The Best Things to Eat, Drink and Do In Geelong In 2026
As Victoria’s second-largest city, Geelong has a lot going on – with new places to eat, drink and play popping up all the time. Melbourne coffee is up there. But if you know where to look, you’ll find more than enough cafes in Geelong that would rival even the best inner-north spots. There are plenty of cracking things to do here, from visiting local markets to hitting up trendy eateries in the culinary laneway of Little Malop Street and satisfying your cultural appetite.
Geelong At A Glance:
Sure, Melbourne coffee is up there. But if you know where to look, you’ll find plenty of cafes that would rival even the best inner-north spots. There are plenty of cracking things to do here, from visiting local markets to hitting up trendy eateries in the culinary laneway of Little Malop Street and satisfying your cultural appetite.
Below, find some of my top local recs for where to stay, eat, drink and keep yourself busy in Geelong whether you’re visiting for a weekend, an extended stay, or looking for a seachange.
Things To Do In Geelong
There’s stacks to do in Geetroit (that’s why people move here!), but if you’re just popping down for a night or two, these are the absolute highlights. Aside from cruising Little Malop Street for food, these are a couple of essential must-see sights, must-do activities and must-explore adventures to add to the itinerary.
Eastern Beach Reserve
95 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong
Image: Eastern Beach Reserve | Visit Victoria
If you’re passing through Geelong in the warmer months, Eastern Beach is a must-visit, particularly if you’ve got little ones in tow. Perhaps a miss for the crowd-averse, the heaving aquatic playground and sea bath was originally built in the 1930s and remains a favourite among locals and tourists alike today. Perfect for those who might not want to rough it among the waves of the ocean, an Art Deco-style boardwalk wraps around an enclosed sea bath complete with a 10-metre-high diving tower and smaller diving boards, plus a kids' pool at the forefront, just metres from the Pavilion cafe. Life guards patrol in the summer, too. Park at the Botanic Gardens for a leisurely walk before heading down for a coffee and a swim.
Visit The Markets
Various Locations
Image: The Amazing Mill Markets | Instagram
Pick up a gift, peruse the knick-knacks or maybe even snag a vintage outfit at one of the many offerings in the Geelong market precinct. Pakington Street is a good starting point (and a hub for some of the best cafes in town), where you’ll find a plethora of local op shops and second-hand stores. Over in Newcombe, check out The Amazing Mill Markets for vintage goodies including clothing, furniture, artwork, decor, jewellery, books, records and more. On Sundays, a giant car park on Barwon Heads Road in Belmont transforms into a trash-and-treasure trove full of eclectic stores and food trucks (think sausage sizzles, breaky rolls and coffee). You might find clothes, collectables, or even stumble upon a chat with one of the local stallholders. Just make sure you come with a gold coin for entry. Or, if you’re up for a bit of a drive, take a day trip out to Portalington on the fourth Sunday of the month and check out the local market (perhaps after a guided tour of the famous mussel farms, complete with tastings of fresh caught seafood).
National Wool Museum
26 Moorabool Street, Geelong
Image: National Wool Museum | Visit Victoria
In the heart of the city on Moorabool Street, you can’t miss the historic Wool Museum. The gallery is another kid-friendly must-do, located within a restored 150-year-old bluestone building that was once home to the second-largest woolstore in Victoria. There’s two curated galleries inside, including the award-winning On the Land exhibition, where you can learn more about the Australian wool story, past, present and future, as created by Wadawurrung people Corrina Eccles, Byron Powell and Deanne Gilson. Of course, there’s also opportunity to purchase quality woollen garments and specialty gifts, or visit one of many nearby eateries—like the Woolstore restaurant and bar, found in another century-old woolstore building in Newtown.
Anther Distillery
33 Mackey Street, North Geelong
Image: Anther Distillery | Instagram
The award-winning Anther Distillery put Geelong on the map for gin. You take one distiller with a PhD in microbiology, another who’s a bartender with serious industry cred, and of course they'd create something that makes the world sit up and take notice. The distillery sits in North Geelong's revitalised Federal Mills Precinct, right beside 1915 restaurant (also worth a visit for their New England prawn rolls of you're peckish afterwards). Stop in on Saturdays for unique gin experiences with the team, like gin tastings with botanicals, fruits and mixers to experiment, cocktail flights with mini drink half-serves (with full serves of cocktail history) and private tours of the distillery and the secrets to their innovative spirits. Then stick around at the bar for a cocktail or two. It’s the most delicious kind of learning. Chances are you’ll leave with at least one bottle.
