Guidebook for Brunswick
Food Scene
A1 Bakery
643-645 Sydney RdCheap haloumi pies!
Tacos and Margaritas. That's basically it. But it's GOOD. Best to book a table to avoid disappointment, or get there as it opens. If you can fit in late at night come for the cocktails
57 locals recommend
Los Hermanos Mexican Taquería
339 Victoria StTacos and Margaritas. That's basically it. But it's GOOD. Best to book a table to avoid disappointment, or get there as it opens. If you can fit in late at night come for the cocktails
Classic Lebanese food. Alcohol-free. Open late. BIG portions for LITTLE money. Another local favourite.
60 locals recommend
Tiba's Lebanese Restaurant
504 Sydney RoadClassic Lebanese food. Alcohol-free. Open late. BIG portions for LITTLE money. Another local favourite.
When you just want a take-away pizza! This is the closest pizza to home, the cheapest pizza on the street, and also some of the most delicious.
Fathers Pizza
437 Sydney RdWhen you just want a take-away pizza! This is the closest pizza to home, the cheapest pizza on the street, and also some of the most delicious.
Breakfast cafe, dinner restaurant, and bar. All asian fusion. Expect some tofu or pork mince in your eggs. Super delicious, and rightly packed on weekend evenings.
71 locals recommend
Tom Phat Restaurant
184 Sydney RdBreakfast cafe, dinner restaurant, and bar. All asian fusion. Expect some tofu or pork mince in your eggs. Super delicious, and rightly packed on weekend evenings.
Coffee and breakfast, stumbling distance from home. Also open for dinner a few nights a week.
36 locals recommend
Cafe Ray
332 Victoria StCoffee and breakfast, stumbling distance from home. Also open for dinner a few nights a week.
Sprawling warehouse conversion and exciting breakfast choices. Excellent coffee roasted on premises. Get in early to avoid a queue.
104 locals recommend
Code Black Coffee
17 Weston StSprawling warehouse conversion and exciting breakfast choices. Excellent coffee roasted on premises. Get in early to avoid a queue.
The best kebab store in the region. Endorsed by Matt Preston and Anthony Bourdain. No late-night in Brunswick is complete without a visit to Town Hall Kebab's van-in-a-car-wash before heading home.
Town Hall Kebab
154 Sydney RdThe best kebab store in the region. Endorsed by Matt Preston and Anthony Bourdain. No late-night in Brunswick is complete without a visit to Town Hall Kebab's van-in-a-car-wash before heading home.
Burgers and Beer and occasional live music. The original north-side rock and roll burger bar. Fills up quickly at night, even during the weekend. Lots of meat, but the Morrissey Vegan burger is a Brunswick icon.
56 locals recommend
The B.East
80 Lygon StBurgers and Beer and occasional live music. The original north-side rock and roll burger bar. Fills up quickly at night, even during the weekend. Lots of meat, but the Morrissey Vegan burger is a Brunswick icon.
Proper Italian gelateria, operating out of Lygon street for as long as anyone can remember. Open late. Wanna walk off your dinner but then replace it with ice-cream? Powerwalk down here:)
37 locals recommend
Gelobar
74 Lygon StProper Italian gelateria, operating out of Lygon street for as long as anyone can remember. Open late. Wanna walk off your dinner but then replace it with ice-cream? Powerwalk down here:)
Drinks & Nightlife
Grungy pub - great beer garden for sunny days, but part-covered for rainy days. Too rainy? Pop into the front bar for something more cosy and some live music. Weekends have free rock music in the main bar, and djs until 3am. Beer garden is always full at night and is a great place to meet people keen for a chat. Chilled day-drinks and party nights. If it's too rock 'n' roll go upstairs to Amelia Shaw for some fancy cocktails and some round-table pool
100 locals recommend
The Retreat Hotel
280 Sydney RdGrungy pub - great beer garden for sunny days, but part-covered for rainy days. Too rainy? Pop into the front bar for something more cosy and some live music. Weekends have free rock music in the main bar, and djs until 3am. Beer garden is always full at night and is a great place to meet people keen for a chat. Chilled day-drinks and party nights. If it's too rock 'n' roll go upstairs to Amelia Shaw for some fancy cocktails and some round-table pool
Much like the Retreat but way more chilled out. No DJs, but plenty of music in the backyard and a top selection of beers.
