Crafers Inn

Such a pretty space — just enough hipster earthy irony but not painful. My current favourite Hills’ beautiful fit-​out meets with an efficient management & restaurant creative team who deliver the goods. I can’t decide if I like to be in the front bar/​lounge areas or the bright conservatory-​style dining space the most. This is a really nice place to sit with friends, or just the papers and/​or your tech and just chill for a while, think and catch up with the world. The food is always lovely (zucchini flowers that live large in my mind forever), and the staff are smiling, professional & thoughtful — proper «on-​it» waitstaff. There’s even a Man Crèche, in the form of a wine room for diners to browse. If it weren’t for the total lack of internet/​signal (this hotel is in one of the Hills’ infamous Black Holes for 21^st Century Data Transmission) and a bizarre constant population of house flies who seems always to occupy the building at an apparent ratio of 5:1, it’d be a definite five star. Might try Aerogarding-​up before the next visit, and hope they’ve installed House Wifi, and then we are at a proper 5 in my book. Seven minutes up the freeway from the tollgate, and well worth the trip. Enjoy.

The décor is nice, as other reviewers have mentioned but other than that, I don’t have much good to say.
The menu was okay, but nothing amazing, unique or impressive — and no ‘special nights’ which is a bit of a bummer.
Our food, for three people came out over the space of 45 minutes and the waiters, while not ‘rude’ as such, weren’t particularly keen to be helpful.
I might head back but after our experience I won’t be going out of my way.

I heard that the dingy old Crafers Inn has been given a makeover into a gastropub, and prefers to be referred to as «The Crafers» and it is certainly heading in the right direction.
Great interiors (think exposed rustic stone walls, original fireplace, leather arm chairs and booth seats), good selection of food (from duck rillettes to good old pie!) made from locally source ingredients where possible (including kids’ menu), friendly staff and interesting wine list.
There is certainly a focus on good wine here, as you also have the option of having a tasting or glass of higher end wines dispensed from their enomatic gizmo. The Crafers is also in the process of building up their wine cellar, with a strong focus on wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Savoie. I’m excited!
My only suggestion is: how about a solid cheese selection to go with the fantastic wines?

Crafers historical hotel, circa 1880. Now renovated and restored.
The Hotel has been thoughtfully decorated, retaining the best features of natural stone and brick walls oak floor, ceiling beams and roses, with three large open fireplaces two with Victorian style surrounds complete with original mantles. A huge black & white photograph of the hotel, as it was in bygone times with horses and carriages outside, can be seen from the bar and two dining areas. Many framed photo’s on the walls, recall people and scenes from the early days. Altogether cosy, charming and full of ambience. We ordered for lunch from a good varied menu, two soups, cauliflower and tomato, both soups were served in bowls with fresh warm rolls. The tomato soup would have to be up there with the best I have tasted. Thick, tasty and very easy on the palate, my wife enjoyed very much her choice cauliflower soup, it was also very well prepared, creamy and tasty. Sitting by the open fire, enjoying this well prepared lunch, experiencing excellent coffees makes for a very relaxing interlude. We shall return one evening for dinner.

The Crafers Inn has for a very long time been known as the pub for locals knock offs and truckers. I was always disappointed that it did not offer anything more special than an schnitty and chips.
But wait… in come the owners of the Stirling Hotel and Belair Hotel. With a very quick turn around and some smart refurbishment. The Crafers Inn has been revived into a very funky lil pub in the Adelaide hills.
As soon as they started to chip away at the old 1970’s plaster (which was the style back in the day) to expose the beautiful stonework and natural charm of the architecture, the customers started to flood in with curiosity.
Then came the new menu and then came (my favourite) speciality craft beers and funky tunes. I immediately felt relief that someone put some attention is such an historic building with so much potential.
This pub is now pumping, and I have noticed is attracting some attention of the non-​hills dwellers. Which is great for Crafers and Adelaide Hills Tourism.
Now, as for the menu. An extensive new menu that features pub classics with modern touches. I have tried the Pulled Pork with fancy slaw burger, served with chips. This is really amazing, well seasoned and balanced in flavour without being too heavy. Nice touch of sweetness to the chosen roll, and really goes down well with a pint of Pale Ale.
Second meal I have tried was the Jamaican Goat Curry. I love curry, but I am also very fussy as to the quality of curries as well. But, this meal (like the burger) satisfied me. The curry was cooked well, with the goat very tender and the classic Jamaican Curry spices well done. Served with a pappadum and roti. Very nice! In fact, next time I go there I am ordering the curry again.
As for the bar. When you have a bar that has a Feral Pale Ale and London Pride on tap, you have won me over. The behind bar beer choices are also extensive. So, if you are one of those growing beer connoisseurs and you develop a thirst on your way through the hills, Crafers Inn is a good place to stop for a top up.
And now for a little history. For those unknown to the History of the Adelaide Hills, Crafers was once known as Waverly Ridge. How did it’s name change? Well, apparently the folks in the hills where quite partial to taste of beer and would travel to Waverly Ridge to go to the local pub called Sawyer’s Arms owned by a gentleman named David Crafers. Just like today, the locals would make plans for the weeks end to go to the Pub commonly phrased as «Crafer’s place». So, apparently the name stuck to the area and Crafers is named after its pub history.
For me it is quite satisfying to me to see that the Crafer’s Inn is once again lively and full of people enjoying the Adelaide Hills and winding down after a hard weeks work.

The Crafers Inn is being refurbished and has a new menu and some great local craft beers available. It still has a way to go, but I’m liking the change.

The Crafers is a hills pub with a proper pubby feel about it. It’s a good place to come when looking for simple pub grub or a cheeky pint and go on the TAB.
Typically the front bar is full of locals, and the gaming room is full of gamblers. There’s a drive in Thirsty Camel bottle shop around the side too which I presume earns more money than anything but the pokie machines. As far as it goes, the Crafers is a stock standard pub.
Catering is offered for reasonably sized groups, but this establishment is outclassed by most other pubs and caterers in the Hills district.
It’s worth a look for the history of the place (the Hotel was established by David Crafer in the 19^th century), but other than that there are plenty of nicer options for food and alcohol a stones throw away.

This is a great local pub. By that I mean it is a complete throw back but I am oh so not immune to its charms. I’m the kinda chic that loves pulling up a stool in a front bar full of blokes and soaking up the atmosphere while they watch the footy on the telly. Admittedly it’s not my scene at all, which is why I dabble occassionally for the novelty of it.
Basic brews are on offer, including some of the more bogan vaiety. The food is pretty good, but be careful of what you pick. The roast of the day is a shore fire winner, but be sure not to expect anything fancy! Fish and Chip pass muster too — you get the idea, the kind of stuff you’d be happy to order in a country town. There is a bistro area open at meal times, so that’s probably the go for most as it can be pretty intimidating in the front bar with the regulars.