C&G’s Guide to Melbourne’s Best Beachside Eats
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a delicious meal – or glass of wine – while enjoying a picturesque coastal backdrop. In this C&G blog, we've compiled some of Melbourne's best beachside venues to help you make the most of Summer. Most of these venues are in high demand, so remember to book ahead so as not to be disappointed!
With its popular beachside seating and bright, classy interior, Pontoon is definitely the place to be this Summer. Enjoy a bucket of prawns, skewers, or steaks straight off the grill, while sipping summer-inspired cocktails and enjoying a view of St Kilda beach.
Another St Kilda venue to explore is Republica, situated at the St Kilda Sea Baths. There’s a large beer garden, courtyard and seating on the sand where you can enjoy the Italian, sharing-style menu. The perfect place for pizza and Aperol!
If you want to step it up in the romance stakes, Elwood Bathers is the place to go. With breath-taking views over Port Phillip Bay, visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner from the elegant fresh seafood menu.
If there's one piece of advice we can give about Third Wave Cafe, it's to arrive hungry! Located in Albert Park and a quick jaunt to South Melbourne beach, Third Wave is a cafe by day and all-out American BBQ by night. From Rueben sandwiches and scrambled eggs to chicken parmas and barbecue ribs, this is the perfect place to replenish yourself after a day in the surf.
With Sandringham beach just across the road, you can practically smell the sea salt while enjoying Baia Di Vino’s Mediterranean-inspired menu, featuring the likes of kingfish carpaccio and a wood-roasted whole fish accompanied by an extensive Euro-leaning wine list. Literally translating to “wine bay”, there’s also an adjoining wine store where you can stock up on a quality drop for your home reserves.
Better known as "The Espy", this enormous venue has become a St Kilda icon over the years. Split across three levels, The Esplanade Hotel's main dining area offers pub classics, while Mya Tiger dishes up Cantonese flavours upstairs. Enjoy the beautiful views of St Kilda beach while sipping on one of the bar's signature cocktails or watching a comedy gig in the Gershwin room on Sundays.
Over on the West is Sebastian, a blue and white restaurant and bar that is reminiscent of the Spanish city, San Sebastian. Taking its cue from the Basque cuisine, enjoy a menu filled with fresh seafood or grilled meats serviced from its custom-made charcoal grill and smoker. For something sweet, indulge in the famous Basque cheesecake, which has won the title of Melbourne's "most trending" dessert.
The sister venue of Yarraville's much loved pizzeria Pizza d'Asporto, this kiosk puts an Italian spin on the Australian classic. Enjoy Roman-style pizza and paninis featuring the likes of mozzarella and prosciutto, or for something sweeter opt for homemade bombalones (Italian doughnuts) or gelato.
This list would hardly be complete without the mention of a quality fish and chippery, which D'Lish Fish most definitely is. And while it's not technically on the beach, it's only a short stroll away from the sands of Port Melbourne. Enjoy classic fish, chips and souvlakis, or one of the healthier options such as grilled salmon and salad.