Dani Leever

Brunswick’s reputation is as a hipster hotspot, but there’s a lot more to this vibrant area than just smashed avos and fancy lattes. A hub of art, culture and fantastic bars, the area also has historically been home to Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern populations, which is evident in Brunswick’s food scene and community spaces. A true gem of the north, Brunswick is bustling, artistic and lively – the place to be if you want great craft beer, delicious coffee and to see why Melbourne is known for its exceptional art and music scene.   Jump to a section: EAT DRINK COFFEE THINGS TO DO SHOPPING What’s Brunswick known for? Being one of the only Greens electorates in Victoria, the area is quite left-leaning, and those politics feel evident in many of the venues you’ll visit. Wandering the main drag of Sydney Road, you’ll see hip vintage stores, art galleries, bookshops and family-owned restaurants all sandwiched between lively pubs and music venues. It’s a buzzy suburb of art, activism, vintage shops and delicious food.  With the variety of eclectic venues, there’s always a good local band, art exhibition, tattoo flash day or pop-up shop to check out. Plus, the neighbouring Brunswick East is packed to the brim with cosy wine bars for hot dates, as well as some of Melbourne’s most celebrated restaurants. Why do the locals love it? Brunswick is a community of communities. There are pockets of artists, musos, lefties, coffee nerds and a huge population of LGBTQ+ folks living in sh