8 of the best restaurants on Phillip Island

Chloe CannBy Chloe Cann
hero media
Sate appetites piqued by the briny sea air at these eight restaurants, cafes and breweries on Phillip Island.

The food scene on Phillip Island has come a long way in the last decade. Once better known as a seaside playground for Melburnian families, the isle is beginning to court more foodie-orientated travellers, with options now available for all kinds of tastes. Whether you’re after a relaxed Italian meal with friends, a quick fish and chip dinner made with the freshest of seafood, or a wholesome vegan brekkie served in the sunshine, these eight eateries should cover most bases.

Here are eight of the best restaurants and places to eat on Phillip Island.

The shortlist

Best for seafood: San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op (SRFCO)
Best date spot: Anerie
Best views: Phillip Island Winery
Best for vegan/vegetarian: Island Whole Foods
Best for large groups: Pino’s Trattoria

1. Pino’s Trattoria

pizzas and pastas on the table at Pino's Trattoria, Phillip Island
Dig into cheesy pizzas and hearty pasta at Pino’s Trattoria. (Image: Supplied)

This Phillip Island stalwart has been pleasing islander’s palettes since 1991 with its line-up of hearty classic Italian dishes. Start off slow with a few antipasti – maybe some focaccia, some house-marinated olives and a slice of bruschetta – before moving onto the secondi (we’re talking locally sourced steaks, pizzas, and classic Roman dish saltimbocca). And don’t forget to leave space for a wodge of tiramisu, or a scoop of gelato from the cart.

There’s a relaxed atmosphere at Pino’s that’s perfect for groups, or families with kids – perhaps it’s because the restaurant’s original owners, the Scarlato family, are still very much involved with the running of the business. While away a summer’s evening in the restaurant’s alfresco ‘piazza’ with an Aperol spritz in hand, or cosy up with a glass of chianti in the restaurant’s cavernous interior come winter.

Cuisine: Italian

Average Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Convivial

Review: 4/5

Location: 29-31 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

2. San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op (SRFCO)

Seafood at San Remo Fisherman's Co-op on Phillip Island
Tuck into fresh seafood. (Image: Visit Victoria)

It’s a hotly contested subject on Phillip Island, but most locals will just about agree that San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op is the place to go for your Friday night fish and chips. It’s not strictly on the island (San Remo is a tiny town just over the other side of the bridge) but it’s only a short drive away and it fries and grills some of the freshest fish that you’ll find without donning waders yourself.

Going strong since 1948, the SRFCO has its own fleet of fishing and lobster vessels. Devour thick, juicy battered flake (the co-op’s fish of choice), made to order with some chunky chips, and perhaps dabble in a few extras too (think crumbed calamari, potato cakes, dim sim, and battered scallops to boot). The building is located right next to the San Remo Jetty, so you can enjoy a side serve of beautiful views too, whether you’re dining inside, or eating outside on the lawn.

Cuisine: Fish and chips

Average Price: $

Atmosphere: Convivial

Review: 4/5

Location: 170 Marine Parade, San Remo

3. G’Day Tiger

the exterior of G’Day Tiger on Phillip Island
G’Day Tiger is known for its sensational sandwiches. (Image: G’Day Tiger)

Indulgent toasted sandwiches? Tick. Third-wave coffee from a La Marzocco Linea PB machine, made with speciality roaster Seven Seeds’ beans? Tick. Slick Melbourne-esque interiors, all exposed brick, plywood panelling and concrete benchtops? Tick. G’Day Tiger is a one-stop shop for all your caffeine and brunch needs. Made with thick-cut bread, housing a plentiful supply of cheese, and anointed with buttery goodness, the sangas here win rave reviews – might we suggest the Reuben, or the veggie-friendly Caponata, filled with eggplant, capsicum, tomato and chilli.

See also: the lovely little emporium that is The Store , in Ventnor.

Cuisine: Sandwiches

Average Price: $

Atmosphere: Casual

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 3/34 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

4. Ocean Reach Brewing

fried snacks and beer at Ocean Reach Brewing, Phillip Island
Enjoy hearty burgers along with your favourite brew. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Part taphouse, part burger bar, this independent outfit on Cowes’ main strip hits all the right spots. Pull up a pew (outside or in) and order a tasting paddle to find your favourite brew. There are four house beers to choose from – pale ale, IPA, porter, and lager – as well as a few rotating seasonal numbers, all made from locally sourced ingredients. The Ocean Reach food van is known for its burgers (hello southern fried chicken, and spicy cheeseburger topped with onion rings) but fried snacky bits buffalo wings and kids meals are also on offer.

Since its inception in 2016, the profile of this small craft brewery has mushroomed: its beers are now available through big retailers such as Dan Murphy’s, and its popularity has increased so much that production has now expanded to a second location, also in Cowes. But through it all, the brewery has stayed true to its sustainable roots. All of Ocean Reach’s spent grain is shared with local farmers for livestock, and the brewery is solar-powered too.

