Frankston’s waterfront is set for a major new addition, with Frankston City Council announcing award-winning Italian coastal venue Roccella Lido will open at the Frankston Yacht Club in August 2026.
Council said the venue will take over level one of the Yacht Club building, delivering a southern Italian-inspired dining experience overlooking Port Phillip Bay.
The level one hospitality space has been vacant since late 2015.
Mayor Sue Baker: “An exciting next chapter”
Mayor Cr Sue Baker said the new tenant was part of a broader push to lift activity and visitation along the foreshore.
“Roccella Lido represents an exciting next chapter for Frankston’s waterfront.”
Cr Baker said the announcement was not just about a new restaurant, but about the wider role the waterfront plays for locals and visitors.
“This is about more than world-class dining, it’s about vibrancy, tourism, community pride and continuing to elevate our city as a destination to live, visit and invest in.”
She said Council viewed the Yacht Club tenancy as part of a bigger picture, with multiple offerings now operating or planned for the area.
Council said Roccella Lido will sit alongside the recently announced Waterfront Kiosk and Carlsberg Beach Club, and that a further dining announcement for the former Sofia’s site is expected later this year.
Cr Baker said securing the Yacht Club tenant, alongside the upcoming decision on the former Sofia’s site, would reshape the precinct.
“Tenanting the Yacht Club, coupled with the forthcoming announcement for the former Sofia’s Restaurant site, will completely transform the Frankston Waterfront.”
What Council Says Will Happen Next
Council said the fit-out is expected to begin in May 2026, with the venue scheduled to open in August 2026.
Council said the venue is expected to employ up to 90 staff during peak periods.
What The Venue Will Offer
Council said the menu will feature modern Italian dining, including award-winning pizzas, fresh pasta, seafood and steak, and the space will be set up for everyday dining as well as functions including weddings and corporate events.
The venue will be operated by the Roccella Group. Council named Bruno and Joe Ceraso, Francesco Crifò and Bernie Cuteri, and said the group has established and operated more than 100 hospitality and franchise brands across Australia.
Roccella Group co-founder Bruno Ceraso said the group wanted the venue to feel like a place the community could take pride in.
“Food is more than what we serve, it’s how we connect with people.”
“We want this venue to be part of Frankston’s story – a place where families, locals, visitors and our staff feel welcome, valued and proud.”
A Site With A Long And Complex History
The Frankston Yacht Club redevelopment has been the subject of ongoing community and political discussion for more than a decade.
The building underwent a major redevelopment completed in the mid-2010s, but the level one hospitality space has remained vacant since 2015, becoming a frequent focus of community frustration and debate around the foreshore’s unrealised potential.
Over the years, the site has been regularly raised in council meetings and community discussion, with repeated calls for a permanent tenant and a long-term commercial outcome.
It is against this backdrop that former Frankston Mayor and current councillor Kris Bolam said the Yacht Club tenancy represented a significant shift.
“The past year marks a historic turning point, as we have finally resolved the legacy challenges that have burdened our city for decades.”
Cr Bolam said the Yacht Club outcome was about closing out a long-running issue.
“For years, the Frankston Yacht Club symbolised unfinished business. Today, we close that chapter for good. With Rochella bringing deep passion and expertise in exceptional hospitality, Council has addressed a decade of community frustration and will finally fulfil the potential of this iconic building.”
He also pointed to the broader foreshore picture.
“Unlocking both the Frankston Yacht Club and the entirety of Pier Promenade was the final piece of the puzzle—restoring a sense of place and pride at such prominent locations that will endure for generations.”
Cr Bolam said the project also carried lessons for future developments.
“While we have successfully corrected the course, this project serves as a critical case study and definitely highlights the need for a post-mortem. The initial lapses in the business case, commercialisation strategy and construction oversight provide a clear roadmap of what to avoid moving forward.”
Updates
STPL News will update this report as further detail is released, including the concept and timeline for the former Sofia’s site.
