Hop Temple

Top choice in Victoria


Symbolic of Ballarat's meteoric rise from unglamorous country town to happening city is this converted red-brick warehouse tucked down a lane. There are 19 craft beers on tap (plus 200 kinds in the fridge) and artisanal cocktails to go with a menu of buttermilk-fried-chicken drumsticks, smoked barbecue meats and panko-fried mac-and-cheese-patty burgers.

The cavernous space is decked out with mismatched furniture, and there's a loft as well as seating in the lane. During the week there's bingo and live bands.