The Good Food Guide to a road trip through Geelong and the Surf Coast

You don’t have to clock up hundreds of kilometres to sample the best of Geelong and the Surf Coast’s food scene. Bakeries are dotted across the region stocked with French-style pastries and loaves straight out of the oven, while a bustling farmers’ market in Torquay takes you on a tour of a diverse range of cuisines and local produce. These are our favourite spots for a packed weekend of drinking and dining just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

Box Office

Just off Geelong’s Pakington Street, this shipping container cafe serves Axil coffee and brunch fare that goes heavy on native Australian ingredients. The menu is as vast as the warehouse-style space itself, which spills out onto a covered streetside deck. Smashed avo is piled over local Zeally Bay toast and elevated by lemon aspen, yuzu and a house-made finger lime chilli jam, while the humble omelette gets an Indonesian twist with a spiced rice and prawn centre alongside shredded duck. At its core, Box Office is all about supporting local businesses, reflected in the laundry list of regional producers, suppliers, breweries and wineries the cafe works with.

77 Preston Street, Geelong West, boxofficecafe.com.au

Tulip

Tucked in a quaint courtyard in arguably the most cosmopolitan pocket of Geelong, hatted restaurant Tulip leans into its locale with polished concrete floors, bare timber tables and exposed brick. The salty twang of miso boosts a snack of chicken liver pâté and, later, butterscotch sauce drenching a new-wave bread and butter pudding. Owner-manager Dan Ford glides between tables, sharing recommendations from a considered wine list and offering designated drivers half-pours. A commitment to waste-conscious cooking and local sourcing add extra clout to this reliable player of Bellarine dining.

9/111 Pakington Street, Geelong, tuliprestaurant.com.au

Petrel Hotel

Isn’t it wonderful when a classic pub gets a facelift, but you can still see its old smile lines? Mains here are from pub heartland but some entrees could be served at a city wine bar. Chicken schnitties are hefty and lathered in garlic butter, while a bright lemon-herb crumb elevates snapper and chips. Vintage sports memorabilia covers the walls, and the beaut front bar is dog-friendly. Locals jostle for seats beside the freestanding fireplace in winter, ready to make a few smile lines of their own.

81 Pakington Street, Geelong West, petrelhotel.com

That Place

You know That Place, the one in Geelong? Run by French-trained pastry chef Ashlea Allen, it’s one of the few shopfronts on Belmont’s busy Mount Pleasant Road. You might miss it if it weren’t for the queue of hungry customers snaking out of the tiny space come 7am each day. There are a couple of seats, but it’s mostly a takeaway affair. You’d be hard-pressed to find any duds in the wide selection of patisserie and viennoiserie. If mini Persian love cakes are on, make sure to grab one (or several). There are also house-made sourdough toasties, a killer beef Bourguignon hand pie plus build-your-own yoghurt, muesli and fruit bowls.

110B Mount Pleasant Road, Belmont, thatplacepatisserie.com

The Local

Serving focaccia sangers, house-made pastries and Everyday coffee, this takeaway-only window near the Geelong CBD lives up to its name as a neighbourhood go-to. Sandwich fillings rotate daily – it could be a chicken schnitty slathered with pesto mayo, or a loaded pork and herb meatball sub. Other regular items include pizza-topped focaccia slices and plenty of baked goods, from croissants to danishes, cakes, scrolls and more.

175 McKillop Street, Geelong, thelocalgeelong.com

Born and Bread

That queue snaking down Pakington Street at the Newtown end? Join it, immediately, and you’ll soon be in the sourdough haven that is Born and Bread, now in a bigger space just down the road from its original location. Once you reach the pastry cabinet, you’ll want to loosen the purse strings, as it’s tricky to choose a favourite. Chilli jam twists and custard-filled pecan buns are top contenders, and be sure to grab a loaf for home, too.

364 Pakington Street, Newtown, bornandbreadbakehouse.com.au

Hot Chicken Project

Come Saturday evening, Geelong’s Little Malop Street pulses with energy. Get your hands dirty at Nashville-inspired bar The Hot Chicken Project, where spice levels range from mild to the blisteringly hot “evil”. Choose from juicy tenders, wings or drumsticks plus a selection of burgers and sides, including hulking mac and cheese croquettes, fried okra and various salads. For vegetarians, mammoth deep-fried halloumi burgers hold plenty of appeal. Cool things down with a pint of craft beer from a selection of taps, including a rotating guest sour.

84A Little Malop Street, Geelong, instagram.com/thehotchickenproject

18th Amendment

At the top of a hidden staircase off Little Malop Street, this moody, old-timey bar nods to the American Prohibition era with cocktails named ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ and ‘Thomas Edison’. Service is impeccable, with complimentary popcorn on arrival. Those with a bigger appetite can snack on cheese platters and spiced nuts, or order dumplings from neighbouring restaurant Bahjong from Wednesday through to Saturday.

82A Little Malop Street, Geelong, the18thamendmentbar.com.au

Booln Booln Cafe

If your trip takes you towards the Great Ocean Road, make stop at Booln Booln Cafe at the Wathaurong Booln Booln Cultural Centre. With a menu that spotlights First Nations ingredients, it’s the first venue of Troy and Cerisa Benjamin, founders of tea company Blak Brews. Get jaffles including four-hour kangaroo ragu and wattleseed dukkah, or lemon myrtle-spiked chimichurri chicken. For kids, there are classic toasties and roo sausage rolls. Bonus points for $60 Outback High Tea on Fridays.

410 Surf Coast Highway, Grovedale, boolnboolncafe.com.au

Torquay Farmer’s Market

Time your visit to Torquay with the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market and you’ll get a food tour of the region without leaving the sunny council car park. Grab iced matcha, chilli-laden Tibetan momos, giant duck spring rolls or spinach boreks drizzled with yoghurt and chilli before browsing fresh produce, smallgoods and meat. There’s everything from venison jerky to beef bresaola, fresh juice, baked goodies and more.

1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay, instagram.com/torquayfarmersmarket

Gooley’s

A beachside picnic in Torquay is instantly enhanced by Gooley’s pulled chook roll, stacked with herby mayo, lettuce and potato crisps. Run by hospo veteran Daniel Gooley, the hole-in-the-wall sandwich joint on Gilbert Street offers a short but sweet menu of toasted and fresh sangers that rival Melbourne’s best, plus coffee made from a house blend roasted locally by Cartel Roasters. Other front-running fillings include the fresh and vibrant Caprese and a tricked-up, Tony Soprano-inspired “gabbagool” and red pesto number.

27 Gilbert Street, Torquay, instagram.com/gooleys_

Mortadeli

Torquay’s smash-hit sandwich bar has carved out a name for itself as a destination for carb lovers since opening in 2021. The sandwich roster kicks off with American-style breakfast buns and hearty baked bean melts before lunch sangers roll out, including the signature Maltese hobz biz-zejt. The daytime menu broadens to include soups, salads, house-made pasta, one-off sangers and sweets rotating month to month. With any luck, you’ll catch a courtyard DJ set.

Shop 9/4-6 Gilbert Street, Torquay, mortadeli.com.au

Winespeake

Don’t return to the big smoke without taking the scenic route along the Great Ocean Road to Anglesea cellar and deli Winespeake, the latest outpost of the Daylesford-born business. It’s stocked with local and European wines, Victorian craft beers and goodies like Berthe sardines and Acide pickles. Nab a seat if you’re keen to sample some drops before you buy – adding an epic ham and raclette toastie is a wise move.

141 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea, winespeake.com.au