Guidebook for Brunswick

Kate
Guidebook for Brunswick

Food Scene

Excellent Greek feasts
73 locals recommend
Hellenic Republic Brunswick
434 Lygon St
73 locals recommend
Excellent Greek feasts
Proper Melbourne coffee in all its real excellence and wankiness
52 locals recommend
Padre Coffee
438 Lygon St
52 locals recommend
Proper Melbourne coffee in all its real excellence and wankiness
Best hot chocolate in Melbourne. Hands down. No debate possible.
56 locals recommend
East Elevation
351 Lygon St
56 locals recommend
Best hot chocolate in Melbourne. Hands down. No debate possible.
Good toasted sandwiches
Stand & Deliver Cafe
242 Victoria St
Good toasted sandwiches
They have $4 pizzas on Monday and $15 specials the other nights. But sit out the front unless you're there for the DJ
50 locals recommend
The Penny Black
420 Sydney Rd
50 locals recommend
They have $4 pizzas on Monday and $15 specials the other nights. But sit out the front unless you're there for the DJ
Cool little plaza with a cafe and a bunch of shops including a cheese shop nestled beside a wine shop. They both put a table out the front of their shop in the square - so it's the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine with cheese on a sunny afternoon. The cheese shop is closed Sundays, and open to 5pm on other days.
7 locals recommend
Sparta Place
Sparta Place
7 locals recommend
Cool little plaza with a cafe and a bunch of shops including a cheese shop nestled beside a wine shop. They both put a table out the front of their shop in the square - so it's the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine with cheese on a sunny afternoon. The cheese shop is closed Sundays, and open to 5pm on other days.
52 locals recommend
The Brunswick Mess Hall
400 Sydney Rd
52 locals recommend
Great mexican & cocktails. Love this place!
57 locals recommend
Los Hermanos Mexican Taquería
339 Victoria St
57 locals recommend
Great mexican & cocktails. Love this place!
This is a great local spot, food is delicious and prices are super reasonable
16 locals recommend
Moroccan Deli-cacy
313 Lygon Street
16 locals recommend
This is a great local spot, food is delicious and prices are super reasonable
After a busy day in the city - we have a family tradition of buying a board game at Mind Games (244 Swanston St) and then retreating here at 5:30pm and claiming one of the private booths. The kids love being able to ring the bell to order food, and playing a family board game in their own private room. We love the cocktail menu.
45 locals recommend
The Toff In Town
252 Swanston St
45 locals recommend
After a busy day in the city - we have a family tradition of buying a board game at Mind Games (244 Swanston St) and then retreating here at 5:30pm and claiming one of the private booths. The kids love being able to ring the bell to order food, and playing a family board game in their own private room. We love the cocktail menu.
This precinct is packed with Italian restaurants and cafes. Perfect spot for gelato and window shopping.
270 locals recommend
Lygon Street
Lygon Street
270 locals recommend
This precinct is packed with Italian restaurants and cafes. Perfect spot for gelato and window shopping.
The kitchen pumps out creative, comforting brunch dishes. A kimchi bowl with sticky pork belly, and dahl fritters with avocado and turmeric puree and coconut sambal are hearty and punchy. The baked eggs with 24-hour braised ribs are another stand-out. Hoppa and Joe’s breakfast bruschetta (avocado, bocconcini, cherry tomatoes and basil) is great. And hangover-friendly toasties and cakes work well with the consistently good Maling Room coffee.
Neon Beatniks
43 Glenlyon Rd
The kitchen pumps out creative, comforting brunch dishes. A kimchi bowl with sticky pork belly, and dahl fritters with avocado and turmeric puree and coconut sambal are hearty and punchy. The baked eggs with 24-hour braised ribs are another stand-out. Hoppa and Joe’s breakfast bruschetta (avocado, bocconcini, cherry tomatoes and basil) is great. And hangover-friendly toasties and cakes work well with the consistently good Maling Room coffee.
