Ballarat, the third-largest city in Victoria, was the centre of the late 1800s Victoria gold rush. Ballarat is a vibrant regional hub today with incredible historic structures to gaze at all day.
There are numerous bars where you may have a meal and a cold beverage. You should know which Ballarat pubs are the greatest if you want to experience their services personally. We have already completed that work for you if that is your wish.
There were about 500 hotels in Ballarat (formerly called Ballaarat) in the 1860s. During the gold rush, canvas tents and timber pubs dominated the scene.
During the temperance movement and the subsequent implementation of liquor licenses, the number of establishments serving beer sharply decreased.
The number of pubs in Ballarat may be at least 500 today due to the population changes and economic revolutions. However, many restaurants have resisted the pressure to go down and are still fully operational today.
Grapes Hotel
Golden Point
The Grapes Hotel at Ballarat’s Golden Point, which is different from the Bunch Of Grapes Hotel, is one of the fascinating joints for anyone looking for that traditional pub atmosphere.
Although it isn’t a large pub, the front bar will make you feel at ease and home. Furthermore, the restaurant offers some delicious food.
If you want to enjoy the great afternoon Ballarat sun, there is also a beer garden outside the old bottle-o, another invaluable feeling.
Hop Temple
Ballarat Central
The thrills you expect to encounter include cuisine, wine, and beer at Hop Temple. Hop Temple is the only type of temple you would contemplate forgoing your Sunday, and you can find it in Ballarat Central down Police Lane.
On such a Sunday, you could choose from one of the 17 revolving taps, a variety of “hoptails,” or Australian wine from all over the country.
You can order a variety of slow-cooked meats from the pit, sandwiches with those meats, and pizzas from the menu.
The Mallow
Ballarat Central
Visitors to Ballarat often enjoy The Mallow as much as the locals do. When you visit The Mallow, expect an authentic old-fashioned pub atmosphere, friendly service, delicious food, and plenty of beer.
Hamburger choices, chicken parma, and lamb souvlaki are among the top delicacies on the menu; the food is conventional pub fare. Most Ballarat pub menus tend to feature lamb souvlaki prominently; this feels like a tale in and of itself, in line with the local cultural practices.
Bunch of Grapes Hotel
Ballarat Central
Different from The Grapes Hotel, evidence suggests that there has been a tavern on the property since 1868, and the Bunch of Grapes Inn has been feeding many Ballarat residents, visitors and workers since it first opened on Pleasant Street in 1906.
With four distinct parma options, a variety of pizzas, chicken schnitzel, entrees, and salads, the Bunch of Grapes menu is comprehensive. It is, arguably, the most diverse menu in the region. After a long day of exploring the goldfields, everybody can find something to keep them content and at reasonable prices for different classes of people.
Queens Head Hotel
Ballarat East
The Queens Head Hotel’s new owners have turned the establishment into a destination to be reckoned with after a few years of turbulence and inconsistencies in their business.
The pub is also the location of Lenny’s Bistro, which boasts a contemporary menu. The menu serves most of the regional ingredients.
The Queens Head Hotel also boasts an ice-cold beer and the warmest welcome in Ballarat.
The Provincial Hotel
Ballarat Central
The Provincial Hotel is across from Ballarat’s pompous train station in Ballarat Central. While it may be described as provincial based on the stature of its name, there is plenty of substance to go with the pub’s style that makes a provincial-level hotel.
Restaurant Lola is located inside the hotel and is available for lunch, supper, and brunch. Lodging options and event venues are available for those seeking to hold a bigger event.
Aunty Jacks
Ballarat Central
Although Ballarat is already regarded as the centre of Australian craft brewing, the primary ambition of Aunty Jack Hotel is to establish the concept even further and make itself the main reason for Ballarat becoming Australia’s craft brewing centre.
Aunty Jack’s produces beer, including lager, session ale, pale ale, IPA, porter, and other unique flavours. A variety of share plates, snacks, and pizzas are available at Aunty Jack’s if you get hungry while there.
Royal Hotel
Snake Valley
The Royal Hotel is located in Snake Valley, twenty minutes outside Ballarat. The Royal Hotel, a charming example of a traditional country pub, offers excellent dining and lodging options and live music.