Lake House

Mattress needs replacing as there are sink holes both sides got sore back from the bed. Room is nice. Restaurant was amazing, food and service. If your physical challenged carrying luggage on a dirt track to get to your room and many stairs for lower rooms. Massage and spa was great has hot tub and sauna which we enjoyed also. I would got back for the restaurant and spa

From start to finish our package stay was sensational, 3 nights, 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts. Upon our arrival we were given a complimentary berry tea while signing in and a room upgrade. The service was first class and the gourmet meals were delicious. Foodies will love it. You could not ask for a better setting, a wonderful romantic getaway. I highly recommend the Lake House

We dined at Lakehouse yesterday, a restaurant recommended by a friend and widely praised as one of Australia’s finest. With numerous accolades to its name, our expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, the experience fell well short of that reputation. The setting is undeniably elegant, with a formal atmosphere—guests dressed in shirts and suits, and a sense of occasion in the air. However, the ambience felt less refined and more rigid—bordering on stiff and conservative, lacking the warmth or relaxed sophistication we often find in top-tier establishments. Upon being seated, we waited fifteen minutes before receiving the wine list—but not the food menu. It’s hard to understand how one is expected to choose a wine pairing without knowing the courses it’s meant to accompany. When the menu finally arrived a few minutes later, no one explained the concept. We were simply told to “read the menu,” and left to work it out ourselves. As we suspected from what we’d read beforehand, it was a set menu. Still, one would expect a restaurant of this standing to offer a brief but welcoming introduction. As the courses progressed, the food itself was of high quality—but not remarkable. Ingredients were clearly premium, and the dishes well-executed, but the flavors lacked surprise or innovation. It was good, certainly, but not the level of creativity or refinement we would associate with a restaurant holding two Australian Good Food Guide “Hats.” What stood out most, however, was the service—and not in a good way. From start to finish, it was marked by a distinct sense of arrogance and emotional distance. There was no warmth, no engagement, no curiosity about our experience. Not once were we asked how we were enjoying the meal. The service felt cold, disconnected, and almost transactional. It gave the impression that the staff were convinced of the restaurant’s greatness, leaving no room—or interest—for actual hospitality. As professional restaurant critics traveling the world in search of exceptional dining experiences, we found this particularly frustrating. Within a 50-kilometer radius alone, there are several restaurants that offer far more in terms of both cuisine and customer experience. In fact, just the day before, we visited Babae in Ballarat—and we would argue that they are far more deserving of the accolades. In the end, this was a one-time visit—and it will remain just that. For us, Lakehouse did not live up to its reputation, and unfortunately, we left more disappointed than inspired.

This was our second time staying at the Lakehouse, we booked the winter cocoon package and it was amazing. The staff always go above and beyond! The extra additions to this stay with the tree top soak was an amazing experience. We watched the sunset during this and it was so peaceful. Walking the lake in the winter sun and the incredible food. You cannot beat this experience and we are always looking for our next excuse to return.

Dining at The Lake House is a masterclass in refined hospitality. From the moment we arrived, it was clear we were in the hands of a team who not only understand excellence but deliver it with warmth and ease.The menu was a triumph — every dish measured in flavour, executed with precision, and sophisticated without pretension. Even the cheese course was superb, but it was the dessert offering that truly surprised us; we wanted everything — a rare craving these days.The waitstaff were outstanding: professional and deeply knowledgeable, yet never intrusive. There was an ease and personality to the service that elevated the experience without ever stealing focus. One female staff member in particular — whose name I regrettably didn’t catch — was simply exceptional in every way. Her intuitive, graceful service left a lasting impression.In the kitchen, the team showed remarkable finesse, accommodating every dietary preference with grace and skill. The food never felt compromised — only thoughtful and well-resolved.Though we tend to favour bold reds, the sommelier guided us through a matched wine selection that was nothing short of impeccable. Their confidence and insight were deeply reassuring, and every pour felt deliberate and right.We left already anticipating our return. The Lake House doesn’t just serve a meal — it orchestrates a memorable, elegant experience that lingers long after the final bite.

We didn’t stay on site but dined here. My understanding is that there are only 25 hatted restaurants in Australia, all of them are in NSW and Victoria. There are only 5 x 2 Hatted restaurants and they are all in Victoria. Easy to see why when you explore the region and the variety of produce available. My group were all foodies, a friend from Canada and a former chef/restauranteur gf who’s returned from her jaunts around Europe and India. These dining experiences (and an experience in culinary decadence they are!) are a guiltless pleasure I enjoy immensely, pairing wines takes it to another level entirely. The Lake House did not disappoint, I can honestly say the lamb was the best I’ve ever had and the marron was so sweet. Everything from the sauces, the tempter’s at commencement of the 4 courses and the beautiful dessert only added to the evening. Their staff were amazing, well presented and fluent with the menu and extensive wines on offer. A must if your bucketlist includes iconic restaurant experiences. Thank you!

