up to the minute designs are the trademark of young local designers
Is a suburb 2km north of Melbourne’s CBD
local artisans work in age old crafts
Inner suburban Fitzroy is home to Melbourne’s bohemian culture. An edgy mix of alternative, artistic and trendy elements, it has a fascinating collection of young designer and retro clothes shops, bookshops, galleries, cafes and restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife.
A short walk along Brunswick Street, Fitzroy’s backbone, will give you a feel for this popular suburb. You will see quaint and quirky shops, and eclectic art on offer in nearby studios, galleries and workshops, all set off by colourful public art street benches. Pick up bargain retro and recycled fashion, arty homewares, unique locally made jewellery or just a colourful bunch of flowers. Wander through pop culture at Polyester Books or just have a browse through the alternative secondhand stores to find a bargain.
Brunswick Street’s cool cafes, restaurants and boisterous bars offer something at any time of day, serving breakfast all day and coming alive at night with crowds of locals turning up to eat, drink and enjoy themselves.
Nearby Smith Street is an interesting multicultural streetscape that is growing in popularity as an alternative to Brunswick Street. Known for its fine vegetarian and whole foods, you’ll also find plenty of budget-friendly Asian, Greek, Moroccan, and Middle Eastern eateries from which to choose. It is also popular for its factory outlet stores representing corporate giants such as Bonds, Adidas and Nike and is also home to Melbourne’s must have accessory the Crumpler Bag. Smith St was where it all started for the Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant , the fore runner of venues for Melbourne’s thriving comedy circuit.
Trading on the free-spirited alternative culture of Brunswick and Smith streets is Johnston Street. Situated between the two, Johnston Street is Melbourne’s Spanish quarter and has a range of tapas and flamenco bars.