Cuisine: Burgers

Average Price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Review: 4/5

Location: 3/34 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

5. Island Whole Foods

a plant-based breakfast at Island Whole Foods, Phillip Island
Island Whole Foods is a unique and innovative plant-based cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Vegans, veggies and the health-conscious should make a beeline for Island Whole Foods : a plant-based cafe that’s also 100 per cent plastic-free. While its gluten-free buckwheat pancakes – topped with pure maple syrup, coconut ice cream and either bananas or berries – are a bit of a house signature, there’s plenty more on the breakfast and lunch menus to tempt even those who scoff at the thought of eating vegan food. There’s also a plethora of superfood smoothies and smoothie bowls on offer, plus house-made raw treats like peanut butter slices.

Cuisine: Plant-based cafe food

Average Price: $

Atmosphere: Chilled

Review: 4/5

Location: Unit 4/75 Chapel St, Cowes

6. Anerie

Perhaps the smartest option on the isle, Anerie brings a little Gallic chic to this otherwise low-key summer playground. You’ll find almost every classic French dish on the menu here: duck liver pate, cheese souffle, escargots, onion soup, moules frites, steak frites, duck confit, creme brulee, each thoughtfully presented.

Yet despite the chefs’ fine workmanship, you’ll find a cosy, inviting and lived-in feel at this little bistro; think decoupaged tables, velvet chairs, vintage napery and an eclectic mix of artworks lining the walls.

Note that Anerie is an adults-only restaurant.

Cuisine: French

Average Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Cosy, inviting

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 12 Thompson Ave, Cowes

7. Kelp San Remo

a close-up shot of Mexican food and drinks at Kelp San Remo
Pair your Mexican favourites with refreshing cocktails. (Image: Visit Victoria)

A cocktail bar first and foremost, Kelp has an array of inventive drinks to its name, perhaps chief among them the Kelp Collins (a refreshing blend of gin, lemon, and seaweed-infused soda water), and the Shaka Forever (a sharp and fragrant mix of elderflower, Chambord, lemon juice and sparkling grapefruit).

The menu runs the gamut from North America to South, featuring everything from your classic cheeseburger through to a kingfish ceviche with coconut and chilli oil, and pan-fried confit squid tostadas, as well as fusion dishes such as cauliflower tacos with buffalo sauce.

Expect a blend of influences in the design, where the laid-back charm of a beach shack and tiki bar meets sleek, modern lines and a polished finish.

Cuisine: Mexican/Burgers

Average Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Smart-casual

Review: 4/5

Location: 141 Marine Parade, San Remo

8. Phillip Island Winery

dining at Phillip Island Winery
You’ll be spoilt for choice with the seasonal menu at Phillip Island Winery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This local winery promises the elusive holy trinity of dining out: great food, great views and great service. Located in the island’s south-west, just a three-minute drive from beautiful Berrys Beach, Phillip Island Winery is set on a rural plot of 14 acres. Gorge on the local greenery from the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, or pull up a pew on the expansive lawns, a glass of Fumé Blanc in hand as you drink in the sunset views.

The winery’s menu centres around pizzas with elaborate toppings (think mortadella with rosemary cream, pistachio and burrata), but there are plenty of other tempting mod Oz options bookending the menu, from tuna crudo with pickled chilli to a braised heirloom beetroot salad with a balsamic fig emulsion.

Kids and four-legged friends haven’t been neglected here, with menu options for both on offer. And the wines are no joke either; in the words of esteemed critic James Halliday, “the quality of the wines across the board make it clear that this is definitely not a tourist-trap cellar door".

Cuisine: Pizzas/mod Oz

Average Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Welcoming, relaxed

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 414 Berrys Beach Road, Ventnor

Discover the best things to do on Phillip Island.

Chloe Cann
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
See all articles
an aerial beach view at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island
Phillip Island

The best camping and glamping on Phillip Island

There’s a plethora of different camping and glamping options on Phillip Island – here we explore some of the Bass Coast isle’s best.

Read more
Little Penguins on the beach at Phillip Island
Phillip Island

Best things to do on Phillip Island: Fish and chips, wine and penguins

From wine tasting to surfing, country walks and penguin spotting, this little corner of Gippsland has a lot to offer.

Read more
a farm-style cabin at Five Acres, Phillip Island
Phillip Island

The best Phillip Island accommodation for a coastal getaway

Tuck yourself away in a design-led cabin, bed down in a schmick beachside apartment or hole up in a dreamy whitewashed Airbnb – there’s a wealth of choice on this Victorian island.

Read more
Beaches in Phillip Island
Phillip Island

A guide to Phillip Island’s beaches for your next day out

Fishing, surfing, swimming, sunbaking: the choice is yours on Phillip Island’s plentiful supply of beaches.

Read more

How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
    Continue
    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.