Best Beachside Bars and Restaurants in Melbourne and Surrounding Areas There aren't nearly as many bars in Melbourne clustered together along the beach, only a handful compared to Sydney's 3907. Which is a good thing because it would be difficult to choose from so many alternatives.
Instead, we have compiled a concise list that covers all of Melbourne, from Williamstown to St. Kilda, and from Portsea to Lorne via the Great Ocean Road. Plan to relax with a drink in the evening's fresh air or to drive to the beach on the weekend for a swim and a leisurely lunch.
Melbourne Beach, Florida is located on a 35-mile-long island and is known for its historic beach community. Back to the 1880s, this town's history goes. The Melbourne Causeway, which has been under construction since the 1920s, finally connected the island to the Florida mainland in the 1960s.
Both of the island's 5th Avenues are less than a mile apart from one another. The first street is in the city of Indialantic, while the second is in the beachside community of Melbourne. Several restaurants line or are close to the boulevards, serving up cuisine from around the world as well as seafood and other options unique to the region.
We have compiled a list of the best beachside eateries in Melbourne so that you can indulge in your fantasies of being in a tropical paradise after you've finished playing. We've given you the details you need to reserve a table at one of the many establishments that we've listed here. Can't be bothered to prepare a meal at home? Additionally, there is a wide selection of fast food and other takeout options. Fish and chips on the beach, anyone?
Melbourne's best beachside restaurants
West
Sebastian
The drinks and food are perfect for those looking for a boozy day at the beach, as they are inspired by Mediterranean flavours. In order to stay, you must make a reservation in advance through the website.
The Kiosk d’Asporto
For those seeking a fine dining experience with breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay, look no further than Pier Farm. You wouldn't show up here with your clothes drenched in sand. The menu at the nautically decorated restaurant is heavily influenced by Mediterranean cuisine and features an abundance of seafood dishes, but there are also many options for meat eaters. Bookings made online are available round-the-clock.
Pier Farm
In honour of its reopening on St. Kilda Beach, the Pontoon Deck at Stokehouse Precinct has created a menu inspired by classic Australian beach barbecues. Envision a summertime feast featuring fresh seafood such as oysters, prawns, and grilled steaks served with fruity desserts and refreshing drinks. As an outdoor event space, it can host up to fifty people, while its indoor event space is perfect for more intimate gatherings. Except on Sundays, you can visit between 12 PM and 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. Make your reservations online.
South
Pontoon
From Pier Port Melbourne, walk ten minutes to reach Port Melbourne Beach, or two minutes to reach the dog beach. The complex includes a bar and a restaurant serving a modern take on traditional Australian fare. The restaurant will reopen on November 11; in the meantime, they are accepting email reservations.
Pier Port Melbourne
As the day winds down and you've done things like swimming and running around, you're bound to get hungry. From South Melbourne Beach, you can walk to the Third Wave Café in about five minutes. It's well-known for its generous servings, so your stomach will feel right at home. American barbeque takes centre stage, but there's also some fare that takes its cues from Russian cooking. Make your reservations online.
D'Lish Fish
Once known as the Beach Hotel, the Bleakhouse Hotel in Albert Park has since been renovated into a pub, restaurant, and beer garden with stunning views of the bay. On nights other than Mondays, diners can look forwards to a menu featuring traditional British and Australian pub fare. You can book your stay online.
Hotel Esplanade
Newly renovated, The Espy now features three onsite dining venues for guests. Mya Tiger specialises in Cantonese cuisine, while the main bar and the outdoor bar serve standard pub fare like pizzas and burgers. As its name suggests, Espy Kitchen serves food in the style of a "cellar door" eatery. Another major draw is the location's proximity to St. Kilda Beach. At this time, reservations can only be made online, and time is running out.
Republica
Republica, situated as it is at the St. Kilda Sea Baths, is a wonderful choice for a meal during the day's final suppertime hours. Seating in the courtyard, around the pool, and along the beach is always popular. The appetisers are modern Italian and are perfect for sharing. In order to stay, you must make a reservation in advance through the website.
St LuJa
St. LuJa serves as both a restaurant and a bar serving whisky and cocktails. It's not far from St. Kilda Beach. It's famous for its smoked goods, so you can expect to enjoy smoked brisket that's been cooked for 12 hours and served with smoked whisky. Due to the modern, American and Australian influenced nature of the event, online bookings are required.