The dinner was absolutely amazing, with each dish showcasing incredible flavours. The staff really stood out – they were not only knowledgeable but also took the time to explain everything, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. The atmosphere was the perfect blend of professionalism and relaxation, which made it feel like a special yet comfortable night out. I loved the unique touch of being able to choose our own menu, allowing us to try multiple dishes between the two of us. There was ample food and I certainly left feeling very full. Highly recommend for an unforgettable dining experience! We didn't stay at the Lake House, so cannot comment on accommodation, but it looked lovely.

Difficult review as 3 stars feels too low, but 4 is too many considering the overall cost of the stay at close to $2,500. We stayed for two nights in a waterfront suite and ate in the restaurant one of those nights. The suite, was large and clean but dated. What was most noticeable was that outside the suites they are surrounded by concrete which is faded and rusted in parts and then a wooded decking area which is breaking - both outside the front doors and on the balcony area. The furniture on the balcony is also strangely mismatched and old. Just felt like a lack of care in these areas. The wooded areas also means you get a lot of noise from other guests moving around and unfortunately for us, we had children staying a few rooms down who ran back and forth over the decking for a couple of hours at 7am on a Sunday morning, no doubt disturbing the entire row. This is not a child free venue, which as a luxury lodge is unusual - we've stayed at most of the Baille Lodges in Australia and all are child free to preserve a relaxing and private atmosphere. The waterfront suits are also not private, as there is a public walking path right outside your windows/balcony (meaning you need to be careful walking around your room without curtains closed) which is busy most of the weekend and quietens in the evening. Our overall view of the property was that it felt busy and was not very relaxing, particularly as the property always has a number of people not staying using the Spa and the restaurant. I think coming mid week this would be different and the property could be enjoyed differently. Service overall and food in the restaurant was excellent, although as others have commenced, spending $850 on a meal and then being asked to tip is frustrating. We tried to get into the Spa which is meant to be excellent but could not get a booking so used the Daylesford Day Spa in town which was great. In summary, we found the best parts of the property to be those you could enjoy without having to stay, and the cost per night, found the accommodation to be below the standard expected.

I remember first hearing about Lake House when I was 14. My love of food and cookery was evolving at the time and I heard of a magical place, near a lake, serving up some of the best cuisine in the country. I didn't get to visit for 20 years but finally, this past May, I was able to tick it off my list of must-do Victorian experiences. My favourite +1 and I have birthday's one day apart so we took each other here for a two day getaway, complete with dining experiences and massages. Just hours from Melbourne, it was the perfect way to relax and celebrate together. What I loved about the experience was that you really didn't need to leave if you didn't want to. The rooms have simple mini bar supplies, but you can always order room service if you want something more substantial. The bathrooms are positively divine and we spent hours soaking in the tub over the weekend in between reading sessions in the living space, strolls around the lake and eating excursions in the main restaurant. Breakfast is served for a number of hours and is so incredibly generous that you can skip lunch altogether then hold out to dinner time which will no doubt be over-indulgent if you've booked yourself in for dinner. A visit here will mean you probably eat, and drink, more than you thought humanly possible but hey that's what weekend getaways are all about, right? This isn't a bargain experience, but you pay for indulgence and the opportunity to truly relax and get away from it all. Forget gifts, this is the kind of birthday present I want every year

Where on Earth do I start...? The Lake House would have the be the best restaurant I've been to in Melbourne (my view - better than Vue de Monde, better than Attica) and only second in my journey so far to Daniel in New York. Food was simply stunning. Between us we had delicious things like tempura quail; 12 hour roast suckling; rabbit cassoulet; a berry-themed share plate dessert with black forest cake, deconstructed strawberry shortcake, raspberry sorbet and raspberry and champagne jelly; lemon and lime panna cotta; and an out-of-this-world antipasto plate with duck and rabbit pates and terrines and heavenly salumi. Petit fours consisted of toffee popcorn, strawberry fudge, shortbread and jellies. Cocktails and organic teas were also amazing. In summer, try to have a drink on the deck before being seated. Atmosphere was upmarket but relaxed. We had a fantastic table in front of the bread and petit four station, which overlooked the lake and hillside. Staff were attentive, friendly and very professional. Cutlery, plates and other trimmings were very special. I fell in love with the multicoloured glass salt, pepper and sugar bowls (which, coincidentally, were also for sale at the Lake House store). It's expensive, but not as expensive as the city hatted restaurants. In my opinion, you don't need an excuse to go to the Lake House; just do it for yourself because you certainly won't regret it (but leave any kids at home)...

We stayed 2 nights in this lovely resort and tried pretty much all services available. All considered, this place would deserve a 5 star rating if it was priced in line with other upper-end places we've been at... But given what we actually paid is the highest price/night I've ever paid (and I've tried a few around the world), I cannot give it more than 3 stars. We picked it because we wanted a runaway luxury weekend for spoiling my family, to relax together and not want to worry about anything. We were not impressed with the accommodation: nothing more than standard units very well detailed inside but quite average for dimensions. Access with a pram was a nightmare, including a steep staircase to get to our unit (despite management knew we were coming with 2 little kids and were otherwise lovely arranging a cot and even a babysitter for us for one evening). Service was lovely, every single staff member trying to meet any of our requests. SPA services was definitely the positive highlight of our stay, despite quite a basic facility. Food was impressive quality all the way from breakfast to snacks to lunch & dinner at the famous restaurant. Said that, again, I expected a bit more from a 2-hats.

