There are some fabulous cafes in Ocean Grove to choose from when you’re spending time in town.
Whether you’re after brunch, lunch, or breakfast in Ocean Grove, or have a craving for something decadently, deliciously sweet, the Ocean Grove food scene always has plenty to offer.
From the best coffee in Ocean Grove to a one-stop shop where you can pick up deli goods and pre-prepared meals to take home, this guide will show you where to get the finest food and drinks in town.
If you’re hankering after more traditional breakfast dishes, these places can satisfy those cravings too.
Read on to find your new favourite eatery in Ocean Grove!
Best Cafes In Ocean Grove Reviews
When you’re staying in Ocean Grove, enjoy a delicious lunch or brunch at a local cafe. The menus at the following places all offer something you’ve probably never tried before.
1) The Dunes Cafe Restaurant
If you’re looking for a great spot to eat in Ocean Grove you can’t go past The Dunes Restaurant, Bar, and Cafe.
Situated amidst the sand dunes of Ocean Grove Beach, the cafe’s modern design, which includes a full glass wall, maximises the scenic beachfront views.
Celebrating Australian culinary traditions the menu offers an array of shared comfort dishes such as wood-fired pizzas, as well as burgers, fresh seafood, and other classic selections.
Breakfast is available at weekends and along with the usual bacon and eggs, and smashed avocado, on offer, is a Breakfast Burrito, Barra Bene, and Sweet Crumpets.
Not only does The Dunes cater to those who wish to linger over a leisurely meal but it also features an outdoor kiosk.
Here you can grab snacks and takeaway coffee, perfect for those visiting the Ocean Grove sights or enjoying a day at the beach.
The Dunes Ocean Grove
Where: 30 Surf Beach Road, Ocean Grove 3225
When: Cafe: Mon – Fri: 11.30 a.m – Late, Sat – Sun: 8.30 a.m – Late
Kiosk: 7 days from 6.30 a.m
Phone: (03) 5255 3122
2) Twelve Sea
Situated on Sunset Strip, Twelve Sea Cafe has become a hot favourite for locals and visitors alike.
The service is quick and friendly, and the cafe’s layout includes an outdoor seating area that’s ideal for those sunny Ocean Grove days.
This family-run eatery sources local produce as much as possible, which is evident in their hearty breakfasts and tasty lunches.
Satisfy your hunger pangs with an eggs benedict, vanilla hot cakes, a smashing burger, or a healthy Twelve Sea Granola Jar.
Weekly specials add variety with dishes like a Reuben sandwich with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, corned beef, and ranch dressing, and a toasted croffle with mango, white chocolate, matcha ice cream, and macadamias.
Easy parking adds to the convenience, making it a stress-free spot for a casual meet-up or a quick coffee run.
Twelve Sea
Where: 12C Sunset Strip, Ocean Grove 3226
When: Daily from 7.30 a.m
Phone: (03) 5215 1171
3) Beach Terrace
Soup, milkshakes, sandwiches, and coffee are all favourites with customers of the Beach Terrace cafe in Ocean Grove.
It’s located on The Terrace in town rather than by the beach, and the colourful, shabby chic wooden tables outside make it an easy one to spot.
The cafe is open between 7 a.m and 4 p.m daily, so it’s good for an early Ocean Grove breakfast or a long, lazy late lunch.
In fact, it’s BYO so you can linger with friends or your loved one over your own choice of something chilled and delicious.
The main meals here are substantial and the portions are hearty. The Oreo milkshake is a hit with kids, while older diners prefer a fruity burst of goodness delivered in the form of a mixed berry, banana with malt, or mango smoothie.
The length of the menu here is well-judged – there’s plenty of choice without the assortment being overwhelming.
From fruit toast, avocado smash or cajun chicken focaccia to shakshuka, a salmon patty, steamed dumplings, or crumbed calamari, there’s something at the Beach Terrace for everyone.
The Beach Terrace Cafe
Where: 1/85 The Terrace, Ocean Grove
When: 7 a.m – 4 p.m Daily
Phone: (03) 5255 3220
4) Garage Cafe Ocean Grove
If you’re wondering why the Garage Cafe in Ocean Grove is so called, it’s because it was once a refuelling stop for local motorists.
Now the petrol station has been transformed into a slick cafe, serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch to residents and visitors.