At first glance, Ovens Street looks like an industrial strip, with its resident panel beaters and mechanics. But look closer and you’ll find a florist, embroiderers, and shared artist studios. And since March 2017 it’s also been home to the rarely open, unassuming Ovens Street Bakery. The bakery, is only open to the public on Sundays. It operates out of a shop-fitting workshop that belongs to his business partner. Ovens offers a range of sourdough loaves including white, rye, polenta soy, linseed and a 1.5-kilogram miche loaf made with a combination of white, whole-wheat - there's coffee too
11 locals recommend
Ovens Street Bakery
19 Ovens St
11 locals recommend
At first glance, Ovens Street looks like an industrial strip, with its resident panel beaters and mechanics. But look closer and you’ll find a florist, embroiderers, and shared artist studios. And since March 2017 it’s also been home to the rarely open, unassuming Ovens Street Bakery. The bakery, is only open to the public on Sundays. It operates out of a shop-fitting workshop that belongs to his business partner. Ovens offers a range of sourdough loaves including white, rye, polenta soy, linseed and a 1.5-kilogram miche loaf made with a combination of white, whole-wheat - there's coffee too
Everything here is vegetarian, and toasties are the heroes. The line-up includes fillings of caramelised onion and comté; broadbean, pea and manchego; and house-made kimchi and cheddar grilled between day-old bread. Murdoch’s rustic loaves are fermented for 24 hours, and he and head baker Brad Tobin (ex-Wood Frog Bakery) experiment with different Australian-grown heirloom wheat varietals. Along with a staple white, seeded and fruit loaves, there’s an oat porridge sourdough inspired by Tartine’s original. Galettes are topped with seasonal fruit and croissants are made with cultured butter from Fitzroy’s St David’s Dairy. Good coffee, Mörk hot chocolate and tea & beer
23 locals recommend
Wild Life Bakery
90 Albert St
23 locals recommend
Everything here is vegetarian, and toasties are the heroes. The line-up includes fillings of caramelised onion and comté; broadbean, pea and manchego; and house-made kimchi and cheddar grilled between day-old bread. Murdoch’s rustic loaves are fermented for 24 hours, and he and head baker Brad Tobin (ex-Wood Frog Bakery) experiment with different Australian-grown heirloom wheat varietals. Along with a staple white, seeded and fruit loaves, there’s an oat porridge sourdough inspired by Tartine’s original. Galettes are topped with seasonal fruit and croissants are made with cultured butter from Fitzroy’s St David’s Dairy. Good coffee, Mörk hot chocolate and tea & beer
Restaurant with bar that combines a bunch of Asian cuisine, but sways towards Thai, with a modern Australian twist. They do great breakfast including a wok-tossed roti omelet with bacon, chives and roasted tomato salsa and Uncle Ho’s Breakfast, a grilled marinated pork chop with crispy-fried egg, tomato, cucumber and rice. They seem to have a lot of happy hour activity too
71 locals recommend
Tom Phat Restaurant
184 Sydney Rd
71 locals recommend
Restaurant with bar that combines a bunch of Asian cuisine, but sways towards Thai, with a modern Australian twist. They do great breakfast including a wok-tossed roti omelet with bacon, chives and roasted tomato salsa and Uncle Ho’s Breakfast, a grilled marinated pork chop with crispy-fried egg, tomato, cucumber and rice. They seem to have a lot of happy hour activity too
Serious coffee and tea in cool industrial-style cafe in converted warehouse. There's the in-house brand of chai, Chai La Lai. Food is good too
89 locals recommend
Wide Open Road
274 Barkly St
89 locals recommend
Serious coffee and tea in cool industrial-style cafe in converted warehouse. There's the in-house brand of chai, Chai La Lai. Food is good too
All Day Donuts is a bright shop at the front, where a pastry chef pumps out five varieties of fresh doughnut on-demand. Order a couple and match with an espresso or filter coffee. The dough is the focus and took many months to perfect. It's a good starting point, but weak knees come courtesy of the icings and fillings. Past hits have included lime brulee, coffee passionfruit, rose creme and milkberry rubble, though they're always changing. What never changes is the freshness. The kitchen-to-mouth time is usually less than 30 minutes.
