Historic Queenscliff Hotel reborn, with Miettas leading the table

MIETTAS at the Queenscliff Hotel is emerging as the dining centrepiece of the landmark’s long-awaited revival.The restaurant launched with the hotel in late March, but has already undergone a change in direction, with Josh Smith stepping in as head chef shortly after opening.

A former owner of Merne at Lighthouse, Smith brings a farm-to-table approach shaped by native Australian ingredients and global influences, with experience spanning Tulip, the Royal Mail Hotel and Maze by Gordon Ramsay.

“It’s been a whirlwind. I got offered the job on Easter Sunday, and was pretty much straight into it a few days later,” Smith said.

 

“I ran Merne with great success for nine years and it was amazing to see it so well supported by our community.

“This time I had to put the menu literally in 20 minutes on a Thursday before serving it for dinner on Friday.

“It’s been a quick process, but this move is an exciting one, and one that I’m tackling with both hands.”

His degustation menu centres on seasonal, local produce.

Dishes include open crayfish ravioli and lamb rack with watercress vichyssoise, roasted cauliflower, braised onion and mint, alongside native flavours.

 

“I love different cuisines and the multicultural aspects of Australia,” Smith said. “I love to relay that through food as much as possible.

“Expect to see wattle seed, lemon myrtle, strawberry gums as well as plenty of other Australian herbs with unique flavours.

“We’ve also got a fennel gazpacho with native flavours and smoked pumpkin, which has been really well received.”

The wine list draws from the Bellarine, Geelong and beyond.

 

Miettas revives the name of restaurateur Mietta O’Donnell, who operated at the hotel from 1978.

Reopening in her name is a both a homage and privilege – one the hotel’s new owners have approached with a deep sense of respect.

“The hotel is so rich in history, and we wanted to pay tribute to the legacies other custodians have forged,” Queenscliff Hotel owner Tammy Charter said.

“We reached out to Mietta’s family and asked for their blessing to revive the name.

 

“While the menu symbolises a new chapter for the hotel, the name is a homage to the generations that came before.”

The reopening of the hotel marked the end of a three-year restoration by owners Rob and Tammy Charter, who purchased the 1888 building in 2022 after years of vacancy.

Working with Molecule Studio, Heritage Victoria and local builders, the project focused on restoring original features including the turreted viewing tower and cast iron frontage, while introducing contemporary interiors.

The hotel now operates as a 12-suite boutique stay, with individually designed rooms, heritage details and locally made furnishings, alongside dining spaces including Miettas, a conservatory and cafe.

 

“We’re trying to bring the luxury back into the old hotel,” Rob Charter said.

Smith said you can feel the history of the building as soon as you walk through the doors.

“The beautiful chandeliers, wooden roofs – it’s an ode to the past,” he said.

“We want it become an institution and put it on the map on the Bellarine.”

For more information, visit thequeenscliffhotel.com.au