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Welcome to High Hopes Roadhouse
High Hopes Roadhouse, nestled on the scenic Bells Line of Road in Bilpin, Australia, is a delightful roadside cafe that exudes warmth and character. With a cozy ambiance featuring a welcoming fireplace and an inviting outdoor space, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy locally sourced, comfort food. Renowned for its friendly staff and hearty dishes, highlights include the zesty mushrooms on toast and indulgent garlic chili prawns. Whether you seek a quick bite or a leisurely lunch, the roadhouse offers a homely atmosphere and a menu brimming with tasty options. It’s an unassuming gem ideal for food lovers exploring the Blue Mountains.
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About
High Hopes Roadhouse
Welcome to High Hopes Roadhouse, an enchanting culinary gem nestled along the picturesque Bells Line of Road in Bilpin, NSW. This charming roadside cafe, located at 2488 Bells Line of Rd, offers a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With a cozy outdoor seating area bathed in winter sun and an inviting interior featuring a warm fireplace, it's the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy fantastic food made from locally sourced produce.
High Hopes is not just a restaurant; it embraces the essence of a homely cafe where the atmosphere is as inviting as the menu. As many devoted patrons have noted, the friendly and enthusiastic local staff make every visit memorable. One customer, Holly Corpe, happily shares her experience, raving about the "zesty and delicious" mushrooms on toast, while others appreciate the top-notch coffee and a variety of appealing lunch options.
The menu, artfully presented on a blackboard upon entry, showcases comforting dishes that evoke a sense of nostalgia. From savory bangers and mash to a creamy apple pie, each bite feels like a warm embrace. The aroma of garlic chili prawns and the richness of the pea soup with mint are sure to entice your taste buds, as highlighted by a satisfied customer. Enjoying a refreshing Bilpin Cider—be it alcoholic or non-alcoholic—completes the dining experience here.
While the service may have its growing pains, the heart and soul of High Hopes Roadhouse shines through in the passion of its team and the warmth of its ambiance. Whether you're stopping for a casual lunch or a cozy dinner before a glow worms tour, this charming establishment deserves a spot on your itinerary. With each dish served, diners are treated not just to comfort food but to a delightful slice of Bilpin life, as the owner and locals invite you into their culinary world.
The shared experiences of patrons like Sue Griffin and Craig Macallister reinforce the roadhouse’s reputation as an exceptional lunch stop, perfectly suited for food enthusiasts and families alike. So, when you're cruising along the stunning Bells Line of Road, let your journey lead you to High Hopes Roadhouse. You might just discover a culinary haven that surpasses your highest hopes.
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ This is a super cute little restaurant on the Bell's Line of Road. It's opposite the Grumpy Baker and has a lovely outdoor area where you can enjoy the winter sun. The inside has a big warm fireplace too. The meals are made from locally sourced produce and the restaurant is staffed by super friendly locals who have great info about the area. The food is great. I definitely recommend the mushrooms on toast. Those mushrooms are zesty and delicious! The owner is great for a chat too. Excellent spot to stop on your way through Bilpin. ”
“ Nice location great service. Coffee & tea is good as it gets. Good menu for all meals. Well worth a visit. ”
“ Great lunch spot hidden at Bilpin! What a find for the fans of Sean Moran, aka Sean’s Panorama and Michael Robertson “Manoo”! From the moment we entered the cafe, and sighted the blackboard menu, we were in foodie heaven. Tudor, our waiter was so professional, welcoming and efficient! Savanna and Mallory, on the pans, produced the best linguini and pork chops! Watch out Sean. A homely and inviting ambiance but don’t tell anyone in Sydney! Joke! We cannot wait to return!! ”
“ Garlic chilli prawns !!!!!! Pea soup with mint!!!!! Wash down with Bilpin Cider you choose alcoholic or non alcoholic!!! Great tasty food!!! Great service staff!!! The definite IN PLACE TO BE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT!!! JUST BEFORE THE GLOW WORMS TOUR WITH TOM ”
“ If you’re reading this review, you’ve probably already made a quick judgement about High Hopes Roadhouse based on its Google Star Rating. Admittedly, so did I, and I didn’t have very "high hopes" about having lunch here based on previous customer feedback about the food and service. The first thing you’ll notice about High Hopes Roadhouse when you enter (apart from the eclectic decor and mis-matched furniture) is the young staff. Most of the kitchen and front-of-house looked like they were yanked fresh out of high school or first year TAFE, but hey, good on them for finding work experience. High Hopes is not a restaurant, so don’t treat it as one. It’s a roadside cafe, with orders and up-front payment taken at the counter, and cutlery handed to you with a table number. While ordering my lunch at the counter, Manoo Robertson (who I believe is a co-owner) was giving the young teens a rather vocal lecture on customer service, as most people who entered that day were not greeted and told where to go sit or order. So front-of-house operations is not their strong point, but this isn’t Sean’s Panorama at Bondi so I can overlook it. The single menu for the restaurant is located on a written chalkboard near the entrance, featuring a number of comfort dishes like bangers and mash or apple pie. To be honest, the food was decent. My wife ordered Sean Moran’s signature Spaghetti while I ordered the Roast Chook with Spuds. The food tastes like something your Mum or Nan might have prepared and filled the stomach on a cold rainy day in Bilpin. There were three desserts on the menu, and I ordered the Baked Custard with Rhubarb…which later came out as Baked Custard with Strawberries. Not a deal-breaker and it still tasted good. High Hopes Roadhouse is an ok spot for a quick lunch or a stopover along Bells Line of Road. The recently published Good Food Guide 2022 named High Hopes Roadhouse as one of the top spots in the Blue Mountains to dine at, but with respect to the editors, I can think of several other venues in the region more deserving of such publicity. ”
“ High Hopes Roadhouse - Anne Wong food detective found this regional gem, recently opened by Sean Moran and his partner Michael. The charming roadside eatery serves down to earth yet delicious dishes using amazing local produce. We even got to have a little chat with Sean who was so impressively hands on, serving diners and helping clear tables whilst his well trained team of capable young locals efficiently churned out plate after plate of extremely presentable yumminess from the open kitchen. You can just tell this project was born out of love and support for the regional community, helping to attract more business to the area and creating such wonderful opportunities for youths. Highly highly recommend. "I like watching people walk in, especially adults, and seeing their faces lights up." I certainly hope you saw our faces light up whilst enjoying the quirky vibes and the amazing food. Thank you so much Sean and Michael! ”
“ Phenomenally friendly service by the 2 owners themselves, very reasonable prices for top quality beautiful food in an amazing setting, this location is the definition of a true country roadhouse. 10/10 no faults. Recommend: steak and eggs (don't skip the roesti) Sean's pasta (out of this world) ”