Jo Barrett built her reputation on zero-waste cooking at Little Picket and Oakridge Wines, and now she’s back in a Torquay kitchen. Jo’s restaurant at the newly minted Surf Hotel on the town’s sun-drenched Esplanade offers everything from fish-finger sangas on the deck after a surf to wild venison schnitzel and house-baked focaccia with wakame butter for a more languorous sitting. Book a room upstairs at this restaurant with rooms. It’s one of the coolest hotels for surfers in Torquay. 35 The Esplanade; surfhotel.com.au

A beloved local gallery and record store is spinning a new story at The Lorne Bowls Club. The bowlo first flexed its foodie muscles when chef Jo Barrett kick-started acclaimed bistro Little Picket in the retro club rooms in 2022. When the bistro closed after Barrett moved on to start a new venture, In the Skies reopened in the space as a restaurant and bar in late 2024. Chef Simon Holloway now feeds diners in the treasured community space, with an effortless Italian menu that rolls our seasonal dishes such as fresh figs dressed in stracciatella, and scallop risotto with a fennel broth; with a small but mighty wine list heavy on Victorian producers. 35 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne; intheskies.com.au

Jake Cassar’s ’60s-inspired Mediterranean deli in Torquay is like a shrine to the famed cold cut. It’s both a celebration of Jake’s Maltese heritage and love of mortadella with a menu that delivers the (small)goods. Think loaded conti rolls, a mortadella and stracciatella toastie and hobz-biz-zejt – the staple sanga Maltese people like to take to the beach. Mortadeli also sells cold cuts, fancy pantry staples, covetable foodie souvenirs and Mortadeli merch. Shop 9/4-6 Gilbert St, Torquay; mortadeli.com.au

Dan Hunter turns hyper‑seasonal produce into one of regional Victoria’s most compelling degustation menus at acclaimed restaurant Brae. Time your visit for a Friday or Saturday morning and join head gardener Jo Lawson on a walk through the eight-hectare organic farm just outside Birregurra. As Jo steers guests around the gardens, orchards and citrus groves, she talks through the inventory she is required to provide the chefs with each day. Afterwards, sit down to a meal that reflects the garden’s bounty. 4285 Cape Otway Road, Birregurra; braerestaurant.com

Chef Samuel Roig-Sclafer’s love of his hometown outside Bordeaux is on display at Le Comptoir. ‘Le Comptoir’, which means ‘the counter’, is part French fromagerie, part neighbourhood bistro. The long counter in question here is loaded with artisan cheeses, house-made charcuterie and decadent wodges of cake. Pull up a stool for an afternoon nibble or linger over a proper meal. A croque madame is a brilliant way to break up your road trip. 36 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet; lecomptoiraireys.com

The Mexican-inspired all-day diner inside The Monty boutique hotel in Anglesea is exactly the kind of place you stumble into once and keep thinking about. Order takeaway tacos to enjoy by the Anglesea River or by the pool or commandeer a corduroy banquette inside the vibrant Nina Cantina, coloured sepia from stained glass. Relaxed, vibrant and easy to love. Look around and you will see a mix of nacho-slamming neighbourhood families and tourists enjoying carnitas and margaritas. Viva cantina. 109 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea; themontymotel.com.au

Visitors to Victoria’s Surf Coast plan entire trips around lunch at Ipsos. Loud, fun and unapologetically Greek, this Lorne institution sits on the site of the famous Kosta’s, run by Pam and Kosta Talimanidis for decades, and is now led by their son Dominic. Four decades of family summers in Greece inform the menu and the honest flavours and warm hospitality makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. Order the cured bluefin tuna and grilled John Dory fillet. Ipsos helped establish Lorne as one of the best beach towns in Victoria for eating and drinking. 48 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne; ipsosrestaurant.com.au

Named for the Hindi word for ‘orange’, Santara brings a marigold-bright burst of colour, warmth and bold fusion flavours to the Aireys Inlet dining scene. The sharing menu at the Sunnymead Hotel restaurant pulls from across the subcontinent and beyond, with vibrant dishes like dhal and Jeera chicken with turmeric yoghurt paired with playful cocktails and a buzzing atmosphere that feels more modern-day Goa than Great Ocean Road. Book a table or just walk in and see where the evening takes you. 64 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet; santararestaurant.com.au

Sydney hospitality group Merivale brought its Italian share-plate brand to Lorne when it took over the historic Lorne Hotel in 2023. Executive chefs Mike Eggert and Matt Germanchis lead the charge with woodfired bread, Apollo Bay calamari, prawn alla vodka and whole crumbed King George whiting, all signatures on the produce-driven menu. The lively eatery is designed for lazy lunches in Lorne and is one of the highlights along the Great Ocean Road (ranked Australia’s top family road trip). 176 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne; tottis.com.au

Chef Graham Jefferies staged at Silo, in East London – the world’s first zero-waste restaurant – before returning to Torquay to reboot Samesyn as a profit-for-purpose venture that partners with local food charity Feed Me. Dine in genuinely good conscience knowing every dish features at least one rescued or overlooked ingredient. There’s no front-of-house staff either, so expect the chefs to deliver your raw kangaroo, fermented chilli and keffir cream with a detailed explanation on the side. 3/24 Bell Street, Torquay; samesyn.com.au

This boutique vineyard near Warrnambool is worth the detour. It has a rustic cellar door and a patio made for long, languorous lunches in the sunshine. The menu is built around locally sourced produce designed to showcase the estate’s award-winning cool-climate wines like pinot noir and tempranillo. Enjoy a grazing platter curated by owners Shane and Ali Clancey while overlooking a landscape embroidered with vines with resident labradoodle Paddy by your side. 131 Princes Highway, Killarney; basaltwines.com.au

A much-loved Aireys Inlet fave with a loyal following, the staff at A La Grecque treat every guest at the family-run restaurant like a VIP. Famed for its mezze, like local fried calamari with tzatziki, Stratos Talimanidis continues the legacy of his parents Pam and Kosta (of Kosta’s and Ipsos) and draws surfers, families and weekend visitors in equal measure to Aireys Inlet, one of the best regional towns to visit in Australia. Char grilled porterhouse, house-made jus and double-cooked potatoes with dill feta is exactly what you want after a day spent by the sea. 60 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet; alagrecque.com.au

The cliffs along Great Ocean Road are in a perpetual state of flux, with the ocean clawing at the coastline. The towering limestone stacks known as the 12 Apostles are like sculptures, with Aireys Inlet one of the most popular places to stop and gawp along this iconic stretch of coastline. The pub perched here since the early 1900s has survived a fire and a closure and remains integral to the Surf Coast community. Live music and ocean views at Aireys Pub help make the coastal town one of the best to visit in Australia. 45 Great Ocean Rd, Aireys Inlet; aireyspub.com.au

Named for the Greek word for ‘welcome’, the staff at Ela set the tone from the moment you arrive. Wind your way along Torquay esplanade until you arrive at the modern Greek eatery, where dishes like crispy calamari are designed for sharing. The restaurant attracts a diverse crowd. There’s a couple glued to each other in the corner. A large family celebrating a special occasion. And gaggle of girlfriends tucking into Greek lamb and salad. Save some real estate for chocolate loukamades. 17 The Esplanade, Torquay; elatorquay.com.au

It’s always the right time for a cuppa and homemade baked goods, and there’s no better spot than The Lighthouse Tea Rooms, just metres from Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. It’s a cute cafe housed in former stables, where you can sit beneath umbrellas surrounded by raised garden beds, or inside where the rustic decor complements the seaside charm. 7 Federal St, Aireys Inlet; thelighthousetearooms.com.au