Neighbourhoods
Melbourne is lots of little villages and they all have their own character. Fitzroy North is home to us for five years now. I will add area by area as the guidebook grows.
Leafy and green, yet very central, Fitzroy North is the family end of Fitzroy Hipsterville. You don't need tats, you do need a relaxed attitude. The politics are green, the coffee is some of the best in Melbourne and the streets are full of kids, bikes, dog, old Italian ladies and an incredible mixture of real people. No hedge-fund babies or property developers here.
No cars are needed, as everything is within walking distance.
Alexander Technique
Architects
Artisan jewellery
Baby Stuff Hire
Bakeries x 2 - Loafer Bread - Dench Bakers
Bars - Longplay - Redwood Tasting Room
Bike Hire
Bike Paths / Routes
Bike Repairs
Bottle Shops
Burgers
Cafes - Toast - Taiyo Sun
Car Hire
Coffee Roaster - Growers Espresso
Delicatessens x 1
Doctors x 3
Fish & Chips
Food Delivery - Uber Eats - Deliveroo
Food Stores
Garage / Car Repair
Gifts / Oddities and more
Hairdressers
Italian Restaurants x 3
Massage / Alternative Health x 3
Milk Bar / Late Store
Nails
Parks
Pet Shops
Petrol Stations x 2
Pharmacies x 2
Pizzas
Playgrounds
Supermarkets
Take-out food
Tea Store
Thai Food
Walks
Whole Foods
Wine Stores
Veterinarian
Upmarket Restaurants - Matteos - La Pinotta
Yoga
15 abantu bendawo batusa
Fitzroy North
Leafy and green, yet very central, Fitzroy North is the family end of Fitzroy Hipsterville. You don't need tats, you do need a relaxed attitude. The politics are green, the coffee is some of the best in Melbourne and the streets are full of kids, bikes, dog, old Italian ladies and an incredible mixture of real people. No hedge-fund babies or property developers here.
No cars are needed, as everything is within walking distance.
Alexander Technique
Architects
Artisan jewellery
Baby Stuff Hire
Bakeries x 2 - Loafer Bread - Dench Bakers
Bars - Longplay - Redwood Tasting Room
Bike Hire
Bike Paths / Routes
Bike Repairs
Bottle Shops
Burgers
Cafes - Toast - Taiyo Sun
Car Hire
Coffee Roaster - Growers Espresso
Delicatessens x 1
Doctors x 3
Fish & Chips
Food Delivery - Uber Eats - Deliveroo
Food Stores
Garage / Car Repair
Gifts / Oddities and more
Hairdressers
Italian Restaurants x 3
Massage / Alternative Health x 3
Milk Bar / Late Store
Nails
Parks
Pet Shops
Petrol Stations x 2
Pharmacies x 2
Pizzas
Playgrounds
Supermarkets
Take-out food
Tea Store
Thai Food
Walks
Whole Foods
Wine Stores
Veterinarian
Upmarket Restaurants - Matteos - La Pinotta
Yoga
Coffee Shops
Most open around 7.30 to 8am and close at 2pm to 3pm
Best coffee locally, we go here most days. Coffee roasted on the premises, lovely staff and a great range of pastries, panini muesli and more. Mark the owner imports the coffee from all over the world and is happy to chat if you catch him. No11 tram to the city stops right outside
OPEN 07.30 to 15.00 in the week
08.00 to 15.00 on Saturday, closed Sunday.
Free if slow Wi-Fi
Three-minute walk.
Growers Espresso
334 St Georges RdBest coffee locally, we go here most days. Coffee roasted on the premises, lovely staff and a great range of pastries, panini muesli and more. Mark the owner imports the coffee from all over the world and is happy to chat if you catch him. No11 tram to the city stops right outside
OPEN 07.30 to 15.00 in the week
08.00 to 15.00 on Saturday, closed Sunday.
Free if slow Wi-Fi
Three-minute walk.
A small part of Tokyo hidden in a ghastly apartment block. Great coffee and wacky but tasty food. Two-minute walk.
Taiyo Sun
394 St Georges RdA small part of Tokyo hidden in a ghastly apartment block. Great coffee and wacky but tasty food. Two-minute walk.
