Melbourne's best beachside restaurants

At Donovans, the menu remains as familiar as the sandstone fireplace.
And that, in essence, is why this beloved restaurant on the St Kilda foreshore still counts. It’s not the most fashionable place in Melbourne – after 20 years, it would be a worry if owners Gail and Kevin Donovan were chasing fashion – and its sunny, Med-leaning food isn’t threatening to push any envelopes. It’s also rather expensive. But sometimes comfort and reliability outpace the shock of the new.

Fun fact: Donovan's first opened its doors in 1997 in a bathing house that was built in 1928.

Baia Di Vino, or Wine Bay, serves Mediterranean fare at its un-fussy best. You'll be transported straight to the Amalfi Coast while you nibble on the thoughtful small bites or gorge on the crowd-pleasing pasta. Hit the carbs too hard? Sandringham Beach is a stone's throw away for an after-dinner passeggiata. 

Fun fact: The same owners of Baia di Vino just opened swanky contemporary European diner Lucia in South Melbourne. Check it out!

Take a trip to San Sebastián without the 24-hours of travel. Sebastian in Williamstown serves Basque-style food and culture, complete with the requisite beachside view. Flavoursome, charred delights are on the menu, with a focus on share plates. During November to March, they offer alfresco dining (weather permitting); however, the inside dining room is so lush you won't mind staying inside. 

Fun fact: Thursday night is steak night! For $80 you'll get a nice big juicy one for two with Café de Paris butter, plus $10 Sangrias and $15 classic cocktails. Not a bad way to end a day at Willytown beach!

Now here's a St Kilda institution that needs no introduction. Excellent seafood is the name of the game at this sustainability-driven restaurant, and it's the sort of place where you feel compelled to dress up, gather your loved ones and dine out for a real celebration. Live your best life with the seafood platter or go all out with a whole rock lobster. If you're after something just as classy but a little more low-key, Stokehouse Pasta and Bar downstairs has you covered for a relaxed beachside Mediterranean meal.

Fun fact: On the back of a dinner review, Stokehouse won our Legend Award in 2023. To read our interview with executive chef Jason Staudt, click here.

Pipi's is a contemporary kiosk and bistro in Albert Park. The venue champions sustainable and locally sourced seafood, done simply and done well. Sit in for a luxe four-course chef's selection menu at $110 a head, or check it out for a casual a la carte experience, where you can twirl your fork around beautifully prepared dishes like the Goolwa pipis pasta with smoked tomato and Pernod. 

Fun fact: This spot is backed up by some serious hospo pedigree. Chef Jordan Clay has worked in Paris' Le Chateaubriand), and the co-owner and sommelier is wine whiz Tom Hunter. 

Elwood Bathers is an all-day diner championing Victorian produce along the Elwood foreshore, seven days a week, from 11:30am until late. The all-day menu features seafood heavily in dishes like kingfish crudo, frutti di mare linguine and the obligatory fish and chips next to an easy-going, New World wine list. Book a table on the terrace during summer for views all across the beach.

Fun fact: If you're after a summery cheese and vino arvo, you can get a 30-gram serving for $16, two different cheeses for $30 or three for $38. Your platter comes with quince paste, muscatels and a baguette. 

We know the abridged version of the Totti’s story: this is fun, flavour-packed Italian fare that doesn’t take itself too seriously, with a glam roll call of cocktails and wood-fired flatbread that’s so good it’s gone viral on social media. Find this cruisy seaside restaurant on the ground level of the Lorne Hotel and prepare for a feast that'll knock your socks off.

Fun fact: Rather eat your dessert on the beach? There's a Neapolitan ice cream sandwich you can get in a takeaway box if you prefer. Enjoy it while you wiggle your toes in the sand and feel like a kid again.

There are plenty of reasons to pay Fisho's a visit next time you're down in Torquay: stunning beach views, fresh (and frozen, if you like) Margaritas and frosty pints of local craft brews – and last but not least, some of the freshest, best-cooked seafood you can find on the Great Ocean Road. From the scallops and oysters to crispy traditional-style fish and chips, expect high-quality, locally sourced seafood that's best enjoyed in the sun.

Fun fact: Owners and long-time friends Luke Edwards and Luke Dalton spent years working in bars and restaurants out in Victoria's ski fields before the bright idea to open a fresh seafood joint in their hometown was born. 

Anyone who lives in Melbourne and loves Italian food is well aware of the D.O.C. Group. The acronym, which stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, refers to food and drink products from Italy that have passed the gold standard for being the best of the region from which they hail. Whether that's cheese, vino or a type of locally produced vinegar, these are the sorts of ingredients this hospitality dream team cherishes and highlights across its menu – hence its chosen name.

Fun fact: This group's Lygon Street restaurant (formerly known as DOC Espresso) got a glow-up this year to become DOC Osteria. Get the scoop.

What's not to love about the Espy? This St Kilda mega-pub and eating house boasts several distinct dining and drinking areas so that you can choose your own adventure, no matter your mood. Just want a bowl of chippies or a burger with your ice-cold pint? The Main Bar has you covered. If you're feeling saucy for an American-style Italian feast, make a booking at Louey's. And then there's Mya Tiger for all your yum cha and Cantonese food cravings. Oh, and the outdoor terrace area is the perfect spot for chatting up a cute stranger. 

Fun fact: You can make a booking in a hidden upstairs area at the Espy. The experience is called the Ghost of Alfred Felton. Alfred Felton was an entrepreneur, chemist, philanthropist and art collector, and was once a resident of the Espy, and so this part of the pub is styled with unique antiques found all around the world.

Here's that glitzy Aussie beach club you thought only existed in Sydney, where tans, talons, and crisp Polo shirts abound. That's not to say you have to dress up. St Kilda's backpackers mingle with the glamour set, all united by the desire to be sat next to sand, the Sea Baths (downstairs) and a bar. But don't overlook the food! Here, you can snack on beer-friendly snacks like prawn dumplings, kimchi-spiced fried chicken or duck sausage bao, or sit down to a multi-course meal. We can personally vouch for the banana fritters dessert.

Fun fact: Every Sunday from 3pm until late, Captain Baxter is the place to be. It's free entry until 6pm and $10 after 6pm, and the rooftop deck comes alive with DJs and a dancefloor. Have a boogie or simply sip and admire the views over stunning Port Phillip Bay. 

This Port Melbourne chippie has all the greats: fried dimmies, potato cakes, burgers and battered hot dogs. For traditionalists, there's a wide variety of seafood available, and all of it can be cooked in your preferred style. Enjoy it at one of the inside or outside tables, or get it takeaway and eat it right on the sand. The views over the water are lovely.

Fun fact: Can't eat gluten? D'Lish Fish offers an extensive variety of gluten-free fish and chips that are totally celiac-safe (yet still delicious). The gluten-free batter is made with all-natural ingredients

The family-friendly Cerberus Beach House serves modern Australian food with a focus on locally sourced produce. Tucked away in Half Moon Bay, this venue is the perfect spot to while away a sunny afternoon. Think hearty portions, quality ingredients and good vibes at the sit-down restaurant, or grab some well-priced fish and chips from the kiosk to eat on the sand. Just note – seagull-ian locals may require a chippie tax. 

Fun fact: Half Moon Bay is an epic spot for watching a sunset, so here you can set the scene for that perfect romantic moment.