Stokehouse
An iconic St. Kilda eatery, the Stokehouse is known for its casual fine dining with a focus on seafood and its prime beachfront location. The bay and beachgoers can be seen from here, and the menu reflects seasonal changes. Online booking is the only method that will be accepted.
Donovan's
The owners, Kevin and Gail Donovan, refer to Donovan's as their "house on the beach," and it feels very much like that. St. Kilda Beach is home to this elegant, airy, and spacious beach house. It promotes the use of local products and features modern takes on classic dishes. Reservations can be made by dialling 9534 8221.
Elwood Bathers
One more place that feels like a beach house and has great views of Port Phillip Bay is Elwood Bathers. There was a time when this place was known as Sails by the Bay. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu that varies with the seasons and a focus on classic seafood preparations. You can book your stay online.
Bistro La Provence
The Mediterranean influences can be tasted throughout the menu at Baia Di Vino, a wine bar and restaurant that is open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday and dinner every night of the week. You can almost taste the salt in the air, as Sandringham Beach is directly across the street from where you are sitting. As well as the door is open for business right now. Bookings made online are available round-the-clock.
Cerberus Beach House
Half Moon Bay is where you'll discover the hidden Cerberus Beach House. Located on the water, the restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine with a focus on seafood and an abundance of small plates meant to be shared. Furthermore, there is a casual kiosk selling takeout items like burgers and fish and chips. It is possible to book a table at the restaurant online.
6 Waterfront Restaurants in Melbourne & The Beaches
Take advantage of the day by visiting Melbourne and the Beaches with the people who matter most to you and taking in the city's magnificent scenery. While a day at the beach or a kayak tour of the Indian River Lagoon are both excellent options for taking in Melbourne, Florida's natural beauty, we recommend booking a table at one of the city's waterfront restaurants.
Grills Riverside
The Indian River Lagoon, and specifically Grills Riverside, offers spectacular early-morning sunrise views. Grills is a restaurant that overlooks the Indian River Lagoon and serves breakfast every day from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Guests can watch dolphins play and birds dive for fish in the lagoon as the sun rises over the horizon.
Sand on the Beach
Sand on the Beach Bar and Grill's upper deck offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. Anyone can come for no charge. It's your call when you want to take a seat and take in the morning sky. Breakfast is served at the restaurant starting at 8:00 AM, and there are many options to choose from.
When visiting Melbourne Beach, don't miss out on Sand on the Beach, an event that can't be compared to anything else in the area. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with a view of the ocean every morning. On the other hand, you could have a delicious lunch with your friends and a spread as colourful as it is appetising.
One possibility is a night out sampling exotic cocktails and the bold flavours of freshly caught seafood. Take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery, fresh air, and caring staff. Our bikini bar on the second floor offers a unique dining experience, but the deck is also a great place to unwind and enjoy the scenery. Before you know it, your upcoming vacation will actually be here.
Since it's right on the sand and has two patios with ocean views, Sand on the Beach is in a prime waterfront location. They have a bar on the second floor, and you can sit at the edge of the patio and look out over the water while you eat or drink. Those travelling in larger groups will appreciate the many screens and comfortable seating areas provided.
Lou’s Blues Bar and Restaurant
There is a wide variety of food options available at Lou's Blues Bar and Restaurant in Indialantic. The unique cuisine and nightly live music make it a popular spot amongst the neighbourhood regulars. Everything on the menu is delicious and funny at the same time.
You haven't lived until you've tried their gigantic dragon wings (made from turkey), the fiery red hot chilli peppers, and the psychedelic burger topped with Swiss and mushrooms.
Squid Lips Overwater Grill
The menu at Melbourne's Squid Lips Overwater Grill is incredibly extensive. It's almost good enough to save as a bookmark. They have become well-known for their Oysters Moscow, which can be steamed or served raw and are topped with horseradish sour cream and caviar.
You can take advantage of the rotating food and drink specials on offer during Happy Hour, which runs from 3 to 7 p.m. during the week and from 2 to 5 p.m. on the weekends. In addition, Squid Lips features a different live band every night. Bring your dancing shoes whether you travel here by boat or car.
Billie’s on the Beach
Billie's on the Beach, located in Spessard Holland North Beach Park, is a fun and friendly burger joint. It's hard to miss, as it's right across the street from the Spessard Holland Golf Course and about a mile south of Ocean Avenue.
