10 of the best restaurants in Ballarat for knock-out global flavours

Whether you’re craving something exotic or inventive Australian fare, the best restaurants in Ballarat unleash a booming Victorian food scene.

Home to a string of international-inspired hot spots that showcase local ingredients fused with innovation and creativity, Ballarat is emerging as a formidable foodie destination. With a firm grasp on where to unearth peak Victorian produce, the best restaurants in Ballarat attract some of the world’s leading chefs and hospitality stars. When you’re looking for a break between activities in the region, relax at one of these world-class restaurants.

The shortlist

Hottest new opening: Eleanora
Best farm-to-table: Babae
Budget-friendly: The Forge Pizzeria
Great for special occasions: Underbar
Best date spot: Boatshed Restaurant

1. Eleanora

a look inside the wine bar at Eleanora, Ballarat — Step into the industrial-chic wine bar at Eleanora. (Image: Supplied)

From the team behind the now shuttered Mitchell Harris Wines wine bar, Eleanora served as one of Ballarat’s most anticipated restaurant openings of all-time prior to launch in December 2024. It had big shoes to fill, built inside the same industrial-chic 140-year-old former produce store, tentmakers and motor workshop that kept locals hydrated since 2013—but they’ve nailed it all over again. Toffee shades of timber and leather join forces with exposed brick and soft lighting to create instant warmth, while the freshest of local ingredients are jazzed into hearty photo-ready plates. Think market fish with a ruby grapefruit and herb salad, oven roasted beets with cashew cream, and a crispy skinned chicken with grilled peach, smoked almond and watercress.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Warm and welcoming

Location: 38 Doveton St North, Ballarat

2. Underbar

bagels with three kinds of dip at Underbar, Ballarat — Their bagel is truly a game-changer. (Image: Matt Dunne)

You’ll find a true highlight of Ballarat’s foodie renaissance in an unassuming space with no sign at the door. Underbar is a 20-seat fine dining restaurant that opens for dinner on Friday and lunch, and dinner on Saturday, to serve a seasonal tasting menu shaped by local finds (think the finest local Black Angus sirloin sliced at the table in front of you). Chef Derek Boath brings experience in some of the world’s top restaurants to the table and ensures each sitting is an intimate and immersive experience for fine-food aficionados. Reservations open on the first day of each month and get snapped up quickly.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Celebratory

Location: 3 Doveton St North, Ballarat

3. Peasant

European fare at Peasant, Ballarat — Fill your belly with beautifully plated European fare. (Image: Peasant)

A wonderful, value-for-money degustation in the heart of Ballarat, Peasant is a local’s favourite. Renowned for bringing the traditional art of European peasant cooking to country Victoria, this Ballarat restaurant welcomes diners Friday and Saturday, filling bellies with rustic, beautifully plated fare made from the season’s freshest ingredients. Five courses will delight no matter what the team are currently playing with — from chilled gazpacho with basil and sherry vinegar cream to juniper and lemon thyme marinated skirt steak, the menu is reliably filled with surprises.

Cuisine: European

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 413 Sturt St, Ballarat

4. Babae

a close-up shot of a dish at Babae restaurant in Ballarat — Much of the menu at Babae is inspired by Foster’s own 25-acre garden. (Image: Babae)

Another of Ballarat’s more recent openings, welcoming diners from January 2024, Babae is a dining destination focused on highlighting the region’s exceptional flavours and produce. Found inside the uber-cool Hotel Vera, one of the best Ballarat accommodation picks, the restaurant is hinged on the Latin definition of its moniker: to wow and amaze. Spearheaded by acclaimed chef Tim Foster, much of the menu is inspired by Foster’s own 25-acre garden, so guests can expect the likes of cornfed duck with plum sauce, pearl barley and savoy cabbage, plus the famed Jerusalem artichoke and chestnut with oyster mushrooms, coddled egg and caramelised onion.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Intimate

Location: Inside Hotel Vera, 710 Sturt St, Ballarat

5. Boatshed Restaurant

share plates at Boatshed Restaurant, Ballarat — Tuck into fried chicken and dumpling share plates at Boatshed Restaurant. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dial up the romance with a seat at the Boatshed Restaurant , located right on peaceful Lake Wendouree. Grab a spot at the light-flooded end of the Ballarat restaurant, right over the water’s edge, to soak up sparkling vistas, as a menu of Modern Australian classics spliced with international influences (think shares plates of Karaage chicken and dumplings, alongside seafood platters and crispy skinned Atlantic salmon) rolls out of the kitchen. Make it a date to remember by indulging in a cocktail or two, that seize sweet seasonal flavours in Instagram-friendly style.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Breezy

