The Mornington Peninsula's Portsea Hotel Has Reopened After Its $7 Million Refurb

One of the Mornington Peninsula's go-to summer hot spots has had one heck of a makeover, and reopened just in time for the balmy days to come.

Famed for its waterfront beer garden and sweeping bay views, the Portsea Hotel is now sporting a dapper new look, helping launch the 142-year-old building into its next phase of life.

The $7 million transformation nods to the past, while embracing the contemporary, with plenty of original tiling and artwork making a return appearance. The acclaimed beer garden remains, though now it's joined by a moody whisky haunt dubbed the RIP Bar, a California-style burger bar known as Cliff's, and a stunning second-floor events space, called Bertrand Bar.

Walls by the front entrance are set to play host to a rotating curation of local and international art, while in the reimagined dining room Longshore, a big open kitchen is serving up a menu filled with top local produce and healthy touches. Think, whipped cod roe served with pita, Mooloolaba swordfish teamed with panzanella, and a creamy burrata cheese and caprese salad, alongside pub classics and loaded pizzas.

A planned series of yoga, pilates and fitness classes will grace the Portsea Hotel's beer garden over summer, as will a hefty program of live music and parties. Kyle Lionhart, The Babe Rainbow and Didirri are just some of the acts that'll help christen the pub in the coming months, with Spacey Space headlining a Christmas Eve Eve fiesta and Tom Tilley leading a dance-worthy NYE ensemble.

Find the new-look Portsea Hotel at 3746 Point Nepean Road, Portsea. It's open from 11am–10pm daily.