The 13 best coffee shops and best cafes in Stanthorpe

On a cold winter's morning it was a warm hug of welcome. Like a step back in time with the happiest most welcoming staff I have encountered in a very long time. The food, Coffee and atmosphere were spectacular.

Busy little cafe with a cozy and warm feel. We visited as a group of 5 and had a Most delicious morning tea with cakes from the cabinet which were devoured with glee. Coffee was beautiful

The best coffee in Stanthorpe. We tried them all! The vibe of the Brinx is the best and the staff were so lovely. The breakfast was yummy too. My kids loved the baby chino.

Brinx is an absolute hidden gem! Not only do they serve a mean cup of coffee (seriously, it hits just right), but the entire place is filled with the coolest little treasures and quirky finds. Every corner has something that makes you go “oooh” — plants, art, homeware, and all the bits you didn’t know you needed until now. It’s the kind of spot where you come for a latte and end up staying way longer just to explore. Definitely recommending Brinx to anyone who loves good brews and good vibes. Can’t wait to go back and discover more!

Went here twice in 2 days. First was really good but second time wasnt as good. Different barista maybe? We ordered coffees both times. They also have a range of Rufus Teague sauces to purchase which goes great on bbq. Never very busy and had a reasonable number of tables inside.

My favourite Café in Stanthorpe since 2012 at least. Wish I could take you to Tassie with us. Thanks for being amazing 🙏🫶😋

Fantastic to find a real coffee shop with knowledgeable baristas. They made a great magic. Didn't have an opportunity to try the food as only the deli was open. Dog friendly too

What a great little spot! We were greeted by the loveliest host. Fabulous atmosphere in a cozy restaurant. Each course was to die for! Amazing that you can BYO. We were even given recommendations of some local spots to check out. Can’t wait to come back and can’t recommend the place highly enough to anyone looking for a place to have a high quality dinner!

What a fabulous restaurant, it’s very obvious the chef is passionate about food. Each course was amazing and had its own flavour profile. Finished with a dessert that knocked it out of the park ! Service was outstanding too and I loved how the focus was local. BYO will definitely visit again.

Incredible flavours across a diverse set menu of wonderful dishes. Blew our taste buds away. The ambiance is cost and the service is excellent. Thoroughly recommend the experience of not having to choose and being surprised. Looking forward to returning to Essen.

Incredible food. Every dish was even more delicious than the last. Great atmosphere and wonderful staff. Will absolutely come back next time we’re in Stanthorpe.

We had the absolute pleasure of dining at Essen Restaurant in Stanthorpe, and from start to finish, it was nothing short of outstanding. The set menu, which can be tailored to accommodate food allergies and dietary preferences, is a testament to the chef’s creativity and skill. Every course — from the entrées through to the dessert — was brilliantly cooked, beautifully presented, and absolutely bursting with flavour. The highlight for us was the flathead, which was cooked to perfection. Each segment of the fish was expertly prepared — moist, tender, and full of delicate flavour. It’s clear that a lot of thought and care goes into every dish. The service was equally impressive. With only one front-of-house staff member on the floor, we were blown away by her warmth, professionalism, and deep knowledge of the menu. She struck the perfect balance between attentive service and genuine hospitality, making us feel right at home. The BYO option is another great touch, allowing guests to bring their favourite wine to enjoy with the meal — a thoughtful addition in a region known for its local wineries. While there was a table of younger diners nearby who chose a louder, more boisterous approach to their evening, it didn't overshadow what was otherwise a sophisticated, relaxing, and thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. Essen is a true gem in the Granite Belt — refined yet unpretentious, and passionately committed to delivering high-quality food in a warm, welcoming setting. We can't wait to return.

My husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary at Essen on Thursday night. This restaurant is so welcoming and cosy, you 100% will be impressed by the amazing service and absolutely delicious locally sourced food! Amy, our waitress, was so lovely, friendly, and helpful. This restaurant is BYO (which we loved), and the staff were very accommodating. The set menu was a lovely change from thinking about what to order. All of the dishes were so delicious and well thought out. Every plate of ours taken back to the kitchen was practically licked clean. I could not recommend Essen enough, and this restaurant is definitely one we will visit over and over again. 5 out of 5 absolutely!!!

