Geelong’s restaurant scene is thriving, offering a vibrant mix of culinary experiences that firmly establish it as a must-visit destination for food lovers. Once living in Melbourne’s shadow, this seaside gem has emerged with its own bold personality, leaning heavily into its love for fresh, local seafood.
Where To Eat In Geelong At A Glance
From stunning waterfront dining to cozy hidden gems tucked away in the city, Geelong’s food culture is truly a feast for the senses. In the heart of the city, Little Malop Street has become a foodie hotspot, while Pakington Street in Geelong West remains a beloved staple, offering family-friendly eateries and brunch favourites galore.
Celebrated for its lively atmosphere and exceptional local produce, Geelong’s best restaurants and cafes showcase everything from chargrilled meats and plant-based creations to globally inspired dishes that keep diners coming back for more.
Whether you’re planning a date night, catching up with friends, or seeking a laid-back brunch, Geelong has a dining experience for every occasion. As one of Victoria’s premier foodie destinations, Geelong guarantees fresh flavors, welcoming vibes, and meals you won’t soon forget.
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Here's where to find the best restaurants and cafes in Geelong for 2025:
The Best Restaurants In Geelong
Sumi
47 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
Centred around a Robata grill, Sumi is Geelong's answer to those seeking the smoky flavours of Izakaya-style dining. With a menu featuring a slew of different items touching the searing Bincho-tan grill, Sumi serves up the goods from Yakitori of all varieties to Bao buns and even an absolutely banging lobster roll. Don’t sleep on the melt-in-your-mouth teriyaki wagyu rump slathered in garlic soy butter with a side of fresh wasabi, either. It's a tidily-spaced 24-seat restaurant so the theatrics of the grill is all part of the dining. There’s a clever array of cocktails, beer and wine to choose from, too.
Bistrot Plume
56A Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont
Boasting a real neighbourhood feel, Bistrot Plume excels in nailing the delicate flavours of French cuisine. The corner restaurant has a soulful feel with a large exposed brick wall and a tidy collection of tables and booth seating. The menu oscillates between Parisian and regional French fare, featuring cheesy raclette croquettes, tangy anchovy toast, and larger staples like dry-aged duck a l’orange, steak frites and more. If you visit on a Sunday evening, grab a juicy wagyu beef burger—sandwiched between a milk bun with all the trimmings—for $24.
Baah Lah!
1/100 Pakington Street, Geelong West
Located right smack bang in the middle of town, Baah Lah and its eclectic mix of Asian fusion dishes have made quite the impact on the Geelong culinary scene since it first opened its doors back in 2019. Providing a diverse range of specialities from the Asian region, you'll find anything from handmade Cantonese-style pork wontons to fried chicken and kimchi bao and even char siu-glazed roasted beef bone marrow, or a tangy Malaysian chicken curry. Need a sweet treat? The Korean-style stuffed pancake loaded with fresh berries and white chocolate red miso ice cream is to die for.
Hot Chicken Project
84A Little Malop Street, Geelong
Sometimes, deep-fried chicken is the answer. Located in the buzzing Little Malop restaurant precinct, Hot Chicken Project is a casual eatery slinging cold beer and, you guessed it, hot Nashville-style chicken – with all the trimmings (bread, pickles, coleslaw), of course. Wash down the fried stuff with plenty of craft beer, plus a selection of gin and natural wine. You’ve got wings, you’ve got tenders and you’ve got burgers on offer, and you can pick your spice level depending how eye-watering you like your fried chicken. If (for whatever reason) you’re not feeling chicken, the crumbed and deep fried halloumi burger is a surefire vegetarian crowd pleaser.
Tulip
9/111 Pakington Street, Geelong
Placing a strong emphasis on scouting their ingredients from local and sustainable farms, Tulip is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants Geelong has to offer. Tucked among a collection of shops in a courtyard on Pakington Street, the laid-back venue has imbued its menu with high-quality local produce—be it Ketbaker sourdough slathered with cultured butter, or farm-grown vegetables. There’s plenty to choose from in the meat department too, from Black Angus hanger steak with miso mustard to a Wagyu porterhouse that boasts a marbling score of nine. Dine a la carte, or go for the $90-a-head chef’s menu for a surprise selection.
Songbird Thai BBQ
2 Ryan Place South, Rear of 205/207 Moorabool Street, Geelong
If bold Thai flavors and smoky barbeque vibes are your thing, Songbird in Geelong is a must. This vibrant spot blends traditional Thai recipes with a modern twist, all cooked over an open flame. Think succulent meats, charred seafood, and perfectly spiced veggies served alongside zesty house-made sauces that pack a punch. The buzzing atmosphere, casual vibe, and killer cocktails make it the perfect spot for a lively date night or group feast. Whether you're chasing fragrant curries or flame-grilled perfection, this venue in the former Igni space is the spot to hit up. Hot tip? It's a little hard to find, so don't be afraid of wandering down laneways.
