8 Foodie Escapes in Victoria

Lancemore Lindenberry Red Hill

Victoria has gained international acclaim for its world-class food and wine. Many visitors set their sights on food-focused Melbourne — and our guide to the Top Foodie Hotels in Melbourne is a great starting point — but there's plenty to discover in rural Victoria, too. Head down to the magical Mornington Peninsula for fabulous wineries and farm-to-table restaurants, or to the much-lauded vineyards of the Yarra Valley. Bucolic Daylesford is also famed for its rich farmland and sensational seasonal produce. Luckily for us, many of Victoria's best restaurants also have rooms. Unwind in striking modernist suites overlooking verdant vineyards or forest-framed rivers, soak up dazzling views of Mount Sturgeon from the privacy of your terrace, or take a scenic stroll through sculpture-filled lakeside gardens. Sipping sundowners with a view over Port Phillip Bay's not half bad either! Whether you're dreaming of a romantic escape, a family-friendly holiday or a special celebration with friends, Victoria's foodie escapes await.

For a Wonderful Winery

The Mitchelton Hotel

  • Lancemore Lindenberry Red Hill is an elegant vineyard retreat in the marvellous Mornington Peninsula. Romantic rooms and suites are clad in soothing tones, and Chef Tony Brazendale offers superb seasonal set menus in the acclaimed Dining Room. The hotel's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are best tasted with winemaker Barney Flanders at the cellar door on weekend afternoons.
  • The Mitchelton Hotel sits on a Goulburn Valley vineyard with fifty years of winemaking history. A striking, design-led modern masterpiece, the hotel itself offers sleek and stark, steel-grey and white interiors overlooking a refreshing infinity pool. The adjoining Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art is excellent, as is the serene spa. The Provedore serves cracking breakfasts and lunches, whilst Nagambie Lakes district produce is paired with the vineyard's own wines — and regional favourites — at The Muse.

For a Family-Owned Favourite

Hotel Sorrento

  • Lake House in lovely Daylesford has been transformed from a mining site to a beautiful country hotel over the past 40 years. The dedicated owners champion Australian artists through their design, and farm-to-table dining in the beloved restaurant, with produce sourced from 38-acre Dairy Flat Farm, which they also run. Foodies will adore the farm tours and workshops, as well as the innovative seasonal cuisine. One of Victoria's top foodie hotels, Lake House has been setting the bar for the region's country hotels for decades.
  • Hotel Sorrento has been family-owned since 1872. A glamorous hotel on the cliff above Port Phillip Bay, it's a beautiful destination for a romantic escape, with understated cream-and-white guest rooms boasting sink-into tubs and sea-view balconies. Gather at Salt Bar for live music after savouring George Calombaris' gourmet Australian cuisine at the Dining Room, and Junlin Yi's Cantonese delights at Shihuishi. Fabulous.

For a Neighbourhood Hub

Hotel Frangos

  • Hotel Frangos is a characterful boutique bolthole in the heart of Daylesford. A neighbourhood hotspot, the hotel hosts regular events, and showcases seasonal Victoria produce in the resto-bar decorated by artist DavidBromley's bold mural wall. Pair mouth-watering dishes with Daylesford and Macedon region wines, or icy craft beers and cool cocktails. The hotel has 15 bright and playful guest rooms.