This is a special experience in Stanthorpe. The food quality is far above any restaurant you will find anywhere else. Local produce dictates what you will have on your menu and it is fresh and exciting. The service is beautiful and we highly recommend for an exceptional experience in Stanthorpe.

Wow! What a great place this is - 3 courses for $69. I had the pumpkin to start, beef brisket for main and lemon polenta cake for dessert. The wine was fantastic! I haven’t had many local wines but I am so keen to try more now. The service was great and prompt. Nothing to fault and would definitely recommend Varias for dinner when they are in Stanthorpe 👌🏾

We enjoyed the most delicious lunch at Varias – an experience that was both refined and satisfying. My husband had the tasting plate (Medley of mains) was beautifully presented, each element thoughtfully balanced with texture and flavour. From the crisp, golden sesame-crumbed piece with creamy dressing to the vibrant pickled vegetables and perfectly cooked meats, every bite was a delight. The combinations on the plate felt creative yet harmonious – a real showcase of seasonal produce. My lunch was equally impressive: a rich, flavoursome seafood stew with tender fish, balanced by the freshness of fennel and herbs, served with rustic grilled sourdough. Comforting yet elegant, it was exactly the kind of dish you want to linger over. Service was warm and attentive, and the wine pairings were spot-on, enhancing each course without overwhelming the food. The poached pear desert was equally outstanding! Amazing Overall, Varias delivers a truly memorable dining experience – sophisticated without being pretentious, and absolutely worth returning for.

Our yearly visit here from Brisbane once again was outstanding. The wines these young people produce are all fabulous we purchased half a dozen. The restaurant Varias is a must do.We cannot go past the Medley with matching wines it’s always 5 star restaurant quality and again we’re happy to report the food wine service and ambiance of this stunning restaurant is well worth a visit you will not be disappointed.

A fantastic dining experience. The pumpkin dish was the standout absolutely delicious. The fish was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavourful. Plus the presentation of each dish was top notch.

Our group of 6 visited Stanthorpe for the weekend and dined here Friday night. Sensational. Service excellent and the food was high quality and delicious. Very well priced set menu options. Varias is as good as, if not better than many similar city restaurants. Highly recommended.

We have been in the area all week. By far the best meal we have had. Top Value for money. paired very well with the wines🍷 The Mushroom entre was a unexpected standout. Thanks 🙏

Lovely lunch at Varias - I had Tuscan Fish Stew (delicious) and my partner had beef cheek with roasted seasonal vegetables (fabulous). Suggested matched wines were very good. We also had a wine tasting with Arantza their winemaker from the Basque Country in Spain and bought a dozen mixed wines to go home with us. Dining room has a lovely outlook over a small dam and vines. Great way to spend a Tuesday lunch.

Stumbled on this place after my disastrous breakfast up the road. The service was friendly and the lamb masala pie was delicious. Their sourdough was also lovely. Great custard in the vanilla slice and the cookies also yummy. Wide variety and not over price which is good.

I have tried the famous apple pie but I was not as good as I expected. It was served cold :( at least should be served warm. Quite sweet as well.

If you’re looking for a cute coffee spot, look no further! This little gem has such a warm, welcoming vibe — the kind of place that just makes you smile as soon as you walk in. The coffee is smooth and delicious, and the flaky pastries are downright irresistible (you’ll definitely want to grab a second one!). The staff are lovely and make you feel like a regular, even on your first visit. It’s the perfect spot to start your morning or sneak away for a cosy break in the day.

Service was quick even though they were really busy. Only ordered the apple pie but they have a vast range of baked goods including artisan breads for sale. Apple pie...Good pastry but falls apart easily and nice filling but very mushy. Personally I prefer apple chunks but it did have a good amount of cinnamon.

This is why we travel from Brisbane! The best local apple pies in Stanthorpe! $9 includes icecream and cream = unbeatable! Highly recommend!!

