Whether you’re just here for the festival or making a whole weekend of it, Ballarat offers city vibes, stunning nature, and great food to keep your weekend buzzing. Here’s a few of our favourite spots to check out while you’re in town.
To see the full list of things to eat, drink, see and do, check out Visit Ballarat
START YOUR DAY HERE:
Hydrant Food Hall is a renovated heritage warehouse space hidden down one of Ballarat’s laneways. It’s super laid back and serves up its own house-roasted coffee with a solid range of breakfast and lunch options. It’s a ripper spot to get in your most important meal of the day.
L’espresso makes some of Ballarat’s best espressos and proudly hold the mantle as the first to bring the Melbourne-style alley café vibe to a regional hub. Grab a brew and (seeing as ya in town for a music festival) check out the very impressive vinyl collection.
MONDEGREEN
Named after the phrase for misheard lyrics, this caffeine haven is located a block from the stunning Lake Wendouree.
The home of the most Instagrammable food in Ballarat, Yellow Espresso‘s picture-perfect philosophy goes for its coffee, too. Don’t miss!
Cobb’s Coffee is your neighbourhood cafe from the same people who brought you Rumble Coffee. Swing by for a coffee and a sandwich.
CORNERSTONE
A serene escape for coffee lovers, this cozy café’s menu has plenty of local touches. Perfect if you like a bit of peace and neighborly vibes with your long black.
WHERE TO EAT:
BALLARAT’S SANDWICH BARS
If you love a good sanga, Ballarat knows where it’s at. For the city’s best sandwiches, head to Tim’s Toasties, Earls Deli, Pat’s sandwiches, and Lydiard General.
THE MALLOW HOTEL
Historic charm meets contemporary dining at this cornerstone favourite. This gastropub’s story dates back to 1862, frequented by generations of miners, locals and travelers.
The Forge makes legendary woodfired pizzas. They have a killer pumpkin and goat’s cheese number that’s hard to go past, and a Salt Kitchen bacon pizza for something meatier.
Once you’re done with dinner, treat yourself to a Nutella dessert pizza straight out of the fire.
Pancho is a tiny Latin American restaurant in the heart of Ballarat. Pancho takes you on a cultural journey through their food and cocktail menus, serving up some of the best Central and South American flavours.
With an impressive 1880s mahogany saloon bar as its centerpiece, this lavish distillery and bar harks back to a time of true decadence. There’s a secret speakeasy and an extensive menu catering for everyone, with gluten free, vegan and vegie options. Think Great Gatsby meets Peaky Blinders.
For all your Vietnamese food cravings, Saigon Allee has you sorted. If you’re in a hurry, grab a banh mi to go. If you have some time, order a cocktail and sample some of their delicious menu items, like their housemade dumplings.
THINGS TO DO:
Sovereign Hill is a living gold rush museum where you can pan for gold and take an underground mine tour.
Take a nice stroll through the park and check out the koalas, crocs and tigers, you can even feed the free-roaming kangaroos.
HIDDEN LANES
Guided walking tours exploring vintage fashion, the distilling scene and secret city tales. Slow down and explore some lesser-known laneways.
The gardens are home to flowering plants, exotic trees and seasonal displays, it’s a popular spot you won’t want to miss.
GRAB A DRINK
This distillery crafts gin, vodka and whiskey in the heritage railway Goods Shed next to Ballarat Railway Station. The luxe bar and giant still are worth the photo stop alone. Stay for the custom cocktails and seasonal dishes.
Perfect for soul food and a beer. Hop Temple has seating for the entire crew, brisket, pulled pork, corn ribs and smoked meats that smash it out of the park. If you get a bit thirsty, they have over 220 craft beers and ciders available by the bottle and on tap.
The 1950s meets steampunk at Aunty Jacks – an eclectic brewpub created from repurposed materials. With a huge selection of beers on tap, why not try something new in the beer garden or, if you’re interested, take a tour through the brewery to learn about what goes on behind the scenes.
DYERS STEAK STABLE
Set in the former stables of the British Queen Hotel, this rustic landmark restaurant has been serving the finest quality steaks for over 50 years.
A high-energy singalong bar where live pianists and crowd-requested anthems collide for a seriously fun night out. Equal parts cabaret and chaos (in the best way), it’s the kind of place you go for a quick drink and end up dancing on tables.
SHOPPING
Located in the heart of Ballarat, Central Square is home to more than 40 specialty stores spread across three levels.
Stockland Wendouree is just 10 minutes drive from the city centre and features a range of retail stores, food stops and specialty shops.
Records and coffee nestled amidst a row of vintage clothing and antiques stores on Ballarat’s historic Main Road.
Eco-friendly, Australian-made and locally crafted treasures. A go-to for artisan gifts from local artists and makers.
There’s 80 stalls under the one roof offering everything from cowboy boots to curated record collections. Open until 6pm daily.