If you’re here to visit Provenance, congratulations on making one of the smartest dining decisions of your life – and at just the right time. Its singular brand of Japanese-inspired fine-dining has never been better. But with the addition of The Parlour Amaro Bar upstairs – where owner Michael Ryan’s Beechworth Bitters amari find full expression in excellent cocktails – this former bank building has evolved into a gourmet wonderland, replete with boutique accommodation.

From there, follow the bluegrass tunes up the road and into Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel. Townsfolk warm their cockles around the fire in the corner – old timers hooting and hollering as the band hits its stride, footballers and netballers swapping stories after a muddy day’s play. They’re ordering wild boar dim sims, one of several invasive species listed on the highly sustainable
(and delicious) menu. Follow their lead. Upstairs, accommodation is simple, cheap and just what the doctor ordered after an evening on the local juice.

Morning! Fancy a scone? Make for Moments and Memories Tea Room, where Devonshire tea is the drawcard. There are more than 60 teas to choose from, served from a collection of china that dates back decades. The scones are exceptional, the fitout a Country Women’s Association fantasy. Order a smoky billy tea and they’ll even swap out your china for an enamel mug.

Beechworth doesn’t want for coffee, and you’ll get a great one at Project 49. The cafe doubles as a providore and wine shop stocking the region’s finest libations – a little Koji Spirits yuzushu from Reed & Co down the Great Alpine Road in Bright, or a jammy gamay from closer afield at Pennyweight Winery. In fact, why not visit the Pennyweight cellar door down the way and spend a while tasting their fabulous Spanish-style aperas?

Keep driving and Koji Bird restaurant (part of Reed & Co) is your reward. The izakaya-style menu celebrates fire-scorched pork tongue skewers, wagyu and vegetables – and the namesake dish is an ultra-tender take on charcoal chicken.
Back in town, Bridge Road Brewers is a lively brewpub pouring core brews and special releases from a whopping 20 taps. Order a pizza and a plate of beer-brined wings and make an arvo of it in the sunny courtyard. When it’s high time for a pie time, you can scarcely do better than Miss Amelie Gourmet. Thai red duck curry pies. Tasmanian scallop and salmon pies. Chinese barbecue pork pies. The list goes on, and it doesn’t get any less delicious.

If it’s the simple pleasure of a fresh loaf you seek, pop into Silver Creek Sourdough. It’s only open during the week, but if you happen to be in town you’ll be rewarded with bread, crumpets and pizza bases of striking quality. And finally, if all that bread talk has you thinking about sandwiches, get yourself to Bandit and wrap your laughing gear around a hulking tuna melt.