INNER NORTH
THINGS TO DO IN INNER NORTH
In the Inner North suburbs of Melbourne, where some of the city's coolest addresses reside, there is absolutely no room for boredom. Home to iconic neighbourhoods that have firmly established themselves as destinations in their own right – Fitzroy, Carlton and Collingwood – these urban gems boast some of Melbourne's hottest restaurants, cafes and bars.
Every day (and night) of the week, Melbourne's Inner North is pulsing. Pick a cuisine, and you will find it here, sitting alongside cafes pouring what is arguably the best coffee in the city. Record stores, art galleries, fashion labels and vintage finds fill shopfronts, and pubs that are churning out parmas (chicken parmigiana) pop up on every other corner.
Even with all of this, nothing gets these inner-city hubs going quite like their local AFL teams – North Melbourne, Carlton and Collingwood Magpies.
Be it footy, a leisurely brunch or getting lost among the galleries – whatever mood you're in, Melbourne's Inner North caters to it well. So, settle in because our list of things to do in Melbourne's Inner North has something for everyone.
Foodie Hotspot
Home-style pasta and wood-fired pizza to rich gelato in bright hues, Carlton has firmly established itself as the go-to for the best Italian food the city has to offer. But that's not all this food-loving area dishes up. From cheerful Greek eateries that are smashing good time to Ethiopian feasts best shared by hand, the food around this cluster of Inner North suburbs is nothing short of world-class.
Café Culture
When it comes to things to do in Melbourne's Inner North, this cluster of urban neighbourhoods boasts some of the best brunch and coffee in the city (and in bean-mad Melbourne, that's really saying something). From industrial chic cafes that have garnered a cult following to hole-in-the-wall gems with a real, local-only feel, you're all but guaranteed to be in for a treat on the food and coffee front. So, whether you prefer your filter of Indonesian or Guatemalan origins, the baristas in these parts of Melbourne know what they're doing.
Pub Life
In Melbourne's Inner North, pubs are something of a religion. Everyone has a favourite, and everyone claims to have the best parma. From iconic rough and tumble pubs to chick cocktail bars with all the trimmings, the pub culture in Melbourne's Inner North is thriving. Collingwood is famed for its classic pubs that boast an impressive roster of local and international acts, while the pubs of Fitzroy are top contenders for having the best parma in Melbourne (and if you haven't guessed it, this is kind of a big deal).
Shop 'til You Drop
Chic local designers or rare vintage finds – Fitzroy is the place for clothes and homewares. Collingwood is known for its record stores, and galleries are sprinkled throughout Fitzroy, North Melbourne and Collingwood. For those who love to shop local, sleek Gertrude Street in Fitzroy is home to some of the city's best local designers.
Fitzroy
The city's undisputed hot spot, Fitzroy, with its colourful streets and thriving bar and restaurant scene, leads the way in all things dining, drinking and living. Stylish cafes and some of Melbourne's most in-demand restaurants and bars are peppered throughout, while creative studios and galleries fill the side streets. And when the weather is right, Fitzroy Pool is an iconic institution that's become a place to see and be seen sunbathing on the concrete steps.
Collingwood
Collingwood hasn't always been the trendy suburb that it is now. Once a tough neighbourhood has become an inner-city gem with the city's newest hot spot for bars, galleries and restaurants opening weekly. Chic cocktails venues to corner pubs clinging onto their heyday, Collingwood has it all. Yet still, the one thing that Collingwood does will is the live music venues known for supporting local acts and hosting wild and rowdy shows. When it comes to things to do in Melbourne's Inner North, this is one of the places to be.
Carlton
Stylish, cultured and full of character, Carlton is all about authentic Italian food, the celebrated Readings Bookstore and film buffs paradise, Cinema Nova. Lygon Street is probably one of the city's most iconic addresses, and it's the beating pulse of Carlton with an impressive line-up of restaurants and cafes with a European fare. Plus, there is Melbourne Museum, heritage-listed Carlton Gardens, and the Carlton Baths.
Splash of Greenery
Good food, chic bars and rowdy pubs aside, when it comes to things to do in Melbourne's Inner North, there is an abundance of gardens and parklands to relax in. From Royal Park on the edge of North Melbourne to Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Edinburgh Gardens, there is plenty of greenspaces to go around.
When it comes to things to do in Melbourne's Inner North, the choices are endless – especially when it comes to dining, drinking and live music.
