A kinetic Jan Flook installation of 10,000 amber globes designed to capture the artistry of winemaking sets the scene at Doot Doot Doot, one of regional Victoria’s most memorable restaurants. The multi-course tasting menu leans into Peninsula produce, matched to a wine list that spans a unique selection of limited-release single-vineyard wines. It’s one of our picks for the best winery restaurants in Victoria. 166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North; dootdootdoot.com.au

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping garden and vineyard views at this celebrated destination diner, where executive chef Nick McGonigal crafts refined menus that marry European technique with exceptional local produce. Torched Abrolhos scallops, exquisitely marbled Sher Wagyu rostbiff and beautifully composed vegetarian plates set the tone. The wine list showcases Lindenderry’s own award-winning drops alongside rare international vintages. 142 Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill; lancemore.com.au

Ten Minutes by Tractor is another must-try restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula. Sample award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay from three family-owned Main Ridge vineyards – all 10 minutes by tractor apart – then dine on Hayden Ellis’s sustainable produce-driven fare. Think ingredients from Manjimup marron to Moorabool Valley duck, lion’s mane, saltbush, escargot and marrow bone. 1333 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge; tenminutesbytractor.com.au

This is Jackalope’s casual offering, but Rare Hare is by no means less refined than its fine-dining sibling, Doot Doot Doot. The open-air space offers diners 360-degree views of the surrounding vineyards while the menu focuses on Mediterranean-inspired share plates that feature dishes such as the Port Phillip scallops and eggplant rich in umami (thanks to a garnishing of chilli and miso paste). 166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North; rarehare.com.au

Find Orson ‘off the eaten path’ in the arcade of a former Rosebud theatre. Co-owners Sarah Cremona (ex-Noma) and Ryan Spurrell (The Ledbury, Estelle) cook modern Australian with a produce-first philosophy — think Somerland heritage chicken with confit parsnip and jus gras, or kangaroo cavatelli with saltbush and pangrattato. The wine list champions Peninsula vignerons alongside producers chosen for their integrity. 1017 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud 1017 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud; orsondining.com.au

Led by chef Jake Furst, Ember is a bold take on coastal dining built entirely around fire-led flavours. The Josper charcoal grill is at the heart of Ember, delivering deep, smoky flavours to premium dry-aged meats – selected and aged in-house – alongside fresh seafood and seasonal produce. Ember is made for long lunches and easy dinners by the coast. Make a long weekend of it with a stay at InterContinental Sorrento. 1-21 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento; thecontinentalsorrento.com.au

The first rooftop bar on the Mornington Peninsula sits atop Hotel Sorrento, with panoramic views across Port Phillip Bay. Think Ibiza without the airfare. Executive chef Beth Candy (Montalto, Balgownie Estate) has designed a menu of seasonal small bites and larger sharing plates built around the best of Victoria’s bounty. Local wines, well-made cocktails and a rotating line-up of DJs makes this the best place to party on the Peninsula. 5-15 Hotham Road, Sorrento; hotelsorrento.com.au

shihuishi – pronounced ‘she-who-she’ – is located in Hotel Sorrento’s original ballroom, its design drawn from streetscapes from 1960s Hong Kong and the golden age of Chinese cinema. The modern Cantonese-inspired menu is a nod to the hotel’s 1980s dining room, which served beef black bean, lemon chicken and other Aussie-Chinese staples to a generation of Sorrento regulars. Order the char kway teow where traditional flavours are given a cheeky spin. 5-15 Hotham Rd, Sorrento. hotelsorrento.com.au

Much of the produce for Polperro’s vineyard dining comes from the estate’s own farm, just a kilometre away. Share Corner Inlet rock flathead with lightly-curried chard and Harry’s Flinders mussels in the chic bistro, sip estate wines on the eucalypt-shaded deck or eat picnic-style among the vines — charcuterie, chargrilled chicken, estate olives. A sophisticated cellar door and four upscale villas make it one of the best winery restaurants with rooms in Victoria. 150 Red Hill Rd; polperrowines.com.au

An hour south of Melbourne, Tedesca is the Peninsula’s answer to the Italian agriturismo, a wholesome farmhouse restaurant where dining revolves around an enormous wood-fired oven and grill. The set menu changes constantly, driven by what’s growing on the property’s biodynamic farm: expect antipasto of jamon Iberico with honey-licked persimmon cheeks, followed by whatever the season dictates. Food for the soul, plated simply and eaten well. 1175 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Red Hill; tedesca.com.au

An architectural landmark, Port Phillip Estate’s monumental limestone rammed-earth walls corkscrew out of the earth before opening to a light-filled dining room and expansive deck with panoramic coastal views. The cellar door pours six current release cool-climate wines, the pinot noir highly revered, paired with local and imported cheese. The sophisticated dining room matches the best of the estate’s varietals to a seasonal menu. 263 Red Hill Rd, Red Hill South; portphillipestate.com.au

Another must-visit winery in the region, Ocean Eight is where winemaker Mike Aylward crafts pinot noir and pinot gris of precision and purity from Red Hill’s volcanic soils. Explore the scenic vineyard grounds with a glass from the cellar door, or settle into the intimate tasting room to understand what cool-climate winemaking on the Mornington Peninsula really means. 271 Tucks Rd, Shoreham; oceaneight.com.au

For a casual lunch or afternoon snack, call in to Foxeys Hangout, where winemaking brothers Michael and Tony Lee pour crisp sparkling wines, textural pinot gris and perfumed pinot noir. From the blackboard menu, choose chargrilled quail, a tangy tomato salad or a wedge of triple-cream cheese. Love bubbles? Sign up for a personal blending session to create your own bottle of sparkling wine to take home. 795 White Hill Rd, Red Hill; foxeys-hangout.com.au

Housed in a rustic 1921 apple packing shed, The Epicurean is a Mornington Peninsula landmark that is loved for doing Italian the right way. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas and a larder stocked with local produce have been pulling loyal crowds to Red Hill for years. Don’t tell your ‘mumba’ Italiana that the pea risotto is on par with hers. 165 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South; theepicurean.com.au

Montalto is a multifaceted destination that manages to be both family-friendly and sophisticated. Wander the sculpture trail and kitchen garden before settling into The Piazza for pizzas at shaded outdoor tables. For a taste of the peninsula that pops, The Restaurant delivers dishes like yellowfin tuna crudo with caponata and charred cuttlefish with fermented tomato. The cellar door pours estate varietals; the private wine room cranks things up a notch. 33 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South; montalto.com.au