The Bridgewater Inn

The Bridgewater Inn sits at 387 Mount Barker Road in the Adelaide Hills, open from 10am daily with a 10pm close most nights and a 1am licence on Friday and Saturday. It is a proper hills pub: multi level, creek side, fireplace inside, and a beer garden that is the reason dog people know its name.

Dogs at the creekside beer garden

The venue publishes its position plainly: dogs are welcome in the multi level creekside beer garden overlooking Cox Creek, and the kitchen runs a dedicated dog menu with items such as beef bites and crispy pig ears. That is a step beyond water bowls out the front; a dog with a menu of its own is a dog the venue has actively planned for. The terraced levels mean you can pick a table away from the busiest run of traffic, and the creek below gives the afternoon a soundtrack. Lead on around the levels and stair runs, and the rest takes care of itself.

Pepsi: A menu with my name on it. Ordered the pig ears, tipped them anyway by finishing everyone's chips.

The vibe

The food list is pub kitchen done well: schnitzel, gnocchi and a sticky date pudding that earns its reputation, with a fireplace pulling the crowd in through winter and live music on the calendar through the year. Between the creek side setting and the fireplace, it stays lively most nights, so book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.

Getting there and parking

Mount Barker Road carries the traffic up from the city through Stirling and Aldgate, and the inn is on the main run through Bridgewater. Parking is around the venue and adjacent streets, and the drive from Adelaide runs about half an hour, which makes it an easy dinner rather than an expedition.

Make a day of it

The hills chain together nicely. FRED Eatery at Aldgate is minutes up the road, Gawler Street Cafe covers the Mount Barker coffee run, and Mt Barker 'Barka Park' Fenced Dog Park is the off leg work before lunch. The South Australia pubs page and the Bridgewater destination guide finish the list.