Guidebook for Ballarat
Food Scene
Yellow Espresso is a bright and bustling café at the lower end of Sturt Street and the latest place to be for brunch in Ballarat. With white and yellow furnishings, timber bench tops and hanging plants, this trendy café serves an all-day breakfast and one of the best coffees in town and is a perfect café to relax with friends and soak up the sunshine. Located at 13 Sturt St, Ballarat VIC 3350. Go to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Yellowespressoballarat/
This is our favourite café featuring local, Australian contemporary and vegetarian friendly cuisine. Charming cafe with wood accents offering coffee, pastries & seasonal dishes, plus CDs for sale. They do a great breakfast, lunch and great coffee. They are located 417 Sturt St, Ballarat Central. For lunch try the steak sandwich or the prawn pasta. They are only open for dinner for Friday night so definitely make a booking in advance so you don’t miss out.
42 locals recommend
L'espresso
417 Sturt StThis is our favourite café featuring local, Australian contemporary and vegetarian friendly cuisine. Charming cafe with wood accents offering coffee, pastries & seasonal dishes, plus CDs for sale. They do a great breakfast, lunch and great coffee. They are located 417 Sturt St, Ballarat Central. For lunch try the steak sandwich or the prawn pasta. They are only open for dinner for Friday night so definitely make a booking in advance so you don’t miss out.
Housed within a red brick building in Ballarat town, The Forge Pizzeria is a firm favourite among visitors and locals all about sharing good, regional fare with friends. Expect all the old favourites to be here and delve a little deeper into the menu's more interesting options including gourmet pizzas from the in-built wood fire oven. Created with the classic Italian thin crust combined with delightful food combinations and toppings. They are located at 14 Armstrong Street North, so they are a short walk from the house. Be sure to check their specials, pasta dishes and save room for the dessert. Check out their website: http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/.
48 locals recommend
The Forge Pizzeria
14 Armstrong St NHoused within a red brick building in Ballarat town, The Forge Pizzeria is a firm favourite among visitors and locals all about sharing good, regional fare with friends. Expect all the old favourites to be here and delve a little deeper into the menu's more interesting options including gourmet pizzas from the in-built wood fire oven. Created with the classic Italian thin crust combined with delightful food combinations and toppings. They are located at 14 Armstrong Street North, so they are a short walk from the house. Be sure to check their specials, pasta dishes and save room for the dessert. Check out their website: http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/.
A delightful cafe right next to the lake. People watch and let the world go by.
15 locals recommend
Racers Bar & Cafe
2 Wendouree ParadeA delightful cafe right next to the lake. People watch and let the world go by.
The best souvas in town. Delicious fried fish and crinkle cut chips. The burgers have premium ingredients and are very generous in size! Worth the visit.
The Burger Company
1301 Sturt StThe best souvas in town. Delicious fried fish and crinkle cut chips. The burgers have premium ingredients and are very generous in size! Worth the visit.
This is a guest favourite as it is just across the road on the corner and opposite the McDonalds. Enjoy a gourmet brekkie with international dishes are served in a stately corner home with old-fashioned decor. Reliable. Dependable. Conveniently located only 50 metres from your door so it’s a great place to visit if you don't want to travel far. Their website is http://www.turretcafe.com.au/.
The Turret Cafe & Catering
802 Sturt StThis is a guest favourite as it is just across the road on the corner and opposite the McDonalds. Enjoy a gourmet brekkie with international dishes are served in a stately corner home with old-fashioned decor. Reliable. Dependable. Conveniently located only 50 metres from your door so it’s a great place to visit if you don't want to travel far. Their website is http://www.turretcafe.com.au/.
Filled Baquettes to die for. Try the ham and cheese croissants, pan au chocolat and the lemon tarts. And the pies.... go early to avoid missing out. Now located on Mair Street opposite Moon & Mountain.
Le Petit Patissier
223 Mair StFilled Baquettes to die for. Try the ham and cheese croissants, pan au chocolat and the lemon tarts. And the pies.... go early to avoid missing out. Now located on Mair Street opposite Moon & Mountain.
Moon & Mountain is a modern Asian eatery and bar with an Australian twist where flavours of the East meet drinks of the West. Their cuisine is based on the Hawker dining bars of South East Asia with a shared eating concept. Good for groups or parties and they take bookings. They are a located 220 Mair Street so it is a leisurely 8 minute walk from Lascelles. Their website is http://moonandmountain.com.au/.
