This place wasn't bad at all, though of course it is basically a country pub, and there wasn't much…read morein the way of beers to choose from, but still, despite Clare being a major wine growing region, I probably shouldn't have expected some outstanding pub or another. However, as I mentioned, this place wasn't too bad, and it definitely wasn't all that crowded either, which is something that I appreciated. Sure, they didn't have much in the way of a beer garden, just a smokers cage, but the pub did have some charm.

It sounds like suggesting that a pub being a typical country pub is a bad thing, but I wouldn't…read morereally put it that way. With a lot of country pubs you know what you get, and this one is no different. They tend to be jovial and sometimes rather welcoming, though their beer selection isn't always that great. Yeah, this place wasn't too bad to be honest, and the bar tender was friendly and helpful. It also had a beer garden, but it is typical of what you would find in the country.

A great example of a friendly country pub…read more Great, cold beer and awesome food, all wrapped up with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere

This is another one of those pubs that seems to pretty much be on its last legs. I say that because…read morethere isn't any tap beer available, namely because so few people come here that the tap beer would go off long before the barrel would be empty. However, the owner was still quite friendly, and there are quite a lot of nice decorations about the hotel. In fact there are a number of pop-culture things here which make is pretty cool. However, it is pretty out of the way, and I'm not sure how long it is going to last.

Mintaro pub lunch We had a really enjoyable lunch at this…read moreheritage listed country pub. The lamb shank was delicious and the vegetable lasagne was good. The food on the other diners' plates also looked good! We did have to wait a while for our food though!

Right, so we were in the Clare Valley on a weeknight and desperately tried to find a restaurant…read more Our guide said that Mintaro is one of the most famous towns, not only for its historic buildings but also in terms of accommodation and restaurants. Well, whoever wrote that guide should consider rewriting it - at least in what concerns restaurants. The Magpie and Stump Hotel was the only place that was open in the whole town, it was probably also the only place where we saw lights or any sign of life. Walking in, you feel like you've been transferred back into time. Seriously. We walked in and my first thought was 'Where the hell am I here?'. The place looks old and outdated, yet somehow charming because it's very different to what you'd expect. They serve traditional pub food and the only other people in there had the same food as we did: pie. You can't go wrong with pie. It was good and they have a large selection of beer and wines. Would I go back? Well, it was truly a unique experience but, unless I'd be stuck in Mintaro, I don't really see a reason to drive into the middle of nowhere just to enjoy something I could have pretty much anywhere else.

I had a lovely stay at the Clare Valley Motel. Clean, comfortable and sophisticated; this really…read moreis a top notch place. I'd never been to the Clare before, Lee and Jan were very helpful and friendly in suggesting which wineries to explore. There is also a lovely dog named Chippie, big pool, BBQ, and beautiful roses!

Best family room ever!! Children really loved the swimming pool and made good use of it. The…read morerestaurant meals were well presented and generous servings. Children n enjoyed the crumbed garfish while the adults both had Poe fillet with maple sauce and apple accompanied by seasonal vegetables which left no room for desert!! All staff were most helpful and friendly!!

Great location! Nice little cottage real shame the fires not open type and it has eighties spa…read moreinstead of cast iron bath and a lot of eighties fit out (but underneath it is a genuine old cottage). Not as quite good as website depicts. However, location and availability is the key! I would still highly recommend it.

This is a pub that happens to be out in the middle of the country. Well, okay, it does happen to be…read morein a town, so I can't necessarily say that it is in the middle of the country, though this town does happen to be rather small. The pub itself was okay, and it was sort of what I would expect from a country pub. The service was good, and it was clear that a number of regulars happened to be there as well. Mind you, after having visiting numerous such pubs, I have come to the conclusion that being a rather chatty bartender is a compulsory requirement for running such a pub.

Boutique Watervale stay This is a boutique option for a stay…read morein the Clare Valley. Located about a 2-minute drive from Watervale and a 15-minute drive from Clare, you'll be staying in a with stone cottage on a country property. The grounds are beautiful, and the cottage is comfortable with a kitchenette/lounge/dining room and bathroom! Kerry is a wonderful hostess and stocks the cottage with ample breakfast provisions (fresh fruit, organic muesli, bread, a selection of jams, honey, yoghurt, bacon, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms) and gourmet snacks. We arrived to find a bottle of Riesling in the fridge, cheese, crackers, pate and olives - this was a wonderful touch. We really appreciated the gas BBQ because there is a fabulous butcher in nearby Clare. We stayed in the Kookaburra Cottage. The space didn't work that well for us because we are on a long road trip with lot of luggage, but this is a lovely option for a weekend treat!