The Best Restaurants In Ballarat Victoria

If you find yourself with an empty belly in Ballarat, then stop by at one of these seven restaurants. Whether you have a craving for Japanese, Thai, Spanish, Italian, café-style cuisine or a meal with a view, then Ballarat has something for you. Only an hour and a half from Melbourne’s CBD, these restaurants are worth the drive.

1. Meigas

Restaurant, Spanish

For an authentic taste of Spain in Ballarat, head to Meigas where the churros are coated in regular sugar, and the paella is free of chorizo – just like the Spanish would serve. Yamelly Perez and Jose Fernandez’s rustic tapas, wine bar and delicatessen is open for lunch and dinner, and the menu features seafood and gluten-free options.

2. Cafe Lekker

Cafe, Australian, Vegetarian

This family-friendly café serves all-day breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea and is happy to customise meals to suit you. Their extensive breakfast menu features Tuki sausages, chicken toasty, muesli, and Coco Pops for the kids. On the lunch menu, you’ll find pasta, salad, curry, and a range of focaccias. Cafe Lekker even has gluten-free and vegan options.

3. The Forge Pizzeria

Restaurant, Italian

Inspired by their grandfather Frank who worked as a blacksmith, brothers Chris and Tim Matthews established The Forge Pizzeria in 2010. Creating delicious classic Italian dishes as well wood-fired pizzas with fresh local produce, the restaurant has won several awards including four Golden Plate Awards. The menu features 13 pizzas, most with original flavour combinations, including the Shearers with lamb and goat’s cheese and the Blacksmith with pork sausage.

5. Brown Grain

Restaurant, Thai

If you find yourself in Ballarat with a craving for Thai food, then stop by Brown Grain. Open for lunch and dinner, Brown Grain is a fully licensed restaurant perfect for families, functions and casual meals. Try their BBQ pork, crispy pancake chicken, chicken satay, salmon in banana leaf or the crispy roasted duck.

6. Harry Limes

Restaurant, Asian, Vietnamese, Australian

Named after the Orson Welles character in The Third Man, Harry Limes is a contemporary restaurant which interprets Australian, Vietnamese and Mediterranean cuisine. Open for lunch and dinner to the public, the venue can also cater to intimate weddings and private functions. Among the highlights on their menu are the fried camembert, bouillabaisse, potato-wrapped prawns and their risotto made the traditional way with two ingredients.

7. The Yacht Club

The Yacht Club

Overlooking Lake Wendouree, Ballarat’s Yacht Club was established in 1877 and now includes a club café which is open for breakfast and lunch. This casual café can also accommodate your next function with indoor and deck spaces. The menu includes all the usual breakfast staples, sandwiches, fish and chips, pizzas and sharing platters. This summer, take advantage of the stunning views from the deck and share a casual meal with friends.

The Yacht Club, Wendouree Parade, Ballarat Central, Victoria, Australia, +61 3 5331 2208

http://instagram.com/p/BBd5kbbHSmq/

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.