Here are the best restaurants and cafes in Brunswick, perfect for your early morning pick-me-up, quality wines, live music, and nightlife.
When you think of Melbourne nightlife, there’s a lot that comes to mind. Live music, coffee, parties, festivals, and much more. We’ve also got some of the best restaurants this side of the equator, the world’s best coffee, and a great melting pot of many different cultures.
Brunswick is one of our most popular suburbs, full of many landmarks like Sydney Rd, Lygon St, and more record stores than you can shake a stick at. It’s a bit of a hipster’s paradise, a good bunch of businesses here are keen to do something a little bit out there and different.
Today we’re diving into Brunswick’s best restaurants and cafes. There’s a bit of everything, from American to Japanese cuisines, and everything in between. The capital is also considered as a bit of a foodie’s playground, with many original and interesting dining experiences for any type of person.
With our food offerings being as bountiful as they are, deciding where to eat out can be an overwhelming task in this city. So we thought it best to assemble a little guide for our trusty Beat readers, highlighting an array of haunts across Melbourne for you to sink your teeth into. From vegan-friendly pizza to Italian feasts and a barbeque-lovers dream, there are plenty of choice cuts in here for everyone. Dig in, folks.
If you’re looking to down a couple of bevs and a Parma instead, check out our lists of the best bars and pubs in the Docklands here, Melbourne here.
The best cafés in Brunswick
Small Axe Kitchen
- Address: 281 Victoria St
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: Italian Inspired
It’s not too often you get a café inspired by Italy; Small Axe Kitchen is a one of a kind café. Home to menu items like the famous Breakfast Pizza, Sicilian donuts and chickpea panelle, there’s almost no reason for lunch and dinner.
A1 Bakery Brunswick
- Address: 643-645 Sydney Rd
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: Lebanese and Middle Eastern bakery items
Yes this spot should ring a bell, it was this spot that got social media famous for apparently having a visit from rapper Kanye West. Besides their claim to fame, they’ve got a variety of delicious bakery items, check that out here.
Project281
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtFguz7voi4/
- Address: 281 Albert St
- Vibe: Modern Melbourne
- Dedicated Menu: Standard café fare with a twist, coffee
Project 281 brings a collection of tasty café meals to the people, there’s a bit of everything on offer, things like a peach and coconut pudding, steak sandwich, chicken and waffles, and even a crab and prawn okonomiyaki. Of course they’ve got all the Melbourne coffee favourites on offer too, you can grab pourover and cold brew here.
The best restaurants in Brunswick
Bhang
- Address: 1/2A Mitchell St
- Vibe: Multicultural
- Dedicated Menu: IndianMelbourne is an amazing melting pot of different backgrounds, people of all types have brought their culture to our shores, and we’ve been allowed to enjoy it all. Brunswick is home to a high-quality Indian spot, Bhang, and the spot’s jam packed with killer deals – like $20 Biryani Night and $25 Thali Night, you’ll be eating good for dirt cheap during a visit here.
Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria
- Address: 339 Victoria St
- Vibe: Funky
- Dedicated Menu: Mexican, Mexican, Mexican
Yet another international inspired food spot is found in Brunswick, as the name suggests, Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria is focused on slinging all things Mexican, you can chow more tacos than you can shake a stick at – lamb, beef, chicken, fish, mushroom and even potato and eggs.
Juanita Peaches
- Address: 12 Edward St
- Vibe: Cool
- Dedicated Menu: American fare
Fried Chicken, burrito, and burgers, need we say more? There’s all the favourites here, and all paired with delicious bevs – they’ve even got a beer from Garage Project that has hints of cucumber, dill, and pickles, which goes perfectly with a burger or two.
Good Days
- Address: 165 Sydney Rd
- Vibe: Laid back
- Dedicated Menu: Vietnamese inspired cuisine
Located on the mecca of Sydney Rd, Good Days focuses on all things Vietnamese. Their menu is nice and succinct, so you know they’ve aced everything on it. Rice Paper Rolls, Spring Rolls, and Noodle Salads feature, among much more. Take a quick peak at what their food looks like here, but try not to drool on your phone.
