Vegan
International
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Casual vegan restaurant and wine bar. Menu includes small and large dishes as well as sides and dessert. Drinks include wine, beer and cocktails. A degustation option is available. NOTE: Closing time is flexible, so check ahead. Open Tue-Thu 6:00pm-10:00pm, Fri-Sat 6:00pm-10:30pm, Sun 5:30pm-9:00pm. Closed Mon.
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 12 Jul 2023 by Guest
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Added by Kittybiscuit on 15 Jun 2019
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70 Reviews
First Review by Kittybiscuit
NDVegan
Points +6833
All vegan yay! - Edit
It’s great, but for me, very salty.
Read moreSome of the staff are a bit short.
We recently did a $60 banquet & the last dish tasted burnt and super spicy. It would’ve been great to end on a dessert palate cleanser instead.
The entree arancini & cheese bites were delish!
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-19
Cons: Need juice. No kid friendly drinks
Guest
meefamily
Points +469
Creative but not excellent - Edit
We chose this restaurant as we are vegan and thought the dishes sounded unique and creative. I had a lions mane steak and hubby had the potato lasagna. We also shared tempura zucchini flowers and fried cheese sticks. The food was simply ok, wouldn’t go back. They offered a handful of cocktails-I had the strawberry blond and it was tasty. Very casual and bustling setting.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-12-31
Guest
TheYarraValleyVegan
Points +44
A degustation at Ballards is a must - Edit
Amazing tasty degustation representing really good value. A great surprise to be presented a dish that you don’t choose and perhaps wouldn’t.
Read morePros: Fun vibe, Real vegan fine dinning , Close to tram and train stop
Cons: Bookings essential
Guest
soyboy7000
Points +55
Unreal - Edit
Best vegan spot in town. Food is always top notch and menu changes frequently, so it's always worth coming back. Staff are all legends. Depending what you order it can be borderline saucy overload, but that's the only thing I can nitpick at. Don't be a [censored] and end up on their insta feed.
Read moreGuest
fredphillips
Points +49
Excellent vegan dining - Edit
Had a great experience here a couple of months ago, my first time at Ballards. The place was full and it had a nice vibe/atmosphere. We had the 'feed me' option and everything was great. We appreciated the thought and effort that has gone into creating food that is interesting and unique. Service was attentive and friendly. Will definitely be back.
Read morePros: High quality food especially at this price point, Cool background music, Nice vibe
Cons: Felt slightly rushed (minor gripe)
Guest
Tofulicious
Points +1617
Nil ‘Customer Service’, Overpriced Greasy Salty Food - Edit
TBH the best thing about this restaurant is the words they use to *describe* the dishes 😂 far more mouthwatering than the actual meals themselves.
Read more26/04/2025: Update from previous review 26/10/2019 - you know those venues that aren’t great, but you return every couple of years to see if anything’s changed?
The only thing that’s changed is the dishes are far more costly and much, much smaller.
The food is still heavily over-salted halfrate fare drowned in heavy oily sweet nondescript sauces; the service ranges from inattentive to rude; it’s just much, much more overpriced.
Reckon I’ve done my dash. Thanks Ballards.
Updated from previous review on 2025-04-26
Pros: not the food or service, that’s for sure, vegan option in Thornbury ?
Cons: greasy salty food with no real flavour or nuance, tiny portions (although maybe that’s a good thing), poor customer service
Guest
KristinaEatsPlants
Points +6496
Delicious share plates in a cozy setting 🌿 - Edit
Cool concept — we had a bunch of small plates to share and everything was absolutely delicious. The burnt eggplant dip and fresh focaccia were standouts. Great atmosphere for a relaxed evening!
Read moreGuest
VeggieThea
Points +36
Incredibly tasty and innovative vegan food - Edit
The restaurant offers a number of dishes for sharing. Everything we tried ( avocado with polenta crostini, potato lasagna, broccoli steak, crispy smashed potatoes) was bursting with flavor different from the usual vegan stuff. Worth the detour from the CBD area.
Read moreThe decor felt a bit dated and showed signs of wear, and the cleanliness could be improved to enhance the overall experience.
Pros: The food! , Friendly staff
Guest
jessicalovescows
Points +658
Amazing food - Edit
Love the vibe of this place, it's cute and cosy. The food is amazing, very tasty. We did the Feed Me option and did not have one bad dish. Would go back again immediately if it weren't for the food coma. 🫶🌱
Read moreGuest
Kittybiscuit
Points +9892
Best food in Melbourne - Edit
I walked past this with a friend and there were seats available so we decided to try it. I had a few tables (mostly for 4 and a couple of booths for 6. It was really nice inside. I love places where the tables aren’t too close to each other. All of the alcohol is vegan too and the cocktails were delicious. I shared a plate of salt and pepper tofu which was very nice. It was also served with sprouts with a dressing and they were delicious! I didn’t think I’d ever say that either! I ordered a mushroom ravioli for my main. It had really nice flavours. It would have been nice to have another piece of ravioli but I can’t say that I was starved afterwards. I could smell the cauliflower croquettes and they smelt delicious. I think next time I’d order two entrees to share!
