Dani Leever

Brunswick’s reputation is as a hipster hotspot, but there’s a lot more to this vibrant area than just smashed avos and fancy lattes. A hub of art, culture and fantastic bars, the area has historically been home to Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern populations, which is evident in Brunswick’s food scene and community spaces. A true gem of the north, Brunswick is bustling, artistic and lively – the place to be if you want great craft beer, delicious coffee and to see why Melbourne is known for its exceptional art and music scene.   Jump to a section: EAT DRINK COFFEE THINGS TO DO SHOPPING What’s Brunswick known for? The area is quite left-leaning, and those politics feel evident in many of the venues you’ll visit. Wandering the main drag of Sydney Road, you’ll see hip vintage stores, art galleries, bookshops and family-owned restaurants all sandwiched between lively pubs and music venues. It’s a buzzy suburb of art, activism, vintage shops and delicious food.  Plus, the neighbouring Brunswick East (aka the world's sixth coolest neighbourhood in 2023) is packed to the brim with cosy wine bars for hot dates, as well as some of Melbourne’s most celebrated restaurants. Why do the locals love it? Brunswick is a community of communities. There are pockets of artists, musos, lefties, coffee nerds and a huge population of LGBTQIA+ folks living in share houses around the suburb. As well as this, there are Middle Eastern, Greek and Italian communities that have lived in the area for d