12 epic Ballarat pubs and bars to quench your thirst

Stylish cocktail bars, independent breweries, otherworldly speakeasies, stalwart gastropubs – the best Ballarat pubs and bars are all-too inviting.

A storied city with glorious heritage buildings and a burgeoning cafe culture to boot, Ballarat often tops Melburnians’ weekend getaway hitlists. But there’s plenty more to this former gold rush town, particularly when it comes to finding a great spot for a tipple. Add these Ballarat bars and pubs to your next itinerary to ensure you tick off the hottest spots.

1. Ellington’s Wine Bar & Rooftop

You may stumble across it in search of top-shelf vino to devour while on tour, but Ellington’s Wine Bar & Rooftop is so much more than a bottle shop. A divine neighbourhood wine bar in the heart of the city, the Ballarat bar is an old hand at unearthing some of the most delectable local and international drops. Inspired by the irresistible hole in the walls of Europe, the space is moody downstairs as candles flicker and rich timbers evoke warmth. Upstairs, views across the street cement an easy, breezy vibe that’ll keep you topping up those glasses again and again. A menu of masterfully crafted dishes made from seasonal ingredients — think pâté, cheese plates and a produce plate full of olives, meats and pickled vegetables sourced locally — is also ready to be devoured.

Address: 405A Sturt St, Ballarat

2. Itinerant Spirits

alfresco drinking spot at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Sit at one of the al fresco tables and imbibe premium liquors. (Credit: Itinerant Spirits)

A striking dark brick facade amongst the Goods Shed events space houses the wonderful Itinerant Spirits, an outstanding Victorian distillery knocking up the likes of Gallivanter Wild Botanical Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Vansetter Coffee Liqueur — three standout creations found in good liquor stores nation-wide. Sample the deliciousness straight from the source inside this sophisticated space, which nails crafty cocktails in addition to its core spirits range. Additionally, there’s a menu of pizza, charcuterie and other share plates including shoestring fries and heirloom tomatoes with stracciatella. Got little ones tagging along? A dedicated kids’ menu will sort them out, too.

Address: Inside The Goods Shed, 200 Lydiard St North, Ballarat

3. Sip Champagne Bar

holding two glasses of cocktail at Sip Champagne Bar, Ballarat — Sip your way through the extensive cocktail menu at Sip Champagne Bar. (Credit: Edwina Willox)

Paying homage to Paris’ famed bohemian bar scene, Sip Champagne Bar is a wonderful spot to toast your next Ballarat escape. Art Deco-influenced and boasting an all-important ‘Fancy Pants’ champagne menu filled with the fizzling bubbles of your dreams (Taittinger, Moet, Veuve, Bollinger, Pol Roger — the gang’s all here), the Ballarat bar is the place to go if you’ve got something to celebrate. Wash down your decadence with caviar bumps, oysters, dips, dumplings and other share dishes. Plus, if you’re not a fan of champagne, rest assured the extensive cocktail and wine menu will sort you out.

Address: 428A Sturt St, Ballarat

4. Grainery Lane

clinking cocktail glasses at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Cheers to flavoured gin tipples at Grainery Lane. (Credit: The Common Wanderer)

Nestled in the thick of one of Ballarat’s main strips, Grainery Lane is a drama-filled distillery and cocktail bar you won’t forget. Step through the dark wood facade and into another era, dotted with chandeliers and roaring 1920s-inspired furnishings, as prohibition speakeasy vibes completely transport you. Sample the team’s house spirits, including eight flavoured gins, with your favourite mixers, or dive right into the cocktail menu to experience further creativity. Food-wise, there’s a surprisingly long list of internationally inspired dishes including curries, plus much smaller bites.

