Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Mornington Peninsula

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Mornington Peninsula? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Merricks Store

4.8

4.8 (1322)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Merricks

About the restaurant

The Merricks Store is open every day 8.30am - 5pm, and 8.30am - 10pm on Fridays.
We are a vibrant destination frequented by locals and visitors alike - everyone is welcome.

Our talented kitchen team turn the very best of fresh, seasonal ingredients into the most delicious seasonal-inspired country cuisine.

Enjoy breakfast or a long lunch by the open fire or on one of our decks. Select from an extensive range of local wines as well as local beers and cider. An exciting development is that our Bistro is now open for dinner every Friday evening!

BREAKFAST 8:30am - 11am
LUNCH 12pm - 3:30pm
DINNER 5.30pm - 8pm Friday night's only.

Please see our website for more details.

Top review

Helen

Dined 2 days ago

This is a very high standard of regional restaurant. Our comments around the table were that it is a very well oiled machine in every area of the restaurant, and then there was the Store with an amazing arrangement of items to purchase. Every single staff member were amazingly helpful and friendly and polite. I was surprised at how big and varied the different dining locations were both inside and out. I came from Perth and can’t wait to get back to Mornington Peninsula again to go there.

Morning Sun Vineyard

4.8

4.8 (201)

$41 to $100

Winery

Main Ridge

About the restaurant

An intimate and beautiful family-owned Mornington Peninsula winery and restaurant with vineyard views in the heart of premium wine country. Wine and olive oil grown on site, served with Italian-inspired share plates. Sunny terrace in fine weather, cosy cellar room when it’s cold. Estate wines and barbecued quail are specialties. Lunch dishes change seasonally, estate-grown wine tasting all year round.

Top review

Craig

Dined 2 days ago

We had a wonderful lunch the food and wine was amazing and the view fantastic! Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable and gave us a full rundown on the vineyard and how the business was established. All up great value and a lovely day. Highly recommend Morning Sun Winery!

Discover more

Experience

Lunch at Morning Sun

Experience

Vineyard Experience Tour

Experience

Wine Tasting Only

Waves on the Beach

4.7

4.7 (1729)

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Frankston

About the restaurant

Hidden away on the beach with stunning panoramic waterfront views, Waves Restaurant offers an amazingly picturesque dining experience.
As a restaurant, it is just perfect for casual group meals, a romantic dinner for two or for a more elaborate wedding – for which they are very well known. Their interior has an easy, coastal feel with comfortable furniture, letting the ocean take centre stage. With glassed walls allowing the maximums views of the ocean in front of you, the feeling of dining by the sea is as real as it gets.
Their team of chefs have created a seasonal and mouth-watering menu that complements the relaxed, seaside feel of the venue. There are also delicious vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and a daily specials board. The wine list is also generous in its diversity with sulphate-free, organic wines available as well as delicious local and interstate wines. There is plenty of paid parking right outside their door and they are open 7 days for lunch &

Top review

Sharon

Dined 5 days ago

We had a table of eight. Food was really good, staff were very nice and we really enjoyed our night. Can’t wait to go there again.

Discover more

Many Little Bar & Dining

4.7

4.7 (25)

$41 to $100

Sri Lankan

Red Hill

About the restaurant

Many Little is a contemporary Sri Lankan restaurant by chef-owner Gayan Pieris, inspired by the vibrant food culture of Sri Lanka and traditional family recipes. Using classic techniques, aromatic spices, and Ayurvedic principles, the menu delivers bold, layered flavours with a refined modern touch. All dishes are made from scratch using premium ingredients, with no artificial flavours or enhancers.

Awarded One Chef Hat, the restaurant is known for its balance of authenticity, freshness, and creative presentation, bringing the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality to every plate.

Many Little Bar complements the dining experience with craft beer, local wines, cocktails, and a Sri Lankan-inspired bar menu, enjoyed in warm interiors, on the sun-drenched deck, or beneath the Angophora tree in the courtyard.

Top review

Ingrid

Dined 4 days ago

The Sri Lankan Feast was excellent. The hoppers were crisp but fluffy in the middle. The curries were very flavoursome without being too hot to handle! The sides were delicious.

Discover more

Experience

Chef's Menu

Experience

Chef's Menu exclusively Saturday night

Apple Espresso @Tully's

4.7

4.7 (112)

$40 and under

Café

Mornington

About the restaurant

Apple Espresso pays homage to our love for food. Enjoy our local vibrant atmosphere. We combine farm-fresh ingredients, old family recipes and homestyle cooking. Apple Espresso is an Italian home away from home. Our menu is made with a love of great food that feeds the soul. We’ve rounded it out with top-shelf Gigante espresso coffee and a handpicked selection of beer and wines. You can feel the laughter and warmth here at Apple Espresso. It’s the perfect place to meet, eat and relax by the fire. Our talented chefs are always finding new ways to use the delicious, farm-fresh local ingredients that Tully’s is famous for. You’ll find traditional Italian food front-and-centre, but we love variety and our menu changes seasonally. You’ll always find plenty of vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options.