The curry goat pie - just sensational with really lovely flaky pastry. The apple / walnut scroll just amazing. Passing through on a very chilly lunch time and this place ticks all the boxes.

Nice cafe that produces a variety of pastries, sandwiches and other baked goods. There are a variety of sweet pastries and tarts available, as well as a selection of beef cheek pies that are very delicious. The pastry on the pies is done perfectly. I also had the opportunity to try one of their brownie sliced which was also very tasty. It was also not too sweet. The layout of the cafe is nice and airy with both ample indoor seating as well as some tables out the front of the cafe. Prices are around $5+ for anything pastry related and about your regular $4-$7 for coffees and other drinks.

Staying at the attached motel so booked here for dinner, expecting a regular decent dinner. What we got was way beyond that. Local produce cooked to perfection with a staggeringly good local wine. Very friendly staff improved the experience further. Loved it and will come again. Be prepared for steak, unashamedly a steak house and definitely a high quality one!

We enjoyed our visit to Aussie Beef Steakhouse and look forward to visiting again in the future. My Eye Fillet steak was cooked exactly how I asked for it, and the meal was great. We were taken to our table quickly and the service was great with our orders taken and delivered in good time.

I will travel 3 hours to eat here again! We were in the area on holiday, dropped in and even though we didn't have a booking they squeezed us in and damn am I glad - best steak I've had in years. Great variety of local brews and wines, the lovely waitress even wrote my fav wines down on a card for me

We stayed here and ate at the restaurant. It was cold and they did not even have the fire going. The biggest let down was that they only bought out a main meal for one of us even though we had ordered two. There only comment we could make you one but it will take a further 15 minutes. A bit sad when my wife already had her meal. On paying the bill no apology or not even offering complementary drinks and we only had a soft drink and 1 wine. Pretty ordinary

My husband and I went for our anniversary dinner and were completely disappointed. Both steaks weren’t cooked correctly and tough, veggies arrived to our table stone cold and when we spoke to the waitress she ignored what we said and didn’t offer any help or service. Will not be returning can get a better steak at the pub definitely didn’t get what we paid for.

Easy enough to book a table over the phone. Arrived at their opening time of 5.30pm. By the time I left an hour later, the restaurant was beginning to fill up. Very cosy inside with a warm fire, keeping it toasty inside. A much enjoyed respite from the cold outside. Service was excellent from the moment I arrived. I tried 2 of their cocktails, the Blue Lagoon and the Toblerone. Both were delicious. I also ordered the chefs suggestion entree, bacon, and cheese croquettes. I tried the chilli aioli as the accompanying sauce, and while it was nice, it had a little too much heat for me, although I'm not a huge chilli enthusiast. I've driven past here many times and always wanted to try, glad I did definitely worth a visit, especially in the winter time.

My suggestion would be, before booking, ask if there are large groups booked, if so, I suggest you go else where. 50 minutes for entrees ( mine came first and husbands arrived after I finished ) not exactly the date night dinner I was expecting. Main, husband’s steak was cooked well, my medium rare ( thicker cut ) was more rare towards the centre, asked for a side salad as “ extra “ it came dumped on the plate along with the steamed veg and mash. Didn’t bother with desserts as we didn’t want the extended wait times ( not the waitress’s fault ) but when you are booking large tables , perhaps stagger the bookings ? Or schedule more staff in the kitchen.

Great coffee Great menu, possibly because he restricts the number of items. They are nice burritos with very good fillings

Excellent coffee. Nice not to see the usual suspects being offered (e.g..Merlo, Campos etc). Small number of food options available and some great homemade hot / bbq sauces to take home.

I'm not a local but regularly travel to Stanthorpe and surrounds. I visited this coffee shop for the first time in January 2022 and was really impressed by the quality of the coffee, the service and the food. The coffee was the best I had tasted since lockdown - I found myself driving back into town each day just for this coffee! Both blends were excellent but I thought the organic beans were amazing. It's little gems like this that bring business to a town. Well done.

Beautiful coffee. Made with passion and some chilli 🌶

The coffee is delicious and hot. Fabulous atmosphere.

