9 Temecula Winery Restaurants You Need To Try

Known as a premier Southern California Wine Country region, Temecula beckons and beguiles with its Mediterranean climate, rolling hills reminiscent of Italy’s Tuscan landscape, award-winning world-class wines and creative cuisine.

While Temecula offers a myriad of places to eat and imbibe, there’s something very special about dining among the vines in classy settings with spectacular views at one of these fantastic Temecula Winery restaurants. 

As a San Diego local who often frequents this region, I’ll share my must-visit winery restaurants in Temecula guaranteed to be palate-pleasing wine and dine adventures.

Also Read:
Fantastic Temecula Wineries
Dreamy Temecula Winery Hotels
Best Restaurants in Old Town Temecula
15 Amazing Things to Do in Temecula
Fun Temecula Winery Tours

The Vineyard Rose at South Coast Winery

Address: 4843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 566-4622
Website
Read our full review of South Coast Winery here>>

The Tuscan architecture of this lovely winery, resort and spa property is carried through in its elegant fine-dining, open-beam restaurant also featuring a cozy wine bar and outdoor terrace for a classic Temecula Valley Wine Country dining experience surrounded by vineyard views.

Guests can enjoy classic California cuisine sourced from the season’s local fresh ingredients during breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. 

Dining here for one breakfast and one dinner during my stay allowed me the opportunity to try out some amazing breakfast fare as well as dinner specialties. 

Breakfast choices range from light fares to full-plate day starters. Dinner features meal openers, soups, salads and an array of land and sea selections. 

Avensole Restaurant at Avensole Winery

Address: 34567 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 252-2003
Website

Avensole is Temecula’s newest winery restaurant, and it’s impressive.

Open for lunch daily, in addition to dinners Thursday through Saturday along with Sunday brunch, this has become one of my new favorites. The menu and entrees featuring California-inspired cuisine are incredible, service is outstanding and terrace vineyard views are amazing.

You’ll find caviar selections along with starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and other main entrees. I love the Celebration Salad with roasted beets, goat cheese, grapes, crushed walnuts, and feta cheese. Add some grilled salmon, and you have foodie perfection. Crispy Yellowfin Ahi Tuna is another impressive choice- totally different from what we expected, but such a surprising treasure.

Flatbreads here are amazing, and Angus burgers are bountiful, perfectly cooked to order. Ask your server for wine pairing suggestions as this is another of our favorite Temecula wineries with impressive varietals.

Bolero at Europa Village

Address: 38311 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 302-7601
Website

You’ll truly believe you’re in Barcelona when you enter this Spanish-themed winery restaurant. 

Bolero features Spanish-style tapas that are so amazing you’ll be hard-pressed to order anything different on your return visit. But return you will, and you should, just for the dining experience and to taste all the other tantalizing menu offerings from the garden, land and sea.

Bolero serves breakfast, lunch and dinner along with weekend brunch with both indoor and outdoor patio dining. 

Having been here for lunch and dinner with friends, I’d recommend The Grilled Octopus and the Spanish Mussels. One of the four paella dishes is a must-do for dinner, serving two to four guests though more likely four as portions are hearty. 

In lieu of a popular mixed seafood and Spanish chorizo offering, we opted for the Wild Mushroom and Artichoke Paella, and oh my, what a surprising, sumptuous treat. Paired with the reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, this dish was impressive.

Creekside Grill at Wilson Creek

Address: 35690 Rancho California Rd, Temecula, CA 
Phone: (951) 699-9463
Website

Creekside Grille offers a consistently pleasing dining experience no matter how many times we’ve visited Wilson Creek.

Guests can enjoy seasonal-inspired cuisine from local Temecula farms in both a warm and welcoming indoor or outdoor setting. The menu features starters, salads and main entrees. 

If you’re a seafood lover, the Pacifico Striped Bass with a lobster and basil velouté over forbidden rice accompanied by a petite salad with Peruvian peppers and citrus vinaigrette is something you’d expect from a really really high-end fine dining restaurant. It was spectacular!

Being with a group of friends who are all “tasters,” I was also able to take bites of the Hanger Steak with a roasted jalapeno compound butter, plantain and potato hash and the vegetarian Portobello Caprese Sandwich. Both were outstanding as well.

Flower Hill Bistro at Miramonte

Address: 33410 Ranch California Rd., Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 506-5500
Website

Though I’ve enjoyed wine tasting at this winery in the past, I’d never been to their restaurant until my most recent visit to Temecula and wow, were I and my friends impressed.

