13 sun-kissed Aussie hideaways for a taste of European summer

These European-style venues will have you living La Dolce Vita down under in no time.

Desperately missing those dreamy Mediterranean days? Don’t fret, mon amour. With summer fast approaching it’s too easy to recreate your own European summer 2.0 at these stunning bars, restaurants and stays around Australia.

1. Rolling Seas, Billinga Beach, Qld

Create the European girl’s trip you’ve never had on the southern Gold Coast, with this luxury stay. The Rolling Seas holiday home has European charm in spades for 12 residents, across its two villas: The Residence and The Cottage.

Instead of trying to get all your friends over to Europe (with your sanity and friendship in one piece), spend your days chilling in the infinity pool or wandering down to the water at this beachfront property.

Address: Bilinga Beach, Qld

2. St Siandra, Mosman, NSW

Make like you’re back on the Amalfi Coast, with one of Sydney’s newest waterfront restaurants: St Siandra at The Spit.

With a private beach and jetty access, you can arrive by water taxi to the North Shore restaurant for a long lunch of seafood or indulgent dinner, all created by Head Chef Sam McCallum of Nomad restaurant-fame.

Address: 75 Lower, Parriwi Rd, Mosman, NSW

3. Margot Espresso Vin and Fromage, Parkes, ACT

If you think summer in Europe is incomplete without at least some time in the French Riviera, we have just the place for you.

The fresh-faced Margot Espresso Vin and Fromage (or Margot for short) awaits next to Lake Burley Griffin for all your sidewalk sundowner needs. Cheeses, gourmet-style toasties and other nibbles are available besides local and French wines at this Canberra eatery.

Address: West Kiosk, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes, ACT

4. Sebastian, Williamstown, Vic

If the rugged Basque country in northern Spain has captured your heart, make for Sebastian at Williamstown Beach, Victoria. Named after the coastal Spanish town of San Sebastian, Sebastian is housed in a thirties heritage-listed bathing pavilion.

You’ll recognise traditional regional food like Gilda pintxos and serrano jamon plates on the menu, as well as Australian flavours like Spring Creek barramundi with asparagus and borlotti bean estofado.

Address: 26 Esplanade, Williamstown, Vic

5. The Moseley Beach Club, Glenelg, SA

Get the Greek island experience, without the crowds, at the Moseley Beach Club, Glenelg Beach. Set up on one of Adelaide’s most popular beaches each summer, the island-style bar pop-up is still going strong, offering a heady mix of DJs, summer cocktails and shaded beach chairs. Watch out. Combine this with a Greek-style food menu that includes halloumi bowls, lamb shoulders and garlic-chilli fried squid, you might find yourself there all day.

Address: Glenelg Beach, Glenelg, SA

6. Si Paradiso, Highgate, WA

Gather your friends and order a round of camparis: it’s time for a Sunday sesh at Si Paradiso. Beloved for its pastiche personality as a bar meets restaurant meets dancefloor, the eatery’s vintage-style Italian vibes bring out the best in any occasion.

If you’re more into dining than checking out the DJ, this Perth restaurant has you covered, with delectable pizzas and pasta, as well as small plates of blue swimmer cab, steak tartare and gruyere croquettes.

Address: 1/446 Beaufort St, Highgate, WA

7. Oyster Bar, Darwin, NT

The Top End is generally more known for its tropical fare and dramatic landscapes than it is for Europe vibes — why compete with others when you have your own spectacularly unique style?

But if you’re up in the NT and missing slurping down shellfish (just like you did in the beach towns of Portugal or on the coasts of Ireland), we’d recommend the Oyster Bar. Located in the Waterfront Precinct in Darwin, the waterview restaurant serves up oysters all the way from raw to baked.

Address: 19 Kitchener Dr, Darwin City, NT

8. Pumphouse Point, Lake St Clair, Tas

More of a fan of Scandi-summer? Make Pumphouse Point your destination. This unique and adults-only Tasmanian hotel is built on the famous Lake St Clair, right at the end of the jetty. Overlooking the lake from the heritage-listed industrial buildings that make up the accommodation, you’ll feel like you’re suspended a Norwegian fjord or Central European lake at this luxury property.

Address: 1 Lake St Clair Rd, Lake St Clair, Tas

9. Guestlands, Arcadia, NSW

If you literally want to trick your friends and family into thinking you’re in Italy, simply take some photos at the Guestlands BnB. Located an hour north-west of Sydney, the creators of Guestlands have endeavoured to recreate a medieval Tuscan village, complete with villas. And boy — have they succeeded.

Book a romantic getaway in one of the villas, reserve a private chef or make your own pizzas in their woodfire oven in the La Cabana and relax by the pool. Most importantly, don’t forget to pose with Azzurro and Ombra, the friendly resident cats.

Address: 10 Blacks Rd, Arcadia, NSW

10. OPA Bar + Mezze, Brisbane, Qld

Tucked away from the bustle of Eagle St Pier, the waterfront OPA Bar + Mezze is a pastel lovers’ dream of a Greek restaurant in the Brisbane CBD.

Dotted with hanging plants and overlooking Storey Bridge, take a seat here in one of its booths to try out oysters with tomato, tabasco sauce and ouzo, scampi caviar, watermelon salad, souvlaki and lamb fricassee.

Address: 123 Eagle St, Brisbane City, Qld

11. Studley Park Boathouse, Kew, Vic

Head to this historic boathouse for the rarest European summer experience of all: a sunny British day. Overlooking the Yarra River, the Studley Park Boathouse has been open to Melbourne residents for 160 years and gives a distinctly English summer vibe.

Today, you can book in to eat brunch among the English elm trees in its conservatory or choose to sit outside in the sun by the river.

Address: 1 Boathouse Rd, Kew, Vic

12. Coogee Pavilion Rooftop, Coogee, NSW

Who doesn’t love that holiday feat of spending the morning at the beach, and the afternoon at the bar? When it comes to combining the two, it doesn’t get much better than the Coogee Pavilion Rooftop in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

The top floor of the beachside complex is decorated akin to a botanist’s conservatory, with bars devoted to serving up Mediterranean-style cocktails and mezze. With an open-air layout, sun yourself here with a drink or two, overlooking the sunbathers and sand below.

Address: Level 3/169 Dolphin St, Coogee, NSW

13. Stefano Lubiana Wines and Osteria, Granton, Tas

What’s summer in Europe without some homegrown grapes to go with it? Down in Tasmania, Stefano Lubiana Wines Cellar Door serves up varieties of wine it grows in its certified biodynamic vineyard, which is also found in Burgundy, France.

Moving over to their Osteria Vista restaurant, the small farmhouse-style eatery keeps things local with a seasonal degustation menu, inspired by regional Italian fare. Best enjoyed with incredible views across the Derwent Valley.

Address: 60 Rowbottoms Rd, Granton, Tas

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