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The best Lorne restaurants to try on your next Great Ocean Road adventure

Credit: Visit Victoria

Jade RaykovskiBy Jade Raykovski
You’ll be spoilt for choice with Lorne’s collection of top-notch restaurants, including long-time favourites and fresh reopenings.

Considered the most cosmopolitan town along the Great Ocean Road, it’s no surprise that Lorne’s dining scene punches well above its weight. Fresh, seasonal and local produce reign supreme here, best paired with Aussie drops and refreshing cocktails. Seafood, naturally, is popular throughout most menus with the town’s rich history of commercial fishing, and there’s no better place to enjoy it than against the stunning backdrop of the coastline.

So let the sea air stir your appetite, and make your way through our curated list of Lorne’s best restaurants.

The shortlist

Family-friendly spot: In The Skies Restaurant & Bar
Budget-friendly: Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas
Best views: Almyra Restaurant and Bar

Grand Pacific Hotel

The Grand Pacific Hotel, Lorne
The much-loved local Lorne pub retains its Gothic-style façade and historical charm. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

The Grand Pacific Hotel has been perched at the end of Mountjoy Parade, close to the Lorne Pier, since 1879. Built to serve the tourism, timber and fishing industries, it has been recently renovated by operators Maryann and Matt Humphries yet retains its Gothic-style façade and historical charm. Whether you’re here for the history, the fresh pub fare, or the stunning views of Louttit Bay – perhaps all three – this is the kind of establishment that’s a destination in itself.

If you’re hungry, their chicken parmigiana is right up there with the best of them, or you can sample one of the Italian-inspired dishes, such as the pappardelle with slow-braised lamb shoulder and tomato ragu. Thirsty? The extensive drinks list covers local and international wines, craft beers, and classic cocktails and mocktails. They even have live music on the outdoor terrace in summer – follow their socials to stay up to date.

Cuisine: Modern Australian, Italian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Lively and friendly
Location: 268 Mountjoy Parade

In The Skies Restaurant & Bar

Italian cuisine at In The Skies Restaurant & Bar
The menu features Italian classics. (Credit: In The Skies Restaurant & Bar)

Part of the Lorne Bowls Club, In The Skies is an under-the-radar local gem serving up a classy sharing menu by chef Simon Holloway. The venue has been run by the local Mclldowie and Holloway families since 2024, who wanted to continue its reputation as a friendly and accessible restaurant and bar for the community. We suggest pairing a meal with barefoot bowls and making an afternoon of it. The chargrilled Southern Rangers sirloin is a winner, while vegetarians will love the orecchiette pasta with zucchini, white wine, cream and a fresh herb pangrattato.

Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Welcoming, family-friendly
Location: Lorne Bowls Club, Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

IPSOS Restaurant & Bar

Greek cuisine at IPSOS Restaurant & Bar, Lorne
Seasonal specialties are a menu standout at IPSOS. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

This family-run restaurant has held one hat status from 2019 through to 2026. One look at the meals coming out and it’s easy to see why; the food is oriented around fresh, local ingredients, and is simple yet refined (think authentic Greek meets modern Australian).

You’re by the coast, so this is the time for fried kalamari, pickled octopus and chargrilled King prawns; although meat lovers won’t want to miss the slow-cooked lamb shoulder. Can’t decide? Let the chef choose for you with the $85 Chef’s selection menu. It gets busy, so book ahead. Note that outdoor seating is at ground level, but there are steps up to the entrance.

Cuisine: Greek
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Buzzy
Location: 48 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas

What’s better than fresh, zesty Mexican by the beach? Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas brings a bright splash of colour to Lorne’s main strip, from the pink and blue outdoor tables to the bold Mexican wall art. The menu is a celebration of modern Mexican cuisine, and it all goes down a treat with the margaritas, sangria jugs and tequilas that fill the drinks list. Start with the chilli con carne loaded fries, and don’t miss the fried fish tacos with papaya slaw, jalapeño garlic aioli and ricotta cheese.

