Coffin Sally

Port Fairy locals still call the laneway beside Pete Charlton’s pizza shop Coffin Alley. Charlton liked the nickname so much, he decided to riff on it when naming his now-buzzing venue, Coffin Sally.

While Sally is housed inside a 19th century former undertaker’s building, don’t expect doom and gloom here. Plenty of rustic timber, exposed ceiling beams and green foliage bring updated modern charm to the space.

Moving down the Great Ocean Road from Lorne to Port Fairy, Charlton (who previously managed Pizza Pizza and The Bottle of Milk) slings Italian-style pizzas to locals and holidaymakers. The space is split into takeaway on one side, and a pizza-and-bar combo on the other.

On the menu, you’ll find thin-crust pizza highlighting local suppliers and authentic imports. Forget the matchsticks of ham and tinned pineapple. Rather, the team is slicing meat, caramelising onions and otherwise preparing ingredients in-house.

Popular pies include San Daniele prosciutto with Shaw River buffalo mozzarella, and wild mushrooms with taleggio and pancetta on a white base.

Beer and wine skews heavily to local. Expect a rotating selection of more than 30 craft beers from around Australia. The wine list is mainly Victorian and South Australian with a handful of pizza-friendly Italian styles.