The Salopian Inn

The Salopian Inn sits on the corner of Main Road and McMurtrie Road in the heart of McLaren Vale, serving a chef-hatted Modern Australian menu from a thick-walled stone homestead dating to 1851. It is destination dining with one of the deepest gin collections in the country, and dogs are welcome, with one firm condition: alfresco tables only.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area only; the historic building itself is off-limits. The alfresco section is small, so a booking is essential, and the kitchen asks that you call ahead on 08 8323 8769 to reserve a table in the dog-friendly section rather than booking online. Staff have been known to set up outdoor heaters when it is cool, and the tables are set up for diners first, so bring your own water bowl.

The vibe and the food

This is a serious food and drink address. The seasonal menu is built on local produce and made from scratch, with kangaroo skewers, gnocchi and prawn dumplings among the signatures, and a celebrated Feed Me format that hands the choices to the kitchen over a run of shared plates. The drinks cellar runs to an underground wine list of McLaren Vale labels alongside a gin collection of more than 200 bottles. Fireplaces make the building as good in winter as the alfresco is in summer, though dog tables are alfresco year-round.

Getting there and parking

The inn is roughly 45 minutes south of Adelaide in the wine township of McLaren Vale, with on-site parking. Lunch runs seven days and dinner Thursday to Saturday; book the outdoor table well ahead for weekends.

Close by with the dogs

The McLaren Vale Hotel is a short stroll up Main Road for a more casual beer-garden option, and Pizzateca covers the family-friendly end of town. Onkaparinga River National Park has on-lead walking trails if you want to settle the dog before a long lunch. More of the region is on the McLaren Vale destination page and the SA restaurants index.

This suits calm dogs happy to settle through a leisurely, multi-course meal. Excitable or restless dogs will find the alfresco section too tight for comfort.