These top Mornington Peninsula dining experiences are chosen for their culinary excellence, incredible setting or curated atmosphere ‑ and in most cases, all three. Choose one of these for a truely memorable day on The Ninch.
Doot Doot Doot
Next level hotel dining, not just for Jackalope hotel guests. The feature ceiling made from glowing, golden light bulbs sets the scene for what’s ahead. Recognised two years in a row in The Age Good Food Guide, the wine list in itself is something to behold, and the luxurious menu is informed by fresh produce and culinary experiments.
Most often a set menu is the main fare; 5 courses paired with wines to compliment each dish.
Ten Minutes By Tractor
Open since 2006, Ten Minutes By Tractor has been serving an innovative menu driven by produce locally grown and foraged. Their cuisine is self defined as ‘progressive Australian’ and takes inspiration from a wide range of traditions and techniques.
Local and global cool‑climate wines feature to compliment their intricate dishes; with interiors designed to match, thoughtfully put together down to every last detail.
Laura at Pt Leo Estate
Pt Leo Estate’s ‘most refined expression of dining’ was recently awarded as one of the Best Country Restaurants in Victoria by Gourmet Traveller, and it’s not hard to see why.
Laura is an ‘unhurried dining experience’ where Sommelier and Chef work in unison to curate a menu highlighting authentic and considered ingredients. The wine list brings together 750+ local and global selections, with a particular focus on Victorian producers.
Port Phillip Estate
You’ll find the magnificent Port Phillip Estate in the lovely, winding suburb of Red Hill. Every table setting is poised to take in the 180 degree views of the sloping vineyard, which is especially spectacular if you’re dining at dusk.
The food is exceptional, and generous, with European influences at its core. If you’re feeling especially game, we suggest booking a stay and letting the festivities continue post‑dinner ‑ the six suites are the perfect continuation of a memorable evening.
Polperro
There’s a lot to love about Polperro, before you even wine, or dine. The rugged‑sleek Hecker Guthrie‑designed interior is upmarket cottage charm at its finest: whether you're sinking into the rich, lived‑in chocolate leather booths, lounging next to the open fireplace, or heading out through the gauzy linen curtains to the overhanging wooden deck (the perfect spot to toast the sunset with a glass of Even Keel Méthode Champenoise Rosé).
Polperro’s flagship restaurant began as a rustic, share plate‑style bistro and has made a smooth transition to delicate dining under the careful direction of head chef Shane Burke (Barn & Co, Stokehouse, Circa) and Michael Demagistris (East Bar & Dining, Alinea, Chicago and Noma, Copenhagen).
A classic Red Hill establishment, Polperro and their wider group consistently deliver the best of the Mornington Peninsula.
Tedesca Osteria
Brigitte ‑ the chef and owner of Graceburn & Tedesca, a bespoke B&B‑come‑Italian bistro experience in the heart of Red Hill ‑ believes in the “emotional response” that cooking brings, and it’s shaped her outlook on food, and long career in the kitchen.
Pollo al ajillo simmering on the stovetop, an upside‑down apple cake fresh from the oven, there’s something so intimate yet familiar about wholesome comfort‑cooking. The rustic informality of Tedesca’s open plan kitchen, with a brick‑wood fire oven and single, functional bench, allows guests a bird’s‑eye view of the cooking process, giving them an appreciation of what is, at its core, a passion project for the Tedesca team.
For your next occasion, look no further than our very own home for some of Victoria's most luxurious dining experiences.