26 locals recommend
Moon & Mountain
220 Mair StMoon & Mountain is a modern Asian eatery and bar with an Australian twist where flavours of the East meet drinks of the West. Their cuisine is based on the Hawker dining bars of South East Asia with a shared eating concept. Good for groups or parties and they take bookings. They are a located 220 Mair Street so it is a leisurely 8 minute walk from Lascelles. Their website is http://moonandmountain.com.au/.
Intimate. Interactive. Memorable. A fine dining experience not to be missed! Derek and Lucy have created the ultimate dining experience with underbar right in the heart of Ballarat, just a stones throw from Lascelles Ballarat.
The city has struck gold again, so make sure to check this local gem. Be sure to plan ahead though, in fact you need to book one month in advance to get the best seats in the house. There is a maximum of 12 guests each night. Friday and Saturday only. Their website is https://www.underbar.com.au/.
13 locals recommend
Underbar
3 Doveton St NIntimate. Interactive. Memorable. A fine dining experience not to be missed! Derek and Lucy have created the ultimate dining experience with underbar right in the heart of Ballarat, just a stones throw from Lascelles Ballarat.
The city has struck gold again, so make sure to check this local gem. Be sure to plan ahead though, in fact you need to book one month in advance to get the best seats in the house. There is a maximum of 12 guests each night. Friday and Saturday only. Their website is https://www.underbar.com.au/.
FIKA: Swedish for 'coffee break'. F.I.K.A Coffee Brewers opened its doors in May 2015 in central Ballarat. Run by barista and Buninyong local Matt Freeman, formerly of Melbourne's St Ali, F.I.K.A has quickly established itself as the Fika hub of Ballarat. Enjoy fresh brunch options, a selection of pastries and occasional drops of Vegas and Rose doughnuts and it's no wonder F.I.K.A is bustling around the clock. Their website is https://www.fikacoffeebrewers.com.au/.
22 locals recommend
Fika Coffee Brewers
36A Doveton St NFIKA: Swedish for 'coffee break'. F.I.K.A Coffee Brewers opened its doors in May 2015 in central Ballarat. Run by barista and Buninyong local Matt Freeman, formerly of Melbourne's St Ali, F.I.K.A has quickly established itself as the Fika hub of Ballarat. Enjoy fresh brunch options, a selection of pastries and occasional drops of Vegas and Rose doughnuts and it's no wonder F.I.K.A is bustling around the clock. Their website is https://www.fikacoffeebrewers.com.au/.
Johnny Alloo
32 Drummond St NHydrant Food Hall
3 McKenzie StTraditional Spanish Cuisine, Tapas & Wine Bar. If you like Spanish tapas this is the place. Try their feed me menu. More food that you can eat! To check out more go to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/meigascafe.
43 locals recommend
Meigas
33 Armstrong St NTraditional Spanish Cuisine, Tapas & Wine Bar. If you like Spanish tapas this is the place. Try their feed me menu. More food that you can eat! To check out more go to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/meigascafe.
Yellow Espresso is a bright and bustling café at the lower end of Sturt Street and the latest place to be for brunch in Ballarat. With white and yellow furnishings, timber bench tops and hanging plants, this trendy café serves an all-day breakfast and one of the best coffees in town and is a perfect café to relax with friends and soak up the sunshine. Located at 13 Sturt St, Ballarat VIC 3350. Go to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Yellowespressoballarat/
19 locals recommend
Yellow Espresso
13 Sturt StYellow Espresso is a bright and bustling café at the lower end of Sturt Street and the latest place to be for brunch in Ballarat. With white and yellow furnishings, timber bench tops and hanging plants, this trendy café serves an all-day breakfast and one of the best coffees in town and is a perfect café to relax with friends and soak up the sunshine. Located at 13 Sturt St, Ballarat VIC 3350. Go to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Yellowespressoballarat/
Nestled a short stroll from Lake Wendouree, Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry is a relaxed, modern cafe open every day for breakfast and lunch, showcasing local produce, wines, boutique beers and great coffee. Check out their website: https://www.eclectictastes.com.au/
14 locals recommend
Eclectic Tastes cafe & pantry
2 Burnbank StNestled a short stroll from Lake Wendouree, Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry is a relaxed, modern cafe open every day for breakfast and lunch, showcasing local produce, wines, boutique beers and great coffee. Check out their website: https://www.eclectictastes.com.au/
Mr Jones is career chef’s Damien and Danielle Jones’s third restaurant bringing together their combined experience from a Michelin restaurant in London to their hatted restaurant in Ballarat, Catfish. For those of you that miss Catfish you will love their new offering at Mr Jones. Contemporary Asian cuisine, shared dining, relaxed, fun, approachable, everyday dining. Check out their website: https://mrjonesdining.com.au/
12 locals recommend
Mr Jones Dining
42-44 Main RdMr Jones is career chef’s Damien and Danielle Jones’s third restaurant bringing together their combined experience from a Michelin restaurant in London to their hatted restaurant in Ballarat, Catfish. For those of you that miss Catfish you will love their new offering at Mr Jones. Contemporary Asian cuisine, shared dining, relaxed, fun, approachable, everyday dining. Check out their website: https://mrjonesdining.com.au/
Canberra Hotel Ballarat
812 Macarthur StAmazing high tea held once a month
Arguably the best burgers in town, and there's an array of salt flavours for your fries.
