Just a quick trip along the Bellarine Highway or a 45 minute Searoad Ferries ride across the Port Phillip Bay from the equally serene Sorrento, Queenscliff is brimming with wonders.
Known as the home of the rocking Queenscliff Music Festival and the rattling The Blues Train, along with the scenic Queenscliff golf course and the infamous black lighthouse, the High Light, the seaside village is a picturesque spot for a weekend.
But the real heart of the town lies within its hospitality. Nestled into the Victorian-style buildings, cased in between the art galleries and shops, are foodie delights. Here are some of our favourite spaces to splash cash on good food and drink.
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360Q
At the harbour of Queenscliff sits a building of marvel – one that sat closed for several years until chef to the celebrities, Barry Iddles, breathed new life into it. Having cooked for Michael Jackson, Harry Connick Jr, Carlos Santana, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson, and made Kylie Minogue’s 30th birthday cake, Iddles reopened 360Q in 2016, bringing with him an impeccable menu of culinary excellence. The casual dining downstairs offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options to guests from all corners of the state.
TARRA Restaurant
Within the same wharf loop lives TARRA Restaurant. The state-of-the-art building offers beachfront dining views and a fine dining experience. With the mantra “simple things done extraordinarily well”, TARRA is headed by Executive Chef Michael Demagistris, presenting a carefully curated menu that intersects the traditional with the innovative. From seasonal options to locally sourced and hand-foraged ingredients, TARRA is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Queenscliff General Store & Café
From the outside, the white painted exterior with classic calligraphy branding of Queenscliff General Store and Cafe looks like a fresh step back in time to a charming 1930’s Queenscliff. The striped umbrellas and crisp white outdoor dining furniture add to the aesthetic, as does the service window for takeaway, but it’s the charm of their menu that is the real winner. Slinging hot and cold beverages across the day with Brekkie Rolls, bagels, waffles and chia pots making the menu, Queenscliff General Store and Cafe is both great for the belly and for Instagram.
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Queenscliff Brewery & Distillery
Taking over the Gellibrand Street corner sits a historic fixture of Queenscliff. The 1878 pub houses Queenscliff Brewery and Distillery. With panoramic bay views, the local hangout is the ideal spot to watch the game on the big screen or to catch live music on a Sunday. With craft beers across their Prickly Moses range, house Queenscliff Brewery gins and local produce to make pizzas and pub classics, Queenscliff Brewery and Distillery is ideal for casual catch-ups and large gatherings.
Basils Farm
A stone’s throw from the main Queenscliff community, Basils Farm is over in Swan Bay. A favourite for weddings in the region, Basils Farm is a picturesque cottage on acreage farmland with bay views. Drink wine overlooking their vineyard or indulge with a house-made dish in the restaurant. Whilst there enjoy the panoramic views across Swan Bay, the native birdlife, indigenous plants, and trees.
Circa 1902 Queenscliff
The character of Queenscliff can be found in Circa 1902. This restaurant and accommodation spot on Hesse Street has just reopened, inviting locals and out-of-towners in to experience the local and international style cuisine. The two-story site is hypnotising from the street front and just as divine inside. With street dining and restaurant seating, Circa 1902 is a great stop along the Queenscliff drag.
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With so many options to choose from in the Borough of Queenscliff, and so many ways to get there, there is no excuse not to hop across the bay or through Geelong centre to enjoy a weekend of hospitality-filled happiness.
Head to the Tourism Geelong & The Bellarine website for more ideas on what to see and do in Queenscliff.
This article was made in partnership with Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine.