Toast & Espresso. Great toasted sandwiches. I find the coffee a bit weak but my wife loves it. They also sell fabulous bread, milk, butter and various fruits and veg. Two-minute walk.
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Café Maillard
347 St Georges RdToast & Espresso. Great toasted sandwiches. I find the coffee a bit weak but my wife loves it. They also sell fabulous bread, milk, butter and various fruits and veg. Two-minute walk.
Tiny hipster coffee shop. Great coffee in a cool space. Fifteen-minute walk.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
North Island
111 Scotchmer StTiny hipster coffee shop. Great coffee in a cool space. Fifteen-minute walk.
ACTUALLY CALLED PILLAR OF PEPPER - My early morning haunt as it opens at 07.00 and has IMHO the best coffee in the area. Great for lunch too with a good choice of nice healthy food. Tables inside and out and a coffee window. Perfect if you are taking a stroll down to Edinburgh Gardens and directly opposite the stylish new North Fitzroy Library. Ten to fifteen-minute walk. Free if slow Wi-Fi
Breakfast @ Timothy's
189 St Georges RdACTUALLY CALLED PILLAR OF PEPPER - My early morning haunt as it opens at 07.00 and has IMHO the best coffee in the area. Great for lunch too with a good choice of nice healthy food. Tables inside and out and a coffee window. Perfect if you are taking a stroll down to Edinburgh Gardens and directly opposite the stylish new North Fitzroy Library. Ten to fifteen-minute walk. Free if slow Wi-Fi
Health & Wellbeing
Crazy amount of health stuff within a short walk.
A comprehensive collection of practitioners and studios covering everything to do with Natural Therapies, Massage, Yoga and all related arts. Very good massages for travelling shoulders. Lots of nice accessories and gift items too.
https://kundalinihouse.com.au/ One-minute walk
Kundalini House - Yoga, Massage and Acupuncture
391A St Georges RdA comprehensive collection of practitioners and studios covering everything to do with Natural Therapies, Massage, Yoga and all related arts. Very good massages for travelling shoulders. Lots of nice accessories and gift items too.
https://kundalinihouse.com.au/ One-minute walk
Our local medical 'go-to' The nearest Medical doctor, plus a whole range of alternative medical services including osteo, physio, massage, acupuncture, vaccinations, travel jabs, flu jabs and lots more. Two-minute walk.
The Neighborhood Clinic
329 St Georges RdOur local medical 'go-to' The nearest Medical doctor, plus a whole range of alternative medical services including osteo, physio, massage, acupuncture, vaccinations, travel jabs, flu jabs and lots more. Two-minute walk.
This is my local medical practice. Dr Matthew Long is great and everyone is very helpful here. Five to ten minute walk
Clinicare GP TRAVEL SKIN CLINIC
165 Smith StThis is my local medical practice. Dr Matthew Long is great and everyone is very helpful here. Five to ten minute walk
John Silverii's Pharmacy
333 St Georges RdOur nearest pharmacy. Very helpful and knowledgeable. Two-minute walk.
Wonderful pharmacy with a great selection of beauty and health products. Evan the main pharmacist is so helpful. Opposite my doctor Clinicare so I get all my meds here. Check out the amazing Moo-Goo creams if you visit. Ten-minute walk.
North Fitzroy Pharmacy
35 Best StWonderful pharmacy with a great selection of beauty and health products. Evan the main pharmacist is so helpful. Opposite my doctor Clinicare so I get all my meds here. Check out the amazing Moo-Goo creams if you visit. Ten-minute walk.
Bike Shops & Hire
A great local specialist bike shop for purchases and repairs. Very good personal service. Three-minute walk
White's Bikes
309 St Georges RdA great local specialist bike shop for purchases and repairs. Very good personal service. Three-minute walk
The world's best folding bikes. Made in London. I ride one made in 1984 and still going strong. HIRE a Brompton. $50 for the first 24 hours and $20 per day thereafter for a max of a week. Fifteen-minute walk
Brompton Junction Melbourne
815 Nicholson StThe world's best folding bikes. Made in London. I ride one made in 1984 and still going strong. HIRE a Brompton. $50 for the first 24 hours and $20 per day thereafter for a max of a week. Fifteen-minute walk
Bike HIRE and Sales on the Capital City Trail. Walk there easily and hire a bike for your stay. Also good mechanics and tons of accessories. Fifteen-minute walk.
