As the hot weather slowly begins to sink its teeth into the back of our sunburned necks, it’s time to flee to cool coastal towns where salty summer breezes can cure all our ails. But leaving Melbourne doesn’t mean you have to forsake good coffee. To help keep your caffeine levels at premium, we’ve compiled a list of beachside town cafes we recommend.

It features some of our old favourites, as well as newer haunts for you to peruse. Use the list exhaustively as you travel down the coast from peninsula to peninsula, or pick one at the seaside spot you just happen to be at.

BELLARINE PENINSULA

Café Go
37 Bellerine Street, Geelong
(03) 5229 4752

Coffee Cartel
6/21 Leather Street, Breakwater
(03) 5222 6115

Starfish Bakery
78 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads
(03) 5254 2772

Piknik
1195 Queenscliff Roadd, Swan Bay
(03) 5258 5155

GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Aireys Inlet Foodstore & Café
89 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet
(03) 5289 6641

The Bottle of Milk
52 Mount Joy Parade, Lorne
(03) 5289 2005

Red Till
143a Great Ocean Road, Anglesea
(03) 5263 2900

Wye River General Store
35 Great Ocean Road
(03) 5289 0247

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Main Street (on the way to Mornington)
503-505 Main Street, Mordialloc
(03) 9580 8150

Dee’s Kitchen
19 Pier Street, Dromana
(03) 5981 4666

Coffee Traders
3 Blake Street, Mornington
(03) 5977 1177

The Sisters Kitchen Garden Café
149-151 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento
(03) 5984 4646