The Flower Cellar Door, Whites Valley

If flowers and coffee are your jam, then you need to pop Little Road in Whites Valley in your GPS next time you’re down South.

The Flower Cellar Door is the newest addition to the Fleurieu Peninsula, tucked away on a dirt road just 5 minutes out of McLaren Vale. Surrounded by vineyards and shady trees and greenhouses, this converted container is officially your one stop shop for all things delicious and beautiful.

A labor of love over several months, the family behind Willunga Plains Flowers has turned a shipping container into a gorgeous cafe with ample greenery and seating. There’s chairs in the sun and shade (perfect for both the summer and winter), festoon lighting strung overhead, lounges to cosy up in and even bohemian style rugs to take on the lawn for when the weather warms up. If you have the kids in tow and need to spread out, head to the grass and make yourself at home- there’s plenty of room and when the sun is out it’s glorious.

The Cellar Door sits next to Colin’s greenhouses- home to some of the most beautiful flowers on the Peninsula. Because the blooms are grown on the 10 acre property right next door, you can expect to see bunches of seasonal flowers for sale in the cafe. Ranunculus and sweet peas are just a few of whats on show, but these will change depending on what’s in season and available in the region.

If you are a lover of coffee, then you’ll be excited to see South Australia’s own Elementary Coffee running through their machines. Coffee buffs know their beans are the bees knees, and i’ll tell you now, we were very happy with our lattes. They also use Tweedvale milk from the Adelaide Hills- another favourite of mine from mum’s hometown of Lobethal. If you are more of a tea fan, then they have you covered with a range of T2 herbal and leaf teas, or there’s cold options of Mojo Kombucha and bottled juices.

Brews are served in Eco Cups- these guys have a strong focus on sustainability and are all for you bringing your keep cups. If you forget yours and are wanting to purchase one, you can snag a handmade glazed beauty from ES Ceramics- their reusable cups are as gorgeous as they are practical.

With good coffee needs to be great cake (cake, always!), and they are delivering the goods. Cannoli’s, pastries, tarts and chocolatey delights are on the cards- hello oncoming food coma! If you are looking for something a little healthier, or if you have dietary restrictions (gluten free, dairy free) you are also catered for- their raw treats are by From The Wild. Shanti makes the most incredible plant based cakes that you’d never know were good for you, and my opinion are the best getting around. I fell in love with their Raw Choc Mint cake- sweet, so minty and not too rich.

If you are more of a savoury person, or looking for something a little more substantial, then you need to order a toastie. We tried on the ham, cheese and tomato chutney toastie- it’s the owners favourite and now we know why. Extra cheesy and super crunchy- just how a toasted sanga should be. For those a bit more daring they also have a chicken, cheese and mango one- it’s next on our hit list.

There’s big plans for this little gem- expect to see some greenhouses open to the public, so you can spy on the blooms as they grow. This place has quickly become a new favourite of ours- the owners are super friendly, the coffee is great and it’s just a lovely place to hangout. Pay them a visit before everyone else catches wind of how fab this place is.

You can find the Flower Cellar Door at 300 Little Road, Whites Valley. You can also find their blooms at Willunga Plains Flowers on Saturday’s at the Willunga Farmers Market.