Food Scene
Sri Lankan inspired modern fusion food -- check out the light, saffron "hollan-daze" sauce with poached eggs. Inspired! Specialty boutique coffee supplier.
10 locals recommend
Lankan Tucker
486 Albion StSri Lankan inspired modern fusion food -- check out the light, saffron "hollan-daze" sauce with poached eggs. Inspired! Specialty boutique coffee supplier.
American style burgers to smash your hangover. Satisfying, hearty fare.
8 locals recommend
Rude Boy Burger
482 Albion StAmerican style burgers to smash your hangover. Satisfying, hearty fare.
Clean, modern space with great coffee and a modern menu to match. Shorter walk if you cut through the park via the bike trail.
Form
32 Albion StreetClean, modern space with great coffee and a modern menu to match. Shorter walk if you cut through the park via the bike trail.
The corn fritters are absolutely sensational! Lively, popular venue with great styling, atmos and service. Tends to be a queue for tables at peak times but it's worth it.
19 locals recommend
Ascot Food Store
320 Ascot Vale RdThe corn fritters are absolutely sensational! Lively, popular venue with great styling, atmos and service. Tends to be a queue for tables at peak times but it's worth it.
Brother Hen
154 Pascoe Vale RoadEasy-going vibe in a refurbed house. Charming food and service.
All-round nice venue -- convenient for a quick, tasty meal and nice coffee, service and surrounds.
18 locals recommend
Lady Melville Cafe & Courtyard
227 Melville RdAll-round nice venue -- convenient for a quick, tasty meal and nice coffee, service and surrounds.
If you're craving a generous, hearty brunch -- this is your venue! Dig in to the vegie or meat laden options in an easy modern space, accompanied with a great coffee.
Wilfred Smith Food & Drink
23 Albion StIf you're craving a generous, hearty brunch -- this is your venue! Dig in to the vegie or meat laden options in an easy modern space, accompanied with a great coffee.
All your go-to junk food options in a convenient, quiet location and at a very cheap price. It's quite decent quality and is a family run business.
Moreland Road Fish & Chips
612 Moreland RoadAll your go-to junk food options in a convenient, quiet location and at a very cheap price. It's quite decent quality and is a family run business.
Drinks & Nightlife
Excellent quality, hipster-pleasing wine store with a drive-thru and on-site tastings most Saturday arvos. Great budget plonk from $15 reaching to top shelf regional and imported varieties. Harper & Blohm Specialty Cheeses also on-site.
Primrose & Vine
80 Primrose StExcellent quality, hipster-pleasing wine store with a drive-thru and on-site tastings most Saturday arvos. Great budget plonk from $15 reaching to top shelf regional and imported varieties. Harper & Blohm Specialty Cheeses also on-site.
Plonk as far as the eye can see! A local's favourite, this place is buzzing on the weekend and a little easier during the week. Decor is more conventional than hipster, but the food and vino is great quality. Even more lively when there's a band. Relaxed, friendly service.
26 locals recommend
The Valley Cellardoor
18-20 Hall StPlonk as far as the eye can see! A local's favourite, this place is buzzing on the weekend and a little easier during the week. Decor is more conventional than hipster, but the food and vino is great quality. Even more lively when there's a band. Relaxed, friendly service.
Great pub for a few beers and some grub. Open quite late. Only a short Uber ride away.
18 locals recommend
Grand View Hotel
47 Pearson StGreat pub for a few beers and some grub. Open quite late. Only a short Uber ride away.
This pub was initiated by a group of pro musicians, including Tex Perkins, so it's perfect if you're keen on hearing some kick ass live music. Luckily, it's also well styled and well stocked with great grub and drinks.
48 locals recommend
The Post Office Hotel Dining Hall
229-231 Sydney RdThis pub was initiated by a group of pro musicians, including Tex Perkins, so it's perfect if you're keen on hearing some kick ass live music. Luckily, it's also well styled and well stocked with great grub and drinks.
Still your typical pub with occasional live music, but has the added extras of hearty vegan grub and a generous sized beer garden to get lost in on a hot summer's day.
64 locals recommend
The Cornish Arms Hotel
163A Sydney RdStill your typical pub with occasional live music, but has the added extras of hearty vegan grub and a generous sized beer garden to get lost in on a hot summer's day.
Still one of my faves -- the iconic Retreat boasts great everything: food, music, decore, staff and drinks. If you're there late enough on a Friday or Saturday, you'll be treated to a change of pace by retro DJ tunes.