Simple, world's best coffee. Great atmosphere and a dedicated coffee spot. Don't tell too many people how good it is as you will have to wait. Just joking tell everyone as it is the best coffee spot in Australia. Opens early and on holidays and weekends,other tourist attractions could take a leaf out of Ashley's book.

Love this place for a great coffee!

We dined at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism last night as a group of four and were absolutely delighted with the entire experience. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We each enjoyed a three-course meal and sampled a wide range of dishes—each one packed with flavour and beautifully presented. The entrées were not only delicious but also generously portioned. Mains followed with mouthwatering sauces and creative flavour combinations that were both surprising and satisfying. And the desserts? Simply divine! The drinks menu catered to all tastes, with a great selection of cocktails, classics, and an impressive wine list to match. It’s a solid 5 out of 5 stars from me—we’ll definitely be returning. Just a tip: make sure to book ahead to ensure a table!

Absolutely fabulous The wine tasting experience with Tim was just great, lots to learn about wine.🍷 Then the lunch was out of this world,the medley is definitely 5stars. But the best was the service by Alissa. Thank you !we will be back again.Currently 4 visits all 5 Stars

Ordered a few things to share for lunch - duck confit, fish of the day and pork chops on rice. Everything tasted good, but nothing out of the ordinary. Despite large portions, very pricy for what there was on the plate. Wine however was delicious and the sweet whites were beautiful. Definitely would purchase more wines if in the vicinity.

The service was excellent and the food was amazing. We had the Korean sticky chicken strips which were awesome and finished off with an affogato each. The best affogato presentation we've seen and the tasted was fantastic. We can highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys wonderful food that is well presented. 10 Stars, loved it !!!

Magnificent! Great meals, attentive service. The chevre on olive sourdough and the octopus were outstanding. Our main meals were solid performers and the Eaton's Mess was divine!

Anyone visiting the Granite Belt for a wine experience MUST go to the QCWT. See the living history of wine in the region and taste the local wines. A meal at Varitas Restaurant is not to be missed. Great food, service and matched wines.

This was our lunch stop on our wine tour of Stanthorpe and regions. Wonderful place, comfortable and certainly world class food.

Classic hole in the wall setup, simple, friendly, 2020 prices

Great little spot to relax on the grass with a Coffee. Andrew was super friendly, and made an excellent brew. 5 stars👌

Can’t agree with the reviews. Was looking forward to trying this place. Drove all the way the first day and it was closed. Please update the times so it doesn’t happen to someone else. Coffee quite burnt. Only half full.

Good coffee and service, but no pastries or cakes meant a lower rating than otherwise would've been the case.

Great little hole in the wall place! Our piccolo and flat white were delicious. Lovely service too. Thanks!

Friendly girl that runs it Byron Bay coffee. Owned by doctor so interesting name for a coffee shop.

Great coffee 👌 smooth and pleasant.

Pretty generic, nothing special. I withheld the sauce and onions, but still had an allergic reaction (sulphate allergy). Probably in the burger patty. My son said the fish soggy.

Great food biggest burgers on the granite belt! Fresh farm produce. We had hamburger for only 5 dollars was the biggest burger I've ever seen had to get half takeaway. Very friendly service fantastic coffee.

What a lovely place to eat! After trying a delicious coffee and a little to eat, we couldn’t help but go back for breakfast the next day. The staff are just so lovely and super helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast and look forward to our next visit. Thank you for your hospitality 🙏

Relaxed Atmosphere, Hamburgers and Steak sandwich absolutely delicious. Service was friendly and fast. Great lunch. Best burgers in Stanthorpe.

Delicious muesli board for one and waffles with bacon and maple for another. Soooo good! Coffee is great and so was the malteser milkshake!!

Excellent place to stop for breakfast. Outdoor seating available if you have a doggo with you. Coffee is PERFECT, food is DELICIOUS. Highly recommend!

Burger, chips and a can of drink for $10 was the special of the day. Also ordered a chocolate thickshake. Presentation of the food is really good, everything looks very Instagram worthy however the serving size of the chips left a lot to be desired. Also, we asked for aoli instead of tomato or BBQ sauce on the burger and they charged us $2 for it?! Bit of a rip off...

