Restaurants and Cafés

“Any wine lover's consideration of a top 10 Australian chardonnay or pinot noir must include one or more Mornington Peninsula wines. Not bad for a region that essentially was born in the 1970s.” Jeni Port, Wine Writer, The Age, August 2006.

Like a fine Pinot Noir, the Mornington Peninsula's food and wine experience has developed magnificently over the past few years. New wineries have opened, new grape varieties have been planted. Top city chefs have made a sea change to the Peninsula, while regional produce has flourished. It's all a delicious discovery.

And, like an elegant Chardonnay, the Mornington Peninsula has acquired a definitive style. You'll discover it in our distinctive cool maritime climate wines, produced by 170 wineries and showcased at 50 cellar doors. Try our celebrated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, then linger over fine wines such as Pinot Gris, Viognier, Shiraz, Riesling and classic sparkling.

Many talented chefs have also made their home here, revelling in the Peninsula's rich harvests from orchards, farms, oceans, local artisans and kitchen gardens. Their menus simply breathe Mornington Peninsula freshness; Flinders mussels, Western Port Bay fish, just-picked organic fruit and vegetables, aged local meats, hand-made cheeses, oils crafted from our olive groves, hand-made chocolates using Belgian couverture, coffee roasted to order.

And while the green hills of our hinterland are home to many of these passionate producers (just look for the farm gate signs), they've also blessed us with spectacular locations for hilltop restaurants overlooking vineyards, ocean and countryside.

You'll find some of our finest country restaurants at: the sumptuous Morning Star Estate, which looks across a vast rose garden to Port Phillip Bay; Red Hill Estate, which captures the Peninsula's best views of Western Port Bay; contemporary Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove overlooking peaceful vine-clad hills; and Stillwater at Crittenden, named for its willow-fringed private lake. And don't forget the classy village cafes, seaside bistros, winery brasseries and local brewers who complete our epicurean experience. Drop into the Pig and Whistle Tavern or Red Hill Brewery for a glass of their international gold-medal winning beers. Delicious, distinctive and very Mornington Peninsula.