Guidebook for Brunswick West
Food Scene
Sweet Evelyn
128 Union St5 minutes walk from my house - great food and coffee!
East Elevation
351 Lygon StAmazing fit-out, fantastic food and coffee.
Fantastic Middle Eastern restaurant. If you go, order the slow cooked lamb - it's delicious!
65 locals recommend
Rumi Restaurant
2 Lygon StFantastic Middle Eastern restaurant. If you go, order the slow cooked lamb - it's delicious!
Bar Idda
132 Lygon StMy favourite Italian joint in Brunswick. Not pizza though!
400 Gradi - Brunswick
99 Lygon StFamous pizza joint - always busy!
Cheap Lebanese bakery - Lebanese pizzas, and some fantastic other savoury baked treats. Good for lunch or a snack.
81 locals recommend
A1 Bakery
643-645 Sydney RdCheap Lebanese bakery - Lebanese pizzas, and some fantastic other savoury baked treats. Good for lunch or a snack.
Teta Mona
100A Lygon StHomely Middle Eastern restaurant, you can BYO wine too!
Famous Melbourne Greek restaurant. Warning: if you order the banquet menu you'll need to lie down for about two hours afterwards - it's a lot of food!
73 locals recommend
Hellenic Republic Brunswick
434 Lygon StFamous Melbourne Greek restaurant. Warning: if you order the banquet menu you'll need to lie down for about two hours afterwards - it's a lot of food!
For breakfast/brunch/lunch - fantastic food, great coffee. Can get very busy so be prepared for a bit of a wait. Although over Christmas it may be quieter.
89 locals recommend
Wide Open Road
274 Barkly StFor breakfast/brunch/lunch - fantastic food, great coffee. Can get very busy so be prepared for a bit of a wait. Although over Christmas it may be quieter.
Very Good Falafel
629 Sydney RdThe description is in the name! The falafel is very good.
My absolute favourite Italian in the city! Can get very busy - see if you can get a reservation, or turn up early around 5.30/6pm and see if you can get a seat at the bar.
84 locals recommend
Tipo 00
361 Little Bourke StMy absolute favourite Italian in the city! Can get very busy - see if you can get a reservation, or turn up early around 5.30/6pm and see if you can get a seat at the bar.
Embla
122 Russell StWine bar + food. Quite pricey, but delicious.
Cumulus Inc.
45 Flinders LnBeautiful food, and a great vibe. Can be quite pricey.
A non-expensive join for really great dumplings. The tofu is also fantastic, as is the beef soup/broth with noodles.
7 locals recommend
Tora dumplings
275 Brunswick StA non-expensive join for really great dumplings. The tofu is also fantastic, as is the beef soup/broth with noodles.
This is a really excellent dumpling spots. There are two locations for ShanDong MaMa in the city - one is in a mall and the other in an alley.
9 locals recommend
ShanDong MaMa Mini
5 Centre PlThis is a really excellent dumpling spots. There are two locations for ShanDong MaMa in the city - one is in a mall and the other in an alley.
There is a dish here that is possibly my favourite thing in Melbourne: a roti bread with eggs and a tom yum sauce. It's out of this world.
39 locals recommend
Addict Food And Coffee
240 Johnston StThere is a dish here that is possibly my favourite thing in Melbourne: a roti bread with eggs and a tom yum sauce. It's out of this world.
This place is pricey but amazing. You'll need a reservation. Every three months, the chef changes the menu to a different cuisine around the world.
10 locals recommend
Atlas Dining
133 Commercial RdThis place is pricey but amazing. You'll need a reservation. Every three months, the chef changes the menu to a different cuisine around the world.
Giant Steps make their own wine, plus they have a fantastic restaurant. Call ahead or book online - you'll need to reserve a spot.
38 locals recommend
Giant Steps
314 Maroondah HwyGiant Steps make their own wine, plus they have a fantastic restaurant. Call ahead or book online - you'll need to reserve a spot.
Charlie's Bar
71 Hardware LaneA stalwart in the Melbourne Italian dining scene!
Their Finnish rye bread is one of my favourite things on the planet. Also an incredible selection of baked goods - sweet and savory.
19 locals recommend
All Are Welcome
190 High StTheir Finnish rye bread is one of my favourite things on the planet. Also an incredible selection of baked goods - sweet and savory.
