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Restaurant

The Arborist

75 Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia

Recommended by 79 people

Updated

Find The Arborist

75 Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 409 749 489
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About The Arborist

Little Malop Street runs on The Arborist’s botanical buzz and Mediterranean share plates. Upstairs, kick back on the open-air terrace with a tart strawberry sour among the treetops. Downstairs, bypass ordering debates and trust the kitchen with the Feed Me spread. Locals make a bee-line for the blistered apricot over baked halloumi, rich lamb kofta, and golden potato croquettes before digging into crisp-skinned whole fish dressed in brown butter.

  • Trust-the-Chef Dining: Delegating selections to the kitchen turns out multi-course feasts of blistered halloumi and crispy whole fish without ordering guesswork.
  • Treetop Rooftop Terrace: The open-air terrace bar serves strawberry sours and gin cocktails tucked right into the Little Malop Street canopy.
  • Mediterranean Share Plates: Shared mezze plates lean Mediterranean with whipped cod roe, tender lamb kofta, and charred broccolini.
RestaurantRestaurant

What's On at The Arborist

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose The Arborist

Discover why diners choose The Arborist for shared banquets, craft cocktails, and rooftop celebrations in Geelong.

  • Effortless Group Dining via the Feed Me Menu

    The multi-course Feed Me tasting menu eliminates group ordering decisions, presenting generous shared courses like whole roasted fish, crispy potatoes, and broccolini.

    It takes the guesswork out of ordering and allows you to experience a range of dishes that showcase the kitchen's style and creativity.

    瓏 Long

  • Seamless Dietary Accommodations Across Set Menus

    The kitchen seamlessly tailors its banquet and set menus to cater for strict coeliac, vegan, and vegetarian requirements without compromising on flavour.

    it was no problem for the staff to organise a vegan and vegetarian version of the set menu either which was really tasty

    Ellie Handberg

  • Standout Cocktail Craft and Beverage Pairings

    Thoughtfully curated cocktail lists and wine pairings complement the bold shared plates, heightening social celebrations and casual gatherings alike.

    In my opinion, The Arborist is easily one of the best places on Little Malop Street for cocktails.

    瓏 Long

  • Open-Air Drinks on the Tree-Framed Rooftop Terrace

    An elevated open-air rooftop terrace provides a botanical setting nestled among the treetops, ideal for pre-dinner drinks and casual outdoor drinks.

    Excellent service, out of the weather and up among the treetops. Food is one of Geelong's best as are the cocktails.

    Dana Lunn

  • Shared Grazing for Celebrations and Gatherings

    Generously portioned share plates and grazing banquets create an interactive, celebratory centrepiece that brings friends and families together.

    Great place for shared grazing with good friends, staff welcoming and food was top notch and fast.

    Justin Smith

  • Tailored Hosting for Milestone Functions and Groups

    Experienced event coordination and attentive table service take the stress out of milestone occasions and large group functions.

    the team was incredibly accommodating from the very first phone call, graciously managing all the changes that come with organising a group of 25+ people.

    Kate H

Signature dishes and banquet selections praised by diners

  • Feed Me menu

    We decided to go with the Feed Me menu, which was a great choice. For first-time visitors, I would highly recommend it. It takes the guesswork out of ordering and allows you to experience a range of dishes that showcase the kitchen's style and creativity.

    瓏 Long

  • Halloumi with apricot and hazelnuts

    I had a glass of the Sangiovese from Beechworth, which was delicious and paired perfectly with the halloumi cheese, hazelnuts and apricots.

    Chloe “Chloe Sky” Drummond

  • Lamb backstrap

    The food was delicious, particularly the chicken with Green Goddess sauce and the lamb backstrap.

    Tracy Stewart

  • Potato croquettes

    Potato croquettes and lamp backstrip being the highlight. Duck crown and cod roe were well-executed.

    l q

Other favorites

Complementary sides, crafted cocktails, and sweet finishes

  • Crispy potatoes

    The crispy potatoes were a standout side dish — perfectly golden and crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and served with a creamy sauce that made them impossible to stop eating.

    瓏 Long

  • Strawberry sour cocktail

    Hands down the best strawberry sour cocktail in town 🍓🍸 absolutely loved it!

    Sanda Vojnic Tunic

  • Charred broccolini

    The charred broccolini was beautifully cooked with just the right amount of smokiness, while the fresh salad added a refreshing balance to the richer dishes.

    瓏 Long

  • Apricot pudding

    And I love their apricot pudding too!

    Nicole Leung

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitalities and guest care observed at The Arborist

  • Personalised Outdoor Heating

    When outdoor seating was needed on a freezing day, staff arranged outdoor heating with an overhead heater and pulled an additional heater closer to keep the guest and their dog comfortable.

  • Dedicated Group Function Coordination

    Staff smoothly coordinated a large private celebration of 25+ guests, patiently handling all reservation changes and proactively tending to everyone's needs from the initial phone call onwards.

  • Tailored Dietary Menu Versions

    The kitchen effortlessly tailored their sharing set menu into dedicated vegan, vegetarian, and coeliac versions so all guests felt completely included and accommodated.

  • Attentive Table Hospitality

    Staff proactively check in with diners before clearing plates and provide attentive table hospitality that keeps celebration dinners flowing smoothly.

Before you head over

Practical planning advice for dining and sharing menus at The Arborist

  • Reserve Well in Advance

    Book ahead well in advance for prime weekend sittings, as indoor dining areas fill up rapidly and indoor tables can be completely booked out on Friday evenings.

  • Opt for the Feed Me Menu

    Delegate ordering by selecting the Feed Me or Chef's Choice share menu to bypass decision-making and sample a cohesive spread across key kitchen dishes.

  • Communicate Dietary Requirements

    Signal dietary needs like celiac, vegan, or vegetarian early, as the kitchen comfortably tailors set sharing menus with dedicated courses.

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