Warm cafe with comfortable chairs, and clean bathroom. Lunch was Turkish eggs - DELICIOUS, and the big brekky (GLUTEN FREE OPTION) also lovely with grilled halloumi 🥰. Thank you it really hit the spot.

Stopped here for brunch and it exceeded our expectations. So so good, great food. I got the Bangin Brunch Salad, i think it was called, and it was awesome, all the flavours worked really well together. The Sam I Am and Gen Z Avo Toast were also really good, especially the unique and iconic green eggs & ham that we thought was a great addition to the menu. Coffee was also really lovely ❤️

We had Turkish Eggs and Pancakes. Both were good. I recommend Turkish Eggs if you want to try something different.

They would have got a five star if Bon Soy milk was used, lab milks are awful. Nonetheless the coffee was good. Great outdoor dog-friendly section. Lovely staff, relatively fast service even on a busy weekend.

Lovely cafe. Had the Gen X Breakfast - it was great! I did add the scrambled eggs. Coffee also good.

Stopped for breakfast on our way home to the Sunshine Coast. Lovely cafe with a feature ambience. The coffee was excellent and the was food delicious. My husband and I would say it's one of the best breakfast we've had. My husband had the Sam I am and I has the vego stack with eggs.

I had dinner at The Little Larder, the menu is Indian with many vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Restaurant setting is beautiful, clean and tidy. I ordered chicken Karahi. Service was fast, food presentable. Food arrive ,Few tiny chicken pieces in the dish, prefer a generous amount of chicken especially this is a non-vegetarian dish. You have to order rice and naan bread. $36 for a chicken curry with almost no chicken is too much

Platter of sandwiches made for a family event were a great hit. Plenty of variety in the fillings and bread type. Thanks

My favourite cafe to have a delicious breakfast and great coffee when I’m visiting Stanthorpe. The mushrooms are so delicious! The staff are always friendly and serve with a smile. Definitely worth a visit if you are in town.

Food and coffee was good, but having to wait 35 minutes for our food was not, especially when they weren't very busy.

The service was super friendly. The cooking was home style. We ordered a good old fashioned toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwich plus a burger and fries. Very tasty, great size and pretty quick to deliver. We’d recommend this as a good place for lunch. Top it off with good coffee and a range of home made cakes. Not for the calorie conscious 😀

Busy Cafe with plenty of staff. Great menu, generous meals - both pasta dishes were home cooked with flavour! Cakes (included several vegan) looked fresh and again - generous serves. There is a toilet on premises. Easy to park and find.

Could not get a bacon and egg toasted sandwich right, or two iced coffees. Sandwich was so dry with over half the sandwich with no filling in. Iced coffee was asked with cream and icecream, got nothing. Will never eat here again.

Great service, staff were friendly and polite. Really enjoyed the burger, and the chips were fresh and crunchy. Delicious fish and chips👌

Beautiful breakfast with friendly service! The creamy scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, dill, capers and Turkish bread was absolutely first rate! And the coffee was good, too. Yum! Yum! Yum!

It's just a regular local coffee shop. .............. Response from the owner 5 hours ago Hi, I'm not sure that you reviewed the right establishment. The photo you've uploaded is not associated with SLAPS. We do not use those cups & the background of your photo is not anywhere in or around the SLAPS cafe. ...... Is this a joke???? I attached the payment history, and i took the photo just on the street. it is the worst feedback i ever had in my life.

Absolutely loved our visit to Slaps Espresso House! We were served by a young man who gave us fantastic service. Friendly, efficient, and made us feel really welcome. The coffee was amazing. The food was fresh, hot, and full of flavour. The ambience was great, relaxed and inviting. Excellent prices for the quality. Highly recommend and we’ll definitely be back!

Great food and generous portions. Staff were helpful and friendly. We had a mega breakfast and a truckers breakfast. Prices were very reasonable. We ate on a week day mid morning so it wasn't too busy. Well done team.

