If you are staying at Heytesbury House in Cobden, and looking for the best lunch, dinner or cheerful afternoon drink spots, we’ve got you covered. Here are ten of the best local dining and drinks destinations to visit near Cobden. Oh and if you’d like to have a few drinks and need a lift, Ride With Us have a local taxi cab service based in Cobden. If you’ve got more than a couple of friends needing a ride, they also have a comfortable 8 passenger vehicle to get you there and back.
1. Bistro On Neylon at Cobden Golf Club, Cobden
Bistro on Neylon is tucked away next to the club rooms of the Cobden Golf Club. Enjoy a drink in the bar or a meal in the bistro. The bistro is popular with locals and you will often find it heavily booked at dinner, even on weeknights. It’s not about the décor here however you will find a nice view of the golf course and importantly, delicious seasonal bistro fare. The bar has a large selection of beer, wine and spirits plus they have joined the ginger beer drinking craze and have ginger beer on tap. For those who like a fine wine, be sure to ask at the bar and they will likely have something on hand for the occasion. https://www.cobdengolf.com.au/bistro/
2. Thommo’s Hotel, Cobden
Thommo’s Hotel is a historic part of the Cobden township. Built in 1904, it maintains much of its former charm. A beautiful red brick building, the interior and grounds have been refreshed to offer a comfortable place to spend an afternoon or evening.
The hotel boasts a dining room, as well as a bistro and undercover beer garden. There are a number of open fireplaces in the pub, providing welcome relief from the country chills. Summer opens up the refurbished beer garden, with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the sunshine or the shade. Country pub charm with plenty of spots to choose from for an afternoon drink or a pub meal. https://www.thommoshotel.com.au/
3. Keayang Maar Vineyard, Dixie
A small family owned and operated vineyard with impressive views over the vines and surrounding volcanic slopes. Visit the Keayang Maar Cellar door for wine tastings, pizza and local charcuterie. Open Wednesday to Sunday or Monday and Tuesday by appointment. Keep an eye out for happy hour specials and live music in the vines. https://www.keayangmaar.com/
4. Hampden Hotel, Camperdown
A short twelve-minute drive from Cobden, The Hampden Hotel is set in a beautiful old brick building on the elm tree lined main street of Campderdown. The hotel dates back to 1870. You will find all your classic pub meals, an expansive bistro dining area, bar and two great outdoor areas to sit outside and enjoy a drink in the warmer months. https://visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/restaurants/hampden-hotel/
5. Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, Timboon
Open for lunch and tastings 7 days a week, the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery is a small family-owned boutique distillery located at the old Timboon railway station. They specialise in single malt whisky and also produce vodka, schnapps, Limoncello and a wine-based coffee liqueur. Centrally located in the heart of Timboon, the distillery has a warm rustic feel about it and is packed with plenty of their wares and local produce to browse. The menu is a simple yet delicious menu of plates designed to be shared. Stay for lunch or simply stop by for a whisky tasting paddle. Plenty to love about this one. https://www.timboondistillery.com.au/
6. Schulz Organic Creamery and Café, Timboon
Schulz Organic Creamery and Café is situated on a one-thousand-acre dairy farm just outside of Timboon in Victoria and a thirty-minute car ride from Cobden. A seasonal café menu showcases the dairy’s products including organic farm fresh milk and cheeses as well as other local produce. A selection of wine, beer and cider is available to accompany your sweet or savoury selection. For those who love to explore behind the scenes, book yourself a farm tour and learn about all aspects of the farm including the history of the creamery and the cheese-making process. Open 7 days, 10am to 4pm. https://schulzorganiccreamery.com.au/
7. Great Ocean Road Berry World, Timboon
Not only is Great Ocean Road Berry World the place to be able to pick your own strawberries (which is fun no matter how old you are!), but it is also the home of a Thai restaurant called Berry Good Thai. Berry World have seasonal strawberry picking and sell a range of strawberry jams, sauces and liqueurs and you are likely to find daily pop up specials such as scones, a strawberry milkshake or a sweet cocktail. Popular with tourists for their berry picking and range of berries and popular with locals for their yummy Thai menu, the team here are eager to please. Open from 11am Tuesday to Friday and open from 9am on Saturday and Sunday. https://www.berryworld.com.au
8. Sow and Piglets Brew Pub, Port Campbell
The Sow and Piglets is a microbrewery in Port Campbell. An unassuming venue with comfy indoor seating and a nice sunny outdoor deck for the warmer weather, the brew pub has a range of six homemade beers on tap, plus a selection of wines and a few spirits. Grab yourself a pizza if you’re feeling peckish. The Sow and Piglets Brew Pub using traditional brewing methods and the microbrewery has quite the story about how it came to be. Grab yourself a craft beer and watch the sunset from the deck over Port Campbell. https://sowandpigletsguesthouse.com.au/sow-and-piglets-brew-pub/
9. REAL Pizza Pasta Salads, Port Campbell
Not only is the food delicious, this restaurant also prides itself on sustainable practices. Ingredients are grown and sourced locally wherever possible and REAL are super close to zero waste. A cosy eclectic atmosphere with additional outdoor dining, owner Kylie Treble grows many of the seasonal herbs and vegetables in her garden at her nearby 3 acre property The Place of Wonder. Cards on each table also highlight the origin of ingredients used in the dishes. https://www.realpizzapastasalads.com.au/
10. 12 Rocks Beach Bar Café, Port Campbell
The location is what makes this restaurant standout with beautiful views overlooking the beach and Port Campbell bay. Expect a bistro style menu with lots of variety and generous servings. Large indoor seating and sheltered outdoor dining areas. http://www.12rocksbeachbar.com.au/
Need a lift? We’ve got you covered.
Ride With Us have a local taxi and an 8-passenger luxury vehicle based in Cobden for all your lunch, dinner and boozy afternoon drinks trips to and from Heytesbury House. No trip is too short.
Ride With Us is an accredited taxi and transport service, locally owned and operated family business which provides friendly customer service. Ride With Us are well-known by locals and tourists alike. Give them a call on 0438 407 777 or visit Ride With Us for more information.
Heytesbury House Bed and Breakfast is a multi award-winning boutique place to stay near the Great Ocean Road. A property with historical significance, Heytesbury House was once a doctor’s residence and later a local bush hospital c. 1904. The property has been lovingly restored and converted into luxury accommodation for up to ten guests, whilst all care has been taken to ensure the integrity of the early 1900s era and style. Heytesbury House is located in the small Victorian town of Cobden, only 30 minutes inland from the 12 Apostles and the Great Ocean Road. A comfortable 2.5 hour drive West along the Princes Highway (M1) from Melbourne CBD or 35 minutes from Colac, Cobden is centrally positioned between the Princes Highway and the coast.
