LOCATIONOn the beach at St Kilda Sea Baths.
DETAILSBeachcomber’s rich interiors designed by Wayne Finschi are warm and inviting, mixing clean Danish design with a hint of romance from Gilligan’s Island. The spacious dining room has a relaxed ambience, with its melange of wooden tables, chairs and booth-style seating. Unique wooden design flourishes from lacquered screens to timber trimmings adorn the walls and there is a large bar at one end of the room. The brightly lit space is enhanced by natural light that dapples through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which overlook the outdoor terrace. This wonderfully large al fresco area with its striking orange beach umbrellas looks out onto the glistening sands of St Kilda beach, and is perfect for a luxurious morning enjoying breakfast or brunch.
FOOD & BEVERAGEThe cuisine reflects the seaside location, with its extensive selection of Australian seafood, including succulent oysters and up to seventeen varieties of fresh fish daily. Beachcomber’s food philosophy of freshness combined with humble simplicity manifests itself in well-presented dishes like steamed chilli mussels in white wine, sambal oelek, garlic, basil and napoli sauce as well as the grand seafood platter for two, consisting of king prawns, blue swimmer crab, oysters, scallops, grilled fish, baby octopus, grilled prawn cutlets, fried calamari and three delicious dipping sauces. In addition to the tempting array of seafood, the menu features old favourites, like souvlaki skewers, tender steaks, crowd-pleasing gourmet pizzas, and the flavoured coffees are an excellent way to finish the meal. The generous wine list and the inventive children’s menu (including dishes inspired by Shrek and Finding Nemo) make Beachcomber Café a fun and memorable destination.
FUNCTIONS Beachcomber Café offers spectacular beachside views, unique catering versatility and parking at the door (for up to 450 vehicles). There are a selection of unique tailor packages for dinners, cocktail parties and corporate seminars of all sizes. The restaurant can hold up to 130 guests for a sit-down function and up to 250 for a cocktail style event. Exclusive use of the space is available for parties of 100 or more and the restaurant can be screened with curtains for parties of 80 or less.
The outdoor terrace has a capacity of 150 guests, and exclusive use of the space is available for 80 or more. The rooftop is an ideal space to hold a standing soiree of up to 400 guests.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAOn the St Kilda Sea Baths esplanade pamper yourself at the spa, take a dip in the indoor heated pool or have a work out at the gym, but whatever you do include a visit to this fresh modern Australian cafe. The decor is a delight thanks to interior designer Wayne Finschi (whose inspirations include the TV favourite Gilligan’s Island) taking full advantage of the outdoor area and beautiful seaside views, and the menu is masterfully designed for al fresco dining.
Breakfast at the Beachcomber Cafe on thick pancakes served with berry compote and “the morning after” fresh juice blend with carrot, beetroot, parsley and apple. At lunchtime the aptly named “special breads with exciting toppings” hits the spot with tempters such as the Beachcomber’s special pizza with tomato, ham, chorizo sausage, Calabrese salami, mushrooms, garlic, basil and mozzarella cheese, or choose the seafood risotto with fresh seafood, garlic and shallots. For dinner start with the Tassie oysters, served fresh with lemon wedges, followed by a main of kangaroo steak set on mash potato and encircled by a red currant glaze and steamed vegetables. Alternatively choose the seafood platter for two with far too many delicious ingredients to mention. Kids are also well catered for with their own VIP menu of child-friendly offerings.