Brunswick Street: Melbourne's Creative Hub

Brunswick Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, running north-south through the suburbs of Fitzroy and Fitzroy North. Known for its bohemian edge, Brunswick Street is a bustling hub of dining, nightlife, and shopping. The street is home to a variety of cafes, bars, restaurants, live music venues, and unique clothing and gift stores. It has a rich history, dating back to the 1800s, and has played a significant role in shaping Melbourne's café culture and indie music scene. Today, Brunswick Street continues to be a vibrant and eclectic destination, attracting both locals and travellers with its diverse offerings and lively atmosphere.

Cafes, bars and restaurants

Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, is a Bohemian hub known for its eclectic mix of cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops. The street boasts a vibrant restaurant scene, ranging from fancy eateries to cosy wine bars and boisterous pubs. Here is a guide to some of the best spots to eat and drink in the area:

Cafes

For a quick coffee or a leisurely brunch, Brunswick Street has a variety of cafes to choose from. Marios Cafe, located at 303 Brunswick Street, is known for its signature dishes like caramelised peach and pistachio pancakes and gnocchi with pancetta. They have been passionate about coffee for over 25 years, mixing their own blend that is popular with the locals. Gutz Cafe (221 Brunswick Street) focuses on modern Australian cuisine, offering wild berry pancakes, chicken paninis, and strong coffees. Cafe Umago (171 Brunswick Street) blends Australian and Italian dining, with dishes like meatballs with feta and garlic cheese pizza. Red Tongue Cafe (275 Brunswick Street) offers gourmet pizzas and top-notch coffees and teas, with outdoor seating for a sunny day.

Other notable cafes include Cafe Nova, famous for its chocolate cake and sticky date pudding; The Fitz Cafe, which serves breakfast until 4 pm and offers an upmarket lunch and dinner menu; Babka Bakery Cafe, a local favourite for Russian baking and sweet treats; and A Minor Place, known for its excellent breakfast menu and specialty coffee.

Bars

When the sun sets, Brunswick Street transforms into a bustling hub of nightlife. The Alchemist Bar and Cafe (361 Brunswick Street) has a cosy and welcoming interior, making it a great place for cocktails to start your evening. For a unique drinking experience, try Noisy Ritual, a full-scale urban winery with an endless list of wines. Old Palm Liquor (133B Lygon St) is a cosy spot to enjoy a glass of wine, while Brunswick Green (313-315 Sydney Rd) offers an impressive drinks list and a sprawling beer garden.

Restaurants

Brunswick Street is renowned for its diverse range of restaurants, catering to all tastes and preferences. For Italian cuisine, Compass Pizza (319 Lygon St) serves delicious pizzas in a smoky, old-school Italian space. Shinwa Izakaya (139 Sydney Rd) is a Japanese food lover's dream, offering an extensive list of sake and classic izakaya dishes like nasu dengaku (miso-glazed eggplant).

For Middle Eastern flavours, A1 Bakery (643-645 Sydney Rd) is a northside institution serving authentic Lebanese breads, pitas, pies, and pizzas. Téta Mona (100A Lygon St) offers flavourful Lebanese dishes in an eclectic space, while Green Field (376-378 Sydney Rd) is a local favourite for affordable Vietnamese cuisine.

Other notable restaurants include Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria, a vibrant restaurant-bar serving authentic tacos and gorditas; Tino Bar and Restaurant, a homey Latin American-inspired spot with signature mole poblano; and Nina's Bar & Dining, offering Mediterranean dishes like pork cutlet with a creative bacon glaze.

Whether you're looking for a cosy cafe, a lively bar, or a delicious dining experience, Brunswick Street has something for everyone.

Live music venues

Brunswick Street in Melbourne is renowned for its live music venues, with something to offer for every taste. Here is a list of some of the top spots to enjoy live music in the area:

Howler

Howler is a multi-purpose arts hub and bar hidden within a Brunswick warehouse. It encapsulates design, music, theatre, cinema, art and a unique bar setting. Howler features an outdoor/indoor room, a main bar area with a live DJ, and a band room at the back. It attracts both local and international acts and is well worth a visit.

The Retreat Hotel

The Retreat Hotel is Brunswick's home for live music, offering gigs and entertainment 7 days a week. The venue boasts original styling and decor from when it was built in 1915, creating a unique atmosphere. The menu features a mix of pub food and Mexican cuisine, along with a wide selection of drinks. The impressive beer garden, with its overhanging tree, is perfect for groups of all sizes.

The Edinburgh Castle Hotel

The Edinburgh Castle Hotel is a community-focused venue, offering a family-friendly environment with kids' meals, high chairs, and even a ping pong table. It is one of the oldest pubs in Brunswick, dating back to 1854, and is known for its beer and innovative cuisine. The hotel often features local artists and hosts Mrs Smith's Trivia, one of Melbourne's best trivia nights. The music ranges from blues and country to soft pop and singer-songwriters, with DJs on weekend evenings.

Whole Lotta Love Bar

Named after the iconic Led Zeppelin song, Whole Lotta Love Bar is one of Melbourne's premier small dive bars and live music venues. It supports local bands and artists with regular gigs and has hosted small festivals and parties. The bar offers a wide selection of whiskey and local brews, along with a friendly and lively atmosphere.

The Jazzlab

Founded by Michael Tortoni, the former founder of Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, The Jazzlab continues the tradition of showcasing world-renowned jazz performers. The venue is designed with excellent natural acoustics and has hosted artists such as Prince, Maceo Parker, and Wynton Marsalis. It presents a diverse range of jazz talents and is a must-visit for jazz enthusiasts.

