12 Ballarat cafes for epic farm-fresh indulgence

Kristie Lau-AdamsBy Kristie Lau-Adams
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Vegan, paleo, gluten-free, kid-friendly, creative – whatever your brunching needs, the best Ballarat cafes deliver with locally refined flair.

Sure, the Victorian Goldfields city of Ballarat promises beautiful streetscapes with storied, heritage buildings and a glut of cultural assets — but its local cafe scene is just as alluring. Serving up masterful technique, fresh seasonal ingredients, stellar caffeine fixes and endlessly endearing ambience, the best Ballarat cafes should be experienced one meal at a time. Here, a roundup of the finest.

The shortlist

Best coffee: Cobb’s Coffee
Best pastries: 1816 Bakehouse
Best for dietary restrictions: Hydrant Food Hall
Hidden gem: Shep St Sandos

1. Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry

a spread of food at Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry, Ballarat
Refuel with a hearty brunch filled with locally sourced ingredients. (Image: Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry)

Perched near the shores of Lake Wendouree, Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry has won local hearts with its range of patisseries since 2016, nailing everything from berry muffins, cheesecake and pecan tarts to vegan apple cake. Run by the team behind Eleanora, one of the best Ballarat restaurants, it does an excellent job of showcasing local produce and homemade goodies, such as handmade sourdough crumpets served with whipped ricotta, freeze-dried raspberries and honey from Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat. Once you’ve consumed as much as physically possible from the brunch and patisserie selection, pick up a few gourmet treats for the road from the Ballarat cafe’s retail section — pralines from chocolatier Koko Black and pantry staples from Melbourne’s From Basque With Love are always heavily stocked.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with strong Pan-Asian influences

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Inviting

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 2 Burnbank St, Ballarat

2. Nolans

having breakfast at Nolans cafe in Ballarat
Enjoy generous servings from the scrumptious menu at Nolans. (Image: Supplied)

Shining a light on native ingredients, while supporting local Victorian farmers and suppliers, the team at Nolans nail every meal of the day inside The Goods Shed, a sleek events venue. The coffee is silky-delicious, the fit out is sumptuous New York-bistro plush, and the menu excels creatively. Think a fried chicken Benedict with chipotle hollandaise, a fried pastrami and egg roll with burnt onion jam, a smoked salmon bagel with lemon myrtle cream cheese and a sourdough pizza with vodka nduja and hot honey.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with international influences

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Classy

Review: 4.5/5

Location: The Goods Shed, Lydiard St North, corner Nolan St, Ballarat

3. Fika Coffee Brewers

coffee and breakfast at Fika Coffee Brewers, Ballarat
The aptly named cafe translates to ‘coffee break’. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Located in a plum position in central Ballarat, this atmospheric little spot does a great line in brunch. With Tassie oak-inflected interiors rendered in clean lines that complement its Scandi name (which means coffee break in Swedish), Fika Coffee Brewers utilises St Ali beans to serve alongside imaginative menu items. Have fun choosing between the likes of Dr Marty’s Crumpets (with whipped ricotta, ruby grapefruit and pistachios), the Tradesman egg and bacon roll with special sauce, sardines on toast with dill, fennel and garlic aioli, and the crowd-pleasing pulled pork roll with slaw and cheddar.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Hipster

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 36a Doveton St Nth, Ballarat

4. Yellow Espresso

brunch at Yellow Espresso, Ballarat
Relaxed brunch offerings at Yellow Espresso. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Beloved by locals for its laidback ambience and reliable culinary chops, Yellow Espresso is a Ballarat cafe with plenty to offer. The staples are nailed, including pancakes stacked with blueberries and strawberries, homemade muffins, avocado on toast and corn fritters, but the gang often splices things up with clever additions such as the Biscoff smoothie bowl topped with one of those addictive golden cookies. Grab a spot by the window for a side of people watching, too.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Review: 3.5/5

Location: 13 Sturt St, Ballarat

5. Hydrant Food Hall

brunch at Hydrant Food Hall, Ballarat
Homemade hash brown topped with poached eggs. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The menu at Hydrant Food Hall , located in a quiet laneway off one of the CBD’s main stretches, changes seasonally, spanning inventive dishes beyond great avo on toast. Think a homemade ramen with pork bone broth, a calamari rice bowl with pickled cabbage, or a breakfast board dressed in granola, mini escargot, an array of fruit and more. The team is also able to cater to lots of different dietaries, from dairy-free to nut-free and gluten-free.