Great bread - good for grabbing a loaf before heading to Edinburgh Gardens and lying on the grass with some beers!
40 locals recommend
Loafer Bread Organic Bakery
146 Scotchmer StGreat bread - good for grabbing a loaf before heading to Edinburgh Gardens and lying on the grass with some beers!
Melbourne's best ramen (some might say). Usually a queue to get in - but you'll be in within 10 minutes.
65 locals recommend
Hakata Gensuke Tonkotsu Ramen
168 Russell StMelbourne's best ramen (some might say). Usually a queue to get in - but you'll be in within 10 minutes.
Lune Croissanterie
119 Rose StOut of this world croissants.
The Village Bakery Brunswick
38 Grantham StYour closest loaf of sourdough!
Drinks & Nightlife
Pub with live music on a Saturday evening. Good pub food. If the gnocchi is on the menu (and you like gnocchi!) then I highly recommend it. People rave about the parma, too.
57 locals recommend
Union Hotel
109 Union StPub with live music on a Saturday evening. Good pub food. If the gnocchi is on the menu (and you like gnocchi!) then I highly recommend it. People rave about the parma, too.
Howler
7-11 Dawson StBar + a band room out the back. Check their website to see who's playing.
This is a real local's bar - my favourite spot for a drink in Brunswick.
72 locals recommend
The Alderman
134 Lygon StThis is a real local's bar - my favourite spot for a drink in Brunswick.
Head there for a wine or beer - there's often a DJ playing on Friday and Saturday nights.
37 locals recommend
Atticus Finch
129 Lygon StHead there for a wine or beer - there's often a DJ playing on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bomba Tapas Bar and Rooftop
103 Lonsdale StreetRooftop bar in the city - can get very busy!
Siglo
161 Spring StRooftop bar in the city - with a great view over Parliament.
Marion
53 Gertrude StWine bar + fantastic food. Cozy spot.
A Melbourne institution. Great beer garden out the back for a sunny day.
70 locals recommend
The Standard Hotel
293 Fitzroy StA Melbourne institution. Great beer garden out the back for a sunny day.
Neighbourhood Wine
1 Reid StIf you're into natural wine, head here immediately!
Local pub, serving vegan food. And a very fun trivia afternoon on a Sunday at 3pm.
64 locals recommend
The Cornish Arms Hotel
163A Sydney RdLocal pub, serving vegan food. And a very fun trivia afternoon on a Sunday at 3pm.
The Everleigh Melbourne
150-156 Gertrude StClassy bar - great cocktails! Beautiful building.
Parks & Nature
A beautiful spot - great for a walk and coffee. For environmental reasons, they don't do takeaway drinks unless you have a mug/KeepCup with you.
236 locals recommend
CERES Community Environment Park
Roberts StreetA beautiful spot - great for a walk and coffee. For environmental reasons, they don't do takeaway drinks unless you have a mug/KeepCup with you.
Walking track along the Merri Creek - with some good spots to sit in the shade if it's a hot day.
60 locals recommend
Merri Creek
Walking track along the Merri Creek - with some good spots to sit in the shade if it's a hot day.
Grab some snacks from the nearby shops/bakeries - like Dench or Loafer. Or some wine from the nearby supermarket. Then chill out under the trees!
268 locals recommend
Edinburgh Gardens
Alfred CrescentGrab some snacks from the nearby shops/bakeries - like Dench or Loafer. Or some wine from the nearby supermarket. Then chill out under the trees!
Beautiful spot to be amongst the trees! And a nice place to be on a hot day.
166 locals recommend
Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
100 Birdwood AveBeautiful spot to be amongst the trees! And a nice place to be on a hot day.
This is a beautiful spot to have a beer on the beach and get some fish and chips to watch while the sun sets.
6 locals recommend
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon BayThis is a beautiful spot to have a beer on the beach and get some fish and chips to watch while the sun sets.
This is an AWESOME swimming hole. You will have to drive down a dirt road to get there. There is also a walk down a steep (but paved) path to get there.
16 locals recommend
Turpins Falls
This is an AWESOME swimming hole. You will have to drive down a dirt road to get there. There is also a walk down a steep (but paved) path to get there.
River swimming spot. Slightly easier to access than Laughing Waters - as there isn't a steep bank to climb down.
