By rail · DINNER EXPERIENCES
Good dinner experiences sell the seats before the fares, and the best ones go first. Below: the 10 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Settle into a refurbished antique rail car for a two to three hour Napa Valley journey, with a welcome sparkling wine, seasonal multi-course meal, and coffee or tea. Choose bright daytime scenery or a more romantic evening ride, then visit the onboard kitchens to watch the chefs work.
“Excellent service, wonderful experience, a very memorable afternoon. Loved our experience.”
Board the heritage Q Train at Drysdale for a three-hour dining journey along the Bellarine Railway. You’ll share a private dining car for two, enjoy five courses of local produce with drink pairings, then finish with tea or barista-made coffee while the train pauses near Swan Bay.
“What an exceptional outing, perfect! Wonderful staff clearly enjoying our experience too, so lovely, kind and caring, ensuring we'd be 100% satisfied with The Q Train adventure. The cuisine is something to die for and the scenery en-routRead more”
Board The Q Train at Drysdale for a three-hour social dining trip toward Queenscliff and back. You’ll enjoy five courses made with Bellarine produce, with time to stretch your legs at scheduled stops. Food is included, while drinks, tea, coffee, and transport to the station cost extra.
“A very well organised event. The staff were lovely and very attentive throughout the whole event. Food was fantastic, and creative, using locally sourced ingredients. There were two pit-stops along the way; one for 15 minutes to stretch yoRead more”
You’ll board Loco 512 at Victoria Falls Railway Station for a four-hour evening ride across Victoria Falls Bridge and into the Zimbabwean countryside. Expect a four-course dinner from the Victoria Falls Hotel, snacks, drinks, sunset photos, and a small group, but confirm the departure before paying because minimum numbers can cancel the trip.
“The trip was cancelled due to not enough people. The Tour operator came to chat to us at the hotel, which was kind and professional, however we were very disappointed. Viator have yet to respond to my 3 emails I have sent asking for a refund.”
Start around 4:00 pm in Livingstone for a four to five hour dinner journey by restored steam train. Cross Victoria Falls Bridge, take in the falls area, and enjoy a multi-course meal with wine, dessert, tea, and coffee. Pickup is offered, and groups are limited to 20 people.
“A very well executed evening with great service and well prepared, beautifully presented food. So much more than a nostalgic ride. The train itself has been skillfully restored both inside and out. Plenty of photo ops while everyone is in the Read more”
Board The Q Train at Drysdale for a three-hour return journey to Queenscliff, with a welcome drink and five-course meal built around Bellarine produce. Restored dining cars, local wines, beers, and ciders make this a slow, adult-focused outing. Staff including Natalie and Damon have earned high praise for warm service.
“Excellent service, food and wine pairing, compartment settings, overall experience.”
You’ll ride in a restored 1952 Pullman full dome railcar through Napa Valley, beginning with California sparkling wine and continuing with a seasonal multi-course lunch or dinner. Choose bright daytime views or a romantic evening ride, with gourmet dishes, polished service, and panoramic glass windows.
“food and service were very good. it’s a must do. one time experience not to repeat . would have liked a more narrative explanation of where we were going”
Start at Longreach Railway Station aboard the heritage 2000 Class Silver-Tails Rail Motor. Watch the sun sink over the floodplains with local canapes and a drink, then transfer by coach to Smithy’s Outback Dinner & Show for camp-oven cooking, damper, billy tea, songs, and stories. The evening ends back at the station.
“So much fun, such great food, great staff. Lifetime memories made. It’s a must when visiting Longreach. Well done to all staff and organisers👍👍”
Meet your English-speaking driver at 5:30pm, ride Penang Hill’s fast-lane funicular, then dine at David Brown’s Restaurant in a flower-filled garden. You’ll have dinner, time for a lit garden stroll, and shared hotel transport on Penang Island. Drinks cost extra.
“Three hours is not long enough to enjoy this tour, luckily our driver was happy to give us another hour, which made the experience much more enjoyable. Fast track tickets for the train worked well, but with no vouchers for David Browns restaRead more”
Start at 5 pm with a private guide and ride the funicular up to Mtatsminda Park. Walk through the amusement park, take in Tbilisi from above, then sit down to traditional Georgian food and famous local wine at the Funicular Restaurant Complex. Ask for Lela when booking if available.
“What a beautiful way to wrap a day touring Tbilisi. First and foremost you MUST request Lela! She is an amazingly warm person with a fabulous sense of humor and a genuine love for the city. The ride up on the funicular was lots of fun. You gRead more”
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