Read moreIt seems like it would be a great date place or a great place to catch up with small groups of friends. I also loved they were playing Talking Heads!
I’ll definitely go back.
Updated from previous review on 2023-08-27
Pros: Tables aren’t too close together, The lighting, The music
Guest
smithers_
Points +140
The BEST vegan restaurant in Melb - Edit
Such amazing food, you can't go wrong with most of the dishes here. Love how simple vegetables can be soooo delicious! The lions mane steak is a personal fave. The menu changes seasonally which is a plus! A must visit as a vegan in Melb
Read morePros: Great atmosphere, Nice drinks, Great food!!
Cons: Can be a bit salty
Guest
Neth
Points +1215
Spectacular give me 14 of em right now - Edit
We got the feed me option which was great as we've never been there before. All very unique and flavourful combinations. Not something you can just whip up at home. Portion sizes are on the smaller end
Read moreGuest
fauxoccult
Points +146
My favourite ever vegan restaurant - Edit
Title says it. Constantly updated and revised menu, delicious delicious food and bevs especially their cocktails. Large serving sizes. The food feels very comforting and familiar somehow, almost like home cooked food but 10000% better. Discovered because of the owner’s social media presence lol but they’re so much more than that. Not at all underrated. I made my parents go with me once and they said it was too salty but I think they’re incorrect… but I also love very salty food. Always looking forward to when I have enough money to order a feast here.
Read morePros: Food, Menu continually being updated, Cocktails
Guest
whichezra
Points +351
They def fed me - Edit
Finally came here after enjoying their unhinged social media presence for a while. We got the feed me selection of 8 dishes and they were all great, a standout was this turnip croquette thing with egg(n't) salad and baked beans mayonnaise, which sounds pretty wrong and I probably wouldn't have ordered it on purpose, so I'm stoked that we decided to let them do the actual deciding. Honestly a delight, and makes me want to do things to turnips. Everything else was great too, and I like that their menu changes regularly and is pretty different from anywhere else. We left full and happy, and look forward to coming back.
Read moreGuest
larabanana26
Points +159
Best vegan food! - Edit
My partner and I absolutely love this place and come here all the time! The food is always a taste sensation! It’s also a good place to bring non vegans because there’s lots of veggies on the menu, rather than faux meats which can scare some non vegans 😂
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-05-16
Pros: No faux meats, Food is always delicious!, Good for non vegans too
Guest
Gnomeyana
Points +49
Plant-Forward Feast in Melbourne! - Edit
Every time I visit this quaint and quirky spot I am blown away by the dishes! You won't find fake meat here, just vegetables being celebrated through thoughtful and artful preparation in the kitchen. The menu is regularly changing to whatever the chef is experimenting with, from turnip croquettes with baked beans mayonnaise, to a 6-hour braised bourguignon cabbage, everything just drenched with luscious flavours abound! Check the social media for menu updates. They play with smoking, pickling, charring and infusing all sorts of foods so maximise the palate and every time I'm wowed with a new dish! Although I always get the Burnt Eggplant dip with fresh focaccia; I can't get past the smoked tomato oil they drizzle on the dip, scrumptious!
Read moreThe atmosphere is wonderful with eccentric decor but cosy warm lighting, the cutlery appears to be supplied from an op shop which makes me think of sustainability and adds to the charm, and the down to earth staff are always making a friendly effort to look after you swiftly, it's a great environment for an intimate night out, whether a date or a catch up with a friend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Updated from previous review on 2025-04-28
Pros: The plant-focused dishes, Good price for the quality you receive, Environment full of character
Cons: No disability access (step at doorway & toilets), No take away - I always want dessert for home!, Small venue - not super roomy
Guest
junojunerson
Points +75
My favourite restaurant in Melbourne - Edit
Ballards is by far the best vegan restaurant in Melbourne. The dishes are always tasty and perfectly balanced, and there's always something new to try which blows my tastebuds away. I always take out-of-town visitors here (usually non-vegans) and every damn time they freaking love it (and demand to return next visit!). EVERY SINGLE TIME. While there are many vegan restaurants in Melbourne, Ballards always nails it. I hope this place never closes because it is a godsend to the vegan community. And they do an excellent dirty martini too!
Read moreGuest
TofastTofurious
Points +16
Absolute must-try - Edit
Had a fantastic evening at Ballard's. The atmosphere was great, staff were fantastic, and the food was exceptional - with an impressive range to choose from.
