Top 10 places to eat and drink, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Overview

Geelong is a city on the move. Signs of change are everywhere on the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung people, from the stunning waterfront and urban precinct to the craft breweries and hole-in-the-wall cafes that have reclaimed and reshaped the city's old industrial landscape. Discover Victoria's second-largest city by visiting the region's best restaurants, cafes, wine bars and breweries.

1. Fishermen's Pier

A Geelong institution for more than 40 years, Fishermen's Pier serves up award winning seafood in a boat-style restaurant offering marina and bay views. Choose from locally-sourced lobster, oysters and sashimi to seafood chowders and shared grazing plates.

2. Wah Wah Gee

Funky, fun and fresh. Swing by Cunningham Pier with your friends and take a journey through Wah Wah Gee's collection of Asian inspired sharing dishes ranging from dumplings in zesty broths to spicy steamed buns and hearty curries.

3.Splatters Cheese Bar

It's like a sushi train, but with cheese! Pull up a seat and watch the train make its way around the cheese playground where you can sample everything from a creamy camembert to a tangy cheddar. Choose the all you can cheese dining option and indulge in 90-minutes of unlimited cheese and accompaniments, which you can pair with local wines.

4. Geelong Cellar Door

Located in the heart of Geelong’s inner CBD, Geelong Cellar Door proudly showcases the premium cool-climate wines produced within the Geelong wine region alongside a carefully selected offering of local craft beers and ciders, quality cheeses and charcuterie platters.

5. The 18th Amendment Bar

Sip cocktails in the prohibition chic saloons of The 18th Amendment Bar and enjoy the speakeasy elegance interlaced with modern innovation. Grab some 'giggle water', 'make some whoopee' and try not to get too 'zozzled'.

6. Ceres Distilling Co

Family-owned and operated Ceres Distilling Co houses five I-Stills from the Netherlands, which helps them distill world-class gin and whisky on-site. Visit the Cellar Door for a tasting of four whisky's and six gins, or taste gin, whisky or vodka based cocktails. After a more immersive experience? Book in for a masterclass and become a distiller for a day.

7. Tulip Restaurant

Embrace modern fine dining at Tulip and see for yourself how the restaurant received a Chef's Hat in the 2023 and 2024 Good Food Guide. Partake in the chef's selection menu, paired with local and international wines for the ultimate dining experience.

8. 1915

Step into a world of old-world glamour in 1915's unique dining space, located underneath the iconic Federal Mills smokestack. The century-old boiler house has been reimagined as a contemporary bar that merges the past with the present, serving modern Australian cuisine, with a focus on tapas-style small bites, wood-fired meat and seafood.

9. Emerge

Emerge is a steakhouse in the heart of Geelong owned by a husband and wife duo who are passionate about cooking delicious 100 percent gluten free food for their guests. Choose from wagyu, grass-fed and dry age cuts and a selection of other proteins and sides.

10. Little Creatures Brewery

Little Creatures Brewery is a bit like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory… but for beer. You'll discover a true brewery village experience with a bustling Canteen, mysterious White Rabbit Barrel Hall and the colourful Mystery Lane. Grab a fresh beer or a bite to eat inside or out and watch the brewers racing around doing their thing.