Sample new flavours

It may be dubbed the Garden City, but Toowoomba’s offerings aren’t restricted to flowers. Venture to the mountainous Queensland Country where the Darling Downs and Great Dividing Range meet, and you’ll find yourself in the midst of a thriving regional community, where the focus is firmly on food.  

Flanked by some of Queensland’s most produce-rich regions, Toowoomba and its surrounds are a haven of restaurants and cafes. Eateries here have embraced paddock-to-plate, particularly on the region’s outskirts like Stanthorpe’s Essen, and Dalby’s Urban Paddock. But it’s in the city centre that the majority reside, with coffee haunts, bakeries, and casual eateries nestled between the heritage-listed buildings that call this country community home.  

Cafes in particular are flourishing — including Ground Up Espresso Bar, the caffeine specialist attributing to kick-starting Toowoomba's burgeoning laneway precincts. The drinks game is just as strong, with wineries in the Granite Belt overflowing with tasty drops and the local bar and pub scene growing, as is the brewery population with the welcoming of 4 Brothers Brewing in the city’s north. 

For a superlative wining and dining experience in Toowoomba, The Spotted Cow is an absolute must-visit while in the Garden City. Not only does this famed Toowoomba pub and restaurant sport one of the widest selections of beers in the city and surrounds — including an extensive craft beer selection worth the drive alone — but it also offers an exceptional dining menu with emphasis on the locally sourced produce the region is famous for, including meat sourced from Grandchester and the Brisbane Valley.  

If you’re visiting Picnic Point with its spectacular mountain views and floral gardens, take the time to enjoy breakfast or lunch (and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights) at Picnic Point Cafe and Restaurant. The beautifully landscaped gardens make for an unforgettable setting throughout the year, especially in spring when the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is in full swing, while the much-appreciated log fire provides a cosy atmosphere in the winter months.  

Travelling with your pup in tow? Toowoomba is home to a variety of dog-friendly places to eat, not to mention wine and dine. Heritage Estate, Hidden Creek Winery Cafe Vineyard and many local wineries take a welcoming approach to dog-friendly wine tastings and days out, so if you’re worried about having to leave your bestie at home while you sample the very best Queensland country has to offer, don’t!