64 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle Hotel
681 Sydney RdMuch like the Retreat but way more chilled out. No DJs, but plenty of music in the backyard and a top selection of beers.
Award-winning covered garden in a converted-warehouse space, filled with greenery. Cool food deals and shared platters. A little more upmarket than your average bar. International music and comedy acts play in the live music venue at the rear (check listings and book ahead - but always at a great price). A great mix of tourists, locals and people from all around Melbourne. One of the only places you can wear your heels in Brunswick without being stared at.
139 locals recommend
Howler
7-11 Dawson StAward-winning covered garden in a converted-warehouse space, filled with greenery. Cool food deals and shared platters. A little more upmarket than your average bar. International music and comedy acts play in the live music venue at the rear (check listings and book ahead - but always at a great price). A great mix of tourists, locals and people from all around Melbourne. One of the only places you can wear your heels in Brunswick without being stared at.
A footy pub for hipsters. Grungy, retro pub playing AFL on the big screen (and rugby on the small screen). Get here before the game to guarantee a seat. The warmest way to watch the footy in an environment where you're unlikely to get yelled at. Ease your way into the national game with a beer and a parma, or cruise out the back for giant Jenga and the occasional fiddle-player's convention. Live music after the game, and open mic nights on some weekdays.
6 locals recommend
Victoria Hotel
380 Victoria StA footy pub for hipsters. Grungy, retro pub playing AFL on the big screen (and rugby on the small screen). Get here before the game to guarantee a seat. The warmest way to watch the footy in an environment where you're unlikely to get yelled at. Ease your way into the national game with a beer and a parma, or cruise out the back for giant Jenga and the occasional fiddle-player's convention. Live music after the game, and open mic nights on some weekdays.
Chilled hippie vibe. Small, cheap food menu and cheap drinks. Jazz and world music in the front bar. Cute garden out the back. Room of cushions in the middle. Smiling staff and smiling patrons.
52 locals recommend
Bar Oussou
653 Sydney RdChilled hippie vibe. Small, cheap food menu and cheap drinks. Jazz and world music in the front bar. Cute garden out the back. Room of cushions in the middle. Smiling staff and smiling patrons.
Mr Wilkinson
295 Lygon StGrown-up date-night bar.
The Alderman
134 Lygon StLike a pub but mini. Perfect for a quieter night out.
Parks & Nature
3km circumference - perfect for a jog and a favourite with runners. Locals hang out at the man-made pond next to Park Street for picnics and beers as soon as the temperature hits about 20. Several open spaces for ball sports, and two playgrounds.
121 locals recommend
Princes Park
200-590 Bowen Cres3km circumference - perfect for a jog and a favourite with runners. Locals hang out at the man-made pond next to Park Street for picnics and beers as soon as the temperature hits about 20. Several open spaces for ball sports, and two playgrounds.
Learn about the environment, feed the chickens, fix your bike, drink a coffee. Beautiful spot to sit on the grass, and a great mid-way spot if you decide to walk to Thornbury/Northcote. Nice, gentle stroll, or ride your bike.
236 locals recommend
CERES Community Environment Park
Roberts StreetLearn about the environment, feed the chickens, fix your bike, drink a coffee. Beautiful spot to sit on the grass, and a great mid-way spot if you decide to walk to Thornbury/Northcote. Nice, gentle stroll, or ride your bike.
Mini Arts precinct built in a historical convent building. Home to Lentil as Anything - the all-vegetarian pay-as-you-feel cafe (PLEASE do pay them! It's how they survive), several other eateries, the occasional weekend market, and just a beautiful place for a picnic.
280 locals recommend
Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers StMini Arts precinct built in a historical convent building. Home to Lentil as Anything - the all-vegetarian pay-as-you-feel cafe (PLEASE do pay them! It's how they survive), several other eateries, the occasional weekend market, and just a beautiful place for a picnic.
You can't really go past the Botanic Gardens if you're a park-lover! Beautiful themed gardens, lakes and the most famous jogging track in the city (the Tan)
1262 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
You can't really go past the Botanic Gardens if you're a park-lover! Beautiful themed gardens, lakes and the most famous jogging track in the city (the Tan)
Essentials
Shopping centre with butcher, supermarkets, deli and loads of food.
