Dining returns to Pt Leo Estate after fire, with luxe pop-up restaurant now open

Long lunches surrounded by world-class sculpture are back at Pt Leo Estate – but not quite as you remember them before the fire in May that closed the Mornington Peninsula winery's two restaurants.

A new temporary venue, Pt Leo Pavilion, has been erected, boasting a custom-built kitchen, views of the estate's lake, petits-fours trolleys and original art by Jane Valentine. From today, it's ready to welcome up to 120 guests for relaxed family-style dining.

"Coming back with a completely new restaurant, we wanted a completely new offer as well. We thought it was a unique moment," says culinary director Josep Espuga, who is thrilled to be working on new ideas.

His set menu, built for sharing, opens with a shower of snacks ranging from focaccia to duck-neck terrine, which is briefly grilled on the wood-fire. Striploin steak and barramundi also touch the grill; even the caramel for a decadent chocolate dessert is smoked over the fire.

"Our DNA is the same we had at Pt Leo [restaurant]," says Espuga, who adds that there's still a strong focus on Mornington Peninsula produce, such as pickled Flinders mussels paired with beach succulents.

The pavilion, dressed with native flowers and enormous rugs, offers a new aspect to the previous dining spaces Laura and Pt Leo Restaurant, which sit in a different building on the opposite side of the estate.

Both of those venues are being rebuilt after the roof fire, but Espuga believes they'll reopen before 2022 is over.

The cellar door also has a new menu, with Spanish-leaning snacks that nod to Espuga's heritage, and a caviar and champagne bar open on Saturday nights.

Pt Leo Pavilion open daily from noon, Saturday 6pm-late. The cellar door is open daily for tastings from 11am, snacks available Fri-Sun 11.30am-4pm.

3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks, 03 5989 9011, ptleoestate.com.au