Ten Restaurants Worth Road Tripping For In Victoria

Victoria’s food scene stretches far beyond its laneways. From refined fine dining to countryside fare built on local produce, these ten restaurants—from city centres to High Country hideaways—are each worth a dedicated trip.

1. Brae – Birregurra (Great Ocean Road region)

Chef Dan Hunter’s Brae is reliably ranked among the world’s best restaurants. Located about 90 minutes from Melbourne, it offers a seasonal tasting menu sourced almost entirely from its onsite kitchen garden. Signature dishes like smoked eel doughnut and iced oyster define a thoughtful, hyper‑local dining experience.

2. Lake House – Daylesford

This two‑hat fine dine is a regional institution. With a seasonal menu made from house‑grown charcuterie to butter‑poached pheasant, Lake House delivers picturesque views and superb hospitality. A perfect escape, combining food, spa and countryside calm.

3. Hogget Kitchen – Warragul (Gippsland fringe)

Set amid olive groves and vineyards, Hogget Kitchen showcases ethically sourced Gippsland ingredients in elevated tasting menus. Though modestly scaled, the attention to regional produce and creative cooking earns it a deserved reputation.

4. Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel – Dunkeld

Three hours from Melbourne, Wickens transforms the Grampians’ indigenous flora and farm produce into an elegant menu. Operating under the Royal Mail Hotel’s cuisine umbrella, this slow‑menu dining experience is a feast rooted in place.

5. Du Fermier – Trentham

Run by chef Annie Smithers, Du Fermier blends French‑style hospitality with Australian farm‑to‑plate values. Located around 1 hour 20 minutes from Melbourne, the rustic dining room offers an ever‑changing menu based on seasonal produce and simple techniques.

6. Laura – Merricks (Mornington Peninsula)

The intimate dining room at Pt Leo Estate hosts Laura—an outstanding fine‑dining experience rooted in peninsula produce. Expect sea urchin mousse, house‑baked epi bread, and sweeping vineyard scenery.

7. Cape at Cape Schanck – Mornington Peninsula

Set on rugged coastal terrain, Cape offers elegantly plated modern Australian menus across eight courses with matching wines. Its remote, scenic setting and high‑tier cooking make it road‑trip worthy.

8. Emerald City – Healesville (Yarra Valley)

A whimsical four‑seat, multi‑course fine‑dining adventure helmed by Joel Alderdice. Courses mix hallucinated elements like hibachi meats and artistic desserts in a magical setting. A singular destination for serious food lovers.

9. Many Little Bar & Dining – Red Hill South

Sri Lankan–inspired, modern‑Asian flavours feature alongside biodynamic farm produce at this stylish Pepperro‑family venue. Small inventory, big experiences—worth a Long Lunch on Mornington Peninsula.

10. Greasy Zoe’s – Hurstbridge (NE Melbourne region)

Tiny and ten‑seat only, this rustic fine‑dining room sources hyper‑local ingredients from nearby paddocks. Chef Zoe Birch cooks innovative dishes like native seaweed snacks alongside Lachlan Gardner’s curated wines—a uniquely intimate tasting experience.

Honourable Mentions Around Melbourne City

While road‑tripping Victorian eateries get the spotlight, Melbourne itself is home to several bucket‑list restaurants:

• Attica in Ripponlea, helmed by Ben Shewry, is regularly ranked in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants thanks to its playful, ingredient-led tasting menu.
• Vue de Monde, on the 55th floor of the Rialto, offers a modern‑Australian 18-course feast with panoramic vistas and polished service.
• Grossi Florentino, a heritage restaurant on Bourke St, continues a legacy of refined Italian hospitality and regional produce.

For example, Brae offers on‑site stays; similarly, Lake House combines spa and dining on‑site. Many Peninsula and High Country locations offer boutique inns perfect for food‑centred trips.

Why Victoria’s Restaurants Deserve the Road Trip

• Locally sourced excellence: These restaurants define the farm‑to‑table movement in Victoria.
• Scenic settings: Dining views range from vineyard vistas to rolling hills and ocean panoramas.
• Culinary innovation: From Sri Lankan‑infused to French‑Australian fusions and native ingredients.
• Destination dining: The meal is part of the journey—worth every travel mile.

Final Thoughts

This list reflects Victoria’s best dining outside the usual Melbourne loop. Whether you crave high-end tasting menus or intimate table service, local produce or reinvented culinary tradition, there's a restaurant for every kind of epicurean traveller.

Road tripping for dinner may just be the new way to explore Victoria—one stunning plate at a time. For those planning to stay overnight or extend their culinary adventures, furnished apartments in Melbourne such as those offered by Corporate Keys provide a comfortable and convenient base. With spacious living areas, fully equipped kitchens, and central locations, these apartments are ideal for food lovers seeking both indulgence and flexibility while discovering regional flavours.