hero media

The best restaurants in Warrnambool 

Credit: Visit Victoria

Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
Bring an appetite with you to Warrnambool and get ready to try some of the region’s stellar produce.

Celebrate your epic Victorian road trip and reaching the end of the Great Ocean Road with a meal at one of Warrnambool’s diverse restaurants. From authentic Thai, Filipino and Sri Lankan cuisine to approachable fine dining and native Australian influences, there are plenty of options for fussy eaters and foodies alike. Here are some of our favourites…

The shortlist

Hottest new opening: Lot 17
Great for special occasions: Myrtle by Dave
Best date spot: Lost Cat

Seaview Warrnambool

a rainbow as seen from the window at Seaview Warrnambool
Capture breathtaking coastal views from the large, ceiling-high windows. (Credit: Seaview Warrnambool)

Its name says it all; this beachfront restaurant provides spectacular views of Lady Bay and the Southern Ocean from its large, ceiling-high windows and the dog-friendly, ramp-accessible outdoor deck. The bright, light-filled dining space is the perfect setting for a relaxed lunch or dinner, and they also serve brekkie until 12pm for late risers.

Seafood is the star of the menu, although dishes like a Cape Grim Porterhouse and chicken parmigiana also make an appearance. You can’t miss their signature seafood chowder (creamy soup packed with fresh seafood, served in a locally made Jane Dough sourdough cobb loaf), and the chocolate lava cake is a doozy.

Cuisine: Seafood, Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Chill, beachy
Location: 1/80 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool

Clovelly Restaurant & Bar

This cosy old-style bistro is part of the Best Western Olde Maritime motel. With its Chesterfield sofas, wooden joinery and exposed rafters, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The ambience is complemented by friendly service and a menu that balances classics such as steak and barramundi with bolder flavours, like their ‘curry by kal’ with jasmine rice, charred pita, fried shallots, red onion and chilli oil. Pair your meal with wine, one of the beers on tap, or choose from the over 40 local and international bottled beers and cider on offer.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Warm and cosy
Location: 116 Merri St, Warrnambool

Lost Cat

dinner at Lost Cat, Warrnambool
This sleek restaurant serves up a curated Modern Australian sharing menu. (Credit: Andrew Clark)

Ex-Rockpool chef Zac Nicholson and his partner Jasmine Leung opened Lost Cat in January 2025, taking over the former Hairy Goat site. The sleek yet casual 55-seat venue focuses on serving simple, seasonal food. Highlights from the curated sharing menu include a 48-hour fermented focaccia served with a flavour-packed onion dip, and a wood-grilled scotch fillet with umami butter and chips. This is our pick for date night.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Relaxed, vibey
Location: 69 Liebig St, Warrnambool

Proudfoots by the River

Proudfoots by the River, Warrnambool
Dine by the Hopkins River. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Take in the picturesque setting as you step into this historic boathouse overlooking the Hopkins River, which dates back to 1885. If you can, get a seat by a window or sit out on the balcony (you’ll feel like you’re on the river itself).

Their modern menu focuses on using native Australian ingredients and fresh local produce; think seared scallops with a sage and saltbush burnt butter sauce, or for something a little more unusual, try the native-spiced chicken and crocodile tikka masala.

Cuisine: Modern Australian, native Australian influence
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Charming, tranquil
Location: 2 Simpson St, Warrnambool

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Sizzling Manila

Filipino dishes at Sizzling Manila, Warrnambool
Savour Filipino cuisine with a twist. (Credit: Sizzling Manila)

The first Filipino restaurant in Warrnambool has opened at the start of 2026, run by four friends, Mary Pagalilauan, Gladys Bosi, Leslyn Lian and Maria Morden. Promising a taste of home in every plate, the menu focuses on classic Filipino dishes such as a sizzling pork belly sisig (crispy chopped pork belly served with onion and topped with a cracked egg) and chicken inasal, a marinated grilled chicken dish. You can dine in or take away.

Cuisine: Filipino
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual
Location: 192 Timor St, Warrnambool

Lot 17

a decorated wall at Lot 17, Warrnambool
Gather at the stylish restaurant for a Mediterranean-inspired lunch. (Credit: Jumpin’ Jac Flash)

Local couple Nicole and Hugh Goldson opened Lot 17 at the end of 2025. The site has had a long history, which the new restaurant celebrates: originally known as Section 10, Allotment 17 in the Hopkins Ward, it was first purchased in Warrnambool’s earliest land sales by mayor Michael Fenton.

Over the years, it’s been everything from a saddlery to a general store, and is now a restaurant focusing on local produce and a shared experience. Come here with a partner, family or a group of friends: the menu is designed to be shared, and ranges from bar bites to larger plates. Try the grilled zucchini with basil and yoghurt, char grilled pork collar or gnocchi with pesto and eggplant, paired with a Victorian or South Australian wine.

Cuisine: Mediterranean inspired
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Communal, social
Location: 132 Timor St, Warrnambool

Bundy’s Bar & Bites

Bundy’s is known for its generous portions and wide-ranging menu, which features Sri Lankan dishes and stir fries alongside typical bistro fare like steaks, burgers and chicken parmigiana. The family-friendly, ramp-accessible restaurant also offers takeaway and serves wine, beer, cocktails, coffee and dessert until late – so if you find yourself craving a sticky date pudding after 9pm, this is the place to go.

