Cafes & bakeries

The more you look, the more you uncover in Geelong and on the Bellarine Peninsula. It's no different when it comes to the sustenance of a hearty breakfast accompanied by quality coffee, or substantial lunch options, or even a sweet treat for any time of day.

Geelong, Victoria's second city, is cultivating quite the following among gourmands as a foodie destination of choice. Meanwhile, the beloved coastal towns and sleepy hamlets of the Bellarine continue to raise the bar for year-round residents and seasonal visitors alike. 

Stop and savour

Once consigned as a jumping-off point for the renowned Great Ocean Road, Geelong is now a destination not only for its rejuvenated and acclaimed waterfront, but also for cafes and bakeries to fuel travellers ahead of days filled with exploration and leisure. 

Pre-arrival, take a short detour from the main highway to find the Little River General Store. A trove of options includes Mahalia coffee, locally baked Routley's bread, You Yangs honey, free-range eggs, a huge traditional lolly counter, and an array of nostalgia-inducing 'retro relics' to browse and buy. 

In Geelong, gravitate to the eye-catching Geelong Library and Heritage Centre for brunch at the resident cafe, Public at The Dome. King of the Castle is one among a number of wonderful cafes along the city's pre-eminent shopping strip, Pakington Street in Geelong West. The more intrepid will be rewarded by The Door Gallery Cafe, situated in the old Fyansford Paper Mill on the Barwon River, and a short stroll from picturesque Buckley Falls. 

The Bellarine is also enjoying new-found popularity and its strong cafe game is a big part of the lure. Locals and visitors have been meeting up at Annie's Provedore in Barwon Heads for years to enjoy not just cafe and bakery fare but also to browse a range of gourmet food lines and pantry staples.

Across the bridge, Ocean Grove's The Olive Pit, beckons. Like Annie's, the brekky options and lunch fare reflect the fresh ingredients they sell at the in-house deli, supplemented with sublime Italian-style coffee and local wines.

The Queenscliff General Store is a destination in its own right, with a seasonally changing menu and close proximity to the ferry terminal and attractions that make the sleepy seaside village a perennial favourite.