The Portarlington Pier, the miniature railway, the infamous Portarlington rotunda that houses bandstand concerts; Portarlington is a glorious coastal treat located right in the stomach of the Port Phillip Bay.
The long stretch of pier is bustling with bodies during the summer influx and the main strip of shops are an endearing elevation of the town, including the beloved lolly shop, The Treat Shack.
On the food front, Portarlington is packed with foodie delights. Here are some of the best spots to grab a snack, spoil your food palette and enjoy a cheeky drink.
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Portarlington Grand Hotel
Located smack bang in the centre of the main street strip, Portarlington Grand Hotel had a makeover, rebirthing the seaside retreat. Established in 1888, the preservation of the historic landmark and pub, the building’s refurbishment comes as a duality; new and old, land and sea, city and country. The Portarlington Grand Hotel has a grand offering, sampling some of the Bellarine’s best produce. From the bistro to the front bar, the lawn area and the atrium, The Portarlington Grand Hotel has different menus for different spaces, making sure to include the region’s renowned mussels on the menu alongside pizzas and pub classics.
Pier Street Café
Family-friendly – tick. Dog-friendly – double tick; the Pier Street Cafe is a space that treats the locals and tourists of both the human and the fur kind. Continuing the championing of fresh seafood of the region, Pier Street Cafe proudly supports the local trade, offering an outstanding selection of fresh seafood, wine and produce from the area. With three different types of Portarlington mussel options, Pier Street not only showcases the local market but elevates it. Their seafood platters are top-tier! Open seven days a week, the cute coastal spot is a winner.
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Arlo Wine Bar
Sharing the same owner as Pier Street Cafe, Arlo Wine Bar is located a hop, skip and jump from its sister store. Opening at the end of 2023 as a pop-up space, Arlo has quickly become one of the fixtures of the Portarlington hospitality hub. Knowing the importance of good food and wine pairing, their menu offers staples like antipasto platters and the more adventurous share pieces. On the wine front, Arlo takes you through the local pool like Bellarine Estate and Portarlington Ridge, and across international waters with exquisite selections. Open Wednesday through Saturday, this bar is a blessing for the bayside town.
Portarlington Mussel Tours
Portarlington is rather famous for its mussels, only enough that they have a whole festival dedicated to the delicacy. Portarlington Mussel Tours take you beyond the plate to explore the waters where 60 per cent of Australia’s mussels are harvested, as led by the mussel man himself, Lance Wiffen. The luxury small group tours give you a front seat into mussel farming, with cooking demonstrations, tastings and pairing with cider, wine and local produce from across the Bellarine. It’s an unforgettable boating adventure.
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Portarlington Golf Club Bistro
Get your greens at the green – Portarlington Golf Club bistro is a haven for both the golf enthusiasts and the locals. With a menu that mixes modern with traditional with home homage and international influence, the bistro has a variety of flavour favourites. From the grill to the sea as well as a trip to Italy, there really is something for everyone. Top off the dining experience with one of three desserts; the summer trifle, a tantalising banoffee pie or an explosive Bombe Alaska.
Pier Front Pizzeria
Pier Front Pizzeria is appropriately named, sitting directly across from the Portarlington pier and WG Little Reserve. Shooting out traditional-style Italian pizza in Port from their woodfire oven, their selection of pizzas is made even better by their range of locally sourced wines. Introducing a new beer garden called The Giardino, the Pier Front Pizzeria is perfect for occasions as well as casual dining. Their separate alfresco area has a 64-person capacity, doubling as a function room for events.
Portarlington Bakehouse
What kind of quaint coastal town would Portarlington be without a local bakery? Lucky for locals, Portarlington Bakehouse has been woodfire baking since 1880 and doing a damn good job of it. With nearly 750 positive reviews on Tripadvisor, the Portarlington Bakehouse are known for their vanilla slices, meaty pies, danishes and iconic egg bacon and cheese toasties with the pastries and bread all freshly made on site. The rustic setting of the Portarlington Bakehouse is a step back in time to the town’s early settlement, complimenting their homemade baking methods.
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Daniel’s Donuts
It would be remiss of visitors to the region not to drop by the infamous Portarlington location of Daniel’s Donuts. The second store for the namesake owner, Daniel’s Donuts Portarlington brought the Springvale sensation to the coast, attracting thousands across the Port Phillip Bay coastline to sleepy town in 2018. The franchise has multiplied since thanks to their tantalising selection of colourfully created donuts, so mouthwatering that Homer J Simpson would have a fit. Expanding outside of the donut niche into pies and milkshakes, the dine-in store is a staple to the Portarlington scape.
Places to eat out in Portarlington are plentiful.
Head to the Tourism Geelong & The Bellarine website for more ideas on what to see and do in Portarlington.
This article was made in partnership with Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine.