The setting alone is worth a visit as the bistro is located in Miramonte’s upper veranda offering stunning views of the rolling vineyards and surrounding landscape. 

Entrees are scratch-made daily, so everything is fresh and beautifully presented. I highly suggest shares that include the Stuffed Mushrooms with goat cheese, asiago, mozzarella and garlic Brussels Sprouts finished with a balsamic drizzle (yes, Brussels Sprouts and it’s an incredible dish).

And we could have all licked the plate clean on the Spread & Bread, a house-made hummus paired with tzatziki and olive tapenade with fresh cucumber and carrot and a toasted baguette. Flatbreads here are equally amazing with four different types to choose from.

Bouquet Restaurant at Ponte

Address: 35001 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 676-7898
Website

Nestled in a lush garden courtyard setting, the restaurant offers al fresco Wine Country dining at its best. 

Guests can enjoy brunch or dinner on the terrace surrounded by manicured Italian gardens with stunning views of the vineyard and its one-acre pond.

The restaurant serves brunch and cocktails every day of the week and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, with live music on weekends from 11 am to 2 pm.

Popular with our group of lady friends at brunch was the Cheese Blintz filled with ricotta cheese and a seasonal berry compote. Huevos Rancheros were just as impressive as any we’ve had south of the border, and the Avocado Toast was equally delightful.  

You’ll also find charcuterie, salads, burgers and wraps on the brunch menu as well.

Meritage at Callaway

Address: 32720 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 587-8899
Website

Meritage is an elegant yet relaxed dining experience perched high above picturesque rolling hills and vineyards of Temecula Wine Country on the grounds of Callaway Winery. Meritage serves lunch every day of the week and dinners on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  

Blackened Ahi Tuna tapas are a favorite lunch choice, and if you like figs, the Grilled Fig Salad is an ideal option with pancetta, arugula, grilled figs, chevre, candied pecans and topped with a port-fig vinaigrette. Flatbreads here are always a winner, especially the Brussels Sprouts Flatbread, a totally unique melding. 

Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner

Address: 40620 Calle Contento, Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 676-8231
Website

Panoramic views from Falkner Winery’s Pinnacle Restaurant are simply stunning. 

Serving lunch throughout the week and weekend brunch, Pinnacle, featuring Mediterranean-inspired cuisine has always been a favorite place of ours to dine, providing the same top-notch service as their wine-tasting room’s service reputation.

One must-order dish is the restaurant’s Crispy Brussels Sprouts served with a fried egg on top. It’s   incredible and unforgettable. I tend to judge a Mediterranean or Italian restaurant by their seafood pasta, and I can guarantee that Pinnacle’s Fruitti de Mare, a house-made fettuccine tossed in garlic, olive oil and white wine, topped with sauteed shrimp and seared scallops had me happy and smiling.

The Restaurant at Leoness

Address: 38311 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 302-7601
Website

Locals and visitors who know Temecula wines will tell you that Leoness is one of the area’s favorite wineries. Liquid magic from its barrels has garnished numerous awards for both its red and white varietals.

But it’s not just the wines that take the prize here. The Restaurant at Leoness features California cuisine with applied French cooking techniques for its seasonal cuisine crafted from locally sourced ingredients. The picturesque backdrop of the vineyards and surrounding mountains only add to the impressive ambiance.

Reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant is only open on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 11:30 am to 5 pm.

Courses range from starters, tantalizing salads, unique flatbreads, seafood, pastas and decadent desserts. Pair these with a Leoness favorite or other Temecula wine and you’ll savor your dining experience here.

Recommended entrees? If you like risotto, go for the Wild Mushroom Carnaloni Risotto with aged parmesan and pea sprouts. Game meat lovers will enjoy the Wind Hills Cornish Game Hen or Maple Leaf Farms Confit Duck.

Wine may have put Temecula Valley on the map, but its creative restaurateurs and talented chefs are outdoing one another on the foodie scene- especially at its winery restaurants. 

So, the next time you’re in Temecula, consider dining at one or more of these impressive Temecula winery restaurants. You’ll be glad you did.

Fantastic Temecula Winery Hotels was written by Noreen Kompanik for San Diego Explorer. As customary in travel writing, some of the restaurants provided a meal free of charge. This has not influenced their opinion and the content of this article.

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