Melbourne is best explored by neighbourhood. I’ve written this Melbourne neighbourhood guide with travellers in mind – these are my favourite inner city neighbourhoods which I think have the most to offer for visitors and represent the things that make Melbourne such a dynamic city (not to mention, the most liveable city in the world for seven years running).
I’ve lived in Melbourne since 2015, and have loved exploring different neighbourhoods which each have their own distinct personality.Ā The city is a good central base for visiting most of these neighbourhoods, but for more of a local feel while still saying somewhere convenient, I’d recommend staying in Prahan, Richmond or Fitzroy.
Explore More: Melbourne Travel GuideĀ
Melbourne CBD
The Melbourne CBD isn’t just a collection of skyscrapers and government buildings. Iconic Melbourne sights include Fed Square, Flinders Street Station, the Queen Victoria Market and Hosier Lane, which is Melbourne’s most famous laneway. The Bourke Street Mall is famous for shopping, and the city’s best laneways can be found off Flinders Lane, Little Collins Street and Little Bourke.
I’ve written a whole post about my favourite restaurants in the Melbourne CBD, but Trattoria Emilia, Oter & San Telmo are a good place to start. Unpopular opinion: the legendary Chin Chin is good, but overrated.
My favourite bars in the Melbourne CBD include Punch Lane, Kirk’s Wine Bar and Eau de Vie (pronounced oh de vee). If you’re taking visitors around (or you are a visitor), don’t miss the view from the Lui Bar at the top of the Rialto Tower. I love how close the bay feels from Lui Bar. In summer, Arbory and Riverland are great spots to enjoy a drink by the river. Melbourne’s CBD has lots of rooftop bars to choose from, such as Imperial Bourke Street which overlooks parliament, beautiful Siglo, Madame Brussel’s and the city’s newest rooftop bar, The Duke Rooftop, which has justĀ opened on top of Melbourne’s oldest pub.
Southbank & the Arts Precinct
Just across the Princes Bridge from the CBD, Southbank is home to Hamer Hall, the Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), which I think is the best art gallery in Australia. Melbourne has Australia’s most dynamic arts & cultural scene, so it would be a shame not to see a show while you’re in town. Outside the arts precinct, there are shows year-round at the Princess & Regent Theatres in the city and the Palais Theatre in St Kilda.
My favourite spot for a pre or post show bite is Fatto, which also has the prettiest view of the Melbourne CBD skyline.
Melbourne’s Northside Neighbourhoods
Melbourne’s northside neighbourhoods are stereotyped as being a hipster stomping ground, full of avant garde hair cuts worn by starving artists, designers and students swathed in black. Melbourne’s northside neighbourhoods are probably what most people think of when they think of Melbourne, and they’re well worth a wander.
Carlton
Historic Carlton is known as Melbourne’sĀ Little Italy, thanks to the influx of Italian immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. Lygon Street is their legacy, which is lined with Italian restaurants and delis. There are lots of tourist traps, but D.O.C., Brunetti and Heartattack & VineĀ are the real deal.
Other favourites in the area: PidapipoĀ for South American-inspired gelato, Carlton Wine Room & Milk the Cow for matched cheese & wine flights.
Carlton is home to one of Australia’s few UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Carlton Gardens & Royal Exhibition Building, a 19th century pavilion. The gardens are beautiful year-round, but particularly in Autumn. Go for a picnic and check out the Melbourne Museum afterwards.
Richmond
RichmondĀ wears many hats. It’sĀ sports mad, home to the MCG stadium (AFL, cricket, football) and Rod Laver Arena (the Australian Open). It’s aĀ popular nightlife spot, with more pubs and bars along Church & Swan streets than any other part of Melbourne. It’s also a design district, with gallery after gallery of furniture, homewares and textiles along Church Street. Bridge Road was once a shopping destination, but the retail downturn has seen a shiftĀ from boutiques to cafes and restaurants.
My favourite bars and pubs are Prince Alfred on Church Street, which hasĀ Richmond’s best beer garden, The Corner Hotel which has a new rooftop bar, and Fargo & Co on Swan Street, which started Melbourne’s boozy brunch craze. St Thomas & Serotonin Eatery are my favouriteĀ spots for brunch.
Fitzroy
Hit the streets of Fitzroy for Melbourne’s most serious cocktail bars and coffee roasters (you’re in for an education, whether you like it or not) rub shoulders with op shops, record stores and independent designers along the main hubs of Smith, Gertrude and Brunswick Streets. For a break from the bar scene, check out the beautiful Spanish-style conservatory garden in the Fitzroy Gardens.