Excellent service, very fast especially considering the large amount of customers they have. Their value for money is exceptional, you will not get this much great food for this price anywhere else. It seems all the locals are aware of this as the place is packed.

I ordered the vegetarian breakfast this morning and was left disappointed with the meal. The baked beans were stone cold — while the menu didn’t specify whether they’d be served hot or cold, one would reasonably expect them to be hot, especially given the climate. Additionally, the mushrooms listed on the menu were missing entirely from the plate. While the scrambled eggs were nicely done, they weren’t enough to elevate the overall impression of the dish. On a positive note, the kitchen appeared clean and well-maintained during service, which is reassuring. The front-of-house staff were friendly and welcoming. However, it seems the kitchen is currently letting the business down. That said, the service team should also be catching these issues before meals reach the table. A bit more attention to detail from both sides would go a long way.

I've been to Slaps a number of times before, the coffee, food and donuts we're always very good. When I was back in Stanthorpe recently I naturally picked Slaps, it was my first choice. That was probably the worst idea I've had in the last ten years. We just had coffee and donuts. The coffee was drinkable but not very hot and not very strong. The donuts we're the worst I have ever had. They were made fresh, but they took forever. We had finished our coffees before they came out. They were odd shapes, some were just squashed balls without a hole, others were very skinny. They were covered in a ton of sugar. I threw most of them away. Both my wife and I were sick later that day after eating at Slaps. I can no longer recommend this place and I will never return.

We loved our stay at Stanthorpe Holiday Park! The little baths with the platter were such a special touch, and it was wonderful to enjoy our own fire pot on site. Amanda and Blake are doing an amazing job running the park. Having recently taken over, they’ve embraced the challenges and are already making impressive strides. The park itself is set in the beautiful wine region of Stanthorpe, and while it still needs some work, their dedication and passion are evident in every improvement. We were so impressed by how welcome they made us feel. It’s inspiring to see young people giving it a go and succeeding, and we want to encourage and support them as they continue to enhance this lovely spot. We’ll definitely be back — highly recommend!

This place has such potential and we appreciate what the owners are trying to do. We stayed in one of the chalets and given the rooms aren’t serviced were disappointed there was no where to hang and dry towels. This was made worse with the poor weather. Some extra shelving or hooks in them would help. Similarly when you know people are staying cleaning up the bird droppings from the entrance and the table and chairs would be nice and demonstrates customer care. Self serve is fine when things are working well but that’s not always the case. Great location and I think in time could be a great place to stay.

This is a lovely park, it trucks in the water so water pressure can be a little slow and the WIFI kept dropping out, otherwise we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the park. We spent 9 days at this lovely holiday park. It is well maintained, clean and tidy bathroom, laundry. Nice to walk around the park area and down to the creek. Keep up the good work and we hope you have fun with your little house you got delivered while we were there.

What a beautiful property. We stayed for 2 nights in one of the chalets and absolutely loved the vibe. The owners/managers of park are nice and always happy to help. Clean toilets, large grassy area and creeek flowing through the property. Definitely give it a try if you are planning to visit Stanthorpe. 5 mins from shops/cafes.

A work in progress. Value for money. Cafe not open until we left on Sunday morning, decent sized sites. Bathrooms were great but no servicing in 3 days

We just spent 2 nights in Chalet 3. Cute and cosy little chalet. Amenities were clean and tidy. $1 hot showers for the win. Cooler weather meant we got see a stunning frost over the park this morning. We also tried the bath haus, very cute idea and enjoyed it. Water was a little dirty though. Only fault was lack of communication from owners, we msgd about a couple of things and received no response. Anyways great to way to spend our 25th anniversary.

We stayed on a powered site over the weekend and had a fantastic experience at Stanthorpe Holiday Park. The owners were warm and welcoming, and the park itself was spotlessly clean with well-maintained facilities throughout. The location is excellent — peaceful, yet conveniently close to Stanthorpe’s main attractions and local wineries. A real standout was the Pancake Breakfast and Coffee on Sunday morning — a lovely touch that made the stay even more enjoyable. Everything from the clean amenities to the spacious sites and overall relaxed vibe made this a great getaway. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the Granite Belt region.