Coeliacs, strap yourself in, we’re going to Geelong. And this is our view for the weekend!!
If you have coeliac disease and you’re planning a trip to Geelong, here are my recommendations for accommodation, places to eat, and a sporting event you won’t want to miss.
Disclosure: Both our stay at Crowne Plaza Geelong and our dining experience at GMHBA Stadium were invited collaborations. As always, all opinions are my own.
Checking Into Crowne Plaza Geelong
Our weekend began with a Friday afternoon check-in at Crowne Plaza Geelong. The photos above and below were taken at sunrise the next morning, but the view at night was stunning as well. The hotel is located right on the Geelong waterfront, in the heart of Geelong. It really doesn’t get better than this.
We stayed in Room 1006, and the view alone had me sold. Our room overlooked the bay, giving us a perfect viewing spot of people on their morning walks, fishermen trying to catch a big one, and honestly, just simply relaxing.
The hotel only opened in January 2026, so everything feels brand new. The rooms are spacious, beautifully designed and feel incredibly luxurious without being over the top.
After settling in, we headed downstairs to Sociali Trattoria for dinner, located on Level 1 at Crowne Plaza Geelong.
Gluten Free Dining at Sociali Trattoria
At first glance, the menu might not look particularly gluten-free-friendly, as menu items are marked as LG (low-gluten). However, that’s not the case at all. View menu HERE
I was advised that most of the Secondi (main meals) could be adapted to be gluten free, giving me far more choice than I expected.
My fiancé and I shared two entrées, Seared Scallops and the Slow-Roasted Pork Belly, and two mains, 300G Grain-Fed MB2 Scotch Fillet and the Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder.
I’ll be thinking about those big juicy scallops and the Calabrese butter served with the perfectly cooked steak for years to come. Absolutely delicious!
Breakfast at Industry 26
The next morning we woke to one of the most incredible sunrises I’ve seen in a long time. If you’re considering staying at Crowne Plaza Geelong, I highly recommend paying extra for a bay-view room. (We were in room 1006)
After a walk along the waterfront, we headed to Industry 26 on Pakington Street after countless recommendations from fellow coeliacs on Instagram. View the menu HERE.
The moment I mentioned I had coeliac disease, the staff explained they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer and procedures in place to minimise cross-contamination. Music to my little coeliac’s ears.
I ordered the smashed avocado with eggs & hash brown (cooked in a GF fryer), followed by a vanilla almond iced latte, and both were delicious.
Pre-Footy Drinks
If you’re coming to Geelong and you feel like a drink, or maybe you want a bite to eat with a great view. Come to Crowne Plaza Geelong and head up to the 10th floor, where you’ll find the Skyline Bar. This very aesthetically pleasing bar overlooks the bay and has a luxurious, warm feel. We had a drink and saw helicopters flying by, kayakers, and fishermen; it’s honestly such a good people-watching place. We then got an Uber to GMHBA stadium for lunch before the big Cats VS Sydney game.
Gluten-Free Options at GMHBA Stadium
We arrived at GMHBA Stadium for a 1:45 pm sitting at Club Chin Chin before the 4:15 pm match. If you’ve ever dined at Chin Chin in Melbourne or Sydney, you know you’re in for a treat. But since this was a set menu, I was eager to see how many GF options were available and whether there were substitutes for the items that were not GF.
Chin Chin did not disappoint. From the menu below, you’ll see that 5 of the 6 items are GF. And the substitute for the pork was these delicious mushroom dumplings, honestly, I think they were the best gf dumplings I’ve ever had.
The atmosphere was electric, with music playing in the background, excited footy fans and some absolutely delicious gluten-free meals. 10/10 coeliac experience so far. Also, they served additional food at half-time and 3/4 time, but we were too consumed by the footy atmosphere to come back into the restaurant.
If you thought the GF experience was over, just you wait.
The Gluten Free Food Tour – GMHBA Stadium
After lunch, Courtney from the Geelong Cats introduced us to Daniel, who oversees hospitality operations at GMHBA Stadium and also has coeliac disease himself.
What he has created is genuinely remarkable.
Most stadiums are places where coeliacs will usually have to resort to a bag of chips, but GMHBA Stadium has done the opposite.
Available throughout the stadium are:
- Gluten-free pies
- Gluten-free sausage rolls
- Gluten-free potato cakes
- Gluten-free chips cooked in dedicated fryers
- Gluten-free chicken tenders and chips from Pollo Rotisserie
- Sealed gluten-free Daniel’s Donuts
- Gluten-free bánh mì rolls
- Gluten-free baked potatoes
And that’s just the beginning.
The Geelong Social Club – GMHBA Stadium
The Geelong Social Club offers an entirely different level of gluten-free dining. This area is for those who have purchased the annual Geelong Social Club membership.
Within this members-only area, there is a dedicated gluten-free preparation station and fryer producing dishes such as:
- Gluten-free potato cakes (Gluten-Free Batter brand)
- Freshly battered prawns
- Burgers served on buns from Geelong Gluten Free Bakery
- Freshly cooked gluten-free churros
As someone diagnosed with coeliac disease, I was beyond excited to see what is possible when a venue genuinely commits to catering safely.
I hope this becomes the standard that other stadiums and event venues aspire to. I made a video highlighting all of this, check it out below.
Room Service & A Relaxing Finish
After the game, we’d originally planned to head out for dinner, but instead headed back to our room to have a shower, chuck on pjs and enjoy room service with a view.
Zero regrets.
A Buffet Breakfast Coeliacs Can Actually Enjoy
The following morning, we returned to Sociali Trattoria for their buffet breakfast. Now, normally, buffet breakfasts are something many coeliacs avoid as the risk of cross-contamination is usually extremely high. However, Crowne Plaza Geelong had clearly thought about this.
As soon as I mentioned coeliac disease, staff directed me to a dedicated gluten free station featuring:
• Gluten-free bread
• A dedicated gluten-free toaster
• Gluten-free cereals
even a gluten-free slice.
After cooking my toast in the GF toaster, I went to check out the hot food options in the bain-maries, but, knowing this was high risk for cross-contamination, I spoke to the chef. After mentioning to him I had coeliac disease, he promptly asked what I would like (bacon, eggs, tomato and mushrooms, please) and said he would cook some fresh for me and bring them over. Honestly, it’s these little interactions that completely change the game as a coeliac.
Final Thoughts
I would happily recommend every part of this coeliac, gluten-free fuelled weekend at Crowne Plaza Geelong and GMHBA Stadium to fellow coeliacs.
The accommodation is incredible, the staff have a strong understanding of coeliac disease, and throughout the weekend I felt every bit confident that cross-contamination had been considered.
I also provided some constructive feedback around menu labelling and a few additional visual cues that could make the gluten free options even clearer. The team were incredibly receptive, which speaks volumes about their commitment to improving the experience for coeliac guests.
For a destination that combines luxury accommodation, fantastic dining and one of the best gluten-free venue experiences I’ve encountered, Geelong absolutely deserves a place on your travel list. Additionally, if you can time your visit with a Geelong home game at GMHBA, DO IT!!
