The Unicorn - Ballarat

This lovely cafe is just around the corner from the Visitor Information Centre in the CBD area of Ballarat conveniently close for a walk to get some lunch.

The Unicorn is a unique cafe and dining experience that uses fresh healthy ingredients. It is housed in one of the oldest hotels built in Ballarat and opens seven days a week from 7 am for breakfast, morning tea and lunch. We called in for a late lunch and were greeted by a very friendly staff member behind the counter who gave us menus and showed us to a table before delivering water while we studied the choices on offer.

They have an all day breakfast so I ordered ‘Eggs Benjamin” with country style thick cut bacon, house greens, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce  on toast (gluten free is available with this dish) – very nice. My partner had fish and chips – but not ordinary fish and chips.  Paprika and thyme beer battered barramundi and fennel salted chips with house herb aioli and garden salad. He said it was the best fish and chips he has had for a very long time. All this with a pot of Sencha green tea – delicious.

This is a very funky café with some interesting paintings on the wall, old record album covers and even some singles used as decorations - plus soft music playing in the background. We discovered later that the music was coming from vinyl records being played on a turntable near the counter. You must go to the bathroom when you visit this café – what amazing decorations.  The ladies has a very shinny dressing table from the 50’s or 60’s and lots of black and white photos all around the walls of musicians from the jazz era.  In the corner is a beautiful bedroom chair. Just lovely. The hall leading to the bathrooms is again decorated with bright paintings and pictures. 

There are tables inside and out - highly recommended when downtown Ballarat.