Margan Restaurant & Winery

First time in Hunter Valley so we were excited to see what it had to offer. Service was poor as we were not served when we entered the restaurant. Had to call the waiter over after 15 mins. We did the 2 course lunch for 5 people. All the foods were disappointing, very under-seasoned especially the meats. The salsa verde potatoes were probably the worst we’ve ever had because they were hard as a rock. Wine was decent at least. The view and place on the outside was beautiful though.

5 stars all round and never disappoints ! We have been coming to Margan’s every year for decades and along with the obligatory wine tasting -NYE lunch is one of our highlights of the year. It really is an example of freshness from their paddock to plate along with their outstanding wine list. Thanks to all at team Margan that make our holidays to the Hunter Valley so special - till next year 🍷💚

Loved the experience of a tour along the vines and through the cellar to get a better understanding of how this vineyard works. Steve is a knowledgeable guide, but seemed to prefer a monologue over a dialogue. Not much room for questions, which were answered as short as possible. Perhaps he just didn't like Europeans much as a local. Wines and cheese & cuts platter was very nice.

I don't normally write reviews, but this is an exception, a warning perhaps or a call to improve. For the price I paid for this meal, I shouldn't be waiting over an hour between entree and main. It shouldn't take a hour to cook fish. The food was fine, the atmosphere was okay, but everything was soured by the wait time, especially when we could see customers who came in well after us receive their entrees and mains all in the time we were waiting.

Spent Valetines here with my lovely bride. The food was absolutely beautiful. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day.

I specifically came to Margan to explore the unique grapes and wines. I was looking to learn more. My experience wasnt as I'd hoped with offhand service and a lack of willingness to engage and help teach me more about wine. Perhaps solos are not the target demographic. The food offerings were way too much when I was looking for a light lunch to follow. A paired tasting may have been nice. I felt uncomfortable so left abruptly without making any purchases. Fortunately my faith was restored when I followed up with a tasting at another winery.

Had a great wine experience with lunch. Staff were very welcoming and enjoyed the tour around the winery and the wine tastings as we went around. Lunch was served with vegetarian options available. Food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was lovely.

An Unforgettable Long Lunch at Margan (thanks to the fam for the voucher!) This afternoon we indulged in a long lunch at Margan, and it was absolutely flawless. Nestled in the heart of the Hunter Valley, the experience was a true showcase of seasonal produce, estate-grown wine, estate raised lamb, garden veggies and exceptional hospitality. We started with a selection of Ceres Hill marinated olives and house-baked sourdough with cultured butter—simple, flavourful, and beautifully made. The new season garden amuse - turnip with tahini was a delightful little surprise, paired perfectly with a bright 2022 Breaking Ground Rosato that set the tone for the afternoon. The Charred Garden Eggplant with buttermilk foam, black garlic, and fermented green chilli was next—smokey, creamy, and full of umami. It was complemented perfectly by the 2022 Huesgen & Margan Riesling, which added a citrus lift and a touch of elegance. We then had the Hiramasa Kingfish, lightly cured in Margan Verjuice, served with finger lime, fennel, and local olive oil. This dish was fresh and refined, and paired wonderfully with the 2019 Francis John Semillon, whose minerality and aged complexity matched beautifully with the delicacy of the fish. For the main course, we chose the Margan Estate Reared Lamb, served with garden beets, squash, potatoes, pea purée, and jus. It was a standout—flavoursome and perfectly cooked. The accompanying 2017 Timbervines Tempranillo Graciano Shiraz was deep and balanced, bringing the whole dish to life. (Bought a bottle to drink at home later ). Of course, we couldn’t pass up the three-cheese selection—a generous and beautifully curated plate of Marcel Petite 24-month Comté, Shadows of Blue, and Hunterbelle Ash Brie, served with garden strawberries and local honey. Each cheese was distinct and delicious, and the pairing with the final wine was seamless. To finish, the Grilled Peach with verjuice sorbet, shortbread, and smoked crème fraîche was light and summery, and the 2024 Margan Botrytis Semillon that came with it was the perfect sweet finale—lush, aromatic, and not overly heavy. The service throughout was impeccable—professional, warm, and deeply knowledgeable. (I’m Sure our sommelier was Ollie Margan ….. but either way, he was great)The staff clearly love what they do, and it shows in every interaction. Margan delivers something truly special: a celebration of the land, the season, and exceptional craftsmanship. Every course, every sip, and every moment was a joy. We’ll definitely be back. (And we’d live another voucher for Christmas kids 🤣)

The Hunter region is now loaded with fine and fresh food restaurants. While Margan had the look and ingredients to match the best of them, we felt it came up a bit short on the occasion of this lunch. Featured dry-aged beef was gristly, vegetable sides to spicy, and scallops over-seared. On the opposite hand, the apple soufflé should not be missed under ANY circumstances! We would likely explore other dining in the region before considering a return to Margan.