The view is beautiful and we sat outside for lunch under the shade with a lake view. The restaurant has won many awards so I had high expectations, but I was slightly disappointed with the execution of our dishes. I came for lunch so it's possible the normal dinner staff were not here which could account for the mis-step. Since the prices are high, I would expect the food to be top quality, perfect cooking execution, beautiful scenery and attentive service. Everything met my expectations except for the cooking execution was off for a couple of the main dishes: the cone bay Barramundi, bug dumplings, house kimchi, edamame, nori, sea vegetables, and the roasted Ballotine of free range duck, parfait, coffee roasted carrots, black barley, almonds, elderflower and elderberry. The barramundi came with a foam which tasted good except is was placed on top of the crispy barramundi skin. This quickly turned the skin flabby and mushy. The skin was removed because it didn't offer anything appealing at this point. The filling in the bug dumplings was good, but I had another version of bug dumplings in another Dalysford restaurant that tasted even better. The other dish was roasted duck. The meat was marinated too long so it made the duck meat mushy and overly salty at the same time. The duck was also over cooked and was coming to the point of being dry. I was disappointed by this because it looked nicely prepared on the dish. The other dishes were from the first course: Carpaccio of kingfish and Murray cod, trout, smoked eel. There were delicious, presented beautifully, cooked well and no issues with the execution. Yes, I am being picky, but for the price and the accolades, I expect more than the average restaurant because they have excelled at this in the past. In general, I may go back for the dinner degustation, but I would rather try other restaurants first before returning to this one because of taste and execution issues... it was average for this type of restaurant.

My partner and I came here for a special celebratory birthday meal. It's rather far above our usual price range, but we were excited to find such a lovely-looking and highly rated restaurant in Daylesford. The food was high quality. However, our experience was tainted by poor service. After taking our initial order, our server never spoke to us again. He did not check in to see how we were liking the food, offer us another look at the wine list, etc. Throughout the meal, we noticed him taking plenty of time chatting with and checking in with the tables around us. The discrepancy was quite stark. At first we figured he had pegged us for the poor ones, opting for the the cheapest meal (still a 3 course set menu!) and a couple of glasses of wine rather than fancy cocktails and a bottle. By the end of the meal, he was so obviously avoiding us we wondered if he was homophobic. Whatever the reason, the haughty and distant treatment poorly colored what would have otherwise been a lovely evening. I should note that the support staff (particularly the only woman on the floor) were friendly and helpful, though we did have to flag someone down everytime we wanted something. I'm disappointed to say that I would not go to the Lake House again, nor recommend it.

Quite simply one of the best fine dining restaurants in Victoria. From the moment you walk in you are transported to a time where the customer is king, with nothing too much trouble or a bother. The dining room is beautifully appointed, and not overcrowded, keeping each table as an intimate oasis. There is an extensive wine menu to suit most budgets, and the food...is to dir for. I had the morrocan goat and pork and was blown away; while my partner fell in love with the pasta with truffle. For dessert we had the apple, beautifully light and refreshing while decadent at the same time. The Lake House is a true delight.

I've eaten at the Lake House twice in my life and enjoyed both experiences very much. The food is gorgeous and so well presented. It's modern without being overtly avant-garde. I'm happy they offer so many options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian gourmet lovers. My (vegetarian) three-course lunch included a smooth egg and vegetable entree, and a main of a tart with some kind of delicious rice on the side. Dessert involved chocolate parfait with violet ice cream - our whole table agreed that the violet ice cream is TO DIE FOR, so try that if you get the chance. Service is smooth, comprehensive but unintrusive. The setting is stunning - purple and white colour scheme, overlooking the lake. You might see the random kookaburra or two posing for a photo opportunity near the restaurant window ;) If I had one major criticism, it is that I feel the serving sizes are a tad too much on the small side, especially some of the desserts, given that a three-course lunch costs over $90. However it is still one of my favourite dining experiences in Victoria. It goes well as part of a daytrip with a trip to the spas in the area.

Like a gastronomical dance party for the mouth and stomach. Had the phenomenal opportunity to dine here for a Saturday lunch with the family. Friendly and inviting staff, deep and thorough drinks menu, and the food was amazing! Suggest trying as much as you can. If your dining as two, mix up your entrees and mains so that you get a real taste of the exquisite taste the Lake house has to offer.

I went here for lunch while scouting out venues for a work event and had a lovely lunch in the restaurant. You will not be disappointed by the food, ambiance, or view. It's all a little posh and well worth a visit. We've been invited here for a wedding in October and I'm really glad I can go back for round two!

The location and food is wonderful. The offer a "little people" menu for kids. Would recommend this place to take out of towners or for a special occasion. The price is the only thing stopping this place being a regular haunt. I took my daughters here (one ate from the kids menu) and it cost me $230 for lunch without wine.