A Food & Design Guide to the Southern Highlands

There are places that are beautiful, and then there are places that shape the way you want to live.

The Southern Highlands is one of them.

Perhaps it's the gardens hidden behind old stone walls. The winding country roads lined with oaks and poplars. The antique stores, the weathered farmhouses, the scent of woodsmoke drifting through town on a winter afternoon.

Or perhaps it's the way the region encourages you to slow down.

At Paper Rings, we believe homes should engage all the senses. The rooms we create aren't just about what you see. They're about atmosphere. Texture. Scent. Sound. The ritual of gathering around a table. The pleasure of a beautifully made meal shared with friends.

So if you're spending a weekend in the Highlands—or dreaming of one—here are a few places that continue to inspire us.

For a Little Paris in Bowral

Lucette

If there is a restaurant capturing the new energy of Bowral right now, it's Lucette.

French at heart and deeply connected to the Highlands, the café-meets-bistro brings together classic French technique, European hospitality and local produce in a way that feels both sophisticated and relaxed. The interiors strike a similar balance: elegant without feeling precious, polished without losing warmth.

Order a long lunch, linger over a glass of wine and imagine you're somewhere between Paris and the Southern Highlands—which, in many ways, is exactly the point.

For Coffee, Croissants & Garden Wandering

Burradoo Park Farm

Some mornings call for nothing more complicated than excellent coffee, a flaky croissant and a slow stroll through beautiful surroundings.

Burradoo Park Farm has quietly become one of those places locals return to again and again after the school run. Set amongst sprawling gardens and rolling green lawns, it captures everything we love about the Southern Highlands: generous space, thoughtful design and a connection to the landscape. Grab a coffee, settle into the sunshine and take your time. The beauty of places like this isn't found in a packed itinerary—it's found in the pause.

For Fireside Evenings & Whisky

Berida Hotel

Some spaces understand atmosphere instinctively.

Hidden within Berida Hotel is Aspinalls Whisky Bar, a moody retreat of leather, timber, soft lighting and a crackling fireplace. It's the kind of room that reminds us why lighting is one of the most powerful tools in design.

Arrive just before dusk, settle into a corner and order something warming. The experience feels less like a night out and more like stepping into another era.

For Country Pub Perfection

Sutton Forest Inn

Every great region needs a a great pub.

The Sutton Forest Inn delivers exactly what you hope for from a Highlands afternoon: heritage charm, cold drinks, generous meals and a view of rolling countryside beyond the windows.

It's a reminder that good design isn't always about styling. Sometimes it's simply about authenticity, grass for kids to play and a building that has earned its character over time.

Robertson Public House & Kitchen

Robertson remains one of the most charming villages in the Highlands.

After a morning spent exploring bookshops, galleries and country roads, the Robertson Public House feels like the natural next stop. The building itself is full of the layered charm we love: historic architecture, welcoming spaces and the feeling that generations of stories have unfolded within its walls.

Order lunch, stay longer than planned and embrace the slower pace Robertson does so well.

For Pizza Worth the Drive

Robertos Italian & Pizzeria

Some meals don't need a long introduction.

Woodfired pizza, tiramisu, good company and a country town setting are often enough.

Robertos has become something of a local favourite and perfectly captures the relaxed spirit of Robertson. It's unfussy, welcoming and exactly the sort of place that makes you want to extend your Highlands stay by another night.

For Japanese Done Beautifully

Genso Japanese Bistro

Design and Japanese hospitality have always shared a common language: restraint.

At Genso, thoughtful presentation, beautiful ingredients and calm interiors come together to create an experience that feels considered from beginning to end.

It's a lovely reminder that luxury is often found in simplicity.

For After a Day of Shopping

Harry’s on Green Lane Bowral

Part restaurant, part design inspiration.

Harry's feels uniquely Southern Highlands. Named after renowned horticulturalist Sir Harry Veitch, the space celebrates gardens, seasonal produce and the relationship between the indoors and out.

For anyone interested in decorating, it offers a useful lesson: some of the most beautiful rooms borrow heavily from the garden beyond their walls. And you can never have too many books. 

Arrive for lunch, wander through the nursery, stop in at Dirty Janes and leave with more plants and trinkets than you intended.

The Highlands State of Mind

The Southern Highlands isn't simply a destination.

It's a way of living.

It's long lunches that stretch into late afternoons. Homes layered with books and collected objects. Fresh flowers cut from the garden. Music playing softly in the background. A fire lit before sunset.

It's a region that reminds us that beauty isn't something reserved for special occasions.

It's something that can be woven into everyday life.