HARDY'S VERANDAH

Mount Lofty's elegant fine-diner offers much more than good views, writes KATIE SPAIN.

- KATIE SPAIN.

There's something magical about the view from Mount Lofty House. During autumn, Piccadilly Valley explodes in a kaleidoscope of orange and red hues, while fog settles across the voluptuous Adelaide Hills landscape when winter sets in.

It's all visible from Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, the jewel in the crown at the boutique hilltop manor. History is important here. So too, is old-fashioned hospitality. Many parties have been hosted at the estate since the late grazier Arthur Hardy built his dream home in 1852. He and his wife Martha Hardy were known for hosting lavish parties and more than a century-and-ahalf later, the fine-dining continues, only now we're all invited. The estate feels like a world away, but it is just a 15-minute drive from the CBD.