Portsea Hotel: What makes this Mornington Peninsula pub special?
The Portsea Hotel’s history, bayside location and food menu makes it one of the most impressive pubs on the Mornington Peninsula. It’s also a good bet for Portsea accommodation.
The Portsea Hotel on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is both scenic and historic. Both factors help make it one of the most famous pubs in Australia.
Mornington Peninsula accommodation at the Portsea Hotel
It is also a genuine hotel, with dazzlingly white rooms available for from $170 per night. A fair few wedding parties stay at the Portsea Hotel, but it’s fair to say most people come here for the food and drink.
The Portsea Hotel is on the hill behind the beach at Portsea near the western tip of the Mornington Peninsula. Needless to say, its terraces have fabulous views out over Port Phillip Bay. You can have a beer or two while watching people snorkel with weedy sea dragons by the Portsea jetty.
This Mornington Peninsula pub has been standing since 1876. It’s popular with weekend breakers and daytrippers from Melbourne.
13 fabulous Mornington Peninsula experiences to book
There are dozens of Mornington Peninsula tours available from Melbourne. The experiences listed below are aimed at those staying on the Peninsula, or with their own transport.
- Half day dolphin and seal swim from Sorrento.
- Peninsula Hot Springs fire, ice and bathe experience.
- Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife park entry ticket.
- Guided e-bike tour in Arthurs Seat State Park and beyond.
- Wildlife kayaking tour from Portsea.
- Waterbike tour from Mornington.
- Point Nepean National Park bike hire.
- French cooking class in Fingal.
- Dolphin and seal watching cruise from Sorrento.
- Mornington Peninsula wineries hop-on, hop-off bus.
- Montalto Vineyard discovery wine-tasting with lunch.
- Enchanted Garden entry ticket.
- Snorkelling with sea dragons in Portsea.
Portsea Hotel food menu
The Portsea Hotel food menu largely concentrates on pub classics, but it includes seasonal dishes that take advantage of fresh local produce. You can have a chicken parma, steak, wood-fired pizza or burger. But other options include mussel pasta, balsamic-glazed lamb shoulder with baby beetroot and pan-seared market fish. The full menu is available on the hotel website.
There is, however, a strong Italian leaning in the Portsea Hotel food menu. This sometimes shines through in the wine list, too. Options include a pinot grigio from the King Valley, a moscato from Rutherglen and a sangiovese from the Yarra Valley.
Mornington Peninsula wines at the Portsea Hotel
There are also some local Mornington Peninsula wines available. These include the Montalto Cuvee One and the Ocean Eight pinot noir rosé.
Other highlights of the Mornington Peninsula include the Peninsula Hot Springs spa complex, the Polperro Winery in Red Hill and the bathing boxes at Mount Martha.
More things to do in Victoria
See the enormous Steavenson Falls near Maryville.
Enjoy the changing seasons at the Alfred Nicholas Gardens in the Dandenong Ranges.
Take the Western Port Ferry and go koala-spotting on French Island.
Enjoy seafood with bayside views at The Rocks Mornington.
Drink infused vodkas on the rooftop at Naked For Satan in Melbourne.