Address: 35 Armstrong St North, Ballarat

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5. Roy Hammond

burgers and a glass of cocktail at Roy Hammond, Ballarat — Pair Asian-inspired plates with a refreshing beverage. (Credit: Roy Hammond)

Just a few doors down from Grainery Lane lies Roy Hammond, an equally alluring spot to sample a tipple or two while visiting beautiful Ballarat. While the vibe is warm and friendly, it’s the glowing procession of liquor bottles standing behind the bar that’ll rope you in. Stacked six rows high, the selection is outstanding and stretches all the way from the grassy fields of Scotland (this Ballarat bar’s whiskey game is strong) to the canteens of Mexico where mezcal soars. A tight edit of Asian-inspired plates ensures there’s really no reason to leave anytime soon.

Address: 24-28 Armstrong St North, Ballarat

6. Renard

a look inside Renard cocktail bar in Ballarat — Sink into one of the cosy forest-green velvet banquettes at Renard. (Credit: Lachlan Phyland at MediaProvided)

A super sleek spot that wouldn’t feel out of place in Melbourne’s inner north, Renard is a must-visit while you’re touring Ballarat’s best. Pull up a pew at the terrazzo bar counter or sink into one of the cosy forest-green velvet banquettes, below whitewashed brick walls. A self-proclaimed ‘cocktail bar & social club’, Renard is, quite frankly, a go-to for any occasion, however big or small. Almost every cocktail on the menu features a splash of native ingredients, from Davidson plum gin to river mint syrup, wattleseed and macadamia liqueur, or anise myrtle. While you’re there, snack on some continental-inspired small plates (mussels in Spanish sauce, a revolving door of house made terrines or Meredith Dairy goat’s cheese doughnuts drizzled with truffled honey, perhaps?) and maybe throw in a larger dish (let’s say the 250-gram porterhouse steak with red wine jus) for good measure.

Address: 209 Mair St, Ballarat

7. Hop Temple

A cavernous, industrial-chic ode to frothy creativity, this Ballarat brewery has the largest range of craft beer and cider in all of Victoria, with more than 220 brews available either on tap or by the bottle. Set in a converted stables and hidden down a laneway adorned with a canopy of umbrellas and string lights, Hop Temple has plenty of personality: bicycles hang from the ceiling, a cluster of antique doors makes for a feature wall, an indoor trellis is draped with greenery, and murals dot its exterior. Order a handful of comfort food (we’re talking ‘hopcorn’ chicken, mac and cheese, fried chicken burgers, tacos and more) before settling in with one of the 17 beer blends served on tap at any given time.

Address: 24 Armstrong St North, Ballarat

8. The Crypt

crafting cocktails at The Crypt, Ballarat — The Crypt shakes up killer cocktails from more than 600 superb internationally sourced spirits.

A completely fabulous gothic bar found inside the space that once housed The 18th Amendment Bar, The Crypt shakes up killer cocktails from more than 600 superb internationally sourced spirits. Some will smoke, others will shimmer, but no matter what you order, you can expect something truly special. A backlit bar and Chesterfield sofas remain from the previous fit out, but there’s now a rotating roster of events to get stuck into, including spooky games nights, cocktail classes and live music spanning all genres.

Address: 14 Camp St, Ballarat

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9. Aunty Jacks

Hankering for a fuss-free cold one? The team at this Ballarat brewery, led by Peter Aldred who is widely considered a doctor of beer, know what’s up. Aunty Jacks consistently offers a stellar line-up of unfiltered lagers, pale ales, and IPAs. Curious drinkers thirsty for more knowledge of the brewing process can sign up for a brewery tour or beer education class. There’s also plenty of indulgent foods on the menu here, including pizzas, fried chicken burgers and loaded fries with chipotle chicken, avocado and sour cream.

Address: 315-317 Mair St, Ballarat

10. Piano Bar Ballarat

two glasses of cocktails at Piano Bar Ballarat — Step into the soulful ambiance of Piano Bar Ballarat. (Credit: Peter Foster)

Get those pipes thoroughly lubricated at Piano Bar Ballarat—its unique sing-a-longs will demand serious enthusiasm. Attracting a mix of locals and out-of-towners, the Ballarat institution stages regular events including Drag Bingo, bottomless brunch and, of course, piano by request every Friday and Saturday. Drink-wise, there’s an extensive wine, beer and spirits menu to peruse, plus cocktails. Meanwhile, locally sourced produce is transformed into sharable dishes to sufficiently line tummies for the night ahead.