Location: 27A Lake Wendouree Foreshore, Lake Wendouree

6. The Forge Pizzeria

A long-time Ballarat favourite with two local outposts, The Forge Pizzeria is a winner every time. Its central outpost on Armstrong Street North is the OG, based in an old heritage building where exposed brick walls suit the ambience of its roaring wood-fire oven. Chewy and flavourful, the pizzas include the classics alongside inventive creations like Pancetta, with cured meat, potato, garlic, mozzarella and local Meredith goat’s cheese, plus the vegetarian friendly The Vego, with tomato, mozzarella, mushroom and capsicum. There are heaps of pasta dishes and salads to choose from too, and desserts including a Nutella and strawberry pizza.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Family-friendly

Location: 14 Armstrong St North, Ballarat and 1771 Sturt St, Alfredton

7. Meigas

the dining interior of Meigas, Ballarat — Pop into Meigas if you’re in the mood for churros or cerveza. (Image: Meigas)

Meigas is an authentic tapas bar in the heart of Ballarat, with all the flavour and atmosphere to match. Order share plates of everything from patatas bravas and pimientos fritos (blistered bullhorn peppers with goat’s cheese) to generous plates of paella with chicken and seafood. Wash it down with a cerveza or two, wine or Spanish cider, and don’t forget the churros dipped in thick, warm chocolate sauce. A Spanish non-negotiable.

Cuisine: Spanish

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Buzzing

Location: 33 Armstrong St North, Ballarat

8. Mr Jones

a spread of food at Mr Jones, Ballarat — Feast on the ever-changing banquet menu at Mr Jones.

Refining Asian power-punch flavours with considered finesse, Mr Jones is an extremely cool neighbourhood eatery on the main strip in Bakery Hill. While an unassuming facade may resemble your regular Melbourne hipster haunt, it’s the scent of authentic seasonal ingredients that will send you right to the neon-laced alleys of your favourite long-haul destination. The banquet menu is ever-changing, but you can expect the likes of fresh tiger prawns dressed in brown butter, plus a moreish grilled duck curry with coconut, peanuts and cardamom. They’re also open for lunch on Friday, so swinging an office early mark to get you into town ASAP is never a bad idea.

Cuisine: Modern Asian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Stylish

Location: 42-44 Main Rd, Bakery Hill

9. Pancho

Mexican food and drinks at Pancho, Ballarat — The menu at Pancho bursts with Latin American flavours. (Image: Pancho)

Transport your tastebuds to the cantinas of South and Central America with a table at Pancho , home to a tight edit of authentic dishes. The fit out alone is enough to send you straight to your dream holiday, complete with Virgin of Guadalupe homages and scattered national flags, while the menu’s moreish tostadas, tacos, ceviche and more will keep those vacay vibes soaring. Just add watermelon margaritas and Jarritos (that excellent Mexican soda you’ll recognise as soon as you spy it), plus a list of classic cocktails, to cement one seriously rocking meal out.

Cuisine: Latin American

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Gleeful

Location: 213 Mair St, Ballarat

10. The Shared Table

potato croquette with Sauvignon Blanc at The Shared Table, Ballarat — The crowd-favourite potato croquette with Sauvignon Blanc at The Shared Table.

Creativity runs rife at The Shared Table , a Ballarat restaurant that takes the season’s finest local ingredients and transforms them into genius homages to global cuisines. Whether you’re taken by the sticky lamb ribs in black vinegar caramel, potato croquettes with Yarra Valley caviar or the Western Plains pork cotoletta with lemon and slaw, this place dares to dine differently, resulting in unique flavour bombs.

Cuisine: International

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: 317 Learmonth St, Buninyong

Video credit: Tourism Australia

From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland , and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park — Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

a couple on Mount Oberon — Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit , which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park — Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk , even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk , usually done over seven days.

the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland — Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The best bush hikes in Gippsland

the Baw Baw National Park — The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland — Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park , along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park — Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail , a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park — The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park , known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the WildernessRetreats in The Prom — Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

Eating there

the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland — Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland — The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.

Video credit: Tourism Australia

10 of the best restaurants in Ballarat for knock-out global flavours

Whether you’re craving something exotic or inventive Australian fare, the best restaurants in Ballarat unleash a booming Victorian food scene.

The shortlist

1. Eleanora

2. Underbar

3. Peasant

4. Babae

5. Boatshed Restaurant

6. The Forge Pizzeria

7. Meigas

8. Mr Jones

9. Pancho

10. The Shared Table

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From coast to bush: these are Gippsland’s best hikes

From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

The best bush hikes in Gippsland

The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Eating there