Food & Wine

Choose from several fine dining establishments, upmarket coffee shops, lake-side eateries, cosy cafes and restaurants featuring cuisines ranging from contemporary Australian to Italian, Thai or Indian.

Just some of Ballarat favourites include L'Espresso Café, Portico Restaurant and Wine Bar, the Turret Café, Oscar's Hotel and Cafe Bar, and the Phoenix Brewery.

Collect seasonal delights at local markets

There is a great market almost every weekend somewhere around Ballarat. Stock up the pantry at Talbot's renowned produce market where all sorts of seasonal delights are up for grabs - from handmade cheeses and smoked meats to fresh pasta and local honey. Other local favourites include the popular market around Lake Wendouree held twice a month and the Buninyong Farmers Market which is held monthly.

Delectable Cool Climate Wine

Ballarat's cool climate makes it ideal for creating crisp chardonnays, spirited pinot noirs and sparkling wines. There are almost 30 wineries in the hinterland including nine within a 25km radius of the city. Most have cellar doors attended by the winemakers themselves. As many may tell you, the grape-growing climate around Ballarat requires labour-intensive approaches designed to achieve the ripest results and delectable drops.