Melbourne's Best Out-of-Town Restaurants, Cafes and Bars Worth a Weekend Road Trip

From regional fine diners and beachside cafes to small gin distilleries and country pubs, these are the spots to plan a day trip — or a whole weekend away — around.
Concrete Playground
October 27, 2021
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  • Bar

    Little Creatures Geelong Brewery

    Corner Fyans And Swanston Streets, Geelong

    This Fremantle-born brewery's east coast home features three bars and lots of booze.

  • Bar

    Pt Leo Estate

    3649 Frankston–Flinders Road, Merricks

    A 134-hectare Mornington Peninsula property boasting an evolving sculpture garden and a former Rockpool chef.

  • Restaurant

    Montalto

    33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South

    This Mornington Peninsula institution has a winery cellar door, cafe and fine dining restaurant.

  • Bar

    Innocent Bystander

    316-334 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

    The Yarra Valley winemaker's Healesville venue is part cellar door, part pumping wine bar.

  • Bar

    Animus Distillery

    89A Piper Street, Kyneton

    Kyneton's own gin distillery and cocktail bar.

  • Bar

    Fossey's Ginporium & Distillery

    110 Eighth Street, Mildura

    An old-timey gin distillery and bar found on the country streets of Mildura.

  • Bar

    Portsea Hotel

    3746 Point Nepean Road, Portsea

    The Mornington Peninsula spot boasts new bars, a pizza menu and killer views over the bay.

  • Bar

    Twobays Brewing Co

    2 Trewhitt Court, Dromana

    A brewery on the Mornington Peninsula where all the beer (and the pizza) is gluten free.

  • Bar

    Nagambie Brewery and Distillery

    295 High Street, Nagambie

    A lakeside brewery and distillery worthy of a weekend road trip — it's only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne.

  • Bar

    Bright Brewery

    121 Great Alpine Road, Bright

    This out of town brewery has a 24-tap selection and a big outdoor terrace nestled in the mountains.

  • Bar

    Bridge Road Brewers

    50 Ford Street, Beechworth

    This award-winning brewery is worth the road trip to Beechworth — for both its beer and its pretzels.

  • Bar

    Red Hill Brewery

    88 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South

    The Mornington Peninsula's home of beer and barbecue.

  • Bar

    Blackman's Brewery

    26 Bell Street, Torquay

    A surfer's brewery and kitchen in Torquay.

  • Bar

    Holgate Brewhouse

    79 High Street, Woodend

    Woodend's country pub and local brewer.

  • Bar

    Seville Estate

    65 Linwood Road, Seville

    Sip award-winning pinot noir and shiraz with stunning views of the upper Yarra Valley.

  • Bar

    Cleveland Winery

    55 Shannons Road, Lancefield

    This vineyard has an underground cellar door and a lovely deck with views over the Macedon Ranges.

  • Bar

    Mitchelton

    470 Mitchellstown Road, Nagambie

    A sleek winery and designer hotel on the Goulburn River.

  • Bar

    Rochford Wines

    878-880 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream

    One of the Yarra Valley's best-known wineries features a lakeside cellar door and top-quality pizza.

  • Bar

    Dal Zotto Wines

    4861 Wangaratta–Whitfield Road, Whitfield

    You go-to for pizza and prosecco in the King Valley.

  • Bar

    Jimmy Rum Distillery

    6 Brasser Avenue, Dromana

    The Mornington Peninsula's huge rum distillery and tasting bar.

  • Bar

    Tinamba Hotel

    4-6 Tinamba-Seaton Road, Tinamba

    Find some of Victoria's best pub food at this unpretentious spot on the Gippsland Rail Trail.

  • Bar

    The Cosmopolitan Hotel

    21 High Street, Trentham

    A cosy country pub in the Macedon Ranges specialising in local produce and woodfired pizzas.

  • Bar

    The Wandiligong Hotel

    580 Morses Creek Road, Wandiligong

    Here, you'll find an excellent pub feed, top-notch craft beers and both indoor and outdoor fireplaces.

  • Bar

    The Avoca Hotel

    115 High Street, Avoca

    A classic country pub known for its top-shelf wine list.

  • Bar

    Forrest Brewing Company

    26 Grant Street, Forrest

    Head to this laidback brewery for a sessionable pale ale, stouts and lagers.

  • Bar

    Brown Brothers Winery

    239 Milawa-Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa

    A longstanding winery making everything from prosecco to pinot grigio, shiraz and a hearty durif.

  • Bar

    Phillip Island Winery

    414 Berrys Beach Road, Ventnor

    Kick back to vineyard views as you sip shiraz and feast on charcuterie.

  • Bar

    Eighteen Sixty

    312B High Street, Nagambie

    This Nagambie wine bar is devoted to showcasing the region's best drops.

  • Bar

    Geelong Cellar Door

    97-99 Little Malop Street, Geelong

    An intimate bar with a working fireplace, plenty of seating and an impressive catalogue of wine showcasing the region's talent.

  • Bar

    The 18th Amendment Bar

    82A Little Malop Street, Geelong

    A sophisticated cocktail bar that recalls Prohibition-era Chicago and New York speakeasies.

  • Bar

    Piano Bar

    90-92 Little Malop Street, Geelong

    Catch a drag show or make the stage your own at this rollicking live music venue.

  • Bar

    There There

    8 Malop Street, Geelong

    Set inside a grand old bank building, but feels like a 70s house party.

  • Bar

    Ms Bartronica - CLOSED

    159 Ryrie Street, Geelong

    Fancy a game or two of Street Fighter, Mario Kart or even Time Crisis with your cocktails?

  • Bar

    Four Pillars Gin Distillery

    2A Lilydale Road, Healesville

    An experimental distillery, a gin shop and stunning bar by the Four Pillars crew.

  • Restaurant

    Summerfield Winery

    5967 Stawell-Avoca Road, Moonambel

    For a world-class wine with a view — and a slice of pizza — head to the Pyrenees.

  • Restaurant

    Pyrenees Family Hotel

    39 Williamson Street, Lexton

    Hit up the self-proclaimed 'Parma Palace' for your choice of 12 different plate-sized versions of the classic pub meal.

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