Visit these top Lorne cafes on your trip to the Great Ocean Road

The next time you’re visiting the Great Ocean Road, be sure to put these Lorne cafes on your hit list.

A quintessential Victorian beach town, Lorne is one of those places you need to visit at least once in your lifetime. Whether you’re chasing an endless summer with a long break by the sea or just making a pitstop while on a Great Ocean Road drive, put these Lorne cafes on your radar.

1. Riverbank Cafe

Open seven days a week, you’ll find this reliable local favourite on the banks of the Erskine River. In winter, cosy up inside and order the soup of the day with sourdough toast.

Cosy up inside the Riverbank Cafe with a warm brew.

During summer, nab one of the outdoor tables to soak up the fresh air and sunshine in this peaceful spot away from the crowds on the main street.

pastry and coffee on the table at Riverbank Café, Lorne

Snag an outdoor table to enjoy your brekkie.

Offering coffee from Melbourne’s Axil Coffee Roasters and a Devonshire tea that would make the Country Women’s Association proud, this cafe nails the classics.

Find Riverbank Cafe on the banks of the Erskine River.

Address: 6 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.

2. The Bottle of Milk

Expect to see everyone from holidaymakers to tradies stopping by this popular Lorne stalwart. Located on the main drag right opposite the beach, this licensed cafe is almost always busy.

a close-up shot of a burger at The Bottle of Milk, Lorne

Hit up The Bottle of Milk for your burger fix.

From a bacon and egg roll and coffee in the morning, to a burger and pint for lunch, or a malty milkshake on a hot summer’s afternoon, this cafe always hits the spot.

a couple dining at The Bottle of Milk, Lorne

Stop by this popular Lorne stalwart for a tasty brunch. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Phone number: (03) 5289 2005

Address: 52 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.

3. HAH Lorne Beach

Enjoying prime position right on the beach, HAH (Health and Hire) Lorne Beach makes refuelling after a swim, surf or beach run easy. This casual, cruisy spot is where to get your fill of healthy, nutritious foods with million-dollar views to match.

Refuel at HAH Lorne Beach after a swim.

Taste the rainbow by ordering a superfood smoothie, acai bowl or matcha latte, then pull up a chair out the front to enjoy in the sunshine. This place is also a wholefoods eco-store stocking a range of organic and sustainable products, so you can pick up everything from local honey to hemp seeds and reusable water bottles here too.

a superfood smoothie bowl at HAH Lorne Beach

Order a superfood smoothie or an acai bowl.

Need to rent a bike, surfboard or stand-up paddleboard? Yep, you can also do that here. Is there anything HAH Lorne Beach can’t do?

HAH Lorne Beach offers direct access to the beach.

Phone number: 0406 453 131

Address: 89 Cypress Ave, Lorne.

4. Lorne Central

Just across the road from the beach, Lorne Central is a popular breakfast and lunch spot with a broad, kid and vegetarian-friendly menu.

a man holding two red cups of coffee at Lorne Central

Linger over coffee at Lorne Central. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you stroll over after a morning swim to enjoy some berry waffles and a freshly squeezed juice or settle in for a steak sandwich or salmon bagel for lunch, Lorne Central is the type of place you can easily return to again and again.

Phone number: (03) 5289 1907

Address: 54-56 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.

5. Moons Espresso Bar

Take your coffee seriously? Make Moons Espresso Bar your go-to on your next trip to Lorne. Open for breakfast and lunch, this busy spot with indoor and outdoor seating has all your hot and cold caffeine needs covered.

outside of the Moons Espresso Bar in Lorne

Make Moons Espresso Bar your go-to on your next trip to Lorne.

Apart from seriously good coffee made with beans from Coffee Supreme, there are also classic cafe menu items on offer here like eggs benedict, a BLT and a nourishing granola bowl packed with creamy yoghurt and fresh fruit.

toat on a plate at Moons Espresso Bar, Lorne

Moons Espresso Bar makes seriously good coffee and BLTs.

Phone number: (03) 5289 1149

Address: 108 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.

6. Qdos Café

After checking out the indoor art space and outdoor sculpture garden of this artsy hideaway, make a beeline for the gallery cafe where you’ll find a small menu of house-made cakes and light meals made with organic produce grown in the owner’s hothouse.

Qdos Café is a lush and artsy hideaway in Lorne.

The floor-to-ceiling windows invite plenty of natural light in and offer lovely views of the surrounding eucalypts too.

woodfired pizza outside the oven at Qdos Café

Grab a slice of woodfired pizza.

Phone number: (03) 5289 1989

Address: 35 Allenvale Rd, Lorne

7. Almyra

Located beachside at the Lorne Sea Baths, this multipurpose venue has some of the best ocean views in town. While the deck, dining room and bar are popular spots for sunset drinks and dinner, Almyra also does a cafe-style breakfast that is a cut above the rest.

empty tables and chairs inside Almyra cafe in Lorne

Almyra is a sophisticated cafe located at the Lorne Sea Baths.

