Chef Patron Matt Podbury
Geelong born Matt comes with a well-credentialled food pedigree. Previous generations of his paternal family operated a local bakery for over 100 years, and the maternal side were butchers, cheesemakers and operated a Cantina in provincial Italy, while others were longstanding Green Grocers nourishing the people of Geelong.
So, after travelling to Europe to hone his craft at numerous Michelin Star restaurants in Italy and UK and a stint in Lyon, where he became immersed in Bistronomy (beautiful seasonal food and wine prepared and shared in a relaxed environment), he returned to his home town to showcase and share with local and visiting diners what the Geelong region has to offer and how it can be transformed and then combined with old-school hospitality.
"Our food is schooled in tradition but not bound by it....No trickery and mucking about with it.
We just want people to have a lovely meal and a lovely time, and want to come back. To make us their Local!"
Getting here by car
From Melbourne, 1 hour on the M1
From Avalon Airport, 25 minutes on the M1
From Ballarat, 75 minutes on the A300
From Lorne, 70 minutes on the stunning Great Ocean Road
From Torquay, 30 minutes on the Surfcoast Highway B100
From Spirit of Tasmania Terminal, 8 minutes on A10 and The Esplanade/Eastern Beach Road
From Queenscliff Ferry Terminal, 37 minutes on B110 through the Bellarine Peninsula
GMHBA Stadium (Home of the Geelong Cats AFL), 7 minutes via Moorabool Street
By Train from Melbourne
From Southern Cross Station Melbourne 70 minutes, then 12 minutes walk (900 metres)
By Ferry from Melbourne
From Docklands Melbourne, 95 minutes, then 4 minutes walk (350 metres) across Steampacket Gardens
From Sorrento via Queenscliff Ferry, 37 minutes drive from Queenscliff terminal.
Where to stay (Accommodation less than 10 minutes walk)
We are located on the ground floor of the Edgewater Apartments, 10 metres from the main entrance.
- Hotel R, 6 minutes walk
- Vue Apartments, 6 minutes walk
- The Waterfront Apartments, 2 minutes walk
- Novotel, 20 metres across Steampacket Place
Explore Geelong and Surrounds
While in Geelong, explore the:
- Street art, including the massive Unknown Mariner Mural next door to us
- Stunning Geelong Waterfront
- Stroll the Eastern Beach promenade including the Bollard walk (1 minute walk)
- Ride the Carousel (2 minutes walk)
- Take a helicopter ride (2 minutes walk)
- Ride the Ferris Wheel (5 minutes walk)
- Take a dip at the magnificent Eastern Beach (6 minutes walk)
- The National Wool Museum (3 minute walk)
- Geelong Art Gallery (4 minutes drive/11 minutes walk)
- Geelong Heritage Centre and The Dome (Geelong Library) (4 minute drive/12 minute walk)
- Geelong Botanic Gardens (4 minutes drive/25 minutes walk)
- Take in an AFL game and watch The Mighty Cats at Kardinia Park - GMHBA Stadium (7 minutes drive/23 minutes walk)
- For more great wineries, distilleries and places of interest, visit Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine