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Restaurant

Royal Oak Hotel

402 South St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia

Recommended by 0 people

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Find Royal Oak Hotel

402 South St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia

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+61 3 5331 5373
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Royal Oak Hotel

Tucked into Ballarat's residential backstreets, this unrefurbished throwback delivers proper old-school pub warmth, roaring woodfires, and generous counter meals. Regulars head straight for the buzzing front bar to catch the footy on screen, while the tiny kitchen turns out thick chicken parmas, mixed grills, and crumbed lamb cutlets. Mains arrive the traditional way—accompanied by soft dinner rolls, foil-wrapped Tatura butter, crisp chips, and varied side salads. Even the dog gets courtyard heater space out back alongside cold beers on tap.

  • 1980s Pub Atmosphere: Unrefurbished pub interior featuring roaring fireplaces, warm timber, vintage bar runners, and screens showing the match.
  • Classic Counter Meals: Generous plates of classic parmas, mixed grills, and crumbed cutlets served alongside complimentary rolls, butter, and salads.
  • Dog-Friendly Beer Garden: Spacious beer garden and courtyard welcome dogs, with staff lighting outdoor heaters in chilly weather.
RestaurantModern AustralianPubBarRestaurant

What's On at Royal Oak Hotel

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Royal Oak Hotel

Discover why locals and travellers gather at Ballarat Central's classic, unrefurbished local pub.

  • Generous Classic Pub Fare with Complimentary Extras

    Generous servings of parmas, mixed grills, and steaks prepared with classic flavours, served with complimentary soft dinner rolls and varied salads at approachable prices.

    Decent serving, everything fresh. Soft bread rolls with butter as a free extra on the side.

    Ash Webb

  • Dependable, Hearty Staples

    Hearty comfort foods like Sunday roasts and thick parmas provide dependable, satisfying meals cooked with care and pride.

    The food is always spot on — generous portions, full of flavour, and cooked to perfection.

    Daniel Brierley

  • Cosy Old-School Pub Atmosphere

    Warm timber interiors, crackling open woodfires, and a classic unrefurbished layout make guests feel immediately settled and nostalgic on cold Ballarat days.

    stands out like a welcome beacon to proper old-school pubs - warm buzzing bar with the footy on up front, warm buzzing bistro out back. Woodfires and atmosphere.

    TJ Grech

  • Heartfelt Local Hospitality

    Friendly, attentive owners and staff create an authentic, welcoming environment where patrons feel embraced like regulars and family.

    the staff here were so friendly and it really really felt like a family walking in there.

    Ella McKendrick

  • Relaxed Space for Group Gatherings

    A comfortable layout featuring cozy fireside tables, a classic bistro, and multiple distinct spaces accommodates birthday meals and relaxed catch-ups for all ages.

    Jackson who was in charge of the dining was so accommodative that we got a table near the fireplace. WOW! On a cold, rainy, miserable day.

    Maria John

  • Dog-Friendly Outdoor Settings

    Welcoming outdoor spaces, including a leafy beer garden and heated exterior tables, let visitors relax and socialise alongside their four-legged companions.

    There are several sitting areas with a nice garden bar and The Stables. You can take you dogs which adds a nice addition to a pub.

    Raewyn Easton

Hearty, comforting pub classics cooked to perfection

  • Parma

    We had a couple of parmas - delicious, moist and flavoursome.

    TJ Grech

  • Mixed Grill

    I had the mix grill here today and it was amazing. Beautifully cooked. Tasted like traditional country pub affair.

    Riley Black

  • Scotch Fillet

    I ordered the scotch fillet, veggies, mushroom gravy and fish sauce side. I also got the cheese garlic bread to mop up once I'm done.

    Daniel Stojcevski

  • Crumbed Lamb Cutlets

    We has crumbed lamb cutlets with chips and vegetables. The potato bake was delicious and I didn’t bother with the chips although the few I had were delicious and perfectly cooked. I enjoyed the mashed pumpkin and the melt in the mouth cutlets.

    Geraldine Lynch

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful details and hospitable touches that elevate a classic pub visit

  • Complimentary Dinner Rolls and Butter

    Meals arrive accompanied by complimentary soft bread rolls paired with foil-wrapped Tatura butter.

  • Curated Variety of Side Salads

    Mains are served with a multi-salad spread featuring homemade pasta salad and coleslaw alongside traditional greens.

  • Heater Service for Outdoor Pet Dining

    When guests arrive with pets on freezing days, staff turn on the outdoor courtyard heaters specifically to keep them comfortable.

  • Fireside Seating on Chilly Days

    Dining staff go out of their way to seat walk-in groups and celebratory gatherings right by the roaring open fireplace during cold regional weather.

Before you head over

Practical recommendations on bookings, seating, and outdoor dining to help plan your visit.

  • Book ahead for group and fireside tables

    While staff can accommodate walk-in groups when space permits, popular sessions and fireplace seating fill up quickly, making booking in advance strongly recommended.

  • Dress for the weather when bringing pets

    The pub welcomes dogs in its outdoor spaces including the beer garden and courtyard; on colder days, staff can turn on outdoor heaters if you are seated outside.

  • Convenient residential parking off main roads

    Situated a few streets back from the main road in a quiet residential pocket, the hotel offers convenient on-site and street parking for easy access.

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