Argyle Hotel

Perched above the charming streets of Maclean, The Argyle Hotel, home to Restaurant 1894, unfurls wide verandas offering breezy vistas across the Clarence River. It's the sort of Northern New South Wales bolthole where classic elegance meets country ease, the hum of chatter keeping time with the waterway.

Stepping into the kitchen, modern bistro comfort is brightened by Asian touches and produce-led thinking. Shareable openers might swing from salt and pepper squid served with chipotle to twice-cooked southern fried wings lacquered in sticky barbecue chilli.

Across the menu, burgers deliver a satisfying heft, whether the katsu chicken number's layered with shredded sugar loaf cabbage, radish, pickled ginger and tonkatsu sauce, or an Angus beef staple boasting house relish and dill pickle.

For something more substantial, chef’s plates step up to crispy pork belly accompanied by balsamic-glazed red onion and a mushroom apple cider jus, while grilled fish lands over truffle potato puree alongside asparagus and baby carrots. Pub stalwarts, from chicken parmi to fish and chips, keep traditions alive, showcasing premium Angus cuts from the grill for purists.

Whether gathering for lunch or dinner, those in the know set a date, gather good company and settle in for a wonderful dining experience. The Argyle Hotel awaits providing a seat, a view and a story or two to savour.