You Ultimate Guide to Where to Eat, Shop and Stay In Trentham

Explore Trentham’s top dining spots, stylish accommodations, and outdoor activities in this ultimate guide to one of Victoria’s hidden gems.

Tucked between Daylesford and Woodend, Trentham may be small, with not much more than one main street, but it’s packed with delightful surprises. Its crisp air, tranquil streets, and gold rush history from the 1850s lend the village its country charm, while a creative pulse runs through every corner, attracting a new wave of visitors.

While travellers often dedicate much of their time and attention to the busier Macedon-Daylesford regions nearby, those in the know recognise Trentham for what it is—a burgeoning hidden gem that’s more than worthy of its time in the limelight.

The best Trentham restaurants

With a focus on local flavours and seasonal produce, Trentham’s diverse restaurant scene caters to both casual dining and gourmet indulgence.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel

Sitting proudly on the corner of High Street and Cosmo Road, The Cosmopolitan Hotel has stood the test of time since 1866. Its sweeping verandahs and storied walls invite you in for a meal crafted with heart. Expect a seasonal menu brimming with fresh, locally sourced flavours that pay homage to the area’s rich agricultural landscape.

Wander the scenic garden paths, shaded by towering elms, while devouring wood-fired pizzas and regional wines. The garden courtyard is ideal for leisurely gatherings, where the laid-back ambience sets the perfect backdrop in this vibrant town.

Address: 21 High Street, Trentham

Du Fermier

Brimming with the rustic beauty of a French country kitchen, Du Fermier invites guests to indulge in a surprise feast inspired by the freshest ingredients of the day. Chef Annie Smithers personally selects produce from her garden, crafting each course with an exquisite balance of local flavour and French flair.

Limited to just a few service days each week, reservations (well in advance, as sittings sell like hotcakes!) are essential. Visit during the warmer months for a meal that sings of spring vegetables and blooming herbs, all set in the inviting ambience of this local treasure.

Address: 42 High Street, Trentham

Hotel Trentham

While Hotel Trentham has enjoyed a recent renovation, it has honoured its 1926 roots, keeping things relaxed while elevating the pub dining experience. The well-priced menu, crafted with local and Australian produce, delivers familiar classics that are as comforting as they are fulfilling.

The beer garden is a true highlight, with picnic tables for the whole gang—kids playing, dogs lounging, and live music softly setting the mood. It’s a place where everyone feels part of the fun, making it an ideal spot for a laid-back afternoon.

Address: 31 High Street, Trentham

Pig and Whistle Hotel

A place where the heart of Australian pub culture still beats strong, the Pig and Whistle Hotel blends its 1887 roots with a fresh, country-style menu. From hearty bangers and mash to crispy fish and chips, every dish offers a true taste of the region.

Settle into the hotel’s beer garden, where live music and shaded picnic tables create a cosy space to savour good food and great company. With its laid-back vibe and lush surroundings, it’s easy to see why this pub remains a favourite in Trentham East.

Address: 705 James Lane, Trentham East

Mr Peacock

Bringing a bit of nightlife sparkle to Trentham, Mr Peacock nods to classic neighbourhood wine bars, offering a refined yet no-fuss spot for dinner and drinks. Since opening in early 2022, this new kid on the block has earned a loyal following and cemented its status as a local gem.

The menu here may be small, but it packs a punch, featuring charcuterie, sharing plates, and highly-rated pizzas. Pair your meal with a drink from their carefully curated list, serving creative cocktails and an impressive range of wines, many from surrounding regional vineyards.

Address: 44 High Street, Trentham

Cafes and casual eats

From homely cafes to artisan bakeries, Trentham’s casual dining spots offer delicious, down-to-earth meals prime for a quick bite or a relaxed stop.

Trentham General

Housed in the beautifully restored old Bank of Australasia, Trentham General is a cafe brimming with character. Their nourishing menu is designed to please, with the signature Trentham Happy Hens Eggs on Zeally Bay sourdough being the ultimate breakfast pick, while the Halloumi Burger is a lunchtime fave.

Inside, you’ll find a stylish mix of banquet seating, bentwood chairs, and indoor plants. On sunny days, the outdoor tables are great for soaking up the lively streetscape and enjoying some people-watching alongside your coffee.

Address: 37A High Street, Trentham

RedBeard Historic Bakery

RedBeard Historic Bakery honours the time-honoured tradition of wood-fired baking. Their sourdough, baked in a restored 1891 oven, is the undeniable star—crunchy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, a true artisan masterpiece.

In addition to their famous bread, you’ll find tasty treats like sausage rolls, pizza slices, hot diggity dogs, and a rotating selection of cakes to satisfy the sweet tooth. This bakery is legendary among locals, and it’s easy to see why.