For Exceptional Destination Dining

Jackalope

  • Jackalope has become a Mornington Peninsula icon, with farm-to-fork cuisine sourced from the 12 acres of grounds as well as neighbouring farms. Contemporary spaces echo agricultural buildings, set around an original heritage farmhouse. Modern Asian flavours meet Australian produce under the guidance of Chef Michael Wickham at Doot Doot Doot, mixologists create unusual cocktails at Flaggerdoot, and fresh cuisine complements the estate's world-class wine at Rare Hare. A bold foodie favourite.
  • The Royal Mail Hotel is a destination dining dream, with the region's largest kitchen garden, degustation menus at Wickens — Chef Robert Wickens' award-winning gastronomic restaurant — and relaxed, all-day dining at Parker St Project. The 30,000 bottle wine cellar boasts the largest private collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers sommelier-led tours and tastings. Retreat to stylish rooms with Mount Sturgeon views after Grampians National Park hikes.
  • Brae sits on 30 acres of organic farmland, where produce for the restaurant's acclaimed — and ever-changing — tasting menus is grown. Chef-owner Dan Hunter has gained a reputation for sensational seasonal fare, making this one of Australia's best restaurants. Six slick suites invite keen foodies to linger a little longer. Such is the focus on the restaurant, that you can't reserve a room unless you have a lunch booking. Dazzling.

STILL NOT SURE?

  • Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill Red Hill, Victoria 40 rooms from £206

    Wine tasting  -  Taste terrific Chardonnay & Pinot Noir at the hotel's cellar door on weekends, chatting to winemaker Barney Flanders
    Romantic Break  -  A restful, romantic retreat channelling contemporary vineyard elegance, perfect for a food-focused couples' escape
    Great walks  -  Stroll through Seawinds Gardens, along Canadian Bay Beach or follow the Bushrangers Bay Track along the coast
    Foodies  -  Foodies will adore the award-winning Dining Room's superb seasonal set menus, created by chef Tony Brazendale
    Air conditioningTennisSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    With an acclaimed vineyard & gorgeous manicured gardens, this Mornington Peninsula retreat offers a collection of elegant, white-and-grey clad rooms & suites. Crisp white linens, garden views & a sense of calm characterise grown-up spaces. The Dining Room is award-winning & the Cellar Door superb. See More

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  • The Mitchelton Hotel Nagambie, Victoria 54 rooms from £212

    Wine tasting  -  Explore the wineries of the Goulburn Valley, including the hotel's own fantastic cellar door, with a 50-year winemaking history
    Country Escape  -  A sleek, minimalist country escape, with a decades-old winery, landscaped gardens & an infinity pool near the river
    Weddings  -  A gorgeous venue for a winery wedding with lashings of hip, understated style
    Restaurant  -  Savour delicious breakfasts & lunches at The Provedore, and dinners at The Muse, using seasonal Nagambie Lakes district produce
    Air conditioningSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    A minimalist design hotel on an iconic vineyard in the up-and-coming Goulburn Valley. Sleek interiors are clad in white & grey tones, with leather sofas, polished wood & sink-into tubs. The acclaimed art gallery is a highlight, as are the cellar door, the 20-metre infinity pool and the spa. Superb. See More

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  • Lake House Daylesford (Australia) 35 rooms from £230

    Foodies  -  The Lake House Restaurant - with produce sourced from the farm - is one of the best in Victoria, and perfect for keen foodies
    Learning  -  Take a guided tour of Dairy Flat Farm to see the hotel's productive gardens, orchard, olive grove & vineyard
    Birdwatching  -  Spot rosella, parrots, kingfishers and kookaburras in the property's gorgeous gardens
    Honeymoons  -  A sensational honeymoon hideaway, complete with romantic dining and a superb spa
    TennisSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenViewsParking
    Recommended by  -  Fodors

    Waterfront rooms and suites set on six acres around Daylesford Lake. Great walks and birdwatching on property, and close proximity to world famous mineral springs. Award winning restaurant serving regional cuisine. Family friendly. See More

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  • Hotel Sorrento Sorrento, Victoria from £198

