Hop Temple

Hop Temple is a laneway craft-beer pub tucked off Armstrong Street North at 24 Armstrong Street North, and it is one of central Ballarat's genuinely dog-set-up venues, with a covered rear beer garden where dogs are part of the furniture.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the rear outdoor laneway beer garden, which is undercover, so a passing shower or a cold afternoon does not end the visit. Staff are good with dogs and will usually bring water out. There is no indoor access, but the garden is the point here, and it is a comfortable place to settle in rather than a quick footpath perch.

The vibe

The draw is the beer, one of the larger craft ranges in the state, alongside pub plates like the BBQ platter and live blues on Sunday afternoons. The venue runs occasional dog-themed events tied to Ballarat Heritage Weekend, so it is worth checking what is on. Doors open from midday on weekends and 3pm midweek, with Monday and Tuesday closed.

Pepsi: the garden fills on Sunday afternoons when the blues is on, so book a table and mention the dog if you want a spot in the shade rather than standing room.

Getting there

It sits between Sturt and Dana Streets with free and paid street parking nearby. The laneway setting makes it easy to miss, so look for the Armstrong Street frontage and head down Hop Lane.

Close by with the dogs

The Victoria Park dog park is a short drive for an off-lead run beforehand, Roy Hammond next door on the same strip takes dogs at its street-side tables, and the Golden City Hotel covers a sit-down bistro option on Sturt Street.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly pubs guide and the Ballarat Central destination page.