A shopper's guide to Brunswick East

It’s the attentive, knowledgeable service from local residents Michael and Emily that keeps locals coming back to this nursery and garden. Whether you’re after a hanging indoor plant in a cute stone bowl or seeds for your future veggie patch, you’re guaranteed a wealth of useful tips to become the green thumb you always wanted to be.

Beauty meets practicality at Obus: a Melbourne-based label that focuses on pared-back tailoring, natural fibres and quirky prints. Founder Kylie Zerbst draws inspiration from her travels for every new collection, and her Melbourne-made garments are all designed with comfort in mind, whether you’re after a pair of sleek slim-leg pants for work, or a breezy cotton smock for the weekend.

On any given weekend morning, you’ll find families, couples and friends sipping house-roasted coffee and snacking on pastries at this East Brunswick mainstay. Padre have expanded their two-man roastery operation to a café and retail space, which sells everything a home barista might need. Want to dive deeper into your coffee obsession? Get involved in Padre’s workshops and public cuppings (coffee tastings) on the first Monday of every month at 2pm.

Venture to the top of Lygon Street and you’ll find a wine nerd’s paradise. Modelling themselves on the French ‘négociant’ model, ReWine buys wine directly from wineries across the country and stores them in the shop in barrels. It’s all about personal service here; spend time tasting, comparing and talking, then when you find something you like, buy it by the refillable bottle. That bright 2016 Tempranillo from King Valley you like? Your bottle will cost $18, but $15 for a refill when you bring your bottle back.