It's summer - that means time to get out to the beautiful beaches along the Mornington Peninsula. But amidst all the sandy sunny vibes, where do you stop for lunch, then beers, then dancing?
Frankston is an underrated gem. From those aforementioned beaches, to an annual street art festival that’s turning the city into one of the most cosmopolitan mural-filled locales in Australia, to the burgeoning cultural strips through its central arteries – there’s a lot more to this city than meets the eye.
The heart of all this hustle and bustle is Playne Street – known among locals for its bowling alleys, varied dining experiences, soon becoming the main strip for entertainment venues. Additionally, the street’s connecting laneways Arthurs and Plaza Lane are home to some of the city’s most impressive artworks; The Embrace, Carlitos Way, Memory Loss, A Long Distant Connection, Coexistence, and The Messenger bringing instagrammable colour and life to Playne Street.
Playne Street – Frankston’s entertainment hub
- Take a walk down Playne Street in Frankston
- It’s the city’s bustling destination for rooftop bars, entertainment and dance floors
- Reserve special attention for the Lona Hotel, The Hop Shop and General Public
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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General Public is a sprawling entertainment venue featuring nine tenpin bowling lanes, a retro arcade, pinball games, a pool table and shuffleboards, two fully equipped bars and an actual slide that takes you from the top of the venue to the bottom.
While Frankston has been totally gentrified for some time now, this new wave of stellar venues really started with places like The Hop Shop, which despite the new competition from the big smoke, holds its own with ease.
Frankston’s very own craft beer bar and bottle shop, The Hop Shop have a whopping 18 rotating taps of curated craft beer and over 200+ cold-stored brews available for takeaway or to enjoy near the open fire or in the beer garden. Not to mention, a menu featuring bao buns, spicy chicken wings and sichuan eggplant.
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It’s unsurprising to note that some of Melbourne’s renowned venues are opening up shop. The strip’s latest, Lona Rooftop, Restaurant & Bar, is a soon-to-open new restaurant and bar with live music every day that will be the sister venue of the beloved Lona on Acland Street in St Kilda.
It goes without saying the two areas have a lot in common, and given the rampaging success of Lona’s St Kilda venue, we daresay their new Playne Street venture will yield similar results. Lona Rooftop, Restaurant & Bar has long been one of the busiest – and most visually startling – bars in St Kilda, so Frankston locals can expect a dynamic experience ranging from beers on a sunny afternoon in the Rooftop Beer Garden to fireside dining in the cooler months.
They serve fish tacos with chipotle aioli, lime and salsa, or perhaps start with their signature king prawn sliders on a soft brioche bun with Lona’s zesty sauce & watercress. Also enjoy Lona’s slow braised Lamb Bao, with kewpie, pickles, and shredded carrot, or select from a range of pub favourites pizza, steak, pasta, vegan dishes, share plates, kids’ meals, and fabulous desserts. Beverages include a wide selection of craft beers on tap, a boutique wine list, including family-owned Sedgley & Sons Pinot Noir from the Mornington Peninsula, as well as an array of delicious cocktails. Come mid-December, this will be the place to be.
Another bonafide Melbourne favourite, Betty’s Burgers has just opened one of their highly-rated burger shacks on the corner of the strip, replete with flowing bar because what goes better with a burger than a rosè, pale ale, ginger beer or shiraz.
The adjoining Wells Street and Bayside Entertainment Complex hosts Holey Moley Golf Club, combining a cocktail bar, mini-golf course, work of art and all-out cool hub, along with a super-comfortable Hoyts Cinema, Strike Bowling – which also offers karaoke, escape rooms, and a hearty food and drink menu. Last but certainly not least, Wells Street also has Martini and Co – a beautiful modern Australian restaurant with cocktail creations that need to be seen to be believed.
The city’s cafe culture is a naturally multicultural extension of Melbourne’s as well. For live music in a restaurant and bar atmosphere, you can also head to Trims. Gapfed Café offers Greek-inspired homemade tapas among olive trees, while colourful vegan and vegetarian bar Nature Café and premium health food restaurant 6Nutrition are also worth catching nearby.
To tie everything in together, book into Australia’s Best Street Art Walking Tour to see and hear about the city’s 50+ murals and land yourself in Playne Street this summer, visit the website here to see more.
This article is made in partnership with Frankston City Council.
