We’re calling Brunswick the unofficial capital of Melbourne, as it brings together all of the best bits of life in this wonderful city. This creative, multicultural, and super-trendy community is the place to go for a great time in Melbourne’s north. There are plenty of things to do in Brunswick, from unique boutiques to live music venus and more bars and restaurants than there probably should be.
So how do you choose where to spend your time in Brunswick? Do you want to see some art, relax at a great bar, sip delicious coffee or dive into the music scene?
All of it is on offer, and we have the ultimate guide for where to go and what to see below. This list will be continually updated, so be sure to bookmark this article, and you’ll never be left wondering what to do in Brunswick again!
What Is Brunswick Known For?
While it somewhat depends on whom you ask and what they are into, Brunswick has a good reputation for great coffee, brunch, Sydney Road’s Middle Eastern cuisine, art galleries and live music venues. Brunswick is known as the place that birthed the quintessential “Melbourne hipster,” but we’d like to argue that this is a good thing! From fashion to music and smashed avocado on toast, hipsters like some pretty cool stuff!
Brunswick began as an industrial suburb in the mid-1800s, home to manufacturing warehouses for brickworks, textile factories and more. The vibrant multiculturalism of the area helped it evolve into an eclectic collection of people, leading to significant variety in the nightlife, eateries and other activities on offer.
Modern-day Brunswick is as creative and progressive as ever. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a wall free of street art, a restaurant that doesn’t have good vegan options and a cuff or sleeve that hasn’t been rolled.
Is Brunswick A Good Place To Live And Raise A Family?
Absolutely! There are plenty of family-friendly things to do in Brunswick, like CERES Community Environment Park, where you can teach your children about conservation and the environment. You can also head to Tinning Street Presents, an amazing space for local artists and changing exhibitions to inspire your children creatively, and Brunswick City Baths is a fun public pool perfect for families looking to escape the heat.
What Are The Best Things To Do In Brunswick?
There are so many options when it comes to things to do in Brunswick, Melbourne, that you almost need a highly curated guide to point you in the right direction. Luckily, that’s exactly what you are reading, so read on for a continually updated list of the best things to do in Brunswick, including the best places to sit down and enjoy a feed with a tasty beverage in hand.
The below list are among a few of the best things to do in Brunswick:
The Food
The food in Brunswick is some of the best in Melbourne, with spots like Chef Alfredo La Spina’s Bar Idda, the finest home-style Sicilian food you can find. Bar Idda’s intimate setting is subtle in its approach, allowing the focus to be on the delicious food (we recommend the eggplant-filled Mulinciani), replicating the authentic Italian experience perfectly! This is just one of the many amazing Italian restaurants you’ll find in Brunswick.
Lygon Street is home to some of the best restaurants in Brunswick, including Mankoushe, a middle eastern, family-run restaurant run by brothers, Jady and Hady, whose mother, Gisele, works hard behind the scenes in the kitchen. Gisele journaled her recipes over many years to form the current menu that includes traditional dishes like Zaatar, herb bread with oregano, and delicious falafel wraps.
Chimmy’s Bakery is among one of the best bakeries in Brunswick, where you’ll find your new favourite sourdough loaf free from preservatives, additives and unbleached flour. This crew use grains that have been locally sourced from Country Victoria and offer freshly baked doughnuts, pies, biscuits and plenty more. Sydney Road, Brunswick is iconically known for its local hotspots, including fan favourite A1 Bakery. A1 Bakery is well-known throughout Melbourne as an institution that offers authentic Lebanese bread, pitas, and pizzas at bargain prices, that doesn’t compromise on flavour.
Whether you’re going on a dinner date, lunch, or simply hunting for some delicious takeaway options, there’s plenty to choose from in Brunswick, and we’ve created a food and drinks guide that has encompassed all of them!
The Drinks
You’ll never be thirsty in Brunswick! You can tick the drinks, food and amazing live music boxes all at once at Howler Melbourne, a stunning plant-filled venue set in an industrial warehouse space. This spot is perfect for a casual drink, some tasty burgers and tacos set to DJs from Wednesday to Sunday in the huge beer garden, or some of the best live acts from around Australia and the world.
Suppose you are after something a little more stylish and chilled out? Head over to Atticus Finch, a spot known for its signature cocktails, boutique wines, craft beers and fancy nibbles. Have you even had an Espresso Martini until you’ve had one at Atticus Finch? We think not.
The soul of Brunswick isn’t felt until you’ve sipped something delicious while listening to some vinyl record, and Waxflower Wine & Vinyl covers both bases. With an impressive selection of vinyl records lining the back wall, this trendy restaurant on Lygon Street is perfect for audiophiles hankering for fresh, in-season produce. The menu is always changing, but we can safely say that every inclusion is delicious.
You’ll also have a great time at the Bridge Road Brewery pop-up bar, which is made of actual cardboard! Sustainability win! They have trivia nights, games nights and karaoke. There is, of course, plenty to eat and drink. We’re excited to say that Bridge Road Brewery will be relocating to EBV’s retail precinct soon (in a much bigger venue!).
The Coffee
People travel far and wide for coffee in Brunswick.
Some of the more boutique, if-you-know-you-know spots that sling an amazing cup o’ joe include Cafe Ray, a spot that embodies the culture of Brunswick while pouring the local’s favourite coffee! They also have a very extensive Middle Eastern food menu that is very vegan-friendly.