Honourable Mentions

Other notable live music venues in the Brunswick Street area include The Bergy Seltzer, a hole-in-the-wall dive bar and beer garden catering to various musical tastes; and The Bergy Bandbox, which features rock, punk, acoustic folk, jazz, and live comedy.

Shopping

Brunswick Street in Melbourne is known for its bohemian culture, with a mix of alternative, artistic, and trendy elements. The street offers a fascinating collection of shops, including young designer and retro clothing boutiques, bookshops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants. Here is a guide to the shopping experience on Brunswick Street:

Clothing and Accessories

Brunswick Street is known for its unique fashion offerings, with a mix of local designers, vintage stores, and quirky finds. You can explore a range of boutiques featuring sustainable and minimalist pieces, pre-loved fashion, and on-trend styles. Local labels such as Alpha60 showcase monochrome basics, while stores like Double Monk offer famous men's shoes. For vintage lovers, there are second-hand clothing boutiques with a mix of contemporary and vintage styles, accessories, and homewares.

Bookshops

Book lovers will delight in the selection of bookshops along Brunswick Street. Polyester Books invites you to wander through pop culture, while the Brunswick Street Bookstore offers a range of design, photography, art, and architecture titles. Mag Nation, located upstairs, provides a large selection of magazines.

Homewares and Gifts

For those seeking unique homewares and gifts, Brunswick Street delivers with its eclectic mix of stores. Wilkins and Kent on Brunswick Street offers gifts and homewares from locally produced designers. Nearby Gertrude Street, which links to Brunswick Street, is also known for its homeware stores, including Cottage Industry, which offers knitted and crafted items, as well as candles and mirrors.

Markets

Brunswick Street is also home to the Rose St Artists Market, open on Saturdays and Sundays. This small market showcases creative wares and has a lovely community vibe. It's a great place to find unique, handmade items and support local artists and creators.

Beauty and Fragrances

For those seeking niche fragrances, Kleins Perfumery on Brunswick Street offers a romantic boudoir-style shopping experience.

History

Brunswick Street in Melbourne has a long and fascinating history. The street runs north-south through the inner northern Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, starting at Victoria Parade and ending near Edinburgh Gardens at St Georges Road. It is believed to be named after Captain Brunswick Smythe, but it owes its origins to Benjamin Baxter, who owned land along Victoria Parade in the recently proclaimed township of Newtown (now Fitzroy South).

In 1839, Baxter subdivided his land, creating the roads that would become Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street. Initially, Brunswick Street only ran as far north as Hanover Street in Fitzroy. However, in 1840, further subdivisions by other landowners extended the street north to what is now Bell Street. The street was officially proclaimed in 1851, and by this time, it extended as far as Reilly Street (now Alexandra Parade).

Shops began appearing on Brunswick Street as early as the 1840s, and by 1854, it had become a thriving shopping district to rival Bourke Street. The street's proximity to the goldfields made it a convenient stopping place for gold diggers, and a small village sprang up to cater to their needs.

In the post-World War II era, Brunswick Street and the surrounding suburbs became home to a large number of migrants, particularly from southern Europe, including Italy, Greece, and Malta. This influx of immigrants had a significant impact on the culture and character of the area, with the Italian community, in particular, establishing the foundations of Melbourne's café culture.

For many decades, the suburb of Fitzroy, through which Brunswick Street runs, was a working-class area known for its low rents and cheap shops. This began to change in the 1970s and 1980s, as the area started attracting students, artists, and bohemians. The thriving live music venues, boutiques, and cafés of Brunswick Street became a magnet for young people from all over Melbourne, cementing the street's status as a nexus of indie music and post-punk/new-wave subcultures.

Gentrification soon followed, with many of the regular shops being replaced by trendy cafés, fashion boutiques, and bars. This transformation played a significant role in Fitzroy being named one of the most unique neighbourhoods in the world in 2016. Today, Brunswick Street continues to be a vibrant and diverse part of Melbourne, known for its cafés, live music venues, and alternative fashion shops.

Transport

Brunswick Street in Melbourne is easily accessible by public transport. The street is known for its bohemian culture, dining spots, and cocktail bars.

Tram

Tram route 11 (West Preston to Victoria Harbour) runs along the entire length of Brunswick Street. The tram journey between Melbourne and Brunswick Street takes around 7 minutes and costs $3. The tram service is operated by Yarra Trams and runs between 10-Parliament and 16-Johnston St/Brunswick St.

Bus

There are several bus routes that service Brunswick Street, including bus numbers 200, 207, 250, 304, 350, 402, and 546. The bus journey from Melbourne CBD to Brunswick Street takes around 10 minutes and costs $3. The bus service is operated by Metropolitan buses and runs between Little Lonsdale St/Russell St and Brunswick St/Johnston St.

Train

There are several train routes that stop near Brunswick Street, including CRAIGIEBURN, CRANBOURNE, FRANKSTON, HURSTBRIDGE, MERNDA, PAKENHAM, and SUNBURY. The nearest train stations to Brunswick Street are:

• 15-Bell St/Brunswick St (Fitzroy) - 10 metres away, 1-minute walk
• Brunswick St/Johnston St (Fitzroy) - 285 metres away, 4-minute walk
• Grattan St/Rathdowne St (Carlton) - 865 metres away, 12-minute walk
• Carlton Gardens/Rathdowne St (Carlton) - 877 metres away, 12-minute walk
• Fitzroy Pool/Alexandra Pde (Fitzroy) - 912 metres away, 12-minute walk

Frequently asked questions