We had an incredible meal at the restaurant here, just absolute perfection in every way. And I had the best wine of the trip here - but it was a Chianti, and not from the Hunter, hehe. The restaurant staff were perfectly attentive and sweet. I had this ravioli with burnt butter and lamb neck for my main and we shared some roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes... just an amazing meal. Really special. I didn't buy any wines from here because the sommelier was just so unaccomodating and uninterested in allowing us to try anything. He was very eyerolly and brusque. I think he decided we were a a pack of bimbos that weren't going to buy anything from the get-go, and treated us accordingly. So I can't really comment on what wines produced here taste like and I certainly didn't buy any either.

Sunny and clear sky, what better way to start the day in the Hunter Valley than enjoying a relaxing breakfast over a magnificent view. Located in Broke Fordwich sub-region, there are fewer wineries in the area therefore a resounding quietness on this side of the Valley. The restaurant has a kitchen garden complete with chooks freely roaming inside their considerably large pen. The produce they use are either local or come fresh from the garden, the free range eggs, heirloom garden vegetables, strawberries, herbs and others, even their wine comes from the grapes grown in their vineyard here in Broke Fordwich. I had the baked eggs with chorizo, tomato, saffron and manchego. A hearty combination and accompanied with a locally sourced coffee definitely warmed my morning. My husband had the Margan Breakfast. It's their version of a big breakfast with eggs, bacon, tomato and black pudding. It was tasty and my husband thought the black pudding was a very tasty hashbrown, and I didn't want to burst his bubble. And don't get me started on the buttermilk pancakes my son had, with honeycomb, banana and creme fraiche. The pancake was fluffy, the honeycomb added texture and the creme fraiche balanced the flavour without being overly sweet. The staff were warm and attentive. The restaurant normally operates for lunch and dinner, but they open for breakfast on Sunday. It's best if you book in advance, as their opening hours may vary. Then we went to the cellar door to taste and purchase some of their award winning wine. It was a perfect way to start the day!

I had pretty bad data connectivity on my mobile and could not check in whilst we were at the Margan Restaurant for lunch in Hunter Valley yesterday - so am writing this review whilst waiting for my flight from Sydney Airport to ensure the wonderful experience was shared with others. A good friend of mine recommended Margan as a boutique family run winery which was a bit of a distance from the main wineries located in Hunter Valley but she said they consistently produced great wines and she was a club member, so we decided to give lunch a try alongside wine tasting. A lovely setting reminiscent of a French /European countryside style architecture welcomes you upon entry and the grandeur at the cellar door reminds me of a luxury spa hotel entrance vs a winery. I wasn't impressed at all by the sommelier attending to our wine tasting (afternoon on the 12th of February, 2016) as he wasn't at all interested in sharing about Margan's history and wine with us and was simply dismissive. What a shame. Anyhow, we found their 2014 White Label Chardonnay to be an absolute beauty (creamy finish similar to the styles of Napa) and ordered a glass each to accompany our lunch. Being a club member at Margan, my friend and I were very well taken care of by the restaurant. We had the Margan's sparkling wine to start, followed by a 2 course meal each amongst 3 of us. We found the split of 2 starters, 3 mains and 1 dessert perfect for a tasting lunch to proceed into other wine tastings later. From starters to the petit four - Margan topped it all. The fact that they were in the midst of changing their head chef who just left did not impair the quality of cooking at all. Very impressed. We started with the pork belly and prawns, followed by the snapper, lamb and gnocchi mains and a delightfully fresh and deconstructed fig brûlée dessert. If we had to choose again, we may not have chosen the prawn or snapper (slightly overlooked) but the rest were gorgeous! The chef knows his meats. Pictures will do the most justice and I have posted them with this review. When you're in this region, do pop by, grab a seat outdoors and enjoy a loooong lunch!

Perfection. Recently visited here for wine tasting and lunch. From the moment we entered the beautiful estate I knew we were onto a winner. Staff were amazing during the tasting and were warm, friendly and welcoming unlike some other wineries I have visited. I selected 12 bottles (oops!) to have shipped back to Melbourne and it was all sorted by the time we finished lunch. Lunch was fantastic. A bit pricey for mains but I had an entrée with some shared sides and it was more than enough. Amazing produce and beautifully presented with impeccable service. I can't wait to go back but in the meantime I will have to settle for being a member (free to join, 15% discount on purchases and free shipping on the east coast) and enjoying their amazing wine at home.

Amazing dining experience! My partner and I were lucky enough to be gifted a voucher for the Margan restaurant by a family member. This was our first degustation experience with matching wine tasting. There were five courses including dessert. The stand outs were definitely the duck and wagyu courses. Even though this was probably the fanciest restaurant we had ever been to, we felt comfortable there because of the fantastic service - informative and friendly. It was a tasty learning experience and the staff are very knowledgeable regarding Margan's fresh produce and wines. If you're in the Hunter Valley for a special occasion, this is the place to splurge!