Visit these top Lorne cafes on your trip to the Great Ocean Road

Lorne loves coffee just as much as Melbourne, and it shows.

For a small town, Lorne packs in a lot of cafes. Run by locals and often championing local and seasonal produce, the diverse range of cafes offer something for everyone: coffee, matcha and tea drinkers, pastry lovers, health fanatics, avo smash enthusiasts and those with more gourmet tastes.

We think one of the best ways to get a feel for a community is over a cuppa at a local business, so why not try them all?

Note: There’s timed parking along Mountjoy Parade, including disabled parking spots, and in neighbouring residential streets. Additional parking can be found at the Lorne Beach Carpark next to the lifesaving club and at the car park near the sea baths. Parking gets busy in peak periods.

The shortlist

Best pastries: Le Comptoir Pigalle
Best for vegan/vegetarian: HAH Lornebeach
Hidden gem: Lorne Grocer

HAH Lornebeach

Step off the sand and straight into the laidback vibes of HAH Lornebeach. More beach shack than cafe, my partner and I came here every time we were at the beach during our stay for one of their super smoothies or iced matchas (I loved the banana with cacao, almond milk, coffee, raw vanilla protein and nut butter). We would then pull up a little stool outside under the tree and watch the waves.

The HAH stands for Health and Hire, and one look at the menu tells you half the story: think nourishing buddha and smoothie bowls, toasted jaffles with kimchi or vegan mozzarella, and drinks the likes of golden lattes and a charcoal lemonade coconut detox. You can also hire surfboards, bodyboards, SUPs and wetsuits. Local owner Katie Walker is committed to sustainability: reusable bamboo replaces single-use plastics, produce is bought locally with food cooked or assembled in-house, and scraps are donated to a community garden. The venue is also step-free, so suitable for those with mobility issues.

Cuisine: Health-focused brunch
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Casual and relaxed
Location: 89 Cypress Ave, Lorne

Lorne Grocer

Formerly known as the Swing Bridge Cafe, Lorne Grocer recently came under the new management of Marianne and Amanda. This charming little cafe is situated by the old swing bridge that spans the Erskine River (originally built in 1934), and when you step onto the deck you’ll feel like you’ve arrived at a historic boathouse (the deck is wheelchair-accessible from the car park).

The thoughtful menu ranges from brunch, lunch and St Ali coffee to snacks and aperitivo, with baked goods from their sister cafe Birregurra Grocer. The ever-popular Avo Smash is a standout, with avocado on Zeally Bay seed and sprout sourdough, Meredith goat’s cheese, apple, pickled chilli, coriander and walnut salad, and Hall’s Creek wattle seed dust. If you’re feeling indulgent, pair fresh oysters or a bucket of cooked prawns with a sparkling (there are zero and low-alcohol options too).

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Tranquil and family-friendly
Location: 40 Great Ocean Road, Lorne

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Le Comptoir Pigalle

Le Comptoir Pigalle is a new French-style bakehouse outside the Lorne Theatre, serving freshly baked bread, pastries, panini and sandwiches. Self-described as a “little slice of France on the Surf Coast", owner Samuel Roig-Sclafer grew up near Bordeaux. Alongside partner Asher Healey, he already runs Le Comptoir, a French deli and restaurant, and Le Comptoir Bakehouse in Aireys Inlet. The Lorne location is small and takeaway only, although there are long white picnic tables out front (which make for a great backdrop to that Instagram snap).

We can’t think of a better way to start the day than with a cup of coffee and a warm, flaky almond croissant or “kouign-amann", a dough pastry with layers of butter and sugar. For those more savoury-inclined, a fresh ham and pickle baguette hits the spot.

Cuisine: French
Average price: $-$$
Atmosphere: Elegant and inviting
Location: 76 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Lorne Central

The buzzy, well-established Lorne Central is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. Known for smooth coffee, generous portions and a friendly team, they serve up the classics all day; think smoked salmon bagels and truffle mushroom toasties, to cinnamon waffles and eggs benny. The bacon and egg sourdough roll with tomato relish and tasty cheese is a well-priced hit at $16. There’s plenty of seating inside, or head to an outside table to be amongst the bustle of Mountjoy Parade.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie brunch
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Friendly and lively
Location: 54-56 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne  

The Riverbank Cafe

Cross the bridge spanning the Esrkine River when you drive into Lorne from Melbourne, take the first right, and you’ve arrived at The Riverbank Cafe, a small family-owned business run by Jo Hughes and Tess Morrisey. Its white weatherboard façade, vine-covered entrance and homely interiors practically scream ‘cosy cottage’. And the step-free outdoor seating under the vines, across from the tree-lined Erskine River, is as romantic as it sounds.

You’ll want to linger, whether it’s over tea and house-made scones or a big brekkie and cappuccino from Axil coffee roasters. For those who need to avoid gluten, don’t miss the gluten-free toasties with Otway Artisan bread.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie brunch
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Warm and cosy
Location: 6 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

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Lorne Crepes

If you’re craving more French after Le Comptoir Pigalle, head to Lorne Crepes. The deliciously thin crepes and buckwheat galettes come in a variety of toppings, from lemon and sugar or Nutella and strawberries for the sweet tooths, to ham, cheese and egg for those who are actually here for a meal (they also offer cheese and charcuterie boards).

The place is small but charming, with indoor and outdoor seating, and the striped waiter uniforms are a cheesy-yet-cute touch. You can also get your crepes takeaway in a cone if you want to take them back to the beach. And good news – it’s open until late, so you can come here for your post-dinner dessert.

Cuisine: French
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Cute, relaxed
Location: 6/150 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Qdos Café

You’ll find Qdos Café at Qdos Fine Arts, an arts venue nestled amongst the trees of the Great Otway National Park, less than a five-minute drive from town. With full-length windows and a woodsy interior, this treehouse-feel cafe will have you relaxed in no time. The seasonal menu uses produce from their own gardens and organic trees, plus local farms, with popular menu picks including their house made cakes and baked eggs. While you’re here, wander the sculpture garden and check out the latest exhibition. The venue is owned by artist and sculptor Graeme Wilkie OAM, who features his own work along with other artists.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Peaceful
Location: 35 Allenvale Rd, Lorne

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat, now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate, whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor, who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will, who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods. “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield, embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House.

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument, which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds.

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens, hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

The best Lorne cafes to try on your next trip to the Great Ocean Road