Cuisine: Sri Lankan and Australian
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Friendly, welcoming
Location: 67 Liebig St, Warrnambool

Thaimor Street Food

Thaimor Street Food, Warrnambool
Treat yourself to a diverse array of Thai dishes. (Credit: Thaimor Street Food)

If you’re craving flavourful, authentic Thai cuisine, head straight to Thaimor Street Food. The flavours are as bold as their colourful interiors, which are an eclectic mix of exposed brick, corrugated iron, and bright booth seating, with Thai movie posters, photographs and beverage brand logos lining the walls. Meat lovers need to try the Wagyu beef with their house special chilli basil sauce, and the steamed fish with ginger and soy sauce is also a highlight. Takeaway is available, and don’t worry if you can’t do spicy food, as they’ll cater to all palettes.

Cuisine: Thai
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Fun and vibrant
Location: 162 Timor St, Warrnambool

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Salt Restaurant

Executive chef and owner Matthew McLeod has created a casual yet elevated restaurant experience with Salt. The classy yet relaxed space seats just 40, so make sure to book ahead. You can look forward to a creative European and Australian-inspired menu, where everything including the bread, pastas and ice creams are made in house, and local produce is celebrated.

Definitely kick start your appetite with the housemade bread with whipped butter and rosemary salt, before moving on to dishes like the handmade pappardelle with beef and pork ragu or the 12-hour braised and pressed lamb shoulder. Ask your waiter for a suggested wine pairing, and leave room for dessert. Note the entrance is wheelchair accessible.

Cuisine: European, Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Location: 73A Liebig St, Warrnambool

Myrtle by Dave

the entrance to Myrtle Bar & Kitchen, Warrnambool
Myrtle Bar & Kitchen is conveniently located in the CBD.

For a well-cooked steak and fabulous cocktails, look no further than Myrtle by Dave. The upscale restaurant is known for its charcoal grill cooking and carefully sourced produce; expect to see dishes like a Rangers Valley Wagyu brisket, chargrilled regional market fish and Western District dry-aged rib eye on the menu. Squeeze in oysters and a crème brulee on either side, and you have yourself a feast.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Sophisticated
Location: 163 Timor St, Warrnambool

Rankey’s Zone Restaurant Cafe & Bar

Rankey's coconut roti, Warrnambool
Devour Sri Lankan roti. (Credit: Rankey’s Zone Restaurant Cafe & Bar)

Rankey’s Zone is highly rated for its fresh, genuine Sri Lankan cuisine. Try the “Kotthu", a Sri Lankan Street food made by tossing paratha roti pieces with vegetables, plus your choice of protein (egg, chicken, pork, beef or seafood). If it’s your first time trying Sri Lankan food, head here on a Saturday night for the all-you-can-eat rice and curry buffet; for only $25, you can try special rice varieties, vegetable, meat and seafood curries, street foods and condiments. One tip: come hungry.

Cuisine: Sri Lankan
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Warm and friendly
Location: 78 Liebig St, Warrnambool

Bojangles Pizza Restaurant

Bojangles Pizza Restaurant's interior
Indulge in Italian cuisine in the trattoria-style Bojangles Pizza Restaurant.

This long-standing restaurant delivers classic Italian cuisine with a twist in a trattoria-style setting. Pizza is the star of the show, naturally, but they also serve a range of pasta and mains. Their signature pizzas are the way to go; try the Portofino with tomato, cheese, buffalo mozzarella, pancetta ham, basil pesto and rocket. On warm nights, dine outside under the fairy lights, Italian style.

Cuisine: Italian
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Refined rustic
Location: 61 Liebig St, Warrnambool

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Jade Raykovski
Jade Raykovski is a freelance travel writer from Melbourne, Australia whose wanderlust began from immersing herself in the fantasy worlds of her favourite books as a kid. She started off her career as a graphic designer, before making the switch to copywriter, and now – in what you could say is the role she was always destined for – travel writer. Along with Australian Traveller, her bylines include National Geographic, BBC Travel, Escape and NZ Herald. And while she loves writing about home, she'll never pass up the chance to sip a spritz in Italy.
View profile and articles
Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs from above
Warrnambool

The best accommodation in Warrnambool

While holiday parks abound in Warrnambool, there are also plenty of options for those seeking a little more comfort and style.

Read more
NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park from above
Warrnambool

Our guide to the best Warrnambool caravan parks and camping spots

A trip to the beautiful regional city of Warrnambool doesn’t have to break the budget.

Read more
The Cally bar interior
Warrnambool

A guide to the best bars and pubs in Warrnambool

No Aussie road trip is complete without a trip the pub (or several).

Read more
Allee Espresso, Warrnambool
Warrnambool

The best Warrnambool cafes to try on your next visit

From sleek coffee bars to laidback kiosks, cafe culture is alive and well in Warrnambool.

Read more
hero media

Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
    Continue
    The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns. 

    It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach, the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.  

    Bells Beach
    Bells Beach is known for its epic surf break and is at the start of the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet 

    Split Point Lighthouse
    The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road. Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.  

    Split point lookout
    The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.  

    This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities. 

    Lorne to Birregurra 

    Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park, which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.  

    Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.  

    From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.  

    Erskine Falls
    Erskine Falls is one of many falls within a day trip of Lorne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae, helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.  

    Brae restaurant
    Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Apollo Bay to The Otways 

    Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.  

    A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.  

    Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles 

    Twelve Apostles
    One of the famous Twelve Apostles, limestone sea stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. (Image: Ben Savage)

    The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.    

    It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.  

    The Grotto
    The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

    Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.  

    Port Campbell to Timboon 

    Timboon Fine Ice Cream
    Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

    Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.  

    Warrnambool to Port Fairy 

    Warrnambool building
    A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

    In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.  

    Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.  

    The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.    

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there

    Oak & Anchor
    The Oak & Anchor in Port Fairy.

    The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit. 

    The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip. 

    Eating there

    The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.  

    Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.