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Cafes, restaurants & pubs

Melbourne boasts some of the best cafes and restaurants in the country, and when you get out into the regional areas, you can discover some of the true delights this great state has to offer. Victoria prides itself on its awesome food, great coffee and friendly hospitality.

Melbourne and surrounds

In Melbourne, you'll have possibly the widest selection of eating choices available in the world. From cheap and cheerful to the most exclusive, exquisite fine dining, Melbourne has something to offer every visitor.

Enjoy the vast array of Melbourne CBD restaurants and bars, Yarra River waterfront eateries at Southbank and harbourside dining at Docklands. Tantalise your taste buds the city's best selection of Italian cafes and restaurants at Carlton, or sample colourful Vietnamese cuisine at Richmond. For best in cafe culture, head to bayside St Kilda, where a caffeine fix can be complemented with something delicious from one of the exquisite cake shops. Melbourne has it all!

The Mornington Peninsula, which is an easy drive south of Melbourne, is well known for its excellent wineries and strawberry farms. Stop off at the Grand Hotel in Mornington where you can pick up both local and imported wines and have a good meal. At The Grand, they can cater for special diets, with vegetarian, gluten free, childrens and seniors meals. For something a bit swish and up market, the Royal Hotel, also in Mornington, could be your thing. Offering a superb, mouth watering menu, including seafood, Aussie meat as well as some international flavour that you can wash down with plenty of lovely locally produced wine.

Also on the Peninsula you'll come across Arthurs Seat - the region's highest point. The Arthurs Hotel is a worth a visit, as it offers both sumptuous Australian cuisine and traditional dishes made from fresh, local produce and at 385 metres above sea level, totally awesome views over the peninsula and bay.

A scenic drive north-west of Melbourne is the Macedon Ranges area of Victoria which has Australia's largest concentration of mineral springs and has become the focus of a whole industry built on spa and health treatments. In Daylesford are some great healthy eating options. Check out Himalaya Bakery & Cafe which serves delectable organic vegetarian and vegan foods. The Himalaya's menu includes a wild mushroom risotto, grilled vegetable and feta focaccia as well as pies, tarts, salads and soups. The Harvest Cafe & Organic Grocery has been operating since 2008 and specialises in organic seasonal produce. Vegan and gluten free options are available and at least 95% of the ingredients used are organic. You can also purchase an organic "Fruit 'N' Vegetable Basket", a picnic basket or one of the specialty hampers containing wonderful food, from chocolates to cheese, imported, local and even Christmas.

A few minutes up the road from Daylesford in Hepburn Springs, enjoy a traditional dining experience at the Old Hepburn Hotel. Open for dinner 7 nights a week, there's also a roast lunch on offer every Sunday. Live entertainment is provided every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, If you can't find it (or if you don't want to drive anywhere) they even have a free courtesy bus service.

The "beer garden" is something you'll want to experience in Victoria and summer is the best time to do it because a beer garden is an outside drinking spot. Many pubs and hotels in Victoria have them, allowing you to enjoy a nice cold one while you sit out and soak up the Aussie sunshine. Most do provide shade in the form of some nice trees or shade sails, but best to bring your hat just the same. One place to encounter the beer garden experience and a true blue Aussie pub in general, is at Micawber Tavern in Belgrave, east of Melbourne. Offering both local and international beers, wines, bar meals and an a la carte restaurant, it's well worth a look.

Victoria's High Country

If you're in Victoria's High Country in the north-east of the state and need to grab some grub, stop off at the Commercial Hotel in Alexandra which boasts the biggest range of parmigianas in Australia at a very reasonable price. Located 130 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, the hotel serves lunch and dinner and also offers comfy accommodation, a bottle shop, function room for parties and a kids room where you can get rid of the ankle biters while you enjoy a quiet one. The parmas come in just about every possible food combination, from chicken ones, to curry, to pesto, satay or veggie.

While you're in Alexandra, you can have a drink at The Mount Pleasant Hotel or the most excellent Shamrock Hotel (again, for the leprechaun in you). And, when you've got a belly full, go trout fishing in the nearby Goulburn River and catch yourself some dinner.

For the energetic, why not check out Pedal to Produce where you can enjoy the country air and sunshine while you pedal your way from one gourmet experience to the next in Victoria's beautiful High Country. It's a fun way to meet other fellow travellers and enjoying fine dining at some of Victoria's best restaurants.

Great Ocean Road

Down south near the coast, on the Great Ocean Road, you'll come across Apollo Bay which has a couple of awesome pubs, the creatively named Apollo Bay Hotel and the Great Ocean Hotel. The Apollo Bay Hotel is renowned for its fantastic seafood and bonza ocean views. It's close to the famous twelve Apostles rock formations, beaches, Otway Rainforest and waterfalls, so there's plenty for you to do. The Apollo Hotel also has bars, a bottleshop, a function room and live music most weekends. The Great Ocean Hotel offers superb bistro meals with a diverse menu, complete with choices for the kids as well as bar meals and cocktails. They also have live entertainment and a mobile bar for parties.

Port Fairy, also along the Great Ocean Road, has some mighty fine watering holes. The Caledonian Inn, which is also known as the "Stump", is the oldest continually licensed hotel in Victoria. It was established in 1844 and offers local seafood, lamb and beef meals as well as catering for veggies and other folk with special dietary requirements. You'll also enjoy a taste of the local live talent at the Stump. Several other pubs are worth checking out while you're there.

Central Victoria

The name synonymous with one of the biggest beer brewers Australia has ever seen, the Railway Hotel Castlemaine also professes to sell the "best chicken parmigiana" in the country. Why not try it for yourself? Located in the picturesque and welcoming area of Castlemaine north-west of Melbourne, the Railway Hotel offers visitors a historical overview of the area and a friendly, warm atmosphere. You will feel like you've come "home" when you visit this venue.

Visit Tatura's famous Commercial Family Pub for more than just budget accommodation in country Victoria. Located north of Melbourne near Shepparton, this pub is a great landmark destination for you and your family when you're discovering the great state of Victoria. An agricultural area, food and drink at the The Commercial Family Pub are made from fresh and local produce - you will notice the difference! The ultimate hearty homemade meal can be found here, along with a great range of beer and wine from local brewers and cellar doors or far-off places if you so desire.