The Crew Behind Bentwood and Glovers Station Has Opened a Two-Part Waterfront Venue in Geelong
Cafe down the bottom, modern Asian bar and restaurant up top — all perched right on the waterfront.
Melbourne is no stranger to the work of Julien Moussi, whose Only Hospitality Group is behind a stack of loved local venues — including Bentwood, Glovers Station, Hotel Collingwood and Juliette Coffee & Bread. But now it's Geelong's turn for a taste of the action, as the team ventures out of town to open the doors to their new twin venues Pavilion and Caledonia Shores.
The pair are neatly cohabitating in the former red brick bathers' pavilion overlooking the Geelong Waterfront, with the two-level space reworked with natural tones and a breezy coastal-inspired fitout.
Pavilion
Occupying the ground floor and promenade terrace, you'll find daytime cafe Pavilion. Coffee here comes courtesy of Only Hospitality's own Inglewood Roasters, while the food menu packs enough flair to satisfy even the most discerning inner-city brunchers. There's a dish of tom yum-inspired beans on sourdough with fried ginger and an egg; a prawn and kimchi omelette; cauliflower and haloumi fritters paired with beetroot hummus and tabouli; and a french toast starring roasted macadamia and a white chocolate milk crumb.
Pavilion also has its own kiosk, slinging coffee, cold drinks and a fitting lineup of beachy snacks — chicken burgers, fish and chips, and potato cakes all make an appearance.
Caledonia Shores
Then, as the day wraps up, the upstairs space that's home to bar and restaurant Caledonia Shores comes alive. Up here, sweeping bay vistas provide a backdrop to an offering of punchy, Asian-accented fare and considered cocktails.
Kickstart the party with snacks like Sichuan calamari, wagyu puffs teamed with wasabi mayo, and corn on the cob slathered with coconut sambal butter, curry salt and 'snowing' cheese. Deeper in, you'll find the likes of XO clams with Chinese doughnuts, DIY brisket bao, sticky Xinjiang-style lamb ribs and a lively papaya salad dressed with tamarind.
Meanwhile, the cocktail list also features plenty of big flavours, with sips like a gochugaru-spiced margarita, the Thai Basil Smash, and a lavender- and lychee-infused riff on a Tom Collins.
Find Pavilion and Caledonia Shores at 95 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong. Pavilion is open daily from 6.30am–4pm, while Caledonia Shores opens from 5–10pm Monday to Thursday and 4pm–late Friday to Sunday.
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