Inside the Torquay Central complex, a short drive from the Surf Coast's beaches, the region's biggest organic grocer folds a plant-based kitchen into its aisles. Order at the counter and the day's offering might be a vegan lasagne, an acai bowl, a thick smoothie or a slab of vegan brownie, eaten among shelves stocked with dairy-free cheeses, chocolates and a freezer worth exploring. It functions as both a weekly shop and a casual eat-in stop, and the plant-based, largely gluten-free menu is the point rather than a concession. Torquay draws surfers and Great Ocean Road traffic in equal measure, and this is where the health-minded end of that crowd converges over coffee poured with oat or almond milk. Open seven days from early, it's an easy, unpretentious anchor for anyone eating vegan on the coast.