Address: 31 Sturt St, Ballarat

11. Royal Hotel

Though it’s not strictly in Ballarat, but rather a 20-minute drive down the road, The Royal Hotel Snake Valley still more than merits mention. A character-filled old country pub, this roadhouse has a beer garden for hot summer’s days, and a dining room with an open fire for escaping winter’s chill. Sit down for a filling pub meal and gaze around at all the knick-knacks, trophies and photos that line the walls while enjoying a crisp pint of Carlton Draught.

Address: 886 Linton-Carngham Rd, Snake Valley

12. Royal Oak Hotel

the bar counter at Royal Oak Hotel — Crack open a can of craft beer at this old-fashioned pub. (Credit: Royal Oak Hotel)

When only a good old-fashioned pub will do, make a beeline for this great all-rounder and local’s favourite dating back to 1866. The Royal Oak Hotel, a dog-friendly establishment, has made a name for itself based on the friendly service, solid food options (pub classics like fish and chips, burgers and 10 individual Parma varieties, for example), convivial atmosphere and an ample selection of beers on tap.

Address: 402 South St, Ballarat

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best things to do in Ballarat

Video credit: Visit Victoria/Tourism Australia

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

There are no kangaroos back in Chicago: they’re all here in the Grampians/Gariwerd. In the heart of the Grampians National Park’s main gateway town, Halls Gap, pods of eastern greys are eating grass beside my parked rental car beneath the stars. Next morning, when I see the backyard of my rented villa on the edge of town for the first time, there are kangaroos feeding beside a slow-moving creek, lined with river red gums.

Five hundred metres up the road, 50 or so of them are eating by the side of the road in a paddock. I pull over to watch and spot three emus. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos fly overhead towards the tall green mountains just beyond town.

‘Kee-ow, keee-oww’… their calls fuse with the maniacal cackle of a kookaburra (or 10). Gawd, how I’ve missed the sound of them. Far above, a wedge-tailed eagle watches, and there you go: the ‘great birds of Australia’ trifecta, all half a kay from the town limits.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

kangaroos near Halls Gap, Grampians National Park — The park is renowned for its significant diversity of native fauna species. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

I’ve come to the Grampians to disconnect, but the bush offers a connection of its own. This isn’t just any bush, mind you. The Grampians National Park is iconic for many reasons, mostly for its striking sandstone mountains – five ridges run north to south, with abrupt, orange slopes which tumble right into Halls Gap – and for the fact there’s 20,000 years of traditional rock art. Across these mountains there are more than 200 recorded sites to see, created by the Djab Wurrung, Jardwadjali and Gunditjmara peoples. It’s just like our outback… but three hours from Melbourne.

I’ve come here for a chance at renewal after the chaos of my life in America’s third-largest city, Chicago, where I live for now, at the whim of a relative’s cancer journey. Flying into Melbourne’s airport, it only takes an hour’s drive to feel far away from any concept of suburbia. When I arrive in Halls Gap two hours later, the restaurant I’m eating at clears out entirely by 7:45pm; Chicago already feels a lifetime ago.

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

sunrise at Grampians National Park /Gariwerd — Grampians National Park /Gariwerd covers almost 2000 square kilometres. (Image: Ben Savage)

Though the national park covers almost 2000 square kilometres, its best-known landmarks are remarkably easy to access. From my carpark here, among the cockatoos and kangaroos on the fringe of Halls Gap, it only takes 60 seconds’ driving time before I’m winding my way up a steep road through rainforest, deep into the mountains.

Then it’s five minutes more to a carpark that serves as a trailhead for a hike to one of the park’s best vantage points, The Pinnacles. I walk for an hour or so, reacquainting myself with the smells and the sounds of the Aussie bush, before I reach it: a sheer cliff’s edge lookout 500 metres up above Halls Gap.

walking through a cave, Hollow Mountain — Overlooking the vast Grampians landscape from Hollow Mountain. (Image: Robert Blackburn)

There are hikes and there are lookouts and waterfalls all across this part of the park near town. Some are a short stroll from a carpark; others involve long, arduous hikes through forest. The longest is the Grampians Peaks Trail, Victoria’s newest and longest iconic walk, which runs 160 kilometres – the entire length of Grampians National Park.