Where To Eat In Geelong
Geelong has its own food scene bubbling away. New bars, old faves, fusion feeds and even some fine dining. Sit yourself down at some top tier Vietnamese at Pholklore, hang out at Hot Chicken Project in Little Malop, or treat yourself to a bougie dinner at Woolstore. For more of Geelong’s best restaurants, head over here.
Pholkore
238 Pakington Street, Geelong West
Image: Pholklore | Instagram
Local Geelong
175 McKillop Street, Geelong
Image: The Local | Instagram
Woolstore
400 Pakington Street, Rutland Street, Newtown
Image: Woolstore | Instagram
The award-winning Woolstore serves elevated but playful cuisine 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 Euro influences—from chicken liver mousse on beef fat bread and butter pudding to lobster mac and cheese and fresh local crudites with red pepper hummus. 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.
The 18th Amendment Bar
82a Little Malop Street, Geelong
Image: The 18th Amendment Bar | Instagram
At 18th Amendment, even the cocktails are a feast for the eyes. Named after the amendment that enforced Prohibition in the US, this acclaimed speakeasy-style spot channels the spirit (pun intended) of the roaring twenties, from decor to drink. You’ll find jazz-inspired sips like the vibrant Rhapsody In Blue, as well as barrel-aged specialties and signature serves, including the ever-Instagrammable Boardwalk Empress, served flamboyantly in a treasure chest. Select an intriguing spirit from their wall of bottles, or let them guide you with a flight of rums or whiskeys. Food is a strictly snacky affair. Think, nuts, olives, cheese and charcuterie, or smalls and shares from Mav’s Greek Restaurant, like haloumi chips and chargrilled octopus. Be warned: you can easily lose hours here.
The Petrel Hotel
81 Pakington Street, Geelong
Image: The Petrel Hotel | Instagram
Geelong's oldest pub is looking pretty damn good at 175 years. The Petrel Hotel’s swish facelift taps right into Aussie nostalgia, all timber and forest green leather banquettes offset by that classic floral pub carpet. And the pub grub’s had an epic glow-up, with fun snacks like Dim Sims with kimchi relish, classics like chicken schitty with oozy garlic butter, slaw and chippies and dishes that show off the best of local produce, like Portarlington mussels with tomato sugo, white wine and sourdough for dipping. It wouldn’t be a pub without specials, like the traditional weekend roast (yep, Saturday as well) and a $30 steak frites Wednesday. Settle in with a pint near the fire, catch a gig or a game, and just enjoy a pub that feels like the good old days.
Where To Stay In Geelong
Myers Manor
142 Myers Street, Geelong
Image: Myers Manor | Booking.com
One of the most beautiful places to rest your head after a day of swimming and exploring local markets and eateries is Myers Manor—a historic rendered brick mansion originally built in the 1880s, featuring eight private studios. Book one or take the entire house with a large group. It’s right in the centre of Geelong so within walking distance to plenty of restaurants and local attractions. The manor is oozing with period charm with features like original fireplaces and a decorative cast-iron veranda, plus a grassy picnic area and stunning views across the city.
Warehouse Apartments
5 Little Ryrie Street, Geelong
Image: Warehouse Apartments | Instagram
For more of an industrial vibe, Geelong’s warehouse apartments are chic, comfortable and quiet, despite being right on the fringe of the CBD. There’s three apartments fitted out with a New York-loft aesthetic, complete with polished concrete floors, soaring ceilings, exposed brick and timber roof trusses and plenty of natural light. Each suite also comes with a fully-equipped kitchen and sleek bathroom. There’s even a washing machine and terrace, and it’s within walking distance to hot spots like the Geelong Gallery – one of the oldest regional art galleries in Australia.
Tanglewood
Belmont, Geelong
Image: Tanglewood | Airbnb
Over in the neighbourhood suburb of Belmont, Tanglewood is a guest favourite on Airbnb for a reason, it’s brimming with character, charm and artistic flair. Meander down a stone pathway to reach this three-bedroom converted barn, where stained-glass windows and timber carvings by artist-owners, Leigh and Gracie, add to the homey feel. Unwind in a private bathhouse with a stone tub while enjoying the peaceful surroundings and dappled sunlight through leadlight windows. Permaculture gardens add to the whimsy, and there’s even a meditation enclave within one of the bedrooms, complete with a salt lamp wall. At the end of the day, ascend the spiral timber staircase to a cosy loft.
After more on Geelong? Head over to Best Restaurants to check out what else is on offer.
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