You must try the conch fritters with the spicy boom-boom sauce. In this restaurant, you can order a burger that has been freshly pressed by hand and fries that have been cut right before your eyes.
"Melbourne Beach, Florida is home to Billie's, a sandwich shop with ocean views from its outdoor seating area. A burger joint with the highest customer traffic on the beach. It's all custom made to order. Delicious burgers and other food are served without the use of microwaves or heat lamps, and guests can take in the breathtaking scenery while they dine.
Billies unquestionably meets the criteria for a waterfront establishment as it is located on one of the busiest beach access roads in Melbourne Beach. We like it best as a place to grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich in the morning, but they also have great burgers and other classic American fare. Also available are a selection of tasty treats and ice cream flavours.
Cafe Coconut Cove
4210 S Highway A1a Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
Cafe Coconut Cove is a German fine dining establishment where you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes in complete privacy. If you're driving south on A1A, you might miss it, but turning around is well worth it. It is the favourite eatery of many locals in Melbourne Beach and the surrounding area.
5 of our favourite beachfront restaurants from all across Florida
Anna Maria Island, Clearwater Beach, Daytona Beach, Fort Myers, Jacksonville Beach, Melbourne, Miami, and other areas with great beachside dining!
Although we love lounging on Florida's renowned beaches, we love beachfront dining in the Sunshine State even more. This is because nothing beats relaxing with a meal and some drinks while watching the sunset with your toes in the sand.
As Floridians, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating at restaurants right on the beach. Therefore, we decided that it would be useful to share our list of the best restaurants, which includes both fine dining establishments and more relaxed cafes.
These dining establishments are known for their breathtaking waterfront locations and delectable Florida fare, such as Key lime pie, oysters from the Gulf of Mexico, and grouper. The great news is that at any of these restaurants, you can also get a delicious cheeseburger or a plate of succulent wings.
Benny’s on the Beach
At Benny's on the Beach in central Palm Beach County, you can expect to be blown away by the level of service and sophistication you'll find at this beachfront restaurant. Being located on the Lake Worth Beach pier gives the appearance of floating above the water. It's the kind of setting that makes you want to spend the day eating conch fritters and sipping jalapeo-mango margaritas while gazing out at the water.
The casual beach café has been a local favourite ever since it first opened in 1986. In 2013, new owners hired fine-dining chef Jeremy Hanlon, who completely rewrote the menu while keeping the restaurant's beachy vibe. Benny's became a popular spot to eat because it served food that was on par with the breathtaking views.
Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant
For over a hundred years, visitors, apartment dwellers, and diners at the Casa Marina Hotel have been awed by the stunning Atlantic Ocean views. (On June 6, 1925—the same day Pablo Beach was renamed Jacksonville Beach—it was formally opened.)
Weddings, Sunday brunches, and cocktails in the Penthouse Lounge, which overlooks the ocean and is less than two blocks from the Jacksonville Beach Pier, are popular activities at this Mediterranean Revival hotel and restaurant. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has recognised this hotel as an official Historic Hotel of America.
A visit here isn't complete without taking in the scenery, but that's not reason enough to come.
Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
In 1981, "Frenchy" Preston opened his eponymous cafe in a quaint little spot near Clearwater Beach. Frenchy's Seafood Company was founded only a few years after Frenchy's first restaurant opened, and its namesake was named after him. He founded the company on a niche for fresh fish, specifically grouper sandwiches, and gave it his own name.
The business has expanded into a fleet of commercial fishing vessels that supply Preston's vast network of local Frenchy's restaurants with high-quality, sustainably caught fish such as grouper, snapper, and others.
The Ocean Deck
The Ocean Deck has been known as a great place to hang out since around the 1950s. The same reggae house band has played there continuously since the 1990s. What's more, it's right on the beach, so you can enjoy the water and the sand without going far. Through the back door, you can walk straight out onto the beach. This makes it the most traditionally appealing spot on Daytona Beach's beachfront for eating and drinking. A hangout for both foreigners and locals.
Conclusion
Melbourne Beach, Florida is a historic beach town on an island that's 35 miles long. If you're feeling like reliving your time spent playing in a tropical paradise, we've compiled a list of the best beachside restaurants in Melbourne. To celebrate its reopening on St. Kilda Beach, the Pontoon Deck at Stokehouse Precinct has developed a menu based on traditional Australian beach barbeque fare. The Third Wave Café is only a five-minute stroll from South Melbourne Beach. Donovan's Beach House, the Stokehouse, and Elwood Bathers are all located on St. Kilda Beach.
