Max's Restaurant at Red Hill

Max's Restaurant at Red Hill was the Mornington Peninsula's original winery restaurant, opened by Max Paganoni in 1994 at 53 Shoreham Road in Red Hill South and loved for its vineyard views, pinot noir list and long lunches. After 31 years, the venue has permanently closed: its own website now reads simply, we are now closed, with a thank you to everyone who visited.

Worth knowing

There is nothing to book or visit at the Shoreham Road site any more, and any pet policy it ran does not apply. If you remember the porchetta, the oysters and the sourdough from past Peninsula trips, it is worth knowing those days are behind us, and the listing stays up mainly as a piece of Red Hill history.

Close by with the dogs

The good news is that Red Hill South still works beautifully as a dog-friendly day out. Green Olive at Red Hill in Main Ridge welcomes dogs on leash across its farm lawns and outdoor tables, and it doubles as a working olive grove and vineyard. Avani Wines is another Red Hill South cellar door to check for a dog-friendly tasting.

Max: closed venues happen more than you would think. I ring ahead before any winery or restaurant trip now, because the last thing you want is a 90 minute drive to shut gates.

Getting there

For the wider Red Hill area rather than the closed site itself, Shoreham Road and the surrounding ridges are about a 90 minute drive from Melbourne via the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. Weekend traffic through Dromana and the hill roads builds early, so head out before 9am in summer.

Work a walk into the plan with the Red Hill Rail Trail, or browse the Victoria wineries guide and the Red Hill South destination page for what is currently open.