Miss Moses
- Address: 581 – 583 Sydney Rd
- Vibe: Modern Melbourne
- Dedicated Menu: Burgers, Sandwiches and Beers
Yet another Sydney Rd staple is Miss Moses, an establishment focused on all things Burgers, Sandwiches and Beers – there’s too many to list here, have a gander at their full menu over on their website here. If you feel like strapping on the feedbag, check out their bottomless menu, where you can enjoy a collection of delicious meals for $69 a person.
Very Good Falafel
- Address: 629 Sydney Rd
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: Middle Eastern and Falafel
There’s nothing better than a freshly cooked falafel, and when there’s a whole food spot dedicated to it, it’s like heaven in a store. Dive into all the info on Very Good Falafel over on their socials here. If you love the food during a visit here, there’s even a cookbook that’ll be available soon.
Tom Phat
- Address: 184 Sydney Rd
- Vibe: Fun
- Dedicated Menu: Asian cuisine
Tom Phat brings bargain food and drinks to all Brunswickians – Every Tuesday through to Saturday, you can grab $8 beers, $8 wines, and $12 margaritas, which pair awesome with items like crispy squid, yellow curry and roti.
Alasya Restaurant
- Address: 555 Sydney Rd
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: Toasted Sandwiches and PastriesAlasya Restaurant is found of the popular Sydney Rd in Brunswick, and is dedicated to the world of Turkish cuisine. Additional info and a full menu can be found on Alasya Restaurant’s website here.
Kines
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- Address: 11 Hope St
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: Toasted Sandwiches and Pastries
Kines was transformed from a shoe store to a food spot only a few years ago, but has quickly established itself as the perfect meeting spot. While you’re here, you can even chuck on a record if you really want it to feel like home. They’ve also got a bevy of events ready for customers, check out what’s on at Kines here.
Mama Manoush
- Address: 175/177 Lygon St
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: LebaneseLebanese restaurant Mama Manoush provides customers with a selection of the best cuisine this side of the city. Like all good spots, there’s a killer sharing banquet on offer here, where you can chow into plenty of hummus.
Rumi
- Address: 116 Lygon St
- Vibe: Modern
- Dedicated Menu: Middle Eastern
Now we stop the run of Italian restaurants for a bit of Middle Eastern cuisine, which can be found at Rumi. The menu items include things like BBQ beetroot, Fried cauliflower, and much more.
Etta
- Address: 60 Lygon St
- Vibe: Cool
- Dedicated Menu: Italian
When you think of Italian fare in Melbourne, the first spot that comes to mind is Lygon St. Lucky for Brunswick, they’ve got a section of it in their suburb, complete with a variety of Italian restaurants. One of those is Etta, where you can grab meals that aren’t that common anywhere else.
Bar Idda
- Address: 132 Lygon St
- Vibe: Laid back
- Dedicated Menu: Italian / Sicilian inspired
Don’t let the name fool you, this spot isn’t a bar but a killer Italian locale slinging all your favourite dishes. You can grab things like Pane Piatto, Arancino, Agnolotti, and much more.
Zia Teresa
- Address: 90 Lygon St
- Vibe: Homely
- Dedicated Menu: Family / Homemade Italian cuisine
Walking into Zia Teresa is like entering a family home. You’ll immediately feel comfortable and you’ll never want to leave. There’s an interesting story behind this establishment, with the owner moving from Italy, check out the full history here.
Teta Mona
- Address: 100A Lygon St
- Vibe: Homely
- Dedicated Menu: Lebanese inspired cuisine
Teta Mona is named after the grandma of owners Antoine and Bechara Taouk, who have a menu inspired by their upbringing. The restaurant offers a selection of tasty Lebanese cuisine, things like falafel, pastries, and haloumi, among much more.
Ciao Mamma!
- Address: 3 Union St
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: ItalianYet another Italian restaurant can be found in Brunswick, Ciao Mamma has quickly become one of the suburb’s most popular dining spots. If you’re still not sure, Ciao Mamma! Makes their pasta and sauce onsite each and every day, so you know you’ll be getting the best of the best.Additional information on Ciao Mamma! can be found here.
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