7 locals recommend
All Day Donuts
12 Edward St
7 locals recommend
All Day Donuts is a bright shop at the front, where a pastry chef pumps out five varieties of fresh doughnut on-demand. Order a couple and match with an espresso or filter coffee. The dough is the focus and took many months to perfect. It's a good starting point, but weak knees come courtesy of the icings and fillings. Past hits have included lime brulee, coffee passionfruit, rose creme and milkberry rubble, though they're always changing. What never changes is the freshness. The kitchen-to-mouth time is usually less than 30 minutes.
Cool retro-style fried chicken place, also with burgers, fries, burritos and sandwiches and beer
14 locals recommend
Juanita Peaches
12 Edward St
14 locals recommend
Cool retro-style fried chicken place, also with burgers, fries, burritos and sandwiches and beer
Decent coffee
36 locals recommend
Cafe Ray
332 Victoria St
36 locals recommend
Decent coffee
The cafe sits on the ground floor of eco-friendly apartment block, The Commons. Though right on the Upfield bike path and train line, it’s very cosy and not at all loud inside. The tidy space (which includes various plants, a communal table and two walls of French windows) was designed by Breathe Architecture, located right next door.
20 locals recommend
Steam Junkies
11 Florence St
20 locals recommend
The cafe sits on the ground floor of eco-friendly apartment block, The Commons. Though right on the Upfield bike path and train line, it’s very cosy and not at all loud inside. The tidy space (which includes various plants, a communal table and two walls of French windows) was designed by Breathe Architecture, located right next door.
Kines is more of a lounge room than a cafe. Anyone can flick through the records and change the music. The open-plan kitchen sits between a comfy couch and table-tennis table. It’s also home to a pop-up space that hosts rotating creative projects. They specialise in housemade condiments and jam.
10 locals recommend
Kines
11 Hope St
10 locals recommend
Kines is more of a lounge room than a cafe. Anyone can flick through the records and change the music. The open-plan kitchen sits between a comfy couch and table-tennis table. It’s also home to a pop-up space that hosts rotating creative projects. They specialise in housemade condiments and jam.
Italian Aussie cafe
14 locals recommend
Small Axe Kitchen
281 Victoria St
14 locals recommend
Italian Aussie cafe
Tiny little cafe called Stand & Deliver in the art studios just down the road
242 Victoria St
242 Victoria Street
Tiny little cafe called Stand & Deliver in the art studios just down the road
Nice sunny cafe with decent coffee
7 locals recommend
Lucy Lockett
140 Barkly St
7 locals recommend
Nice sunny cafe with decent coffee
Cool bakery that combines sweet and savoury ingredients like Maple, caramel popcorn, green tea with red bean
18 locals recommend
Sweet Evelyn
128 Union St
18 locals recommend
Cool bakery that combines sweet and savoury ingredients like Maple, caramel popcorn, green tea with red bean
These guys had some of the best coffee on this bit of Sydney Rd, but I think it recently changed hands so might not be as good anymore
15 locals recommend
Foxtrot Charlie Cafe
359 Sydney Rd
15 locals recommend
These guys had some of the best coffee on this bit of Sydney Rd, but I think it recently changed hands so might not be as good anymore
Perfect for families. Has a courtyard.
26 locals recommend
Rogue District
179 Albion St
26 locals recommend
Perfect for families. Has a courtyard.
Relaxed and grungy cafe near RMIT Brunswick campus
10 locals recommend
Acústico
32 Union St
10 locals recommend
Relaxed and grungy cafe near RMIT Brunswick campus
Good breakfasts
Maddox Cafe
295 Sydney Rd
Good breakfasts
Famous middle eastern bakery established in 1992. Everything is delicious, great value and never costs more than a few dollars.
81 locals recommend
A1 Bakery
643-645 Sydney Rd
81 locals recommend
Famous middle eastern bakery established in 1992. Everything is delicious, great value and never costs more than a few dollars.