The Garage in Ocean Grove can be found on Lelean Street, a block back from the Barwon River.
Though the canopied courtyard hints at the building’s former purpose, plenty of white paint, natural wood, potted plants, and pretty wallpaper have given the place a new lease of life.
In fact, the former courtyard is now used to provide guests with a spacious seating area, and this makes it one of the most pet-friendly eateries in town.
As a cafe, the Garage accepts walk-ins only, and the kitchen closes at 2.30 p.m (2 p.m on Sundays). It’s closed on Mondays.
Menus are seasonal and therefore include more warming dishes in winter such as the soup of the day with hot buttered toast. Though meat is a feature and there are juicy, beefy burgers, it’s far from the sole focus.
Bacon is an optional extra with the Garage breakfast, for instance – a platter packed with halloumi, avocado, and ciabatta as well as the more traditional eggs, mushrooms, tomato, and hash browns.
Garage, Ocean Grove
Where: 15 Lelean Street, Ocean Grove
When: Tue – Sat: 7 a.m – 2.30 p.m, Sun: 8.30 a.m – 2.30 p.m
Phone: 0419 923 124
5) Driftwood Ocean Grove Cafe
The Driftwood Cafe in Ocean Grove is positioned on The Terrace in the heart of town.
Large, charcoal-framed windows facing the street let in lots of light, while natural wood panelling, tables, and chairs combined with a green feature wall, and tiled flooring give the cafe a fresh feel.
You can expect great coffee with service to match and a good range of expertly-prepared dishes at Driftwood in Ocean Grove.
There’s a firm focus on locally produced ingredients, and wherever possible or applicable these are seasonal, free-range, and organic.
The cafe is also involved in community life, supporting local schools both financially and on a more practical basis.
The breakfast menu is served all day and includes sweet offerings like homemade banana bread, porridge, pancakes, or a red smoothie bowl as well as savoury staples such as pulled pork hash, huevos rancheros, eggs florentine, and yummy garlic mushrooms.
For lunch, there are various burgers, salads, wraps, and other light meals. Tempting picks served between 11.30 am and 3 pm include arancini, a salt and pepper calamari salad, a vegan burger, lamb fettuccini, or pumpkin gnocchi.
Driftwood Cafe
Where: 64D The Terrace, Ocean Grove
When: 7 days 7 a.m – 3 p.m
Phone: (03) 5255 1832
6) Kyosk Ocean Grove Cafe
Another of the best places to eat in Ocean Grove is Kyosk Cafe. This one can be found on The Parade, also in the centre of this seaside town.
It’s a place to come whether you need a caffeine hit or a wholesome feed, and the fresh juices and smoothies are delicious, refreshing, and packed with nutritional benefits.
Proud Mary coffee and modern Australian cuisine are features of the food and drinks menu at Kyosk Cafe in Ocean Grove.
An attractive Asian-style wooden pagoda at the front means you cannot miss this place, and inside this eatery is packed with character.
There are wooden ceiling beams, scuffed wooden floorboards, and an array of trinkets from around the world. There’s even part of a tuk-tuk displayed on one of the walls.
Kyosk takes walk-ins only, so do get in early if you want to secure a table. The food menu is packed with wholesome goodies, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and organic produce.
An all-day menu offers kids’ dishes, sides, and mains such as buckwheat bread with berry and chia jam or organic peanut butter, chia spiced granola, a tofu chilli scrambled, eggs Benedict with pulled beef, or Korean-style bao baps with pickles.
Kyosk Cafe
Where: 91 The Parade, Ocean Grove
When: 7 a.m – 4 p.m 7 Days, Kitchen closes at 3 p.m.
Phone: 0403 811 273
7) White Hart
The White Hart is a smart coffee bar that can also be found on The Terrace in central Ocean Grove.
Inside, the decor is ultra-contemporary with lots of deep charcoal, glossy metro tiles, slick grey flooring, white painted brick walls, and bare bulb lighting.
Some say the White Hart cafe serves up the best coffee in town, and again this is so artfully presented that you may be unable to resist snapping a shot.
It’s Padre coffee that’s used to make each brew, roasted up the road at their Melbourne branch.
The service here is every bit as professional as the presentation of the coffee shop’s social media pages, and some of the more attention-grabbing pictures feature fruit-topped English muffins sprinkled with walnuts, freshly-baked sweet pastries, and a beautiful bowl of delicious-looking soup.