6 locals recommend
Griffin Burger
330 Gillies Street NorthArguably the best burgers in town, and there's an array of salt flavours for your fries.
Essentials
Coles Ballarat (Victoria St)
73 Victoria StLarge and convenient supermarket that you are familiar with.
Woolworths Ballarat Central
25 Eastwood StDrinks & Nightlife
Mitchell Harris Wines is a small but energetic family venture, where there is a great belief in the potential of the region to deliver beautiful fruit. Mitchell Harris Wines source grapes around the home base of Ballarat, including the Macedon and Pyrenees Ranges, and try to have a small footprint in winemaking, letting the fruit, the region and the vintage speak for themselves. The great Wine Bar team share the love of wine, food and good times.
62 locals recommend
Mitchell Harris Wines
38 Doveton St N Mitchell Harris Wines is a small but energetic family venture, where there is a great belief in the potential of the region to deliver beautiful fruit. Mitchell Harris Wines source grapes around the home base of Ballarat, including the Macedon and Pyrenees Ranges, and try to have a small footprint in winemaking, letting the fruit, the region and the vintage speak for themselves. The great Wine Bar team share the love of wine, food and good times.
Sightseeing
Sovereign Hill
Parks & Nature
For 150 years visitors, Ballarat residents, fisherman and sportspeople have been making the most of Lake Wendouree. It was a venue for during the 1956 Olympics, and was also home to the 2014 World Masters Rowing Regatta. The 6km lakeside track is named after local Olympian, Steve Moneghetti, and is just the spot for some serious exercise or leisurely stroll. The Ballarat Botanical Gardens borders the lake, plus there are picnic and barbecue facilities, an indigenous playground, cycling trails and plenty of cafes.
123 locals recommend
Lake Wendouree
For 150 years visitors, Ballarat residents, fisherman and sportspeople have been making the most of Lake Wendouree. It was a venue for during the 1956 Olympics, and was also home to the 2014 World Masters Rowing Regatta. The 6km lakeside track is named after local Olympian, Steve Moneghetti, and is just the spot for some serious exercise or leisurely stroll. The Ballarat Botanical Gardens borders the lake, plus there are picnic and barbecue facilities, an indigenous playground, cycling trails and plenty of cafes.
Arts & Culture
The Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia's oldest regional gallery, located in the heart of Ballarat's central heritage precinct, boasts a stunning collection of Australian art.
The Gallery's magnificent collection of Australian paintings, sculpture, ceramics and works on paper gives visitors the opportunity to walk through the history of Australian art, with important representative works from colonial to contemporary periods.
The heritage-listed Gallery building has evolved to accommodate the expanding collection and now includes a range of spaces from grand and elegant nineteenth century rooms to stunning contemporary additions.
113 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ballarat
40 Lydiard St N The Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia's oldest regional gallery, located in the heart of Ballarat's central heritage precinct, boasts a stunning collection of Australian art.
The Gallery's magnificent collection of Australian paintings, sculpture, ceramics and works on paper gives visitors the opportunity to walk through the history of Australian art, with important representative works from colonial to contemporary periods.
The heritage-listed Gallery building has evolved to accommodate the expanding collection and now includes a range of spaces from grand and elegant nineteenth century rooms to stunning contemporary additions.