Cuisine: Mexican
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Fun and laidback
Location: 46A Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Pholklore

Pholklore restaurant in Lorne
Pholklore brings its fresh Vietnamese-fusion down the Surf Coast. (Credit: Amy Evans)

You can’t miss the blue umbrellas of Pholklore right next to the Lorne Theatre. After success in Torquay and Geelong, co-owner Dom Friend opened the third Pholklore in Lorne, bringing its fresh Vietnamese-fusion further down the Surf Coast.

Grazers will be drawn to the popcorn cauliflower, spring rolls (rolled fresh to order) and Sydney Rock oysters with Pandan-infused coconut milk, fingerlime and toasted sweet rice. If it’s a chilly coastal evening, opt for a soul-warming pho laksa; you’ll be lapping up that flavourful broth. Note that only the outdoor section is wheelchair accessible.

Cuisine: Vietnamese fusion
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Cheerful
Location: 82 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Salonika Social Pizzeria

a variety of pizzas at Salonika Social Pizzeria
Grab a slice of Salonika’s signature sourdough pizzas. (Credit: Supplied)

This highly rated pizza restaurant brings a touch of Greek influence to its seasonal entrees and hand-stretched sourdough pizzas. Think fried local kalamari with housemade tztaziki and the aptly-named Greka pizza, topped with tomato, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, capsicum, feta, capers and oregano.

The earthy-toned space is warm and cosy, with booth seating that’s great for groups. Swing by during their daily happy hour from 3.30-5.30pm for $14 spritzes, cheap wine and beer, and discounted pizzas Monday to Friday. Every Saturday night, live music turns the vibe up a notch – book to secure a table.

Cuisine: Italian
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Warm and vibrant
Location: 122 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Raas Leela

crispy jalapeno at Raas Leela
Tuck into the handmade crispy jalapeño. (Credit: Raas Leela)

The mission of owners Aditi and Rachit Kapoor was to bring authentic Indian cuisine – often with a contemporary or creative twist – to Lorne with Raas Leela . The menu takes diners on a journey with street foods –such as mixed vegetable and cheese croquettes with brioche toast and turmeric tartare – and well-known classics like butter chicken and paneer curry. They also boast the best fried chicken in town, served with masala mayonnaise; we’ll let you be the judge.

If you’re free before dinner, the accessible restaurant houses the stylish Karma Bar, open for happy hour 3-6pm every day with a curated drinks menu.

Cuisine: Indian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Sleek and modern
Location: 116 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne

Almyra Restaurant and Bar

Almyra Restaurant and Bar dining interior
The light-filled dining space is just metres from Lorne Beach. (Credit: Almyra Restaurant and Bar)

You can’t get more beachfront than the family-owned Almyra . Its unmatched location, metres from the sand with front-row ocean views, is complemented by fresh Mediterranean cuisine that celebrates local produce and the art of chargrilled and woodfire cooking. The wood-fired saganaki is a standout, as are the pizzas – we suggest the prawn and chorizo. The dining room is a beautiful space filled with natural light, but you can’t beat drinks and seafood on the deck at happy hour. It’s no surprise that this is a popular wedding venue for the area; it’s also wheelchair accessible.

Cuisine: Mediterranean
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Refined yet relaxed
Location: 81 Cypress Ave, Lorne

Jade Raykovski
Jade Raykovski is a freelance travel writer from Melbourne, Australia whose wanderlust began from immersing herself in the fantasy worlds of her favourite books as a kid. She started off her career as a graphic designer, before making the switch to copywriter, and now – in what you could say is the role she was always destined for – travel writer. Along with Australian Traveller, her bylines include National Geographic, BBC Travel, Escape and NZ Herald. And while she loves writing about home, she'll never pass up the chance to sip a spritz in Italy.
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The perfect mid-week reset an hour from Melbourne

    Kellie FloydBy Kellie Floyd
    Continue
    Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

    Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

    walking trails in the Yarra Valley
    You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

    A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

    holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy
    Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

    a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy
    A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

    I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

    Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

    Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate
    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

    As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

    oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate
    Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

    On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

    I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

    kangaroos in Yarra Valley
    Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

    the Yarra Valley vineyards
    Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

    Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

    COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

    It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

    A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

    legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway
    The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

    The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

    I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

    The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

    After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

    Playing there

    the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley
    Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

    Eating and drinking there

    Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

    seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station
    The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)