The Church Retro Cafe

Do yourself a favor and get in here for a cuppa. the staff are so friendly and always up for a chat.

Time does not run as usual in this place;time stopped by and left pieces of each decade behind. To call it a cafe would be a misnomer, there is so much more to discover behind the large doors of this old church building. Retro treasures and clothes for sale, books and vinyl records a plenty, and some authentic Irish fare. The coffee is also Melbourne-quality served in mugs that tout some of the classic titles from penguin books. The building has history as most places in Ballarat do, but the minute you walk into the front of the church, with the roaring Coonara wood fire and modular lounge, and long kitchen tables with mix and match chairs you feel as though you've stepped into someone home. Noreen and Fidelma, come out from behind the kitchen bench, with their in-retro-style clothing to say hello they welcome you in their lilting Irish accents. The food is simply stunning. Irish stew that warms you through, soups that are full of flavour, hearty and warming, beautiful breakfasts and puffy crispy flaky pastry on the home made Guinness pie and sausage rolls. Another much talked about item from this cafe is the home made lemonade. A bottle delivered to the table will be irresistible to young and old alike! Its worth heading to the south side of Ballarat for this treasure trove of knick-knacks and hearty Irish food. Check out the facebook page for up to date info on special 'night' events.

I had a great experience working at this restaurant. It is the best place to enjoy a meal, and the Irish nights are fantastic.

This restaurant is fantastic with wonderful and welcoming staff. I highly recommend it for a relaxing dining experience with delicious food!

We had a wonderful night at the restaurant. The food was delicious, especially the homemade rhubarb pie. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, and we felt very welcomed. We had the pleasure of meeting some lovely people at our table. The poetry by Ken and the guitar playing by Neville, along with the rest of the band, were fantastic.