L'espresso

October 6th of 2025- it was a crisp morning in Ballart, we scrolled down the streets and hopped into this vintage cafe of CD’s or recored shop converted to a cafe 🍀. The ambience inside is just enough to start our day and especially for the lady Bug- Happy Birthday to you. Such an amazing location along with the hot chocolate and Cappuccino 🥳

We have been in Melbourne/Victoria for over two weeks and - hands down - the flat whites at L’espresso were by far the best we have had. So much depth of flavour and very smooth. The staff were incredibly friendly. And so cool to browse LPs and CDs. A funky place with a great vibe. We did not eat, so cannot comment on the food. But do go there for your flat white.

No wonder this place is packed on Sun morning, the food is great, great seasoning, great service, inside is a little bit tight space but all will manage. They dont have kid or smaller menu/ version but the toasty could do. Everything is great!

Definitely one of the highlights of our visit ti Ballarat was this delicious breakfast surrounded by CDs and vinyl records. Vibe here is unmatched, and super friendly service makes it even better. Whether you're into cosy indoor corners or sunny outdoor seating, this cafe has it all. Highly recommend.

We stopped in for an impromptu lunch following the Tweed Ride for the Ballarat Heritage festival on Saturday, and even though they were about to finish lunch service, they still managed to fit 4 of us in for lunch. We sat outside in the lovely sunshine and enjoyed some beautiful pasta, gnocchi & and steak sandwich. We would definitely head back there for a meal. The coffee was great and the staff very friendly.

I came here on recommendation with my two daughters (20s), we loved what I would call a 60's Italian vibe. All staff were at least over 40 and it makes for a very professional, friendly & cool vibe. The record & cd collection for sale are an addition to what makes this cafe special as does the background music, the owners know what they're doing. Great coffee, yes kind of tight interior but this adds to the great atmosphere of the place I believe. Absolutely recommend their coffee, in-house made cakes, biscuits and the breakfast menu. Great to find these little gems...

✨Funky little spot with a great alternative vibe! The atmosphere is unique, and the food was absolutely awesome. Really enjoyed my time here—thank you, guys! I’ll definitely be coming back.🤍

I love the coffee here. Food is very good. Staff ate great! Parking can be tricky as it's on the main street in town, however side streets always have parking. The only negative for me is the extremely low lighting which makes it feel a bit dark and cold.

I enjoyed a very nice breakfast here. My friends and I did not have a booking, but we didn't have to wait long for a table outside. It was Sunday morning, so had a steady stream of diners. Service is great. We enjoyed Smashed Avocado with poached eggs, Ham and Cheese Croissant and Parmesan Scrambled Eggs. Everything was great. Coffee is very good. There is no question as to why this place is so popular. It seems to have a pastry specialty, particularly croissants. I would definitely come back here again. Thank you.

Great coffee 6 star service and hospitality fabulous

This place was recommended by a local friend and he was on the money. The food was exceptional. We ordered the soup of the day, steak sandwich and the chickpea salad and everyone was swooning. I had the gnocchi and it was flown down from heaven on the backs of angels..! The place is comfortable and atmospheric. I'd be back anytime.

Great little stop off place if you traveling through. The food is homely and filling. Great choice of cakes superb coffee and a fine wine selection top off an all round great experience. We both had prawns and pasta, the sauce was just right in terms of flavour and consistency and the hint of chilli superb. We also ate the pear and ginger cake with cream, moist full of flavour and delicious as well. The service is great too!

It's easy to see why this lovely lunch spot stays busy, with tight quarters & happy, friendly wait staff, the dishes are beautifully prepared & very reasonably priced. An excellent lunch in the heart of scenic & charming Ballarat, was highly recommended & completely delivered. The only tic though, watch your step on your way to the toilet, the kitchen floor is pretty slick!

Stopped off here on my way to a job. Very dark inside, to the point where you can't really see what's going on. I've been in dark bars brighter then this and that's a problem because it makes it very hard to read the menu. I noticed the Vittoria coffee cups so I opted for a hot chocolate and bacon and egg sandwich, takeaway. Staff were friendly and helpful. Sat down outside and waited for my order. Hot chocolate came out in a glass. Two problems, 1, I ordered takeaway, 2, glass loses heat quickly so it was cold by the time my sandwich arrived. Sandwich was alright. Don't understand why is the highest rated cafe in Ballarat. Maybe I'm just a snobby city kid with high standards...

When you first walk in the door you feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way calling this place a hole. But it is a dim lighted, small slightly cramped little cafe and initially I felt I was a confused slightly claustrophobic Alice. But within seconds the smell of good quality coffee swirled around me and brought this "Alice" back to earth. We were served by the most helpful efficient and lovely staff throughout our breakfast. The fruit toast was thick and tasty and my fellow meal mates meals were varied and tasty too. Great menu, fantastic coffee and no Mad Hatter in sight! A definite visit for any Tom, Dick or even an Alice.

Awesome little boutique cafe that also sells vinyl. I randomly found it and had a great time sipping coffee/looking through records.

This was a great Cafe. The food size was great and the quality was fantastic.

Best food in Ballarat- unique, considered and fresh. Also great coffee and cakes. A little dark, but it has an old time atmosphere which makes this seem appropriate.