keno and six big screens. It is family friendly and takes dogs, with room to spread out across the day.

Rooms upstairs make it an inexpensive base for a night or two in wine country, a few steps from the food and the bar. That mix suits a group who want breakfast, a casual dinner and the football in one place. Greta sits north of the vineyards, closer to the highway than the cellar doors, so it works as a place to sleep and eat rather than a stop mid-tasting. Check current opening hours before a late arrival.