Kids aren’t left out of the equation here either. In fact, we’d be surprised if the grown-ups weren’t a bit partial to hot picks including rainbow-coloured pancakes with marshmallows and fruit, and the kids waffle with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles. For little ones hyped up by a sugar high, there’s also a children’s activity play bag ($2.50) available to keep them occupied.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Family-friendly

Review: 4/5

Location: 3 McKenzie St, Ballarat

6. 1816 Bakehouse

bread and pastries on display at 1816 Bakehouse, Ballarat
Get your fill of fresh sweets at 1816 Bakehouse. (Image: Visit Victoria)

An artisan bakery, patisserie and cafe next door to The Forge Pizzeria on Armstrong Street North, 1816 Bakehouse is a temple to all things dough. Take your pick of pumpkin loaves, semi-sourdough focaccia loaded with fetta, basil and olives, Nutella and pistachio cruffins, savoury and sweet pies and fresh sandwiches — all meticulously handcrafted daily.

Cuisine: Bakery

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Bustling

Review: 4/5

Location: 18 Armstrong St North, Ballarat

7. Shep St Sandos

lush greenery around Shep St Sandos cafe in Ballarat
The lush cafe is decorated with indoor plants. (Image: Shep St Sandos)

King of the humble toastie, Shep St Sandos has turned the practice of jamming cheese and other tasty morsels between two slices of sourdough bread into an art form. House favourites include the mushroom melt, katsu chicken, and Reuben.

Beyond toasties, the coffee shop’s limited menu changes almost daily. Find a range of sweets, plus your obligatory caffeine fix. The cafe roasts its own beans, and the baristas pour a mean brew, too.

Cuisine: Modern Australian, specialising in toasties

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Lively

Review: 4/5

Location: 8 Shepperd St, Ballarat

8. Websters Market & Cafe

people dining at Websters Market & Cafe, Ballarat
The casual diner on Webster St serves up a solid all-day brunch menu. (Image: Indie Lane Photography)

On Ballarat’s historic Webster Street, housed within a heritage corner store, lies Websters Market & Cafe . Having built up a loyal following of regulars, this Ballarat cafe serves up a solid all-day brunch menu with all the classics, alongside coffee from famed Melbourne roastery Industry Beans. The indecisive bruncher can have it all with the breakfast board (including honey and vanilla yoghurt with nuts, seeds and seasonal fruit, plus smashed avo and goat’s cheese on sourdough, a poached egg and more), or you can keep it simple with a panini or bagel.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Review: 4/5

Location: 61 Webster St, Ballarat

9. Clothesline Cafe

a food spread at Clothesline Cafe, Ballarat
The menu at Clothesline Cafe is an inviting ode to the unconventional. (Image: Visit Victoria)

There’s something a bit visionary about the set-up at Clothesline Cafe . A renovated old weatherboard home on a corner block among residential streets, this aesthetically pleasing and impossibly cool venue belongs among the pages of a design magazine. There’s caramel leather banquette seating, walls painted in a smoky grey, angular ceiling lights, and an impeccably landscaped courtyard. The menu too is an inviting ode to the unconventional: an Asian chilli scramble with house made sauce, gyros with house made tzatziki and more. You’ll find coffee from Melbourne roastery Code Black here, too.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Cosy

Review: 3.5.5

Location: 202 Humffray St South, Bakery Hill

10. Cobb’s Coffee

three cups of coffee at Cobb’s Coffee, Ballarat
Cobb’s Coffee works in collaboration with Melbourne’s Rumble Coffee. (Image: Cobb’s Coffee)

Showcasing the handiwork of Melbourne coffee roasters Rumble Coffee, Cobb’s Coffee works in partnership with the caffeine aficionados to deliver excellent AM stomach lining. While that liquid gold is undoubtedly a star attraction, there’s also a high-quality range of fresh sandwiches to tempt you. We recommend sinking your teeth into the HCT, consisting of ham, cheddar, mozzarella and homemade tomato relish, or perhaps the leek and cheddar variety with added mozzarella and Dijon mustard. Whatever takes your fancy, fluffy Rustica sourdough utterly melts in your mouth with every bite.