Read moreWill definitely be back soon.
Pros: Food, Staff, Atmosphere
Guest
EllenStringfellow
Points +300
Worth Making the Trek - Edit
We had the just feed me and with one exception (that my friend loved, so it was just a personal taste thing) it was all incredible. Fabulous range of flavours and textures, and excellent value for money! As other reviews have mentioned, come for the incredible culinary art, stay for the batshit Instagram memes 🤣
Read morePros: Creativity, Variety, Music
Guest
peterlalich
Points +18
I french kissed a cabbage! - Edit
I was lucky enough to celebrate my 60th birthday here late last year with my son & some friends, despite slipping over in the shower and fracturing a bone in my arm (confirmed at The Alfred) the next day.
Read moreThe service staff were great, and the food was exceptional, I can never look at cabbage and broccolini the same way ever again.
I must have raved to at least 4 medical staff at The Alfred the next day about the quality of the dishes served up on the night.
I’m glad I persevered through the pain, it was a night to remember, and on the way back to the car my spirits were so high we even stopped to perform a rusty rendition of the Nutbush.
We will be back for sure!
Pros: The food (duh), The staff, The manic ramblings of the owner
Cons: Pina Coladas aren’t available!
Guest
Squizsh
Points +1263
Have y’all never eaten salt before? - Edit
What’s with all the reviews on here talking about the food being salty? Where are your taste buds people???
Read moreBallard’s is an explosion of flavour in an enchanting atmosphere with a hilariously unhinged owner running the kitchen. Recommend following their Instagram, it’s very much a good time.
We recently attended the Valentine’s Day degustation and got some seriously frikken good food. The lion’s mane and the onion dip were definitely stand outs for me, if that onion dip goes on the permanent menu I’ll be back every single week. Even outside of events, I heartily recommend Ballard’s as being one of the best vegan spots to grab a phenomenal dinner with the love of your life, best bud, sister, grandma, or just by yourself. Go here! And don’t you dare complain about the salt content you absolute peasant!!
Guest
BiddyChloeone
Points +128
Somewhat Disappointed - Edit
Good atmosphere and love that it's entirely vegan. However, my excitement at going to a restaurant where, as vegan, I didn't have to order chips and salad, was dimmed by overly salty dishes and a heavy hand with a herb (tarragon or fennel?) in one dish where the flavour should have been predominantly mushroom. Eating out is expensive, so I would not go back. I'm sad.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-01-18
Pros: The boho decor and beer garden are great, Service was friendly , Mac n cheese sticks were very good
Cons: Flavours not always right, Huge 'dump' of chips on plate was unappealing
vegiegirl18
I agree regarding the salt-i went awhile back for the roast night-too salty a few of the dishes
Read moreGuest
RachaelBlyth
Points +274
Delicious - Edit
Had the feed me experience with 4 friends (2 non vegan) and it was incredible. We left so full and happy. The braised cabbage was a standout. Place and decor is very unassuming but incredible food
Read morePros: Incredible food, Tasting menu well priced, Great drinks selection
Cons: Music and vibe was a bit instense 😆
Guest
samsoncharles
Points +180
slightly disappointed! - Edit
came here on recommendation from an australian vegan influencer and was really excited!
Read morewe ordered a few small dishes and a main, and said we would be sharing. the small dishes came out quickly and were delicious, if not very salty. we waited for the main course and it wasnt coming so i had to chase and it then came out.
the main was the lions mane steak which i added chips onto - thank god i did as it was so small without them, i dont know how $36 is justified for the portion size. again it was very salty!
service was also quite slow and when we asked for the heater to be turned on (as we sat outside) the staff member said ‘as long as you dont spend just $20 im sure its fine’ - in a non-humorous way
Pros: good menu, nice flavour, cool restaurant
Cons: expensive, very salty, questionable staff interaction
Guest
Pips
Points +1690
Amazing! - Edit
Ballard’s is brilliant. Had the just feed me menu. Lots of different foods all delicious and interesting flavours. Service was amazing. Favourite dish was the lions mane mushroom steak. I’d have that dish every day of the week if I could. ❤️❤️❤️
Read moreGuest
NilsHeymann
Points +920
The “Just feed me” menu is yummy - Edit
Great vibes, all dishes are imaginative and impressive. We will be back!!!
Read moreWay too much food so go hungry
Guest
saaurik
Points +158
Wonderful dinning experience - Edit
Incredibly tasty vegan food. Creative, great flavours, definitely leading the vegan food game. Saying yum after every bite!
Read moreI had 2 crochets and the braised cabbage. Plus a mocktail. Which was probably the best mocktail I’ve ever had.
Pros: Exceptional food, Friendly staff, Prompt service
Guest
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