Morphing from daytime sandwich stop to chatty local bar, Gornelly’s brings Melbourne’s hospitality forte to Castlemaine. Its moniker is a portmanteau of its owners, Scottish-born hospo veteran David Gorniak, and his wife, Astrid Connelly, who wanted the venue to feel like an extension of their own home.

The menu, by ex-Brico chef Lachlan Cameron, changes regularly and seasonally, with simple, Euro-centric share plates the main focus. Produce is sourced locally from suppliers like Long Paddock Dairy, Wombat Forest Farm and Northumberland Growers, and makes its way into lunch plates like black rice and corn stuffed zucchini flowers served with romesco sauce. Oysters and bar snacks pave the way for the evening’s offering, which is a touch more elevated while still adhering to the bar’s local and seasonal ethos.

Good to know: Keep an eye on the bar’s socials for live music gigs and other specials.

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