The restaurant
Doc Hughes is at 23 The Esplanade, across the road from the foreshore and Front Beach, about five minutes' drive from north Torquay. It's open from breakfast until late most days, so it works for a coffee after a morning swim, a long lunch with a view, or dinner and cocktails.
The name comes from Carrodoc "Doc" Hughes, who ran a general store and a string of kiosks along The Esplanade from the late 1920s until he died in 1972. He owned the building the restaurant is in. It opened as Doc Hughes in November 2021, and it's owned and run by Tim and Jayne Kearney. It was an Australian Good Food Guide Readers' Choice winner in 2024.
Breakfast
Prices are from the breakfast menu in October 2026. The coffee is from Mikro Coffee Roasters.
The big plates
The Doc Hughes big breakfast is $34, with eggs, bacon, cheese kransky, mushrooms, hash browns and house smoked beans. Eggs benedict is $27, avocado smash $28, and a chilli scramble on croissant with chorizo sambal $29.
Sweet
Pancakes with berries and mascarpone ($24), and a tiramisu-style French toast with espresso syrup ($26).
Lighter
Granola with coconut yoghurt ($22), a breakfast bun with bacon and egg ($23), and a falafel breakfast salad ($25). Eggs on toast are $16.
Lunch and dinner
From the lunch and dinner menu, October 2026.
To share
Tasmanian oysters, natural ($30 for six) or Kilpatrick ($33). Warm flatbread ($16), bruschetta for two ($23), stracciatella with roast eggplant ($26), a grilled octopus skewer ($28), duck croquettes ($27) and a cheese plate from $29.
Mains
Seafood linguine with prawns, clams, scallops and squid ($41), the most-mentioned dish in reviews. Pan-fried barramundi ($42), coffee barbecue pork ribs ($41), salt and chilli squid ($34), and Doc's fish and chips with flathead ($36). The beef burger is $29 and the vegan burger $28.
Steaks
From the chargrill: Cape Grim scotch fillet ($58), Gippsland eye fillet ($64) and a 500g Black Onyx rib eye ($87), each with a sauce and a side.
Salads
A roast cauliflower salad and a roast pumpkin salad ($26 each, vegan and gluten free), with grilled chicken for $12 more.
Kids, dogs and dietary needs
There's a kids' menu for under-12s at every meal: pancakes or bacon and egg at breakfast, and a cheeseburger, fish and chips, nuggets or pizza ($15 to $17) later on. Dogs are welcome too, and there's a puppaccino on the drinks list. For more places that welcome dogs, see our dog-friendly Torquay guide.
The menus mark gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and most of the rest can be made gluten free on request.
Hours and bookings
The Doc Hughes website lists it as open from 8.30am until late Monday to Saturday, and 8.30am to 3pm on Sunday.
Book for lunch and dinner, especially in summer, through the website or on (03) 4216 6860. Breakfast is walk-in only, but ring ahead for a group.
Around The Esplanade
Doc Hughes is in the middle of Torquay's beachfront strip. Cross the road for a walk along the foreshore under the pines, or down to Front Beach for a swim before lunch. The Kyn, Ela and the Surf Hotel are a few doors away for another night, and the ice cream shops on Gilbert Street are around the corner.
Doc Hughes himself is part of the Torquay History Walking Trail: his general store at 24 The Esplanade is one of the stops.
Doc Hughes FAQ
Where is Doc Hughes?
23 The Esplanade, Torquay, across the road from Front Beach.
Is it open for dinner on Sunday?
No. On Sundays it closes at 3pm. The rest of the week it's open until late.
Can I book breakfast?
Breakfast is walk-in, but you can ring for a group booking. Book ahead for lunch and dinner.
Is Doc Hughes dog friendly?
Yes, and it even has puppaccinos.
For more on The Esplanade, see our restaurants guide and breakfast in Torquay. Staying in north Torquay? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 22 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Doc Hughes — Doc Hughes (official)
- About — Doc Hughes (official)
- Breakfast menu — Doc Hughes (official)
- Lunch and dinner menu — Doc Hughes (official)
- Torquay History Walking Trail — Melbourne Playgrounds