160 locals recommend
Barkly Square
90-106 Sydney RdShopping centre with butcher, supermarkets, deli and loads of food.
Woolworths Brunswick
300-304 Albert StJust your average supermarket
The GOOD supermarket. Slightly more expensive but better selection
74 locals recommend
SUPA IGA Brunswick
614 Sydney RdThe GOOD supermarket. Slightly more expensive but better selection
Aldi brands for the budget-conscious. Best value wine going around!
25 locals recommend
ALDI Brunswick
298 Sydney RdAldi brands for the budget-conscious. Best value wine going around!
Classic Italian food. Deli at the back has everything you need. Grocery store has a whole isle of pasta and another of pickled vegetables. Authentic Italian coffee and sweets. A Brunswick icon. Exit through the rear and you're almost home!
49 locals recommend
Mediterranean Wholesalers
482 Sydney RdClassic Italian food. Deli at the back has everything you need. Grocery store has a whole isle of pasta and another of pickled vegetables. Authentic Italian coffee and sweets. A Brunswick icon. Exit through the rear and you're almost home!
Getting Around
Brunswick Station
Quickest route into the city
Shopping
All made and printed onsite. True ethical, local clothing. Take home a piece of Brunswick
NMBQ Boutique
143 Sydney RdAll made and printed onsite. True ethical, local clothing. Take home a piece of Brunswick
The ultimate Melbourne thrift store. No visit to Brunswick would be complete without an hour or two browsing Savers for a bargain! Where all the cool kids and their mums get their clothes.
61 locals recommend
Savers
330 Sydney RdThe ultimate Melbourne thrift store. No visit to Brunswick would be complete without an hour or two browsing Savers for a bargain! Where all the cool kids and their mums get their clothes.
A collective of vintage clothing, furniture and nic-nac sellers in a large warehouse conversion. An absolute assault of colour and fabric! Higher-end vintage wear than the average charity store - hard to leave without buying something! Don't do it in a rush, give yourself enough time to wander through every store!
36 locals recommend
Lost and Found Market
288 Brunswick StA collective of vintage clothing, furniture and nic-nac sellers in a large warehouse conversion. An absolute assault of colour and fabric! Higher-end vintage wear than the average charity store - hard to leave without buying something! Don't do it in a rush, give yourself enough time to wander through every store!
Did you turn up in Melbourne under-prepared for the winter chill? Otto & Spike sells super-warm knit-ware in all different colours. Need a new scarf? A beanie? Socks with bicycles on them? This is the place. All locally made in Brunswick too, so perfect for a souvenir!
Otto & Spike
324 Victoria StDid you turn up in Melbourne under-prepared for the winter chill? Otto & Spike sells super-warm knit-ware in all different colours. Need a new scarf? A beanie? Socks with bicycles on them? This is the place. All locally made in Brunswick too, so perfect for a souvenir!
Entertainment & Activities
Once the most hated development in Melbourne, now the most loved meeting spot of tourists and locals alike. Home of Australian celebrations and ethnic festivals, several bars and cafes, the Australian branch of the National Gallery of Victoria (The Ian Potter), ACMI (Centre for the Moving Image) and much more. Get your iconic Melbourne photos here!
797 locals recommend
Federation Square
Once the most hated development in Melbourne, now the most loved meeting spot of tourists and locals alike. Home of Australian celebrations and ethnic festivals, several bars and cafes, the Australian branch of the National Gallery of Victoria (The Ian Potter), ACMI (Centre for the Moving Image) and much more. Get your iconic Melbourne photos here!
Bouldering is like rock climbing without the harness. Head down to new local bouldering site Northside Boulders and let them show you how it's done!
Brunswick Northside Boulders
329 Victoria StBouldering is like rock climbing without the harness. Head down to new local bouldering site Northside Boulders and let them show you how it's done!
Everyone's favourite cinema, showing arthouse films and most blockbusters. Monday nights are cheap. Take the tram down Lygon street.
321 locals recommend
Cinema Nova
380 Lygon StEveryone's favourite cinema, showing arthouse films and most blockbusters. Monday nights are cheap. Take the tram down Lygon street.