Local activities operator Absolute Outdoors shows me glimpses of the trail. The company’s owner, Adrian Manikas, says it’s the best walk he’s done in Australia. He says he’s worked in national parks across the world, but this was the one he wanted to bring his children up in.

“There’s something about the Grampians,” he says, as he leads me up a path to where there’s wooden platforms for tents, beside a hut looking straight out across western Victoria from a kilometre up in the sky (these are part of the guided hiking options for the trail). “There are things out here that you won’t see anywhere else in Australia.” Last summer, 80 per cent of the park was damaged by bushfire, but Manikas shows me its regrowth, and tells me of the manic effort put in by volunteers from town – with firefighters from all over Australia – to help save Halls Gap.

wildflowers in Grampians National Park — Spot wildflowers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

We drive back down to Halls Gap at dusk to abseil down a mountain under the stars, a few minutes’ walk off the main road into town. We have headlamps, but a full moon is enough to light my way down. It takes blind faith to walk backwards down a mountain into a black void, though the upside is I can’t see the extent of my descent.

Grampians National Park at sunset. (Image: Wine Australian)

The stargazing is ruined by the moon, of course, but you should see how its glow lights up the orange of the sandstone, like in a theme park. When I’m done, I stand on a rocky plateau drinking hot chocolate and listening to the Aussie animals who prefer nighttime. I can see the streets of Halls Gap off in the distance on this Friday night. The restaurants may stay open until 8pm tonight.

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

a boat travelling along the Wimmera River inDimboola — Travelling along the Wimmera River in Dimboola. (Image: Chris McConville)

You’ll find all sorts of adventures out here – from rock climbing to canoeing to hiking – but there’s more to the Grampians than a couple of thousand square kilometres of trees and mountains. Halls Gap may be known to most people, but what of Pomonal, and Dimboola, and Horsham? Here in the shadow of those big sandstone mountains there are towns and communities most of us don’t know to visit.

And who knew that the Grampians is home to Victoria’s most underrated wine region? My disconnection this morning comes not in a forest, but in the tasting rooms and winery restaurants of the district. Like Pomonal Estate, barely 10 minutes’ drive east of Halls Gap, where UK-born chef Dean Sibthorp prepares a locally caught barramundi with lentil, pumpkin and finger lime in a restaurant beside the vines at the base of the Grampians. Husband-and-wife team Pep and Adam Atchison tell me stories as they pour their prize wines (shiraz is the hero in these parts).

dining at Pomonal Estate — Dine in a restaurant beside vines at Pomonal Estate. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Three minutes’ drive back down the road, long-time mates Hadyn Black and Darcy Naunton run an eclectic cellar door out of a corrugated iron shed, near downtown Pomonal. The Christmas before last, half the houses in Pomonal burnt down in a bushfire, but these locals are a resilient lot.

The fires also didn’t stop the construction of the first art centre in Australia dedicated to environmental art in a nature-based precinct a little further down the road (that’s Wama – the National Centre for Environmental Arts), which opened in July. And some of the world’s oldest and rarest grape vines have survived 160 years at Best’s Wines, outside the heritage town of Great Western. There’s plantings here from the year 1868, and there’s wines stored in century-old barrels within 150-year-old tunnels beneath the tasting room. On the other side of town, Seppelt Wines’ roots go back to 1865. They’re both only a 30-minute drive from Halls Gap.

Salingers of Great Western — Great Western is a charming heritage town. (Image: Griffin Simm)

There’s more to explore yet; I drive through tiny historic towns that barely make the map. Still part of the Grampians, they’re as pretty as the mountains behind them: full of late 19th-century/early 20th-century post offices, government offices and bank buildings, converted now to all manner of bric-a-brac stores and cafes.