Ona Coffee is an award winner, so it must be good! They claim four consecutive years of winning the ‘Australian Barista Champion’ award. It will be very evident why once you pop in and take your first sip.
Another standout is A Minor Place which is tucked away between Sydney Road and Lygon Street down Albion Street. While small, this spot is full of character with loads of vegan options, juices, smoothies, and some of the best coffee in Brunswick! You can also dine from the brunch menu all day, so feel free to sleep in.
Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy coffee, and Bellboy Cafe recognises this via the birthday pup club, which gives a free “puppuccinco” to your pooch on their birthday. Bellboy also has an impressive bagel selection and loads of gluten-free and plant-based options to pair perfectly with their amazing coffee.
The Shops
At this point, you are probably thinking, how could there be more stuff to do in Brunswick? Well, let’s talk about the shopping. Every category is covered here, from new to secondhand, awesome record stores and even larger centres for the heavy hitters like JB Hi-Fi.
Grab a new read at Brunswick’s best independent book store, Brunswick Bound, which offers books, art, zines, records and even jewellery! The extensive collection of books encompasses the ground floor, and you can pop upstairs to the makeshift gallery to see some amazing local Melbourne artists.
Mrs Secondhand curates and collates unique secondhand furniture to help you avoid the dreary common flat-pack options. Speaking of secondhand, crate diggers absolutely need to pop into Round and Round Records on Sydney road, a speciality record store that sells new and secondhand records at the very best prices in Melbourne.
Finish your shopping trip at Scavengers, the home of quality vintage and recycled clothing, accessories, bric-a-brac, furniture and more. If you want to find rare and limited pieces to craft a style that cannot be replicated, this is the place.
The Art
The essence of Brunswick is centred around creativity and art. Walking the streets is like visiting a live, ever-changing gallery that puts culture on display at a grassroots level. On top of this, you have plenty of opportunities to see a more refined version of this via Brunswick’s many galleries.
Blak Dot Gallery is a space for contemporary First Nations art, keeping you on the front line of emerging indigenous artists and creatives. The exhibition schedule is always full of greatness, including events, workshops, guest speakers and an artist’s market where you can find something to take home.
Counihan Gallery offers a range of contemporary shows and a permanent collection from their namesake, Noel Counihan. This Sydney Road gallery focuses on artists who live and work in Brunswick and is open Wednesday to Sunday for all to see.
Another of our favourite galleries can be found down a little side street off Sydney Road. Beinart Gallery focuses on artists who create surreal and imaginative work, showcasing local and international emerging talent from whom you can purchase art at great prices. This is where you’ll find the next big artists as they start their rise.
We also have a lot of art in and around East Brunswick Village, so we recommend checking out this article which dives into the artists of EBV along with some other great gallery recommendations.
The Music
Some of the greatest Australian bands of all time earned their stripes singing in Brunswick music venues. Even now, acts that rule our playlists can be found gracing Brunswick stages and your new favourite band is very likely playing this weekend.
We’ve mentioned the great Howler above, so let’s get a little more boutique with venues like The Bergy Seltzer, a hole-in-the-wall dive bar in which bands actually play from a hole in the wall. Pop out to the beer garden, then back inside to catch the eclectic range of music that is often on display at this venue. From punk bands to weird electronica and even live comedy, you’ll always be entertained at Bergy.
The Retreat Hotel is one of Brunswick’s best pubs, and it has a penchant for live music. Live entertainment happens seven days a week via multiple stages, and there is a giant beer garden out the back that is always pumping with plenty of craft beer and cocktails flowing.
If you are a jazz fan, The Jazzlab is frequented by world-famous performers and local greats. Sit down and enjoy a fancy drink while you watch some of the finest musicians in the world jam the night away. This spot is so popular that it always fills up, so book or buy tickets where applicable.
Finally, the Penny Black is a large pub tailored to fans of live and electronic music. In the front, you’ll find a large stage where rock bands, hip-hop acts, and solo acoustic performers keep you entertained, and the beer garden is for those who love a DJ and a dance. There is also a great vegan pub menu and large screens for major sporting events.
How Do I Get To Brunswick?
Jump on the Upfield train line, and jump off at Jewell, Brunswick, Anstey or Moreland stations to find yourself in the thick of Brunswick just next to Sydney Road. You can also grab the 19 tram up Sydney Road, which will stop in Coburg North.
For those driving, you’ll find plenty of (mostly free) parking options in the side streets off Sydney Road and those who prefer pedal power will be very happy as Brunswick has plenty of bike paths and lanes.
East Brunswick Village: The Gateway To Everything Brunswick Has To Offer
Life at EBV means easy access to all of the things to do in Brunswick mentioned above. In fact, Plan Melbourne calls the EBV location a ‘20-minute neighbourhood’, meaning everything you need is within a 20-minute walk from home. There is plenty of access to safe cycling and local transport options meaning you can check out multiple of the spots above with ease in one day.
Find out for yourself why this is one of Melbourne’s most beloved suburbs by calling Brunswick home at East Brunswick village – register your interest today.
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We wanted to put East Brunswick Village (EBV) to the task and have had our sales team answer these ‘six essential questions you should ask when buying an apartment’, and we think we shape up pretty well!
We wanted to put East Brunswick Village (EBV) to the task and have had our sales team answer these ‘six essential questions you should ask when buying an apartment’, and we think we shape up pretty well!
We wanted to put East Brunswick Village (EBV) to the task and have had our sales team answer these ‘six essential questions you should ask when buying an apartment’, and we think we shape up pretty well!
