Mt. Terrasse

Located on a sunny corner of Mount Eliza Way, Mt. Terrasse is a laid-back wine bar and bistro taking locals from their early-morning espresso to mid-afternoon snacks and late-night cocktails.

Each morning, the bi-fold doors open for brunch, with the kitchen serving up a full breakfast menu including their signature spicy jalepeño eggs benedict, loaded croissants and brioche breaky buns, alongside coffee by Industry Beans. If you’ve got time to dine in, you can cosy into the leather banquette seating or pull up a provincial-style chair out front. If you’re in a rush, head to the servery window to find a display cabinet filled with local pastries and pork belly baguettes ready to grab and go.

The freshly renovated venue seats 100 across the light-filled dining room and outdoor terrace, which effortlessly transitions from day to night with festoon lighting overhead. The contemporary fit-out is distinctly European, featuring gold accents, teal tiles, and eclectic artworks hanging on taupe walls.

Owner Boyd was inspired by a decade spent living and working his way around Europe – including stints in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and France. During his travels, he fell in love with the European’s relaxed approach to alfresco dining.

The tapas menu is designed to be shared in a long and leisurely fashion, with crowd-pleasing small plates including patatas bravas, tiger prawns and calamari fritti.  Some of the heartier dishes might include lamb cutlets with whisky cherry sauce, seared duck breast with decadent herb butter, or grass-fed steak served with silky béarnaise sauce and grilled vegetables.

When it came to putting together the wine list, Boyd “spent the best part of a year tasting and choosing the wines" and admits that he “was working on the wine list long before" he found the venue. The result is a 30-strong list showcasing local and international producers, with standouts including the Montalto Chardonnay, Trofeo Estate Amphora Pinot Noir and Taittinger Champagne by the glass.  

Here, the tap list is equally important, with six beers on regular rotation. Head to the fridge, and you’ll discover a range of rare and unusual brews that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere on the Peninsula. The diverse lineup sees Belgium sours and dark German lagers sitting alongside classic pilsners and cherry beers, as well as local picks from Two Bays and Banks Brewing.

If you’re feeling snackish, you can park at the bar for a tasting flight with generous hunks of smoked meats and cheese served alongside a selection of matched beers or wines.

A tight cocktail list rounds out the drinks offering with the usual suspects – from Negroni and Aperol Spritz to French Martinis – as well as house specials made with Peninsula Blvd sodas and local spirits from Bass & Flinders and That Spirited Lot.

Whether you’re stopping by for a spot of breakfast or settling in for the evening, Mt. Terrasse is the kind of cosy neighbourhood spot you wish was your local.