My favourite spots in Fitzroy are Panama Dining Room for drinks, Bad Frankie for jaffles (toasted sandwiches) and local spirits, Transformer for upscale vegetarian dining and Black Pearl for cocktails.
Footscray
Footscray is a little off the beaten track for most visitors to Melbourne, despite being within a stone’s throw of the Melbourne CBD. The start of Melbourne’s west, Footscray is one of Melbourne’s most multicultural neighbourhoods, which is said to be home to speakers of more than 35 different languages.Ā Footscray has some of the best Vietnamese food in Melbourne, especially in the streets around the Footscray Market, which is a mecca for hard-to-find Asian produce.
Brunswick
Arguably Melbourne’s original hipster neighbourhood, Brunswick has retained more of it’s edge than it’s neighbours like Fitzroy. Wander Sydney Road for op-shopping and Turkish homewares, and stop in at leafy Sparta Place for a cute wine bar and cheese shop, side by side.Ā Ratio Cocoa Roasters is a compact coffee factory which aims to teach Melburnians to take chocolate just as seriously as they take their coffee, and just around the corner, Code Black Coffee is a great spot for brunch. I also think Brunswick has some of the most beautiful street art in Melbourne.
Melbourne’s Southside Neighbourhoods
In contrast to the literati north, Melbourne’s southside neighbourhoods are stereotyped as being pretty much the opposite. If starving artists and students are the mascot for the north, AFL players, WAGs and trophy wives are the mascot for the south.
Melbourne’s most famous street, Chapel Street, runs all the way from South Yarra, through Prahran and into Windsor. Further south, you hit Melbourne’s bayside suburbs like St Kilda and Brighton.
Windsor
The edgier end of Chapel Street, Windsor is home to some of my favourite bars in Melbourne, like Lover, Lady Nelson’s and The Woods of Windsor. Tokyo Tina or St Lucia are my top picks for dinner in the area.
Prahran
Prahran is probably my favourite neighbourhood in Melbourne, mostly for shopping, eating and drinking rather than any particular sights. My favourite spots to eat are inside the Prahran Market and Tall Timber for breakfast and Oriental Teahouse for lunch or dinner.
The Smith is a modern pub, with a light and airy covered beer garden out the back that is perfect for Melbourne’s inclement weather.
Beyond eating and drinking, Humming Puppy is one of Melbourne’s most beautiful yoga studios – and most popular. It’s just expanded to Sydney and New York, and is every bit worth the $30/class price tag.
Check out my Prahran neighbourhood guide for more ideas.
South Yarra
South Yarra’s end of Chapel Street is better for shopping, with boutiques from Australian and independent designers. My favourite parts of South Yarra are along Chapel Street, Toorak Road and Commercial Road, which have a nice mix of wine bars, restaurants and boutiques.
Atlas Dining is my favourite restaurant in Melbourne. The cuisine changes every four months, but it’s no gimmick, earning rave reviews from critics. Past cuisines include Vietnamese, Hungarian, Thai, Mexican and Peruvian, and as of mid-2018 it’s currently French. Choose from a four course or seven course menu and don’t skimp on the matched wines – they are well worth it.
My favourite brunch spots are Lucky Penny, Drugstore Espresso & Two Birds One Stone (you’ll queue for the latter on weekends) and my favourite wine bar is South Press. Spinetoli on Toorak Road does beautiful Italian food, from the Le Marche region.
Check out my South Yarra Neighbourhood Guide for more recommendations!
St Kilda
With it’s bayside beaches, nightlife and bustling Acland Street, it’s no wonder that St Kilda is one of Melbourne’s most popular tourist destinations. Have a picnic on the beach and watch the sunset, or walk to the end of St Kilda pier to spot fairy penguins at dusk. Drop by the famous clown mouth facade of the historic Luna Park, side by side with the gorgeous Palais Theatre, and then get a fix at the famous pastry shops of Acland Street
My favourite spots in St Kilda areĀ Radio Mexico and Las Tapas for dinner and Milk the Cow for wine & cheese.
Acland Street, St Kilda
South Melbourne
The South Melbourne Market is the heart of South Melbourne, with the surrounding streets filled with cafes, boutiques, bookshops and pubs. Some of my favourite spots are the European Wine Store, which has free tastings from 1pm every Saturday, Coventry Street Bookstore and GAS, which is one of my favourite brunch spots in South Melbourne.
Brighton
Further down the Bayside, Brighton is one of Melbourne’s most expensive suburbs. There are a handful of good places to eat and drink, like the pub Half Moon and Schoolhouse Cafe, but the best reason to catch the train to Brighton is the iconicĀ Brighton Bathing Boxes on Dendy Beach.
Have you been to any of these Melbourne neighbourhoods? What have I missed?
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