Pound Bend Tunnel
Pound Bend RoadRiver swimming spot. Slightly easier to access than Laughing Waters - as there isn't a steep bank to climb down.
There's a great cafe attached to the children's farm - and it's right next to the river so a really nice place to hang out.
181 locals recommend
Collingwood Children's Farm
18 St Heliers StThere's a great cafe attached to the children's farm - and it's right next to the river so a really nice place to hang out.
There are some great walks around this part of the coastline. Look on the Parks Victoria website for more info.
69 locals recommend
Cape Schanck
There are some great walks around this part of the coastline. Look on the Parks Victoria website for more info.
Closest beach to my place - a good spot for a dip! There's also a pretty good gelato place located next to the beach, and a cafe.
77 locals recommend
Williamstown Beach
Closest beach to my place - a good spot for a dip! There's also a pretty good gelato place located next to the beach, and a cafe.
St Kilda is very popular with British and backpackers and tourists - so expect to hear a few English accents if you're around these parts! Plenty of food and ice cream options around this neighbourhood.
697 locals recommend
St Kilda beach
St Kilda is very popular with British and backpackers and tourists - so expect to hear a few English accents if you're around these parts! Plenty of food and ice cream options around this neighbourhood.
Sightseeing
a beautiful spot by the river that has a gallery, food options and some lovely green spaces to lounge around.
280 locals recommend
Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers Sta beautiful spot by the river that has a gallery, food options and some lovely green spaces to lounge around.
Very cute small town - with a great bakery called Red Beard. Grab yourself a loaf of sourdough and a piece of their ginger cake... it's so good.
27 locals recommend
Trentham
Very cute small town - with a great bakery called Red Beard. Grab yourself a loaf of sourdough and a piece of their ginger cake... it's so good.
Great Ocean Road is a beautiful drive! The Wye River General Store does a great toasted sandwich - although It's a bit far to go just for one of those...
27 locals recommend
Wye General Store
35 Great Ocean RdGreat Ocean Road is a beautiful drive! The Wye River General Store does a great toasted sandwich - although It's a bit far to go just for one of those...
Arts & Culture
There are two NGV galleries. One is Australian NGV (Australian art) and the other is the International one.
1737 locals recommend
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda RdThere are two NGV galleries. One is Australian NGV (Australian art) and the other is the International one.
Fantastic range of exhibitions - great to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day or a super hot day.
162 locals recommend
Melbourne Museum station
Fantastic range of exhibitions - great to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day or a super hot day.
My favourite theatre in Melbourne - has a fantastic program of theatre and dance.
64 locals recommend
Malthouse Theatre
113 Sturt StMy favourite theatre in Melbourne - has a fantastic program of theatre and dance.
TarraWarra is a fantastic winery + an art gallery. An awesome stop if you're doing a day trip out to the Yarra Valley.
38 locals recommend
TarraWarra Estate Restaurant & Cellar Door
311 Healesville-Yarra Glen RdTarraWarra is a fantastic winery + an art gallery. An awesome stop if you're doing a day trip out to the Yarra Valley.
The main centre for arts in Melbourne - theatre, dance etc. Check out their website for what's on.
178 locals recommend
Arts Centre station
The main centre for arts in Melbourne - theatre, dance etc. Check out their website for what's on.
Essentials
Mall with a bunch of useful shops including Coles, Woolworths, KMart, JB HiFi.
160 locals recommend
Barkly Square
90-106 Sydney RdMall with a bunch of useful shops including Coles, Woolworths, KMart, JB HiFi.
SUPA IGA Brunswick
614 Sydney RdThis supermarket has a great deli! Cheeses, meats etc.
Entertainment & Activities
Cinema Nova
380 Lygon StIndependent movie theatre - cheap night is Monday night!
Rooftop Cinema
252 Swanston StOutdoor movie theatre on one of Melbourne's city rooftops.
Outdoor natural hot springs in a stunning setting! You'll definitely need to book in advance online as it gets packed. You can book for an entry time, but then you can stay as long as you like.
830 locals recommend
Peninsula Hot Springs
140 Springs LnOutdoor natural hot springs in a stunning setting! You'll definitely need to book in advance online as it gets packed. You can book for an entry time, but then you can stay as long as you like.