For a pair of river towns, Echuca and Moama eat remarkably well. In the last few years the region has gained a rooftop bar inside a distillery, a courtyard wine bar on the Campaspe, a wood-fired Italian dining room in Moama and a handful of serious kitchens cooking with Murray produce. Australian Traveller summed it up in its 2026 round-up of the region's best restaurants: the food here gives locals "little reason to trek to Melbourne".
We run a restaurant on High Street, so take this as a guide from people who eat out here too. These are the places we recommend to friends, arranged by time of day, with a few honest tips on getting a table. (Yes, we've included ourselves, but we've tried to be fair to everyone.)
Breakfast and coffee
Watson St Pavilion
14 Watson St, Echuca
A newer riverside cafe beside the Port, with a wrap-around patio above the riverbank where you can watch the paddlesteamers head out. The pastries and baked treats are as pretty as the view. The owners also raise money for children's cancer charities through their menu, notably the strawberry milkshake named for their daughter, Effie.
Johnny and Lyle
433 High St, Echuca
A perennially busy High Street favourite. Don't be put off by the queue at the front, because there's a leafy courtyard out the back, with sandpits that keep small children happily occupied. Expect generous portions and plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
The Wren Courtyard
591 High St, Echuca
A courtyard cafe in the heart of town, started by a couple who moved up from the city. It's open for breakfast and lunch every day except Monday, with alfresco tables and a family-friendly feel.
Hammond Providore
28 Meninya St, Moama
Just over the bridge, this cafe and general store occupies a historic double-brick building. Come for the coffee (sold by the bag too), the scones and custard doughnuts, and shelves of preserves, olives and picnic supplies. It's ideal if you're heading to the river for the day.
Lunch
Echuca is a lunch town at heart, especially at the end of the week.
Opa Echuca: the Long Greek Lunch
554 High St (cnr Radcliffe St), Echuca
Every Friday and Saturday from noon to 3pm, we serve the Long Greek Lunch: two unhurried courses (perhaps saganaki with fig compote, then lamb cutlets or swordfish straight off the charcoal) with a glass of wine or beer, plus the full à la carte menu if you'd rather graze. It's the kind of lunch that turns into the afternoon. In warm weather, ask for the balcony. See the lunch menu or book a lunch table.
Bar Lee.
555 High St, Echuca
Set inside the award-winning Echuca Distillery, Bar Lee. pairs a rooftop bar with indoor dining and a share-style menu of seasonal small plates. Naturally, the drinks list leans on the distillery's own gins and vodkas. It's open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday, with dinner later in the week.
Morrisons Riverview Winery & Restaurant
123 Merool Rd, Moama
For a winery lunch, Morrisons has a seasonal menu built on local produce, its own wines from 15 hectares of vines, and grounds a stone's throw from the Murray. It's a daytime venue, open Wednesday to Sunday.
Dinner
Opa Echuca
554 High St (cnr Radcliffe St), Echuca
Our own kitchen is built around a charcoal grill. We cook modern Greek food for sharing: mezze to start (dips and warm pita, saganaki, kingfish ceviche, lamb neck kroketes), then lamb cutlets, chargrilled octopus, the day's whole fish and a meat platter made for the middle of the table. Finish with loukoumades and a Greek coffee or a glass of mastiha. Inside, it's white tablecloths and vintage green tiles; outside, the Cyclades Oasis Balcony is wrapped in bougainvillea and warm light. Australian Traveller included Opa in its Best Echuca Moama Restaurants list. Dinner is Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm. Early tables (5–6pm) are the quietest in the room, which suits a relaxed dinner or a meal with kids. Book a table.
Sunago
505–507 High St, Echuca
Echuca has two modern Greek restaurants, and Sunago is the longer-standing. It opened in 2014 near the Port end of High Street and offers its own contemporary take on Greek classics: slow-cooked lamb, saganaki, fresh seafood. Dinner runs Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30pm, with pre-dinner drinks earlier on Fridays and Saturdays and takeaway available. If you love Greek food, try both. The main practical difference is that Opa also opens for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.
Junction
6 Shaw St, Moama
Part of the Moama Bowling Club precinct, Junction is a strikingly designed modern Australian restaurant with some Asian influences, theatrical cocktails and an outdoor fire pit. Australian Traveller singles it out as the region's special-occasion pick.
Embr
Wildergreen, 6 Shaw St, Moama
The newest addition to the Moama Bowling Club's Wildergreen precinct is a buzzy, wood-fired Italian dining room: Neapolitan-style pizzas from an open kitchen, home-style pastas, share plates, spritzes by the jug and a wine list mixing local and Italian varieties. It's fun and family-friendly.
Taranto's Pizza
252 Anstruther St, Echuca
For a casual night, Taranto's is one of the best-reviewed pizza spots in town. It's a local favourite for takeaway or an easy family dinner.
A drink by the river
The Social Wine Bar
533 High St, Echuca
Tucked beside the Campaspe River, The Social has one of the loveliest courtyards in town, set beneath a century-old pine and strung with fairy lights. It pairs regional wines with cheese and charcuterie boards, often with live acoustic music. It's open Thursday to Sunday from mid-afternoon (spring 2026 hours), and it's a finalist in the 2026 Campaspe Murray Business Awards for hospitality. It's perfect for a sunset glass before dinner.
The rooftop at Bar Lee. is the other essential spot for a late-afternoon drink, especially if you want to try the local gin.
How to eat well in Echuca: local tips
- Book Friday and Saturday nights. Weekend dinner tables fill quickly, especially in summer, over school holidays and on event weekends such as the Festival of Stories (16–18 October), the Echuca Moama Show (7–8 November) and Pop & Pour (28 November).
- Check the day before you go. Many Echuca-Moama venues close early in the week, and hours change with the seasons. Monday and Tuesday are the quietest days for dining out. Opa, for example, opens Tuesday to Saturday, and some of the cafes above close on Mondays.
- Make lunch the main event. If you're visiting from Melbourne or Bendigo for the day, a Friday or Saturday long lunch lets you eat well and still drive home in daylight.
- Travelling as a group? Call ahead. Several venues (including ours) offer private rooms and share-style set menus for groups. See our guides to group dining in Echuca and Christmas party venues.
- Don't forget Moama. The bridge takes two minutes to cross, and some of the region's most exciting new openings are on the NSW side.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best restaurants in Echuca for dinner?
For a special dinner, locals recommend Opa (modern Greek over charcoal), Sunago (contemporary Greek), and Junction and Embr in Moama. For something casual, Taranto's Pizza is a reliable favourite. Book ahead on Friday and Saturday nights.
Where can I get lunch in Echuca on a Friday or Saturday?
Opa serves its Long Greek Lunch every Friday and Saturday from 12 to 3pm. Bar Lee. serves lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and Morrisons winery restaurant in Moama is open for daytime dining from Wednesday to Sunday. Cafes such as Johnny and Lyle and The Wren Courtyard also do lunch.
Is there Greek food in Echuca?
Yes. Echuca has two modern Greek restaurants on High Street: Opa, at 554 High Street on the corner of Radcliffe Street, which is open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday and lunch on Friday and Saturday; and Sunago, at 505–507 High Street, which is open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
Are Echuca restaurants open on Mondays?
Many are not. A number of Echuca-Moama restaurants and cafes close on Mondays and some on Tuesdays too, so check each venue's current hours before you go.
Do I need to book restaurants in Echuca?
For Friday and Saturday dinner, during school holidays, and on event weekends, yes, booking is strongly recommended. Midweek, walk-ins are often fine, but it's still worth calling ahead.
