Who doesn’t love a long lunch, outside? The kind that start at noon but you're still there at 6pm and the half cleared table is a sea of empty dishes, topped up wine glasses and scattered sunnies. Oh how we long for Summer! The balmy air, fresh seafood, baby bums in bathers and salt in the hair! As the weather warms up, we’ve rounded up our favourite Aussie lunch spots where the fit outs, styling and design are just as delicious as the food on offer...

1. Raes on Watego, Byron Bay, NSW

The alfresco dining space at Byron’s most iconic boutique hotel has the most dreamy of colour palettes courtesy of Interior Design Queen Tamsin Johnson, not to mention their drool worthy (did we mention award winning!?) Mediterranean inspired menu.

2. The Newport Hotel, Newport, NSW

3. Via Porta Eatery + Deli, Mont Albert, VIC

This newish addition to Melbourne’s dining scene is co-owned and designed by one half of Architecture and Interior firm Studio Esteta and has all the traditional Italian feels both inside and out.

4. Park House, Mona Vale, NSW

Refurbished by Alexander and Co in 2017, the multipurpose food and entertainment hot spot Park House boasts 70’s coastal and retro vibes throughout with mouthwatering Mexican, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours dominating the menus. 

5. Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads, QLD

Another Alexander and Co project, peachy pastels and the shoreline panormas of The Burleigh make for the ultimate in summer daytime dining, offering a bit of beachside sophistication along with friendly fish n chip fare.

6. The Shorehouse, Swanbourne, WA

Closer to home, locals in the know can't go past an afternoon aperetif on the deck of The Shorehouse. As the sun sets over the Indian, there is no better spot to enjoy Prosecco and Oysters!

 

7. Beuna Vista Hotel, Mosman NSW

Moving away from the water, this recently refurbed classic locals bar combines French bistro with Scandinavian design - by SJB Interiors and Tess Regan Design - and has the ‘long lunch’ setting down pat with plenty of comfy corners to sink into. 

 

8. Totti’s, Bondi, NSW

Negroni anyone? You could be forgiven for thinking you were sitting under an olive tree in Puglia inside the piazza style courtyard of Merivales’s buzzing Bondi hotspot Totti’s. Pizza, pasta and all the other classics are authentic and on point.