    Hotel Entertainment  -  Expect great live music & DJ nights at Salt Bar during the summer months, and at the popular Front Bar on Fridays & Saturdays
    Great walks  -  Walk the Sorrento-Portsea Artists Trail, admiring dazzling views which have inspired artists, then visit Sorrento's galleries
    Foodies  -  Foodies will adore award-winning chef George Calombaris' gourmet Australian cuisine, and chef Junlin Yi's Cantonese delights
    Honeymoons  -  A hip seaside hotel with a real sense of timeless glamour, perfect for a Mornington Peninsula honeymoon
    Air conditioningSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    A glamorous clifftop hotel overlooking Port Phillip Bay for over a century, this family-owned spot oozes understated chic. Think pared-back rooms clad in cream & white tones, with exposed stone & pale oak, big soaking tubs & balconies framing magical views. A refreshing pool, bars & eateries await. See More

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  • Hotel Frangos Daylesford (Australia) 15 rooms from £95

    Museums  -  The Daylesford Museum and Cultural Centre is fantastic for those seeking to delve into the history of the region
    Foodies  -  Showcasing regional produce, the restaurant & wine bar are a destination in themselves
    Great walks  -  Take a scenic stroll through Daylesford, or up to the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens
    Value chic  -  A lovely, characterful little hotel offering plenty of personality at great prices
    Air conditioningSpaRestaurantGardenParkingNo pets

    Set in the heart of Daylesford, this hotel has a lot to offer. Fabulously designed bedrooms, a choice of two lively restaurants and the Endota Day Spa. The owners have poured their passions into Frangos to make it truly welcoming and completely unique. Unwind in this stylish hotel. See More

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  • Jackalope Merricks North, Victoria 44 rooms from £345

    Back to Nature  -  With two spectacular coastlines, the region has dramatic surf and sheltered bay beaches, natural hot springs and national parks
    Foodies  -  Sensational cuisine has put Jackalope on the foodie map, and the rare flavours of Doot Doot Doot are not to be missed
    Architectural  -  Merges a heritage farmhouse with modern structures, all in black, that echo agricultural buildings
    Great walks  -  Breathtaking walks at Point Nepean National Park and Bushranger’s Bay Walking Track
    Air conditioningSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolDisabled accessParking

    Set in its own 12-acre vineyard this is a trendy foodie base in idyllic rolling hills. By no means your run of the mill rural escape, this is a cutting-edge contemporary spot, that has got it all right. Farm-to-fork cuisine, sharply designed interiors and spectacular views. Rural perfection. See More

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  • Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld, Victoria 40 rooms from £165

    Foodies  -  A sensational foodie hotspot, with produce from the kitchen garden served at Parker St Project and Wickens
    Wildlife Area  -  The Grampians National Park will delight wildlife enthusiasts and keen birders, as well as hikers
    Wine tasting  -  The afternoon Wine Cellar Tutorial is exceptional, and well worth booking in advance
    Honeymoons  -  An idyllic honeymoon escape, with superb cuisine and a real sense of romance
    RestaurantSwimming PoolGardenPet friendlyDisabled accessViews
    Recommended by  -  Fodors

    A range of accommodation available 2 km from the picturesque country town of Dunkeld, including rooms, self-catering apartments, an outdoor pool and a house sleeping up to 11 people. Perfect for groups, families and those wishing to explore the stunning Grampian National Park. See More

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  • Brae Birregurra, Victoria 6 rooms from £335

    Foodies  -  Amongst Australia's best restaurants, this innovative foodie haunt is headed by Dan Hunter, whose tasting menus are exceptional
    Eco break  -  Suites are carbon neutral, producing more energy than they consume, in line with the farm's ethos of regenerative agriculture
    Great walks  -  Discover the farm by following dedicated walking paths with interpretative signage, delving into organic produce and food
    Wine tasting  -  Savour tours and tastings at the top wineries and breweries which make up the Otways Harvest Trail
    Air conditioningRestaurantGardenDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    Six sensational modernist suites await guests of the acclaimed Brae restaurant. Headed by chef-owner Dan Hunter, the restaurant-with-rooms sits on 30 acres of organic farmland, growing produce for seasonal tasting menus. Interiors are slick & understated, with turntables, big tubs & rural views. See More

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Written by Saskia Walker

posted Monday, 15th April 2024