Cafe culture
Soak up the atmosphere of cosy cafes in the region's historic towns. Watch the roasters at work at Bendigo's Brewhouse Coffee Roasters, go Mediterranean at El Gordo and find your favourite corner in Percy and Percy. In Ballarat, get your Axil coffee fix from Yellow Espresso, Seven Seeds from Hydrant Food Hall or go retro at Eclectic Tastes.
Get serious about small-batch beans at Castlemaine's Coffee Basics and savour strudel at Das Kaffeehaus. Step back into the 1960s and enjoy homemade baked goods at The Coffee Bank in Pyramid Hill.
Baked goodies
Local baked goods stock cafe counters and pantries around the region. Go direct to the source for artisan sourdough, pies and pastries at Ballarat's 1816 Bakehouse. Don't skip a visit to Shear Delights in Avoca – the award-winning bakery is renowned for its vanilla slices and beestings.
Beechworth Bakery is a popular family choice, piping hot sausage rolls, pasties and pies – including the original cheesy top Ned Kelly – in Bendigo and Ballarat.