Address: 38A High Street, Trentham

Trentham Bakery

Another beloved local bakery, Trentham Bakery is known for its quality, freshness, and affordability. The old-school signage invites you in, and once inside, the aroma of freshly baked goods fills the air. Their homemade pies and sausage rolls are firm favourites.

Pair your pastry pick with a perfectly brewed coffee, or opt for a sweet treat from their tempting cake selection to take home.

Address: 50/52 High Street, Trentham

Things to do in Trentham

Trentham may be teeny-tiny, but it’s brimming with activities, from discovering local boutiques to immersing yourself in the area’s natural beauty.

Go boutique shopping

Wandering the quaint streets of Trentham offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in boutique shopping. Kuki Trentham draws you in with its selection of chic homewares and fashion, while Vincent Jenden’s design space, tucked away in the rear verandah, offers a glimpse into inspired interior creativity. For an extra dose of luxury, visit The House of Marcelle and Mr John , where refined decor and beautiful gifts capture the essence of upscale country living.

Visit an art gallery

a look inside Little Gallery Trentham — Little Gallery Trentham features contemporary paintings and unique sculptures.

Run by local artists, Little Gallery Trentham showcases an imaginative mix of fine art from emerging and mid-career Australian talents. Established in 2012, the gallery has become a cultural hub, connecting visitors with the artistic soul of the Central Victorian Highlands.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or a chance to connect with local artists, the gallery’s ever-evolving exhibitions provide something fresh with every visit, from contemporary paintings to unique sculptures.

Explore natural wonders

the Trentham Falls from above — The majestic Trentham Falls is nothing short of spectacular. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Lace up your boots and explore the Wombat State Forest, where the Wombat Trail offers an eight-kilometre loop circling the town of Trentham. From scenic bushland to towering trees, this tranquil walk takes you through nature at its best, with chances to spot native wildlife along the way.

Nearby, Trentham Falls dazzles with its 32-metre drop. This spectacular waterfall, especially powerful in winter and spring, is a must-see for those seeking a deeper connection to Central Victoria’s untamed landscapes.

Top Trentham accommodation

For travellers seeking a countryside retreat, Trentham presents a range of standout options, from stylish cottages to a modern take on traditional pub lodging.

The Estate Trentham

Housed in a restored 1902 Federation home, The Estate Trentham offers a stylish escape with Scandinavian-inspired spaces, designed by interior stylist Lynda Gardener. The fresh white walls, dark floors, and natural wood furniture create a peaceful, airy ambience, while curated collections of old and new add intrigue to each room.

Outside, the garden overflows with seasonal produce, from fresh herbs to ripe fruit, ready for guests to handpick. The surrounding orchard and Mediterranean-style garden provide a picturesque setting for dining alfresco or simply unwinding in the lush countryside.

Address: 17 Falls Road, Trentham

Acre of Roses

Hidden within a lush garden oasis, Acre of Roses offers a luxurious escape with dual accommodations. The beautifully restored two-bedroom Miner’s Cottage combines vintage allure with modern comfort, with access to a cedar hot tub. Meanwhile, The Potting Shed provides a studio-style hideaway for couples seeking a romantic retreat.

Both accommodations enjoy access to the sprawling rose garden, providing a stunning backdrop for relaxation. Wander the pathways, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

Address: 5 Blue Mount Road, Trentham

Hotel Trentham

Reviving the tradition of pub lodgings, Hotel Trentham offers a modern twist on an old classic. While it maintains the appeal of nostalgic country town stays, it has evolved with two fully furnished, two-storey villas. These stylish accommodations provide a superb base for families and friends to hit the town’s highlights.

Conveniently located just steps from Trentham’s main streets, the villas offer easy access to local cafes, shops, and galleries. With spacious living areas and modern amenities, the villas are ideal for travellers seeking comfort and convenience.

Address: 31-35 High Street, Trentham

Discover incredible things to do in Daylesford.

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

The complete guide to Trentham – here’s where to eat, shop and stay

Explore Trentham’s top dining spots, stylish accommodations, and outdoor activities in this ultimate guide to one of Victoria’s hidden gems.

The best Trentham restaurants

The Cosmopolitan Hotel

Du Fermier

Hotel Trentham

Pig and Whistle Hotel

Mr Peacock

Cafes and casual eats

Trentham General

RedBeard Historic Bakery

Trentham Bakery

Things to do in Trentham

Go boutique shopping

Visit an art gallery

Explore natural wonders

Top Trentham accommodation

Acre of Roses

Hotel Trentham

8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

The Macedon Ranges is Victoria’s best-kept food and wine secret

Hepburn Bathhouse reopens with new mineral baths and experiences

The best Daylesford accommodation for a perfect weekend getaway

Meet the makers shaping Ballarat’s new era of creativity

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

How Ballarat is preserving the past

A city steeped in food and flavours

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

Staying there

Eating there

Playing there