Parks & Nature

A community environment park on Merri Creek. Cafes, markets and a regular program of festivals, classes and much more
236 locals recommend
CERES Community Environment Park
Roberts Street
236 locals recommend
A community environment park on Merri Creek. Cafes, markets and a regular program of festivals, classes and much more
Possibly one of the most established and beautiful botanic gardens in Australia. Great spot for a picnic. The children's garden has a stream and fountains for water play - so bring a change of clothes for the kids.
1262 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
1262 locals recommend
Possibly one of the most established and beautiful botanic gardens in Australia. Great spot for a picnic. The children's garden has a stream and fountains for water play - so bring a change of clothes for the kids.

Arts & Culture

One of the cleverest art dealers in Contemporary Art in Australia. Visit if you want to see some of the hottest up and coming artists before anyone else.
17 locals recommend
Neon Parc
15 Tinning St
17 locals recommend
One of the cleverest art dealers in Contemporary Art in Australia. Visit if you want to see some of the hottest up and coming artists before anyone else.
ACMI has regular and super cheap screenings of classic films. Their exhibition program is fascinating. Lots of great things to explore in the permanent exhibition too, including computer games and interactive video installations
258 locals recommend
ACMI
Flinders Street
258 locals recommend
ACMI has regular and super cheap screenings of classic films. Their exhibition program is fascinating. Lots of great things to explore in the permanent exhibition too, including computer games and interactive video installations

Shopping

Books, hand made works
98 locals recommend
Brunswick Bound
361 Sydney Rd
98 locals recommend
Books, hand made works
They have a store with absolutely beautiful ceramics by local makers. They also have classes and you can fire you're own works there.
Northcote Pottery Supplies
142-144 Weston St
They have a store with absolutely beautiful ceramics by local makers. They also have classes and you can fire you're own works there.
Known by locals as Sparkly Bear. You'll fine Kmart, Coles and all the usual suspects here
160 locals recommend
Barkly Square
90-106 Sydney Rd
160 locals recommend
Known by locals as Sparkly Bear. You'll fine Kmart, Coles and all the usual suspects here
No visit to Melbourne is complete without a trip to the famous Queen Victoria Market. An easy trip on the number 19 tram. Open every day except Monday. Usually theres a night market on Wednesday nights with food, drink and entertainment.
630 locals recommend
Queen Victoria Market station
630 locals recommend
No visit to Melbourne is complete without a trip to the famous Queen Victoria Market. An easy trip on the number 19 tram. Open every day except Monday. Usually theres a night market on Wednesday nights with food, drink and entertainment.
Possibly Melbourne's best bookshop - a much loved local icon
74 locals recommend
Readings Carlton
309 Lygon St
74 locals recommend
Possibly Melbourne's best bookshop - a much loved local icon
Huge 1000m2 undercover flea market full of vintage fashion, music, furniture, art and bric a brac
36 locals recommend
Lost and Found Market
288 Brunswick St
36 locals recommend
Huge 1000m2 undercover flea market full of vintage fashion, music, furniture, art and bric a brac
Super cute shop that stocks products made by independent artists and designers, including some of our own artists and makers. Perfect place to buy a very Melbourne gift. Eighty per cent of the products stocked are produced within 10 kilometres of the store, including artists such as Able and Game, Hungry Workshop in Northcote, Yen Yen Lo from Footscray and Paper Sea Quarterly magazine.
13 locals recommend
The Boroughs Store
345 Lygon St
13 locals recommend
Super cute shop that stocks products made by independent artists and designers, including some of our own artists and makers. Perfect place to buy a very Melbourne gift. Eighty per cent of the products stocked are produced within 10 kilometres of the store, including artists such as Able and Game, Hungry Workshop in Northcote, Yen Yen Lo from Footscray and Paper Sea Quarterly magazine.
Great place to pick up recycled Melbourne and International designer clothes. Across the road from Savers which is a famous local Opportunity Shop (charity second-hand store)
10 locals recommend
Goodbyes
127 Sydney Rd
10 locals recommend
Great place to pick up recycled Melbourne and International designer clothes. Across the road from Savers which is a famous local Opportunity Shop (charity second-hand store)
This place is a local secret for perfect bespoke jeans. Owner Nam Huynh has been fitting and making jeans for more than 20 years. At roughly $60 a pair (including alteration) they can only be described as a steal. On weekends it’s ludicrously busy, so expect to wait a number of hours. Even at the quietest times, you’ll need to wait 45 minutes (head down Sydney Road for a coffee and some cake), so allow yourself some time.
42 locals recommend
Dejour Jeans
542 Sydney Rd
42 locals recommend
This place is a local secret for perfect bespoke jeans. Owner Nam Huynh has been fitting and making jeans for more than 20 years. At roughly $60 a pair (including alteration) they can only be described as a steal. On weekends it’s ludicrously busy, so expect to wait a number of hours. Even at the quietest times, you’ll need to wait 45 minutes (head down Sydney Road for a coffee and some cake), so allow yourself some time.
Mr Kitly is hidden above a fabric store on Sydney Road. The small shop is filled with ceramics, books, jewellery, plants and textiles from around the world, but there's a particular focus on Japan but lots of local artisans too
19 locals recommend
Mr Kitly
381 Sydney Rd
19 locals recommend
Mr Kitly is hidden above a fabric store on Sydney Road. The small shop is filled with ceramics, books, jewellery, plants and textiles from around the world, but there's a particular focus on Japan but lots of local artisans too

