A local's guide to the City of Hume

Referred to as ‘Broady’ by locals, there’s an inviting Middle Eastern presence in Broadmeadows, owing to its strong migrant population and abundance of amenities that support diverse cultures.

Find Victoria’s most authentic and full-flavoured shawarma at Shish Shawarma & Grill, an institution whose popularity in the suburb has seen them recently expand to Niddrie. Follow the charcoal scent to an unassuming storefront where you’ll find only the freshest meats, dips, salads and rice. 

To get your carbohydrate fix, head to Al Rawsha Bakery for a mix of classics like zaatar (an oregano, thyme, and sumac herb mix layered across dough), loaded pizzas, and cheese pies baked fresh every day. 

Ideally located on the thoroughfare between Broadmeadows Station and Pascoe Vale Road, you’ll find Humble Harry. What started as a simple roastery producing the Humble Harry Houseblend has now become a vibrant and cosmopolitan meeting place for families, corporates and coffee aficionados alike. Local favourites include the Humble Harry avo with beetroot relish and Persian fetta, and their specialty lunch dish, mandi (spiced and slow-cooked chicken or lamb on a bed of saffron rice).

If you were kicking around Victoria in the 90s, you would have seen the commercials about Roxburgh Park ceding its former agricultural past and being transformed into a suburban area. It’s come a long way since then, with quality eateries and busy streets to prove it.

A name you’re likely familiar with if you’ve passed through Melbourne’s inner north is Tiba’s, and their Roxburgh Park location takes Lebanese fare to the next level with an exclusive breakfast menu. Think a big breakfast made up of scrambled eggs, halloumi and sujuk (spicy sausage) with fresh cucumber, olives and tomatoes, washed down with a robust Lebanese coffee.

If you’re after freshly baked goods, try Baladi Lebanese Bakery for pizzas and pies served alongside fresh pickled turnip, foul modamas (fava beans and chickpeas in a lemon tahini sauce) and kafta (lamb meatballs).

Arabic slang for ‘what’s up?”, Shako Mako are the cool kids on the block with a TikTok account to prove it. Running both a café and a restaurant may sound like a hefty responsibility, but the team at Shako Mako make it look like a breeze. Here you’ll find traditional Iraqi meals done well, including the BBQ meat mix served with pickles, dips, and bread, and lamb tashreeb (lamb shanks served with a tomato stew). At the café, you’ll get sweet treats like baklava and sesame biscuits.

With a population of over 50,000 people, Craigieburn is one of the larger suburbs of Hume with a rich postwar history. These days, it’s home to an amalgamation of backgrounds, creating a multicultural hub that has elevated the suburb.  

For those in the mood for South Asian cuisine, Momo Chaa brings the spice-filled food of Nepal to Hume. Their signature dish of momos (dumplings filled with chicken, beef or vegetables served with a spicy coriander and tomato sauce) kept their food truck popular and their family business afloat during the many lockdowns experienced over the pandemic.  

Continuing the trend of quality, family-owned eateries, VHM Bros operates with a passion for serving fresh and no-frills fare reminiscent of their father’s cooking. It’s one of the few locations in Melbourne you’ll find authentic Bún bò Huế (a spicy beef and pork noodle soup), though you’ll need to get in early as it does sell out quick. 

If you’re interested in familiarising yourself with the art of Hume, make a stopover at the Gee Lee-Wik Doleen Gallery. Named after the Woiwurrung term for ‘the ancestor’s pride’, the gallery regularly hosts a diverse array of events and exhibitions, with a focus on championing local up-and-coming artists.

And, if you find yourself in the area on the last Saturday of the month, swing by the Hume Community Market to support some of the local small businesses slinging their homegrown, handmade and pre-loved goods.

Home to the oldest known cheese factory in the state and native river red gums, Mickleham has a strong cultural presence in Victoria.

For a quality drop and some finer food, you need to try Marnong Estate. Located on a homestead that dates back to the late 1840s, Marnong is all about paddock-to-plate, with a sustainable farm, vineyard and accommodation that pay homage to the rich history of the Hume wine region. The estate also boasts a cellar door, the Bankvale Run dining space and a wedding venue.

Found in the new Merrifield City shopping precinct, Aurum Espresso Coffee Roastery offers a chic light-filled interior and quality food, perfect for passing through while you’re grocery shopping or if you want to meet up with friends in a central location. You’ll find only the trusty classics here, including Spanish eggs, corn fritters and chilli scramble.

Sunbury is a historically significant suburb, being the birthplace of The Ashes and home to a range of longstanding wineries and national parks.

For those frosty Winter nights, Screw It Wine Bar brings an impressive list of local and international wines to Sunbury in a setting that’s the happy medium between a speakeasy and an intimate date spot.    

Continuing the trend of good wine, Pat Carmody and his wife Dianne have been running Craiglee Vineyard for over 40 years, handpicking the grapes and bottling the wine on-premises using sustainable practices. The site has a rich history, with vines first being planted in 1863 up until the 1920s when the paddocks were turned to lamb production and the winery ceased production. Pat breathed new life into the site, producing wines with a respect for the history of the vineyard. Craiglee is a must-visit mostly for the history of Sunbury that is captured in the walls, but the cool-climate wines that can be tasted are also a bonus. 

Owners of Krash & Co. Ashley and Nicole have always operated with the ethos of championing local suppliers. Located in what some would argue is the perfect spot for a café, smack bang between the train station and Sunbury CBD, Krash & Co. is a community-minded cafè with a slight German influence and some of the best coffee kicking around the suburb. The clincher? Bacon and eggs are only $14, and kids eat free with any adult meal.

If you’re in the mood for a classic Australian brunch fit for a foodie, The Spotted Owl is a must-visit. With a seasonal menu elevating fresh, local produce, the chefs take it up a notch with miso braised pork belly benny, okonomiyaki pancakes and smashed avo with green hummus. Their hot drink menu is expansive as it is unique, featuring coffee roasted nearby and lattes of the beetroot, turmeric and matcha kind.

If you’re wandering around Sunbury after breakfast, consider strolling through the Sunbury Village Market. Held on the second Saturday of every month, you’ll find plenty of eccentric crafts and collectibles served with a side of BBQ sausages sold by the Sunbury Rotary Club.

Formerly part of Broadmeadows, Westmeadows has a small country town feel to it despite being less than 20kms from the Melbourne CBD. 

Artisan pastries and specialty coffee are what West Espresso Brewers does best. Enjoy unique croissant flavours like scrambled egg and feta and raspberry and pistachio, and treat yourself to their signature blends from A+ Coffee Roasters that will have you feeling like you’re in an inner-city café.

Keeping on the theme of sweet treats, Mayflour satisfies all sugar cravings. Their cupcakes rotate daily and include experimental flavours like lemon meringue, banana split and neopolitan.