White Hart Cafe
Where: 5/73 The Terrace, Ocean Grove
When: Mon – Fri: 7 a.m – 2 p.m, Sat: 7 a.m – 1 p.m
8) Groove Cafe
The Groove Cafe is positioned close to Ocean Grove Golf Club, as Wallington Road heads out of town.
With a rooster perched atop a glittering sunburst sign and red lettering, it’s not hard to spot. There are several pub-type tables with umbrellas out the front too.
This cafe is surprisingly spacious and a light, bright, airy space to settle down for a tasty Ocean Grove lunch, brunch, or breakfast. Or simply for an excellent cup of coffee.
The baristas certainly know what they’re doing here – if you’re lucky your brew will be a real work of art.
You’ll need your tastebuds at the ready as much as your camera here. Especially for those with a sweet tooth, as there’s a fridge filled with tempting treats such as coconut hedgehog and jelly slices, plus classic and macadamia brownies.
This place is also famous for its mouthwatering selection of freshly baked pies, sausage rolls, and cakes. When you’re craving a carb hit, the choices here will hit the spot.
Groove Cafe
Where: 56 Wallington Road, Ocean Grove
When: Mon – Fri: 6.30 a.m – 5 p.m, Sat – Sun: 6.30 a.m – 4 p.m
Phone: (03) 5256 3094
9) Hello Birdie
If you’re looking for great Ocean Grove coffee, brunch, or simply a child-friendly spot, Hello Birdie Cafe in Ocean Grove ticks all the boxes and then some.
It’s situated a little further from town than other local cafes, on Grubb Road between Kingston Park and the nature reserve.
The outdoor play area here is paradise on earth for kids, so it’s the ideal stop on a family day out.
Here young ones will find a small play hut decorated with pastel-coloured bunting, the sweetest, yellow-painted lemonade stand, and a large assortment of toys.
Inside it feels spacious, airy, and more grown up, albeit with various features that appeal to children too. There’s also a large outdoor yard that’s safely fenced off making it ideal for dogs.
Menus are available on an all-day basis and include several Tex-Mex inspired dishes such as the burrito bowl with pulled chicken, an avocado quesadilla or the cowboy beans with ham hock.
If you fancy something filling, you could go for a brekky wrap, bacon and egg pie, or the schnitzel burger.
Lighter options, meanwhile, include the house salad, a savoury muffin, and homemade granola with fruit coulis.
Hello Birdie Cafe
Where: 52 Grubb Road, Ocean Grove
When: Mon – Fri: 6.30 a.m – 2 p.m, Sat: 7 a.m – 2 p.m
Phone: 0427 297 422
10) The Olive Pit Delicatessen
Located centrally on The Terrace, the Olive Pit in Ocean Grove is a popular pitstop in the heart of town. It’s exactly the sort of cafe you can pop into for anything from a quick coffee to a full meal.
Plus how many Ocean Grove places to eat also offer you the chance to shop for irresistible cheeses and other savoury or sweet treats?
Portions here are generous. Order salmon with avocado and poached eggs for instance, and you’ll get a good serving of fish, two eggs, and a whole fruit to fill your belly.
In fact, why cook later in the day, when you can take home a perfectly prepared soup or curry for dinner?
As for the deli, it stocks a glorious range of cheeses, plus plenty of salty cured meats, and antipasti to accompany them.
When dining in, you can sample New York-style bacon, Philly, or salmon bagels, a ham and cheese toastie, or croissant, the house-made muesli, or a one-eyed Jack sourdough roll.
The Olive Pit Delicatessen
Where: 71 The Terrace, Ocean Grove
When: 7 a.m – 5 p.m daily
Phone: (03) 5255 1511
Best Ocean Grove Cafes Map
Below we’ve included a map that shows the exact location of each Ocean Grove cafe we’ve listed and reviewed here.
Final Word
If you want to find the best cafe in Ocean Grove, then we hope this guide has left you spoiled for choice!
The great selection of Ocean Grove cafes means every kind of diner is catered for – even those who want toys to play with or a yard to around in.
Why not take a look at some of our other articles for food fans? Such as our guides to Torquay’s best restaurants, and the top eateries in Queenscliff.
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By Audrey Chalmers
Audrey grew up in Victoria and travelled the world but she always called Victoria home. She loves nothing more than exploring her home state and sharing it here.