10 Best Places to Eat Along the Great Ocean Road: A Culinary Adventure
If you’ve delved into our previous post highlighting the best road trips from Melbourne, consider this guide your perfect culinary companion for the ultimate Victorian adventure. For those gearing up to embark on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, get ready for a delightful treat.
Beyond the awe-inspiring landscapes that await, your journey will also unveil some of the finest dining establishments along this iconic route. From charming cafes and bakeries to upscale restaurants and gin bars, the Great Ocean Road boasts a diverse array of culinary delights to satisfy every palate.
In this blog post, I’ll take you through 10 of the best places to eat along the Great Ocean Road, drawing insights from my personal research and recommendations gathered from fellow travellers. While these recommendations aren’t ranked in any particular order, each spot is a gem worthy of exploration. Let the culinary adventure begin!
The Wye General, Wye River
Set in the beautiful hamlet of Wye River, The Wye General is a charming cafe and general store that serves an all-day brunch menu featuring fresh pastries, bloody marys, burgers, salads, and more. They also have a great play area for kids and a combustion heater for the colder months. The Wye General is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, so make sure you get there early to secure a table. You can also grab some groceries and souvenirs from their store before you leave.
Pit Stop Lorne
Pit Stop Lorne is a unique venue that serves amazing burgers and shakes from a 60s Airstream food truck on the Great Ocean Road. You can choose from a variety of burgers, such as beef, chicken, lamb, veggie, or fish, and customize them with your choice of toppings, sauces, and sides. They also have salads, wraps, hot dogs, and shakes to complete your meal. Pit Stop Lorne has a cool, funky decor, with coffin-shaped tables, vintage posters, and neon signs.
They also have live music and DJ nights on weekends to keep the party going.
Great Ocean Road Gin Kitchen
Great Ocean Road Gin Kitchen is a South East Asian-inspired restaurant and gin cocktail bar in Aireys Inlet. You can sample some of the finest gins from Australia and around the world, paired with cheese and charcuterie boards or seasonal dishes made with local ingredients.
Some of their signature dishes include seared scallops with cauliflower puree and bacon jam, lamb rump with roasted pumpkin and mint salsa verde, and sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Great Ocean Road Gin Kitchen also has an outdoor seating area and connects to its sister venue, Great Ocean Gin Garden & Tasting Room.
Fish by Moonlite, Anglesea
Fish by Moonlite is a fish-and-chip shop and seafood retail store that was born out of the success of Captain Moonlite, a former fine-dining restaurant in Anglesea. Run by Chef Matt Germanchis and his partner Gemma Gange, Fish by Moonlite offers quality seafood that is sourced from local fishermen and suppliers. You can order classic fish and chips with tartare sauce and lemon or try something more adventurous like grilled octopus with romesco sauce or fried calamari with aioli.
You can also buy fresh or frozen seafood to take home.
Brae, Birregurra
Brae is not just a restaurant; it’s a destination. Located on a 30-acre organic farm in Birregurra, Brae is one of Australia’s finest restaurants and one of the world’s 50 best restaurants. Chef Dan Hunter creates an innovative degustation menu that changes daily according to what’s available from the farm and the surrounding region, making it one of the best places to eat along the Great Ocean road. You can expect dishes such as prawn and kohlrabi hand roll, pork jowl with salted plum sauce, and duck liver parfait with black truffle honey.
Brae also offers luxury accommodation on-site for those who want to extend their stay.
Apollo Bay Bakery, Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay Bakery is a must-stop for anyone travelling along the Great Ocean Road. This bakery is famous for its hand-made pies, pasties, and sausage rolls, especially their scallop pie. They also have a range of fresh sandwiches, rolls, and cakes, as well as gluten-free and vegan options.
You can enjoy your food in their outdoor seating area or take it away to eat at the beach or in your car. Apollo Bay Bakery is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, so you can get your fix anytime.
The Bottle of Milk, Lorne
The Bottle of Milk is a casual and funky burger joint in Lorne that serves some of the best burgers on the Great Ocean Road. You can choose from a variety of burgers, such as beef, chicken, lamb, veggie, or fish, and customize them with your choice of toppings, sauces, and sides. They also have salads, wraps, hot dogs, and shakes to complete your meal. The Bottle of Milk is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has a great outdoor area with a view of the beach.
Conlan’s Wine Store, Port Fairy
Conlan’s Wine Store is a wine bar and restaurant in Port Fairy that offers a relaxed and sophisticated dining experience. You can sample some of the finest wines from Australia and around the world, paired with cheese and charcuterie boards or seasonal dishes made with local ingredients making it one of the best places to eat along the Great Ocean Road.
Some of their signature dishes include seared scallops with cauliflower puree and bacon jam, lamb rump with roasted pumpkin and mint salsa verde, and sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Coffin Sally, Port Fairy
Coffin Sally is a fun and lively pizza bar in Port Fairy that serves wood-fired pizzas with a range of toppings, from the classic Margherita to the adventurous kangaroo and bush tomato. You can also order salads, antipasti, desserts, and cocktails to go with your pizza. Coffin Sally has a cool and quirky decor, with coffin-shaped tables, vintage posters, and neon signs.
They also have live music and DJ nights on weekends to keep the party going.
Little Picket, Lorne
Little Picket is a fine dining restaurant that is now in the Lorne Lawn Bowls Club in Lorne and offers a unique approach to sustainability. All their food is sourced from local farmers, fishermen, and foragers who practice ethical and organic methods. Their menu changes daily depending on what’s available and fresh. You can enjoy dishes such as kingfish ceviche with avocado and lime dressing, roasted duck breast with beetroot puree and cherry sauce, or chocolate mousse with salted caramel and hazelnut praline.
Little Picket also has an extensive wine list that features organic and biodynamic wines from Australia and overseas.
Best Places to Eat Along the Great Ocean Road: Final Thoughts
These are just some of the best places to eat along the Great Ocean Road, but there are many more to discover. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite, a hearty meal, or a fine dining experience, you’ll find something to suit your taste buds and your budget.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, hit the road, and enjoy the foodie adventure of a lifetime!
Have you been to any of them? Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below. And don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends.