Top review

Helen

Dined on 3 Sept 2026

Love this place. Great quality food, and a wide-ranging ever changing menu, plus always friendly service.

Young Street Tavern

4.7

4.7 (106)

$41 to $100

Australian

Frankston

About the restaurant

Humdinger is a local 70's inspired tavern.
Chef Simon Tarlington has created a modern tavern menu that befits the space. It includes natural oysters, lasagna schnitzel, jalapeño poppers& his signature grill menu including BBQ Pork Ribs with Bourbon & Coke glaze.

Top review

Jacqui

Dined on 20 Sept 2026

What a great venue! First time there. Great music, atmosphere & service. Really liked beer garden & our meal. Loved bandroom. Great place to see live music. When we were leaving, went through front bar area & will definitely be back to have a drink there.

Discover more

St Andrews Beach Brewery

4.5

4.5 (1285)

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Fingal

About the restaurant

The story of St Andrews Beach Brewery dates back to the early 2000’s, when our Co-founder Andrew Purchase built the racetrack on the property for the royal family of Australian horse racing – the Freedman Brothers. When the property became available in 2015, Andrew and Michael Freedman saw an opportunity that was too good to miss. With the infrastructure in place and with a story like no other, Andrew, Michael and their passionate team of co-owners set about turning the former stables into a truly unique brewery.

Before you book a stable in our one of a kind refurbished stables, please note the following;
Stable bookings can seat groups from 5-36 and for a maximum of 3 hours.

If you are unable to book at your preferred time all of our reserved seating is booked.

We leave tables unreserved in our beer garden and parts of inside for groups of less than 5 people and walk-ins.

If you're wanting to make a reservation for 36+ people, please visit our webpage.

Top review

Deidre

Dined 7 days ago

Enjoyed some great pizzas with wonderful flavours with salads on the side & service was attentive also. Great place to catch up with family & friends. Will be going back again.

Discover more

Experience

Parma Night

The Rocks Mornington

4.4

4.4 (1698)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Mornington

About the restaurant

For all reservations please head to our website. www.therocksmornington.com.au.

The Rocks Mornington, sitting on Mornington's waterfront, is a vibrant waterside eatery specializing in tantalizingly fresh seafood dishes.

Top review

Don

Dined 2 days ago

Celebrated my wife's 70th Birthday Enjoyed the seafood banquet every dish was just superb. Definitely coming back for more.

Discover more

The Seafood Experience

The Pig & Whistle Tavern Main Ridge

4.4

4.4 (92)

$41 to $100

British

Main Ridge

About the restaurant

The Pig & Whistle Tavern is a Pub on The Mornington Peninsula, offering a warm hospitality experience with the best British cuisine alongside Australian pub classics.

We are also a multi-entertainment venue that hosts a diverse array of live concerts, festivals, arts activities & workshops within our beautiful gardens and newly transformed machinery shed known as 'The Shed Theatre'.

Live Concerts, music, cabaret, comedy, burlesque and more are just some of the entertainment and activities planned for the space during 2025-2026.

Whether it is to come and enjoy the family friendly atmosphere with kids playground, dining in our tavern, ploughman's board picnics, beautiful views, strolling around our gardens, live music or theatre, The Pig & Whistle has something for everyone. It's a destination you must visit.

Top review

Caroline

Dined 4 days ago

My favourite pub on the peninsular - the loveliest service. So friendly and genuine with, outstanding food and a wonderful ambience

T'Gallant Vineyard

4.3

4.3 (333)

$41 to $100

Australian

Main Ridge

About the restaurant

" Weekend Lunch Bookings Available only at (11-12 to 2pm) or (2:30pm) respectively"
Inspired by Italy, and firmly rooted in the Mornington Peninsula, come and experience our fresh and food-friendly wines and fun and vibrant new menu.
We accept walk ins however we do recommend booking to ensure your spot. Large groups of 13 or more are required to book directly with the restaurant at info@tgallantvineyard.com.au

La Baracca - a fun and bright dining room overlooking the garden & Vineyard

Spuntino Bar - an open-air patio style bar with both high and low tables accommodating all sorts of group sizes.

Cantina Felice - A beautiful and quiet dining room accommodating our smaller intimate bookings and walk ins.

Outdoor tables - Communal, bench style seating overlooking the vineyards - open to the elements & umbrellas provided. These tables unable to be reserved due to varying weather conditions and are walk in on a first come first served basis.

Top review

Janelle

Dined 2 days ago

Couldn’t rate the atmosphere, service & quality of food high enough. Staff were on point and not over the top and each dining area was really well thought out and not too crowded. Great music too but not too loud. Loved it for any occasion.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Mornington Peninsula

Explore more Diners' Choice lists