The Imaginarium is one, in quirky Dimboola, where I sleep in the manager’s residence of an old National Australia Bank after a gourmet dinner at the local golf club, run by noted chef and teacher, Cat Clarke – a pioneer of modern Indigenous Australian cooking. Just south, I spend an entire afternoon at a winery, Norton Estate Wines, set on rolling calico-coloured hills that make me think of Tuscany, chit-chatting with owners Chris and Sam Spence.

Being here takes me back two decades, when I lived here for a time. It had all seemed as foreign as if I’d driven to another planet back then (from Sydney/Warrane), but there seemed something inherently and immediately good about this place, like I’d lived here before.

And it’s the Australian small-town familiarity of the Grampians that offers me connection back to my own country. Even in the better-known Halls Gap, Liz from Kerrie’s Creations knows I like my lattes with soy milk and one sugar. And while I never do get the name of the lady at the local Ampol station, I sure know a lot about her life.

Kookaburras on a tree — Kookaburras are one of some 230 bird species. (Image: Darren Donlen)

You can be a local here in a day; how good is that? In Chicago, I don’t even know who my neighbour is. Though each day at dusk – when the kangaroos gather outside my villa, and the kookaburras and the black cockatoos shout out loud before settling in to sleep – I prefer the quieter connection I get out there in the bush, beneath these orange mountains.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Sleep beside the wildlife on the edge of Halls Gap at Serenity.

Playing there

abseiling down Hollow Mountain — Hollow Mountain is a popular abseiling site.

Go abseiling under the stars or join a guided hike with Absolute Outdoors. Visit Wama, Australia’s first environmental art centre. Check out Dimboola’s eccentric Imaginarium.

Eating there

steak, naan bread and beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap serves a great steak on naan bread.

Eat world-class cuisine at Pomonal Estate. Dine and stay at much-revered icon Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld. The ‘steak on naan’ at Halls Gap brewhouse Paper Scissors Rock, can’t be beat.

Dunkeld Arboretum in Grampians National Park — The serene Dunkeld Arboretum.

For Halls Gap’s best breakfasts head to Livefast Cafe. Sip local wines at Great Western’s historic wineries, Best’s Wines, Seppelt Wines and Norton Estate Wines.

two glasses of beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Sink a cold one at Paper Scissors Rock.

12 epic Ballarat pubs and bars to quench your thirst

Stylish cocktail bars, independent breweries, otherworldly speakeasies, stalwart gastropubs – the best Ballarat pubs and bars are all-too inviting.

1. Ellington’s Wine Bar & Rooftop

2. Itinerant Spirits

3. Sip Champagne Bar

4. Grainery Lane

5. Roy Hammond

6. Renard

7. Hop Temple

8. The Crypt

9. Aunty Jacks

10. Piano Bar Ballarat

11. Royal Hotel

12. Royal Oak Hotel

Two of the best festivals are coming to Ballarat: here’s how to plan for them

This surprising city has dethroned Adelaide as Australia’s happiest

Meet the makers shaping Ballarat’s new era of creativity

Two immersive art experiences are coming to this Vic town in spring

This scenic Victorian region is the perfect antidote to city life

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Playing there

Eating there

Stylish cocktail bars, independent breweries, otherworldly speakeasies, stalwart gastropubs – the best Ballarat pubs and bars are all-too inviting.

1. Ellington’s Wine Bar & Rooftop

2. Itinerant Spirits

3. Sip Champagne Bar

4. Grainery Lane

AI Prompt

5. Roy Hammond

6. Renard

7. Hop Temple

8. The Crypt

9. Aunty Jacks

10. Piano Bar Ballarat

11. Royal Hotel

12. Royal Oak Hotel

Two of the best festivals are coming to Ballarat: here’s how to plan for them

This surprising city has dethroned Adelaide as Australia’s happiest

Meet the makers shaping Ballarat’s new era of creativity

Two immersive art experiences are coming to this Vic town in spring

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Playing there

Eating there