Pholkore
238 Pakington Street, Geelong West
After the smashing success of its Torquay flagship, the team behind casual Vietnamese eatery, Pholkore opened a second outpost in Geelong in 2021 (there’s even one in Lorne now, too). Visit at lunch for perfectly flaky banh mi rolls or dine in on a summer’s night for steamy, fragrant bowls of the restaurant’s signature pho. The bun bowls are also a standout (go for the pork spring roll iteration), as are the fusion bowls—think pho meets laksa, or a tangy pho-Tom-Yum hybrid. Wash down the spice with a cocktail or choose from a range of local brews. It’s no wonder Pholklore has earned a reputation as Geelong’s best restaurant—or at least most frequented.
Woolstore
400 Pakington Street, Rutland Street, Newtown
Woolstore is an exciting addition to Geelong’s culinary scene this year, located within a historic, century-old woolstore building in Newtown. Helmed by the group behind the city’s Federal Mills precinct alongside award-winning head chef Eli Grubb, you’ll find a variety of modern Australian dishes with European influences, designed to share—from whipped ricotta loaded with mortadella and a side of crunchy toasted bread by local bakery Paddock, to house-made crisps piled with gildas. Perch at the cocktail bar on the second floor—where the original tallowwood flooring and lanolin markings remain – or at the elegant dining room downstairs. Both levels offer plenty of natural light through seven-metre high glass windows that add to the industrial feel. Heads up, this is some of the best fine dining Geelong has to offer, dress accordingly.
Sober Ramen
85 Little Mallop Street, Geelong
Sober Ramen may be tiny, but it certainly packs a punch. The hole-in-the-wall restaurant on Little Mallop Street has garnered somewhat of a cult following since opening its doors in 2017, and with good reason. As its name suggests, ramen is the speciality here. But there’s plenty of snacks and share plates to satiate your appetite while waiting for your steaming bowl of noodle goodness to arrive. The ramen itself is varied, and you can choose the spicy level depending how fiery you like your soup. The prawn and chicken dumpling ramen—served in a spicy chicken broth with egg noodles—is a definite crowdpleaser, or go for the beef rib ramen for a robust meal of braised and grilled beef rib swimming in shoyu beef broth. Not a fan of soup? The dry ramen plates are just as good, despite the oxymoron the name might suggest.
Osteria Fiorenza
49 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
If you’re after an authentic Italian feed in the heart of Geelong, be sure to try Osteria Fiorenza. Perfect for date night, and easily Geelong’s best italian restaurant, the tiny Gheringhap Street restaurant offers diners an intimate, romantic experience—and tables go fast, so ensure to book in advance. Foodwise, you can’t go past the fresh pasta, be it handmade pappardelle enlaced with a rich, slow-cooked beef ragu, or the fresh ricotta gnocchi bathed in tomato sugo with a healthy dosing of stracciatella on top. For those with a sweet tooth, the tiramisu is fluffy and masters the balance between mascarpone and coffee. Or, keep it simple with a classic affogato punctuated by an amaretto crumb. Buono!
The Best Cafes In Geelong
Hanaya Fusion Cafe
64 Elizabeth Street, Geelong West
Looking for a bite for lunch? Hanaya in the trendy suburb of Geelong West has some of the best sandos going around the city: fluffy yet crispy, packed with salads and sauces to boot. The crispy pork katsu or chicken karaage are sure to get your tastebuds fired up. Pair your sando with a variety of Asian-fusion style snacks, be it gyozas, takoyaki or even more karaage if you’ve got a hankerin’. The tonkotsu ramen is a standout, too, if you’re after something a little more filling.
That Place
110B Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont
If it wasn’t for the queue of eager customers spilling out of the door of That Place, you might just miss it. The tiny Belmont shopfront on Mt Pleasant Road is a go-to spot for locals looking for their pastry fix. Specialising in French-style treats by pastry chef Ashlea Allen, visit for a range of sweet and savory morsels from croissants to danishes, Persian love cake, breaky rolls, tarts and more. There’s also salads if you’re after a quick lunch fix, plus coffee by 7 Seeds. You’ll want to get in quick on Saturdays though as the best pastries sell out fast.
Box Office Cafe
77 Preston Street, Geelong West
As far as Melbourne cafes go, Box Office is as close as it gets in Geelong. The casual eatery could be in Melbourne’s inner north with its industrial-style fitout, abundance of plants and oodles of natural light. Pull up a seat at the communal table for a working lunch or drop by for a proper brunch feed on the weekend. Box Office’s is all about supporting local and most of their dishes are made with native Australian ingredients—think buttermilk lamington waffles loaded with macadamias, Lindt chocolate ganache and strawberry gum infused coulis, or a decedent slow-cooked kangaroo pie marinated with Davidson plum and pepperberries, plus mushrooms and local stout, all encased in a housemade damper-style pastry. It doesn’t get more Aussie than that.
Local Geelong
175 McKillop Street, Geelong
We couldn’t do a cafe round-up without a mention of The Local. Just on McKillop Street near the CBD, here you’ll find some of the softest, fluffiest loaded focaccias in town using housemade sourdough. There’s also a variety of hand-rolled pastries (the cream cheese cinnamon scrolls are a must-try) plus coffee by Everyday that could rival some of the best Melbourne brunch spots. It’s a local hotspot so be sure to get in earlier on the weekends before the best pastries sell out. Focaccia specials rotate—check the Local’s instagram for the sanga of the day.
After more on Geelong? Head over to our Things To Do In Geelong to check out what else is on offer.
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