The Best Hotels and Places to Stay in McLaren Vale, South Australia

Find a great place to stay in McLaren Vale, home to some of South Australia’s prized sustainable wines | © robertharding / Alamy Stock Photo

Nick Dauk

5 November 2021

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Rolling hillside vineyards and undulating ocean waves are both yours to savour in McLaren Vale. Home to some of South Australia’s prized sustainable wines, this area – south of Adelaide – is a dream destination for nature and food lovers who want to have it all at their fingertips. With amazing food, world-class wines and relaxing spaces just far enough away from the noise of the city, these hotels in McLaren Vale are worth opening up and sharing with those you care for most – bookable on Culture Trip.

Bella Cosa Bed & Breakfast, to unwind with wine à deux

Bella Cosa Bed and Breakfast's specially designed 'chapel' room with an expansive living space and stylish mezzanine bedroom

Courtesy of Bella Cosa Bed and Breakfast / Booking.com

Bella Cosa B&B will convince you to unwind and not take life so literally. Case in point: the Chapel room’s private courtyard and pool need not be an affair worthy of nuptials, though the Cottage’s cosy fireplace is where love birds may want to cuddle up after the question is popped. The Gallery room’s rustic decor is a designer’s dream, but we think the artsiest area of this B&B can be found by the local artists’ sculptures in the four-acre (1.6ha) forest.

Serafino McClaren Vale, for Aussie wines and Mediterranean eats

The tranquil grounds of Serafino McClaren Vale

Courtesy of Serafino McClaren Vale / Booking.com

Australian wines and Mediterranean cuisine – if that’s not enough of a reason for you to book a room at Serafino, then you have yet to see the photos of this lakeside hotel. The tranquil grounds, the seasonal plates set atop white tablecloths and the tasting flights that pair perfectly with your mood are even better in person. Spend one evening walking amongst the 200-year-old gum trees and you’ll see how easy it is to root yourself in Serafino for days on end.

Casavino Luxury Villas, where groups can gather over wine

A fully equipped kitchen and separate lounge area await at Casavino Luxury Villas

Courtesy of Casavino Luxury Villas / Expedia

The only decision you’ll have to make at Casavino Luxury Villas is if you prefer Shiraz, Chardonnay or Merlot. Not to drink – heavens no, you’re welcome to sample as many different wines as your palate can handle. The decision rests merely in the name of their villas. All have three bedrooms with three queen beds, though Shiraz doesn’t have the option for a fourth bedroom with two king beds. Wine, heated bathroom flooring, a theatre lounge and a fully equipped kitchen are all waiting for you behind each door.

Wine and Roses Bed & Breakfast, for romantic weekends

A deluxe room at Wine and Roses Bed and Breakfast with kitchenette, leather couch and king bed

Courtesy of Wine and Roses Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

Wine and Roses B&B is as elegant as its namesake, daring you to indulge in the beauty of the surrounding vineyards without ever leaving your room. No matter which opulent room you choose, you’ll be greeted with a bottle of port, chocolates and a savoury plate of cheeses and nuts. That bindle of wood is yours to use in the open log fire – unless you’d rather heat up the room via the two-person spa bath.

Bellevue Bed & Breakfast, where no one turns up their nose except to inhale the McLaren Vale aroma

Seating area and dining table at Bellevue Bed and Breakfast

Courtesy of Bellevue Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

You won’t find a wine snob at the Bellevue Bed & Breakfast. This unpretentious inn is so laid-back that they insist that you leave your dirty dishes in the sink and not give one worry to your everyday chores. The courtyard is definitely where we’d bring a glass of Shiraz and a book from the swapping library. And if you ever tire of wine – or just need an alternative to the reds and whites – Ogre Brewing Company will gladly replace your wine glass with an imperial pint.

Hotel California Road at Inkwell Wines, a place for wining and dining

A stylish king room at Hotel California Road at Inkwell Wines with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the vineyards

Courtesy of Hotel California Road at Inkwell Wines / Expedia

As you search for hotels in McLaren Vale, you may see a shimmering light up ahead in the distance as your head starts to grow heavy and your sight grows dim. Thankfully, you can stop for the night at Hotel California Road. This adults-only micro-hotel has a mini-fridge stocked with Inkwell wine in every room, so you can sip the bounty of the very vineyards you’re staring out at from your private deck.

3 Divas Accommodations, for holding hands and stems

Living and dining area at 3 Divas Accommodations

Courtesy of 3 Divas Accommodations / Expedia

It’s evident that 3 Divas certainly knows how to treat a lady, but no one says a gal can’t share the plush bathrobes, relaxing two-person bath and bottle of McLaren Vale wine. The Marlene log chalet and century-old stone Moscato Cottage were seemingly built to please a couple. Vineyard views and cosy fireside nights won’t keep you and your partner more than a finger’s length apart. You won’t be bothered in these private abodes, either – save for a gourmet breakfast delivery each morning.

Peppercorns Bed & Breakfast, for all-night tastings

Charmingly rustic breakfast room at Peppercorns Bed and Breakfast with a hammock

Courtesy of Peppercorns Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

You may think you won’t need the 24-hour room service at Peppercorns Bed & Breakfast – then again, you’ll probably be surprised at how late you’ll be uncorking bottle after bottle of wine. One look at your surroundings and you’ll want to drink in the beauty all day: the wood plank walls and exposed-beam ceilings are charmingly rustic. Sitting on the sun-kissed balcony isn’t a pour decision either – especially when you can snap the perfect photo of the rays glinting on your wine glass.

Vintners House, for relaxed wine-sipping

Courtesy of Vintners House / Expedia

What better place to stay among McLaren Vale’s 160 vineyards than a Vintners House? No need to fight over the three bedrooms – your group of six will all be close to the fireplace in the living room, although you might have to call dibs on the spa tub. Anyone too slow to soak won’t mind the alternative tranquillity found in the garden – and sipping wine beside the chicken coop is a fine activity for any lazy afternoon.

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