Restaurant Sorrento
The Baths Sorrento
3278 Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943 · $$$
Sorrento's most enduring waterfront dining room, perched on the sand with Port Phillip Bay at your feet and a seafood-first menu.
Eat & Drink Waterfront
Waterfront Restaurants on the Mornington Peninsula
The Peninsula's waterfront dining concentrates on Port Phillip Bay — the calmer, bay-facing side rather than the ocean. Three venues define the category. The Baths at Sorrento for special-occasion seafood with panoramic views. The Rocks at Mornington for casual waterfront dining at the marina. The Portsea Hotel for a pub setting with the most dramatic bay outlook of any pub on the Peninsula.
None of these venues are hatted. All three have genuine waterfront positions. The choice between them is not about quality — it is about what kind of afternoon you are building.
Important: waterfront dining here means Port Phillip Bay, not the ocean. If you want ocean views, you are looking at a walk, not a table.
Last fact-verified: 23 April 2026
Waterfront dining on Port Phillip Bay
3 venues with genuine bay positions
All face Port Phillip Bay. Different formats, different crowds, different reasons to go.
Restaurant Mornington
The Rocks Mornington
1 Schnapper Point Dr, Mornington VIC 3931 · $$$
Perched at the end of Mornington Pier with near-360° bay views, a seafood-heavy menu and one of the most romantic tables on the bayside at sunset.
Pub Portsea
Portsea Hotel
3746 Point Nepean Rd, Portsea VIC 3944 · $$
The front-row pub on Port Phillip, still the cleanest long lunch at the tip of the Peninsula.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best waterfront restaurants on the Mornington Peninsula?
The Baths (Sorrento), The Rocks (Mornington), and the Portsea Hotel are the three main waterfront dining options. All face Port Phillip Bay. The Baths is the most formal and has the widest views. The Rocks is more casual and dog-friendly. The Portsea Hotel is a pub with a spectacular clifftop beer garden.
Which waterfront restaurants are dog-friendly?
The Rocks (outdoor deck) and the Portsea Hotel (beer garden) are both dog-friendly. The Baths is not confirmed as dog-friendly — check before visiting.
Do I need to book?
The Baths: yes, booking required most of the year. The Rocks: booking advised on weekends. Portsea Hotel: walk-in only December 23 to January 31, bookings accepted the rest of the year.
Which is better for a special occasion?
The Baths Sorrento — more formal, wider views, seafood-focused set menu ($75pp two courses). For a casual birthday or group lunch, The Rocks at Mornington is the more relaxed and accessible option.
Related guides
More ways to eat on the Peninsula
Full Waterfront Guide
Side-by-side comparison of The Baths, The Rocks, and Portsea Hotel — what each actually is and when each makes sense.
Read the guide →Seafood
The best places for seafood on the Peninsula — not just waterfront, but the places doing it well.
See the list →Dog-Friendly Dining
Where you can bring a dog on the Peninsula — outdoor dining options confirmed as of April 2026.
See the list →