At Baia Di Vino and the Provence Bistro, you can get creative updates on traditional dishes. At Bay of Wine, you can taste the Mediterranean influences in every dish. Cerberus Beach House in Half Moon Bay offers a contemporary Australian menu with an emphasis on seafood. Views of the sunrise over the Indian River Lagoon can be seen from Grills Riverside. The rooftop deck at Sand on the Beach Bar & Grill is a wonderful place to unwind and take in the view.
With its prime location on the sand and two ocean-view patios, Sand on the Beach is hard to beat. Almost every item on the menu at Squid Lips Overwater Grill is worthy of being bookmarked. In Melbourne Beach, Florida, Billie's is the most popular burger joint. One of the best things about eating at the Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island is the spectacular view it offers of the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy the sand between your toes while dining on Florida-inspired fine cuisine at Holmes Beach, or stay inside and take advantage of the restaurant's cutting-edge air purification system.
Since it opened in 1986, Benny's on the Beach has been a favourite among the locals. The Atlantic Ocean views at the Casa Marina Hotel have been stunning guests for over a century. In this Mediterranean Revival hotel and restaurant, guests love the Penthouse Lounge because of its breathtaking views of the water. Preston, also known as "Frenchy," established Frenchy's Seafood in 1981. Since roughly the 1950s, the Ocean Deck has been recognised as a fantastic place to spend time with friends. Because of its proximity to the shore, guests need not travel far to relax in the sand and surf.
Content Summary
- Melbourne Beach, Florida is a historic beach town on an island that's 35 miles long.
- So that you can continue living out your fantasies of being in a tropical paradise even after the game is over, we have compiled a list of the best beachside eateries in Melbourne.
- To celebrate its reopening on St. Kilda Beach, the Pontoon Deck at Stokehouse Precinct has developed a menu based on traditional Australian beach barbeque fare.
- The Third Wave Café is only a five-minute stroll from South Melbourne Beach.
- The secret Cerberus Beach House can be found in Half Moon Bay.
- Melbourne's waterfront and beachfront are home to six different eateries.
- We recommend making a reservation at one of Melbourne, Florida's waterfront restaurants rather than spending the day at the beach or going on a kayak tour of the Indian River Lagoon, though both of these activities are great ways to take in the city's stunning natural scenery.
- Located in Melbourne, Squid Lips Overwater Grill is a marine grill that is famous for its squid licks.
- Billie's on the Beach is the name of a popular beach bar.
- Some of the best restaurants in Florida can be found right along the shore.
- Living in Florida, we have an abundance of options when it comes to beachside dining.
- Benny's on the Beach, located in the heart of Palm Beach County, is known for its impeccable service and upscale atmosphere.
- Because it is situated on Lake Worth Beach Pier, it appears to be floating on the water.
- Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant is located at 691 North First Street in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
- At Frenchy's, we have the Rockaway Grill.
- At 7 Rockaway Street, Frenchy's Rockaway can be found in Clearwater.
- Frenchy Preston, a local resident of the Clearwater, Florida area, opened his namesake cafe there in 1981.
- Several years after opening his first eatery, Frenchy was honoured with the establishment of a seafood company bearing his name.
FAQs About Melbourne Restaurants
Some of the most popular restaurants in Melbourne Beach that deliver are:
- Oceanside Pizza
- DeAngelo's by the Sea
- A Perfect Pear Grille
Some of the most popular restaurants in Melbourne Beach that provide takeout are:
- Cafe Coconut Cove
- Sunnyside Cafe
- Ocean 302 Bar and Grill
The best restaurants in Melbourne Beach include:
- Cafe Coconut Cove
- Sunnyside Cafe
- Ocean 302 Bar and Grill
Some of the best restaurants in Melbourne Beach for families with children include:
- Sunnyside Cafe
- Cafe Coconut Cove
- Oceanside Pizza
It's Smith Street, Collingwood. This may be news to some but, with its vast range of food and dining options, funky bars, artisan outlets and vintage shops, it's easy to see why this once 'working class' area has become the number one must-see street on Time Out magazine's world hotlist.