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Velo Cycles
815 Nicholson StBike HIRE and Sales on the Capital City Trail. Walk there easily and hire a bike for your stay. Also good mechanics and tons of accessories. Fifteen-minute walk.
Food scene
Walk, eat, walk, drink, shop, walk, sleep. You will not starve here!
Serious greasy burgers and great chips. Open late for hangover cures. Amazing people watching along the long counter. We love the chips (-:
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Danny's Burgers
360 St Georges RdSerious greasy burgers and great chips. Open late for hangover cures. Amazing people watching along the long counter. We love the chips (-:
High-end dining in a relaxed local style. Tables outside for sunny days. A nice seated bar inside for a drink. Big room at the back for families and groups. It can be very noisy inside. Ten to fifteen-minute walk.
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Pinotta
32 Best StHigh-end dining in a relaxed local style. Tables outside for sunny days. A nice seated bar inside for a drink. Big room at the back for families and groups. It can be very noisy inside. Ten to fifteen-minute walk.
Another decent bakery with a large cafe, a wide variety of breakfast and lunch food. Fifteen-minute walk
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Dench Cafe
109 Scotchmer StAnother decent bakery with a large cafe, a wide variety of breakfast and lunch food. Fifteen-minute walk
The best bakery for miles around. Killer bread, plus lethal pastries and much more. Also a small cafe with outside tables. Ten to fifteen-minute walk.
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Loafer Bread Organic Bakery
146 Scotchmer StThe best bakery for miles around. Killer bread, plus lethal pastries and much more. Also a small cafe with outside tables. Ten to fifteen-minute walk.
We breakfast here quite a lot. Original, bohemian and very funky. Wide-ranging menu and open for lunch too. CHECK FIRST as timing varies in pandemic recovery. Fifteen-minute walk
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Tin Pot Cafe
248-250 St Georges RdWe breakfast here quite a lot. Original, bohemian and very funky. Wide-ranging menu and open for lunch too. CHECK FIRST as timing varies in pandemic recovery. Fifteen-minute walk
Excellent local Malaysian. Always busy, never crowded. Three-minute walk.
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Malaymas
320 St Georges RdExcellent local Malaysian. Always busy, never crowded. Three-minute walk.
Slightly further away. A class act, perfect for special meals. Asian / Australian fusion food in a luxurious, quiet setting but not stuffy. We go here a lot. Just a 15-minute walk or a 3-minute tram ride from our door.
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Matteo's Restaurant, Melbourne
Slightly further away. A class act, perfect for special meals. Asian / Australian fusion food in a luxurious, quiet setting but not stuffy. We go here a lot. Just a 15-minute walk or a 3-minute tram ride from our door.
Our local Thai. Very fresh and tasty, Take out or eat in. Three-minute walk. Now a bar as well.
Khao Mai
356A St Georges RdOur local Thai. Very fresh and tasty, Take out or eat in. Three-minute walk. Now a bar as well.
One of the better Indian restaurants in Australia. Modern Indian rather than traditional anglicised cuisine. 10-minute walk
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Horn Please
167 St Georges RdOne of the better Indian restaurants in Australia. Modern Indian rather than traditional anglicised cuisine. 10-minute walk
Large spacious pizza restaurant with an oven in the middle. Great for families and groups. Fifteen-minute walk
1000 Lire Pizza & Stuzzichini
211-213 St Georges RdLarge spacious pizza restaurant with an oven in the middle. Great for families and groups. Fifteen-minute walk
Fabulous Gelato and a variety of ice-creams and coffees. This is our after-school treat. Fifteen-minute walk
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Billy van Creamy
212 St Georges RdFabulous Gelato and a variety of ice-creams and coffees. This is our after-school treat. Fifteen-minute walk
More pizza and great gnocchi. Chip pizza for the kids. Five-minute walk
Piccolino Woodfired Pizzeria - Trattoria
148 Scotchmer StMore pizza and great gnocchi. Chip pizza for the kids. Five-minute walk
Very good falafel. Small inside area, great to takeaway to the park. Five-minute walk
22 abantu bendawo batusa
Just Falafs
207 St Georges RdVery good falafel. Small inside area, great to takeaway to the park. Five-minute walk
Citrus
252 St Georges RdAll you can eat Sri-Lankan buffet. Always busy. Five-minute walk
Panna Thai
244-246 St Georges RdAnother local Thai. Nice ambience, excellent food in or out. Ten to fifteen minute walk
Funky local restaurant with a whole range of $9.00 pasta specials and $9.00 Negronis. You can't go wrong! Nice garden out the back too. Only opens 3 days a week so check first- Fifteen-minute walk
good times
214 St Georges RdFunky local restaurant with a whole range of $9.00 pasta specials and $9.00 Negronis. You can't go wrong! Nice garden out the back too. Only opens 3 days a week so check first- Fifteen-minute walk
Great quality wine and fine food. Outside tables in summer. 20 minute walk across Edinburgh Gardens
The Recreation Bistro x Bottleshop
162-170 Queens ParadeGreat quality wine and fine food. Outside tables in summer. 20 minute walk across Edinburgh Gardens
Brand-new burger place opened in 2024, very tasty smashed burgers, with the patty smashed flat. Good chips, nice people and just three minutes from our door. This is our son’s favourite Berger.
