A bright new cafe and community hub with views out to the bay, The Local Clayton Bay, has just opened its doors on the Fleurieu Peninsula. For slow mornings and calm evenings, the venue’s shady deck is the spot to be, serving classic brekkies and cafe-style lunches that hit the spot. Plus, there’s The Local’s popular fish and chip van Mr Fill-It on site for the busy Friday evenings (check the venue’s socials for the schedule).
The cafe is now running under new ownership as The Local Clayton Bay, with partners Di Day and Chris Francis bringing their popular fish and chip offering (and a whole lot more) to brick and mortar.
The cafe sits near the waterfront with indoor dining and a west-facing deck that captures sunsets over the bay. Di says the atmosphere is warm and unpretentious. “It’s lovely and casual,” she says. “It’s got a beautiful feel about it. Very homey.”
The pair have operated their popular fish and chip van Mr Fill-It for the last four and a half years, which quickly saw success, becoming well known throughout the region for their hot battered goodness. Di says this new business has evolved directly from that success. “We’ve looked at this place many a time, but the ducks didn’t align,” she says. “All of a sudden they did one day and we went, if we don’t do it now, we’re never gonna do it.”
“We’ve taken the spot on and reopened it as The Local Clayton Bay,” Di says, “and the local people are loving it because, well… it’s their local.”
From 9 to 11am, you can build your own breakfast or grab a bacon and egg roll, French toast, or eggs benedict. For lunch, choose from cafe classics like schnitzels, lasagne, burgers and a range of salads. On Friday nights, Di and Chris have been firing up Mr Fill-It. Grab a plate piled high with fish and chips, pair it with a crisp glass of wine, and take a seat in the open air on the spacious deck while you watch the sky turn purple as the sun sets.
Alongside meals and coffee, The Local also operates as the town’s only general store. It stocks everyday basics for Clayton Bay residents and holidaymakers, think milk, snacks, and forgotten toiletries. Di says the aim is to build further on this offering. “We’ve got what we call the local shelf,” she says. “A focus on local products from the Fleurieu Peninsula, and a few from Adelaide.” Items from producers like Newman’s Horseradish are already available, with more to come.
Since opening in late October, trade has been steady despite wild spring weather. Summer is expected to bring a rush of travellers, boaties and holiday-home regulars. Breakfast boxes for local Airbnbs are also planned for the future, allowing guests to either cook in their accommodation or wander down for a morning meal.
For Di and Chris, the purpose of the space is simple: a meeting point for the town. “It’s The Local,” Di reiterates. “We’ve created it for our local community. They’re being very receptive to it and we’re getting a huge amount of support. We can’t wait to keep it going.”
The Local Clayton Bay
When: 9am – 5pm Wednesday to Sunday, Friday 9am – 9pm
Where: 28 Island View Drive, Clayton Bay
For more info, click here.
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