Overlooking Bass Strait, set high in the Otways above the Great Ocean Road, Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant and Villas has become the Mecca for gourmet travellers. His personal approach to hospitality has made him one of the most loved characters in the region and his passion for the food of Southern Europe combined with the freshest and purest produce has made his cuisine world famous.
Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant opened in 1979 along much the same lines as his original; much loved and lauded “Chris’s Restaurant” down the Great Ocean Road in Lorne, now long gone.
In those days Apollo Bay was a quiet fishing village on the fringe of the Western District, with little in the way of fine dining. Chris, with his emphasis on the fabulous freshly caught seafood of the ‘Bay’ along with his trademark Mediterranean cooking with a Greek accent, has done a lot to change that.
The original pinewood and glass dining room, seating 30, was extended over the years until it held 120 on two levels. In May 2003 it was totally destroyed by fire. Chris built a new “Chris’s” on the ashes of the old, and reopened on Christmas Day 2003.
These days the Great Ocean Road has an international profile and is one of Australia’s top tourist destinations, and Apollo Bay is booming. With Apollo Bay’s transformation, so too has Chris’s become an icon of the Great Ocean Road.
Chris's Restaurant is operating seven days a week for Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation
Chris’s Villas, just steps away from the restaurant, offer accommodation all year round and many diners choose to stay the night after enjoying a meal and a fine wine or two.
Chris's is located high above Skenes Creek and the villas are elevated, so the impact of the ocean views is stunning. Recently renovated, the villas are contemporary and well equipped.
A complimentary Continental breakfast in Chris's Restaurant has proven to be a very popular feature for our villa guests.
Studio Accommodation
Sleeps 2 in 1 king size bed. With polished wood floors, and floor to ceiling windows. The studios are fully self-contained, air conditioned with panoramic views from Cape Patton to Apollo Bay.
Villa Accommodation
Comfortably appointed and tastefully decorated. Maximum occupancy is 4, with 1 queen size bed, and 1 double or 2 single beds. Boasting the same great views, our villas are fully self-contained and air conditioned.
Restaurant
Inside, the new Chris’s Restaurant matches its surroundings, with sandstone floors and polished native redgum and blackwood timber. The main dining room radiates around a polished brushbox log over eight metres high, like the centre-pole of a marquee, giving the room a light and airy feel. The floor-to ceiling windows bring the Otways close in.
At sunset the lights of Apollo Bay come on, and at night the lighting around “Chris’s” illuminates the ferns and the manna gums (where koalas often feed). The different floor levels give almost every table a good view. There is a wood fire to greet diners in winter, and the specially glazed windows retain the warmth in cold weather. In summer, when it can be hot, even up on the hill, the restaurant is air-conditioned.
Our food is contemporary with a Southern European and Middle Eastern Influence. Fresh seafood is our specialty, along with a variety of Chris’s most popular Greek dishes. In our cuisine, the emphasis is on simplicity and on showcasing the natural flavour of the ingredients. If we can’t get it fresh it isn’t on our menu.
Our wine list showcases the best wines of our region as well as the finest wines that define the character of Australia’s greatest wine regions; especially chosen to complement our menu, with a price range to suit all budgets.
About Chris
Chris began his cooking career at 13 in the somewhat basic eating-places of downtown Salonica where he grew up. That was sixty years ago and he has come a long way since. He remains indefatigable, still arriving for work at 7am every day: his kitchen is his passion.
Environmental Policy
As members of Landcare we are part of a voluntary program to plant trees on the property. These are essential for koala migrations and geotechnical stability. To date thousands of trees have been planted in accordance with the natives that are common to the area and we are continuing to plant more. These trees also lend stability to the surrounding area that is made up of largely sedimentary rock. This has been a response to numerous landslides as well as a desire to contribute to carbon capture.
Our water reticulation system saves rainwater from every roof on the property and diverts it to our reserve tanks. So while this region has one of the highest rainfalls in the country, local infrastructure struggles to meet peak season demand: so please use water in a responsible manner. Keep in mind that this water is tank water; so it might be best to drink from the bottled water provided and boil everything else.
All recyclable material waste is separated and collected for recycling. If you want to help, you can separate paper, bottles and all recyclables for housekeeping; as we don't separate material in waste containers.
We use the ‘green power' option and sewage waste is treated on site. Your power consumption is your business; however, we ask that you consider the environment during your stay with regard to heating and the LCD televisions which use a lot of power, even on standby. We don't pre heat rooms prior to arrival without your instruction for this reason.
For more information about this property, click here to view their website
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Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant & Villas
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