Elmo's Burgers
Brand-new burger place opened in 2024, very tasty smashed burgers, with the patty smashed flat. Good chips, nice people and just three minutes from our door. This is our son’s favourite Berger.
Alcohol
Great local beer bar with an insane amount of interesting beers from all over the worlds. A few cocktails too. Two-minute walk
Redwood Tasting Room
345 St Georges RdGreat local beer bar with an insane amount of interesting beers from all over the worlds. A few cocktails too. Two-minute walk
The nearest local bar. Totally anonymous from outside. Good cocktails and beer. Can get way too noisy on busy nights. Go at six for a quiet drink before an evening out. Three-minute walk.
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LongPlay
318 St Georges RdThe nearest local bar. Totally anonymous from outside. Good cocktails and beer. Can get way too noisy on busy nights. Go at six for a quiet drink before an evening out. Three-minute walk.
The best wine shop in the area. Great choice, staff and advice. Ten-Minute walk. (note not as in the photos)
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Blackhearts & Sparrows
131 Lygon StThe best wine shop in the area. Great choice, staff and advice. Ten-Minute walk. (note not as in the photos)
Classic funky pub with live music most nights. Small garden stage out the back. Wonderful historic corner building with pinnacle! Five-minute walk.
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The Fitzroy Pinnacle
251 St Georges RdClassic funky pub with live music most nights. Small garden stage out the back. Wonderful historic corner building with pinnacle! Five-minute walk.
CURRENTLY CLOSED: Nice quiet wine bar. with cocktails too. Fifteen-minute walk
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Underwood Wine Bar
181 St Georges RdCURRENTLY CLOSED: Nice quiet wine bar. with cocktails too. Fifteen-minute walk
Funky cocktail bar with a garden. Can get very noisy. Fifteen-minute walk
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Montys Bar
209 St Georges RdFunky cocktail bar with a garden. Can get very noisy. Fifteen-minute walk
Our nearest bottle shop. Looks ratty but stocks OK especially of beer
Australian Wine Clearance Centre
317 St Georges RdOur nearest bottle shop. Looks ratty but stocks OK especially of beer
Small wine store and bar. Tables outside in summer. Wide range of wines and excellent value. Fifteen minute walk.
Village Vineyard Fine Booze
348 Queens ParadeSmall wine store and bar. Tables outside in summer. Wide range of wines and excellent value. Fifteen minute walk.
Beauty & Hair
Funky local salon. Hair and nails are very well done. I go here for my haircuts. Two-minute walk
Made Gorgeous
353 St Georges RdFunky local salon. Hair and nails are very well done. I go here for my haircuts. Two-minute walk
Oxhey & Bushey
365 St Georges RdSmart hair salon. Andrea my wife goes here. Two-minute walk
Traditional barber offering sharp haircuts for men and boys. We take Tom here. If I am lazy I have a cutthroat shave. Ten to fifteen-minute walk.
Master Sam Barber Shop
222 St Georges RdTraditional barber offering sharp haircuts for men and boys. We take Tom here. If I am lazy I have a cutthroat shave. Ten to fifteen-minute walk.