Treat yourself to some granola with seasonal fruit, a freshly baked Danish or veggie breakfast with a Middle Eastern twist. For the perfect start to the day, wash it down with a cheeky Breakfast Bellini or some Woolshed Coffee roasted just down the road in Geelong.

a pineapple drink with ocean views in the background at Almyra, Lorne

Sip a fruity cocktail while admiring the ocean views.

Phone number: (03) 5216 7716

Address: 81 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.

8. Pit Stop Lorne

Got a hankering for some American dude food? Make a pitstop at, well, Pit Stop in Lorne. This fun, 60s-style retro cafe operating from a silver Airstream on Lorne’s main street is a top spot to get your fill of salty, carby, cheesy goodness. From a mac & cheese burger to crinkle-cut fries and deep-fried onion rings, the menu has ‘hangover cure’ written all over it.

Pop by Pit Stop Lorne for salty and carby American snacks.

Phone number: 0435 569 996

Address: 90-92 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.

9. Swing Bridge Café and Boathouse

Start your morning at this easy-going, dog-friendly cafe located right by the swing bridge, as its name suggests.

the exterior of Swing Bridge Café and Boathouse, Lorne

Swing by this dog-friendly cafe for a lazy al fresco brunch.

With serene views of the estuary and ocean further afield, this quiet spot is the perfect place for a long, lazy al fresco brunch of eggs, sourdough toast and all the trimmings. This area is popular with dog walkers so is a top place for pooch-spotting too!

brunch at Swing Bridge Café and Boathouse, Lorne

Treat yourself to a satisfying meal at Swing Bridge Café and Boathouse.

Phone number: 0432 208 281

Address: 40 Great Ocean Road, Lorne.

Follow our guide to how to spend the perfect day in Lorne

1. Henderson Falls

Framed by ferns, this small waterfall is just 1.5 kilometres from the Sheoak Picnic Area yet doesn’t get nearly as many visitors as some of the other waterfalls in Lorne. What it lacks in scale, it makes up for with access. Stand at the base, close your eyes and soak up the cool, refreshing air coming off the falls.

2. Sheoak Falls

people sitting on the side of Sheoak Falls, Lorne

Sheoak Falls drops down a sheer rock face. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The relatively short 15-minute walk from the car park makes this one a good waterfall option for people with kids who can’t tackle some of the longer, more rugged trails in the area. Not far off the Great Ocean Road, stop at this waterfall to break up your drive or get a blast of nature and fresh air before continuing your road trip. If you’re visiting at dusk, be sure to pay attention as you might just see the signature aura emanating from glow worms known to populate the caves and rocks around here.

3. Erskine Falls

Erskine Falls plunges 30 meters into a lush tree-fern gully. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This 30-metre cascade just 15 minutes out of Lorne is a real crowd-pleaser because you can view the falls without feeling the burn from a massive hike. A short walk from the Erskine Falls carpark, the upper viewing platform will reveal lovely views of the falls and surrounding bushland. Head down the stairs that lead to the lower viewing platform to experience the instant calm that comes from seeing this magical waterfall fringed by greenery at ground level.

If you’re a confident, fit and experienced bushwalker, you can tackle the 7.5-kilometre Erskine River Track which begins at the Erskine Falls car park and finishes at the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park. However, you’ll need to be comfortable with crossing rivers by rock hopping to do this walk thou. Check the river levels before giving it a go as this hike isn’t advisable when the river levels are high.

4 & 5. Kalimna Falls (Upper and Lower)

This enchanting falls is framed by ferns. (Image: Parks Victoria)

A popular Great Otway National Park trail, the Kalimna Falls Walk is a two-for-one waterfall deal with the track revealing top views of both the upper and lower Kalimna Falls in just a few hours of walking. Park at the Sheoak Picnic Area and set off on foot towards the lower Kalimna Falls first. In years gone by, a tramway used by timber workers ran along this path. Instead of being used to move timber logs to Lorne Pier, the path is now the domain of bushwalkers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. You’ll pass ferns gullies, mossy logs and towering gums on the way to the lower falls which cascade over the ledge of a large cave, creating a spectacular effect you’ll definitely want to snap on your phone. Cool off by dipping your toes in the water, then continue by following the signs to the upper Kalimna Falls from the nearest junction. Check out this simple waterfall that is perfectly framed by the forest ferns and canopy, then loop back to the Sheoak Picnic Area where you started.

6. Phantom Falls

a man reaching out for the hand of the woman sitting on a rock backdropped with the Phantom Falls, Lorne

Discover this dramatic waterfall surrounded by forest. (Image: Parks Victoria)

Accessed via a 90-minute return walk from the Allenvale Mill Campground, Phantom Falls is a great waterfall walk to tackle if you’re short on time but still want to carve out a part of your trip to commune with nature. You’ll pass picturesque farmland, a peaceful river and serene bushland on relatively flat terrain before hitting the incline which will challenge your legs and lungs a bit more. Be sure you’re wearing sturdy walking shoes – sandals and unsupportive footwear just won’t cut it here. Once you reach the waterfall you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of a bush-fringed waterfall cascading over a dark rock face into a pool below. Be sure to head down the steep stairs to see it from below too.

9 Lorne cafes to visit on your next trip to the Great Ocean Road