mosey

North Melbourne VIC, Australia

February 2026 Edition (updated bi-annually)

North Melbourne (and close neighbour West Melbourne) offers a uniquely Melbourne mix of history, culture and creativity. Although located right on the city’s bustling fringe, North Melbourne is a relaxed and spacious neighbourhood with the community-focussed feel of a country town.

North Melbourne Neighbourhood Guide – $5.00

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Snapshot

North Melbourne is a neighbourhood alive with a creative and multicultural spirit, offering something for all tastes.

Its wide tree-lined streets and bluestone laneways are filled with eclectic cafes, restaurants, cosy bars and small boutiques with heritage shopfronts. A stroll through the neighbourhood will take you past stately terrace houses, converted warehouses and tiny workers’ cottages; the heritage-listed Town Hall and Metropolitan Meat Market (both now creative arts and cultural spaces); and the 170 hectare green oasis of Royal Park. Plus Melbourne’s iconic (and delicious!) Queen Victoria Market.

The basics

  • Where is it?

    On the fringe of Melbourne’s CBD, less than 3kms north-west of Melbourne Town Hall – bordered by Royal Park to the north and Queen Victoria Market to the south. ‍
  • When to visit?

    Year-round, but in summer vibes are high with locals cramming onto tables along footpaths, or spread out on Errol Street’s much-loved grassy central median – making the best of Melbourne’s sunny afternoons and balmy evenings.
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  • Where to stay?
    There are quite a few options on Airbnb in North Melbourne, but being so close to the city, you could choose from one of Melbourne’s many hotels, and take the short journey on foot or by tram.

North Melbourne is alive with a creative and multicultural spirit, offering something for all tastes and plenty of opportunities for a mosey!

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The guide

  • Digital guide – instant access and a mobile-friendly format, for easy use while on the move.
  • Curated list – 47 of our favourite places, including restaurants, bars, coffee spots, retail and more. Plus ‘sidewalks’ if your exploring takes you further afield.
  • Online directory – A comprehensive and easy-to-navigate directory that’s accessible any time, anywhere.
  • Interactive map – An exclusive custom map with colour-coded pins for easy use while on the move, including our favourite places, sidewalks, and some extras for you to explore.
  • Free updates – Every time the guide is updated, you will receive all new content at no extra cost.

Our curated guide showcases the very best of North Melbourne, ensuring you can spend less time researching and more time roaming.

Tried & tested

We are Tim and Steph, two creatives hailing from the vibrant city of Melbourne, Australia (learn more about us ). Over countless trips, we’ve built a habit of digging deeper than the typical tourist trail.

We sort through the viral TikTok venues and the overpriced tourist traps, and we collect tips from friends who have visited. We chat with chefs, baristas and shop owners and ask about their must-visit destinations and locals’ secrets — not the places on the ‘top ten’ or ‘hot’ lists, but the ones that locals return to again and again. Slowly piecing together a picture of what makes each place unique.

Then we try them all ourselves, hand-picking our favourite places to eat, shop and explore, and the experiences that capture the heart of each neighbourhood.

The guide is extremely informative and detailed. We have visited many of the hand picked spots and used the interactive map.

- John, North Melbourne Guide

Mosey guides are such a fun adventure. You think you know somewhere, and then you’re sent off on a treasure hunt, and the treasure is always good!!

- Lisa, Pererenan Guide

The whole guide makes sense, giving you the feeling that you are privy to real local knowledge and culture!

- Ben, Thornbury Guide

For the cost of a cup of coffee, you can find out where to go for the best coffee, a relaxed vibe, fabulous food or a delicious pastry.

- Mary, Thornbury Guide

Explore more

Saturday 1pm, Errol Street, North Melbourne