Hipster Paradise in the Fitzroy Neighborhood of Melbourne
Melbourne's hipster heart, mapped over two days of coffee, vegan food and neighborhood wandering.
Fancy coffee shops and an absurd number of barbershops are waiting to greet you in this hipster-friendly neighborhood.
Our reviewerThe Most Hipster Area of Melbourne
Fitzroy feels like it was airlifted out of Brooklyn and dropped into Melbourne, an unexpected contrast to the red-soil, wildlife-heavy image most people have of Australia. Fancy coffee shops and an improbable number of barbershops line the neighborhood's two main strips, Smith Street and Brunswick Street, both packed with cafes and shops built for wandering.
Dinner at Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya delivers a genuine slice of Tokyo, and Smith and Daughters' vegan menu held up against the best of New York's vegan scene, Brunswick Street in particular has an outsized number of vegan restaurants worth seeking out.
A second day is worth spending partly outside Fitzroy: the St Kilda penguins are Melbourne's top-rated tourist attraction on TripAdvisor, reachable via a 40-minute tram ride and a two-to-three-kilometer walk, though a February visit turned up only three baby penguins, a smaller showing than expected.
The real draw remains Fitzroy itself. Between fancy coffee and next-level donuts in the morning and izakaya or vegan food at night, it's the kind of neighborhood worth returning to, and worth adding to any list of cities to live in.
Why We Love It
- Smith Street and Brunswick Street pack in cafes, shops and vegan restaurants
- Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya delivers an authentic Tokyo-style dining experience
- Smith and Daughters' vegan menu rivals New York's vegan food scene
- Easy day trip to the St Kilda penguins, Melbourne's top-rated tourist attraction
Considerations
- St Kilda penguin viewing can be underwhelming outside peak season, only three were spotted in a February visit
- The donuts at the Donut Shop cost noticeably more than average
Two Days in Fitzroy
Day one is built around exploring Smith and Brunswick Streets before dinner at Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya, a Japanese-influenced restaurant with food and ambience good enough to feel like a small Tokyo spot. Smith and Daughters' vegan menu is worth prioritizing too, it held up against the best vegan food our reviewer had tried in New York.
Day two starts with coffee and a donut from the Donut Shop, pricier than average but worth it, before a trolley ride and walk out to St Kilda pier for Melbourne's top-rated tourist attraction: the resident penguins.
Set Penguin Expectations Accordingly
A February visit to the St Kilda penguins turned up only three baby penguins after a 40-minute tram ride and a two-to-three-kilometer walk, still a nice walk and a good way to see the city, just don't expect a huge colony outside peak season.
We Recommend This To Readers Who:
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Love a strong coffee and vegan food scene
Smith and Brunswick Streets are loaded with cafes and vegan restaurants worth seeking out.
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Want an authentic izakaya experience
Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya delivers food and ambience close to a small Tokyo restaurant.
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Are curious about Melbourne beyond the city center
Fitzroy plus a day trip to the St Kilda penguins covers both neighborhood charm and a top attraction.
A Closer Look
A Neighborhood Worth Returning To
Between its coffee, vegan food and izakaya dining, Fitzroy left enough of an impression to land on our reviewer's list of cities they'd actually live in.