Cuisine: Sandwiches

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Slick

Review: 4/5

Location: 2 Lydiard St South, Ballarat

11. The Turret Cafe

breakfast plates at The Turret Cafe, Ballarat
Pick from a range of delectable all-day breakfast options. (Image: The Turret Cafe)

Step inside one of Ballarat’s prettiest heritage buildings to sample the delights of The Turret Cafe . Filling the bones of a restored 1890s home, this Ballarat cafe is a lovely pick for all-day breakfast classics delivered in a stately yet welcoming environment. Pick your poison out of mushroom bruschetta, zucchini and corn fritters, a beautiful Farmers Garden of seasonal produce and smashed avocado, and even The Turret itself: a potato rosti with chorizo, veg, a poached egg and hollandaise.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Review: 4/5

Location: 802 Sturt St, Ballarat

12. Earl’s Deli

a sandwich plate at Earl’s Deli, Ballarat
Earl’s Deli makes homemade spins on McMuffins. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Craving a jumbo sandwich? The team at Earl’s Deli , doing their thing down a totally unassuming laneway, feel you. Whipping up jam-packed sandos that demand full mouth extension to devour, the Ballarat cafe works with peak local produce to evolve its menu regularly. From a buttery egg mayo and lettuce mix, to gourmet grilled cheese and homemade spins on McMuffins, the menu is flavour-crammed and also dotted with sensational roastery. Grab a perfectly blended Inglewood Coffee Roasters’ concoction to help wash down all the culinary goodness.

Cuisine: Sandwiches

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Trendy

Review: 4/5

Location: 11 Davey St, Ballarat

Discover the best restaurants in Ballarat

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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A must-visit list of Victoria’s most iconic spots

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
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    From natural wonders to historical sites, we’ve rounded up Victoria’s most epic icons that deserve a place on your itinerary.

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

    Mount William peak in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
    Mount William is the highest peak in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. (Image: Matt Donovan)

    From towering mountains to crystal cascades and ancient rock art sites, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is a playground for both outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Don’t miss the views from the highest peak Mount William or the iconic Pinnacle.

    Murray River

    A paddle steamer down the Murray in Echuca
    The wonders of the Murray are best experienced on board a paddle steamer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    A natural icon of majestic proportions, the Murray River flows for a staggering 2700 kilometres, making it one of the world’s longest navigable rivers. Meandering through Victoria before flowing out to sea at Goolwa in South Australia, the river is home to diverse wildlife, picturesque towns and secluded creeks and beaches.

    Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell

    the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road
    The Twelve Apostles are a star attraction on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    These limestone sea stacks are arguably Victoria’s most famous icon . After an $8-million upgrade to its lookout, The Blowhole near Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool (meaning breath of the whale) has recently reopened. A brand-new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, complete with rooftop lookout, will open in 2026.

    You Yangs, Geelong

    kangaroos in You Yangs
    Kangaroos enjoy dusk in the You Yangs. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Rising 300-plus metres from the flat volcanic plains between Melbourne/Naarm and Geelong, the You Yangs are massive granite boulders named for the local Wadawurrung word ‘Youang’, meaning ‘big hills’. Hiking, biking, rock climbing and horse-riding are popular within this regional park.

    Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley

    Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley
    Yarra Valley’s soaring Redwood Forest. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Near the town of Warburton, an extraordinary forest of some 1500 Californian Redwoods stands among native orchids, eucalypt trees and rich birdlife. Planted in the 1930s, these 55-metre-plus trees can live for 2000 years and will grow to be some of the world’s tallest.

    Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland

    the Wilsons Promontory
    Wilsons Promontory is home to the incredible Skull Rock formation. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The Prom, as it’s known locally, is the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. This 50,000-hectare reserve comprises granite mountains and forest, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by a marine park rich in marine biodiversity. It’s also home to the incredible and imposing Skull Rock formation.

    Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges

    the Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges
    Enigmatic Hanging Rock. (Image: Visit Victoria/ Rob Blackburn)

    This six-million-year-old volcanic rock  was thrown into the national spotlight thanks to the 1967 novel and consequent 1975 film based on the fictional disappearance of schoolgirls in 1901. Mystery aside, visitors can walk the steep 105-metre summit, fish for trout and go twitching.

    Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

    exploring Sovereign Hill
    Step back in time at Sovereign Hill. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Cry ‘eureka!’ at Sovereign Hill , a living museum to the prosperous Gold Rush era of the 1850s, during which Ballarat produced the most gold in the world. Visitors to this much-loved attraction can walk historic  streets, enter a gold mine and try panning for the good stuff, too.

    The Great Stupa, Bendigo

    Great Stupa, Bendigo
    The Great Stupa in Bendigo. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Who’d have thought the largest Buddhist temple in the Western world would be tucked away in Bendigo’s bushland? Welcoming visitors to explore, this sacred Buddhist pagoda is an epicentre for Tibetan culture, architecture, art and interfaith harmony.

    Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula

    the Cape Schanck Lighthouse from above
    Heritage-listed Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Ensuring the safe passage of ships in the notoriously treacherous Bass Strait since 1859, this heritage-listed lighthouse overlooks dramatic volcanic coast and wild beaches. The surrounding reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife including little penguins, seals and echidnas.