100 locals recommend
The Retreat Hotel
280 Sydney RdStill one of my faves -- the iconic Retreat boasts great everything: food, music, decore, staff and drinks. If you're there late enough on a Friday or Saturday, you'll be treated to a change of pace by retro DJ tunes.
Shopping
Local greengrocer open until 7pm weeknights and 6pm on weekends. Excellent international deli for cheese, meat, condiments and pantry items.
Fresh On Young
34-38 Young StLocal greengrocer open until 7pm weeknights and 6pm on weekends. Excellent international deli for cheese, meat, condiments and pantry items.
Popular local farmers market with uber fresh organic fruit, vegies, meat, cheese, wine and bread. Small amount of stores but it has everything one needs to feel completely satisfied. Get in earlier if you can -- worth it!
14 locals recommend
Coburg Farmers' Market
92 Bell StPopular local farmers market with uber fresh organic fruit, vegies, meat, cheese, wine and bread. Small amount of stores but it has everything one needs to feel completely satisfied. Get in earlier if you can -- worth it!
Yep -- it's Woolies! But not quite as you usually know it. There's an inhouse cafe, sushi station, full deli and many lanes of self-service check outs.
13 locals recommend
Woolworths Moonee Ponds
13 Pratt StYep -- it's Woolies! But not quite as you usually know it. There's an inhouse cafe, sushi station, full deli and many lanes of self-service check outs.
Puckle St has most things you might want for convenience or on holiday. The usual suspects -- Kmart, Aldi. Clothing -- Dotti, Witchery, couple of boutiques. Bakeries -- a nonna's dream.
23 locals recommend
Puckle Street
Puckle StreetPuckle St has most things you might want for convenience or on holiday. The usual suspects -- Kmart, Aldi. Clothing -- Dotti, Witchery, couple of boutiques. Bakeries -- a nonna's dream.
This market has all the essentials a hipster needs -- alternative foodstuffs, fresh fruit and vege, and all the basics. There's also plenty of big brand alcohol to choose from if you fancy a tipple. You can cut through via the Moonee Ponds Creek trail.
6 locals recommend
IGA Xpress West Brunswick
6 Olive York WayThis market has all the essentials a hipster needs -- alternative foodstuffs, fresh fruit and vege, and all the basics. There's also plenty of big brand alcohol to choose from if you fancy a tipple. You can cut through via the Moonee Ponds Creek trail.
Parks & Nature
Lovely local park that is great for some sunshine, plush grass and outdoors. Only 10-15 mins walk away. Take my picnic basket with you if you fancy a bite.
21 locals recommend
Queens Park
Kellaway AvenueLovely local park that is great for some sunshine, plush grass and outdoors. Only 10-15 mins walk away. Take my picnic basket with you if you fancy a bite.
Getting Around
Essendon
Convenient train station on the Craigieburn line, approx 15 mins to city.
Convenient train station on the Craigieburn line, approx 15 mins from the city, just after Essendon station.
Glenbervie Station
Convenient train station on the Craigieburn line, approx 15 mins from the city, just after Essendon station.
Convenient train station on the Craigieburn line if you fancy picking up something to cook for dinner and enjoying a 20 min walk home.
24 locals recommend
TSG Moonee Ponds Central
20 Homer StConvenient train station on the Craigieburn line if you fancy picking up something to cook for dinner and enjoying a 20 min walk home.
Arts & Culture
This always has great exhibitions and is easy to get to on public transport.
1737 locals recommend
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda RdThis always has great exhibitions and is easy to get to on public transport.
Great exhibitions if you're looking for a group activity or a solo wander.
222 locals recommend
Melbourne Museum/Rathdowne St station
Great exhibitions if you're looking for a group activity or a solo wander.
Essential viewing for Australians and international guests: the First Peoples exhibition. Knowledge, culture, stories, images and objects that are significant to the first people to inhabit Australia.
6 locals recommend
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre
11 Nicholson StEssential viewing for Australians and international guests: the First Peoples exhibition. Knowledge, culture, stories, images and objects that are significant to the first people to inhabit Australia.
A bit harder to get to than the other centrally located galleries, but it always has great art to offer, and the surrounds are peaceful and picturesque.
98 locals recommend
Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe RdA bit harder to get to than the other centrally located galleries, but it always has great art to offer, and the surrounds are peaceful and picturesque.