Essentials

This is a little bit of 1950s Italy right here in Brunswick. Absolutely classic place where you can get pretty much any Italian food or drink that you might be craving. Extensive cheese selection and great range of traditional Italian Amaro
49 locals recommend
Mediterranean Wholesalers
482 Sydney Rd
49 locals recommend
This is a little bit of 1950s Italy right here in Brunswick. Absolutely classic place where you can get pretty much any Italian food or drink that you might be craving. Extensive cheese selection and great range of traditional Italian Amaro
Fresh fruit and veggies. Lots of pre-made meals and a great deli
24 locals recommend
La Manna Fresh
403-407 Sydney Rd
24 locals recommend
Fresh fruit and veggies. Lots of pre-made meals and a great deli
They sell medicine, hair and beauty supplies, tissues, vitamins, makeup, sunblock etc. Open until 9pm.
9 locals recommend
Chemist Warehouse Brunswick
429 to 433 Sydney Rd
9 locals recommend
They sell medicine, hair and beauty supplies, tissues, vitamins, makeup, sunblock etc. Open until 9pm.
Great place to grab a bargain. Massive second-hand store
61 locals recommend
Savers
330 Sydney Rd
61 locals recommend
Great place to grab a bargain. Massive second-hand store
Supermarket open until midnight 7 days a week. Also sells alcohol.
64 locals recommend
Woolworths Brunswick
300-304 Albert St
64 locals recommend
Supermarket open until midnight 7 days a week. Also sells alcohol.
Open until 8pm daily
25 locals recommend
ALDI Brunswick
298 Sydney Rd
25 locals recommend
Open until 8pm daily

Entertainment & Activities

Monday nights are cheap nights. Easy tram ride away.
321 locals recommend
Cinema Nova
380 Lygon St
321 locals recommend
Monday nights are cheap nights. Easy tram ride away.
Local pool and gym. Open year round with indoor swimming pool. There's indoor and outdoor water play areas for kids
98 locals recommend
Brunswick Bound
361 Sydney Rd
98 locals recommend
Local pool and gym. Open year round with indoor swimming pool. There's indoor and outdoor water play areas for kids
Great local library
14 locals recommend
Brunswick Tool Library
127 Nicholson St
14 locals recommend
Great local library
This is an easy train trip from Brunswick Station. The zoo has it's own station (Royal Park Station) or it's an nice bike ride down the bike path. Kids are generally free on weekends and school holidays
168 locals recommend
Melbourne Zoo/Royal Park station
Poplar Road
168 locals recommend
This is an easy train trip from Brunswick Station. The zoo has it's own station (Royal Park Station) or it's an nice bike ride down the bike path. Kids are generally free on weekends and school holidays
Home of Ned Kelly's armour!
568 locals recommend
State Library Victoria
328 Swanston St
568 locals recommend
Home of Ned Kelly's armour!

Getting Around

28 locals recommend
Brunswick Station
28 locals recommend
Tram stop for the number 19 to the city. This tram goes down Sydney Road, then past Melbourne University on Royal Parade to the city. In the city it will stop outside Queen Victoria Market and then go down Elizabeth Street to Flinders Street Train Station.
Victoria St/Sydney Rd station
Tram stop for the number 19 to the city. This tram goes down Sydney Road, then past Melbourne University on Royal Parade to the city. In the city it will stop outside Queen Victoria Market and then go down Elizabeth Street to Flinders Street Train Station.
This is appearing in the incorrect place on the map - but there is a go get pod right outside our place on Howarth Street
43 locals recommend
GoGet CarShare Pod
Kay Street
43 locals recommend
This is appearing in the incorrect place on the map - but there is a go get pod right outside our place on Howarth Street