A guide to Melbourne’s coolest neighbourhoods

Moving to Australia for a working holiday? Or simply planning your gap year in Australia? Georgie's city guide covers the best areas in Melbourne for nightlife, food, culture, cafés and living like a local.

Like some of you, I’m a Brit who came to the land Down Under on a working holiday visa. Fast forward three years and I’m now a long black sipping, thrift shop-loving Melbournian who officially calls the city my home. Now for the hoods…

The ultimate area guide to Melbourne

Melbourne's CBD

• Best for shopping, food and entertainment
• Average vibe: cultural, corporate, cafe-centric

You’ll find colourful laneways filled with quirky coffee shops, restaurants and bars, street artists in action, unique stores in old luxurious arcades, wide Parisian-style boulevards on Collins Street and the foodie hotspot Queen Victoria Market. The more wrong turns you make the more you’re likely to find.

Weekends in Melbourne's CBD

Tick off a Melbourne institution with breakfast at Hardware Society, grab a coffee at the city’s first-ever coffee shop Degraves Espresso and go get lost in the graffitied laneways as you make your way to Federation Square. Take the bridge across to the NGV and check out some of the local and international art. Finally head to China Town (via a bottle shop) and enjoy a BYO dim sum feast. Not ready to go home? Head to nearby Section 8, an open-aired bar with local DJs every week.

Richmond, East Melbourne

• Best for Vietnamese food and being close to everything
• Average vibe: leafy and lively

There are three main strips to explore – Swan Street, Bridge Road and Victoria Street all bringing their own unique vibe of hipster sandwich shops, quirky cafés and bars as well as some of the best Vietnamese food in the city. For sports fans, it’s the closest neighbourhood to the MCG, which means it gets a little loose on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday night in AFL season.

Weekends in Richmond

Pick up a $7 banh mi at T&L bakery, head on a walk along the Yarra river and stop by The Corner Hotel for a pre-game drink or to catch a gig. If you’re in season, follow the coloured scarf-wearing locals and pre-book a ticket to an AFL or cricket game at the MCG.

Fitzroy, Northeast Melbourne

• Best for boutiques, music and art
• Average vibe: alternative, artsy, suburban

Independent boutiques, graffitied laneways, trendy restaurants and bars filled with even trendier Melbournians. Fitzroy is a desirable spot to be for all things fashion, food and nightlife.

Weekends in Fitzroy

Start with brunch at local favourite Archies, hit up the Saturday market, Rose St Market and search for a vintage gem at Lost and Found. Feet sore? Head on up to Naked For Satan for a rooftop drink with city views. To fuel up after all that shopping - there are foodie spots galore on the main strips - Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street and Smith Street (technically Collingwood) so wander into wherever takes your fancy. Bonus points if you end up in the infamous sticky-floored Yah Yahs followed by the kebab shop next door.

Carlton, North Melbourne

• Best for Italian food and student hangouts
• Average vibe: intellectual, café-oriented and quietly cultured

Gelato shops, streets lined with Italian eateries, espresso bars and the popular café Brunetti’s. Carlton is coined the ‘Little Italy’ of Melbourne, so you’ll want to go with an empty stomach to truly enjoy all there is to offer.

Weekends in Carlton

Hit Lygon Street with pizza on the brain at D.O.C (book ahead), shop hop along the vibrant street and top up the food coma with a Pidapipo gelato scoop. Walk it off with a stroll through Carlton gardens and check out the iconic Royal Exhibition Centre plus all the street dancers, skateboarders and rollerbladers who like to hang out and practice in the square.

Brunswick, North Melbourne

• Best for live music and international food markets
• Average vibe: creative, progressive and deeply local

Expect to see a whole lot of mullets, alternative fashion, ‘old man pubs’ and (in true Melbourne style) a hot pot of different cuisines to enjoy.

Weekends in Brunswick

Enjoy cheap n traditional middle eastern platters at A1 bakery, stroll Sydney road for some second-hand steals, pop into one of the huge Mediterranean food stores mainly to marvel at how big the hummus tubs are (no seriously) then head to The Retreat or Howler for live music and drinks in the beer garden.

Prahran, Southeast Melbourne

• Best for nightlife, fashion and food
• Average vibe: trendy, social and image-conscious

And we’re headed south of the river to Prahran, home to Chapel Street, a very long road that’s popular for a night out, shopping, dining and wandering about with a juice in activewear.

Weekends in Prahran

Start things off at foodie Mecca Prahran Market and enjoy some freshly made street eats (plus any snacks for later). Head down to Greville Street for record stores and a vintage browse, then on to Albert Park for a lap around the lake. Thirsty? Try the College Lawn Hotel for a drink in the beer garden and an Aussie pub favourite – chicken parma. If you’re after a big one, continue the party at Revolver, a club that only closes for a couple of hours all weekend. Berlin style.

St Kilda, Southeast Melbourne

• Best for beach life and backpacker energy
• Average vibe: sandy, chaotic and fun

If seeing the sunset over the ocean daily is a must on your Aussie adventure, St Kilda could be the spot for you. There are backpacker bars, hostels and travellers aplenty in this neck of the woods so it’s a great place to start off and meet some mates.

Weekends in St Kilda

Grab a Mr Squeeze acai bowl to go and take a walk along the beachfront (have a dip in the sea if it’s warm), get a thrill at Luna Park and head to the pier at 5 pm to spot the penguins coming back after a fishing trip. Grab dinner on Acland Street and round it off with happy hour (or two hours) at Shabby Bar. Then it’s off to the ‘Espy’ aka Hotel Esplanade if the dance floor is calling you.

If you’re thinking you need better neighbours...that become good friends, why not consider a working holiday Down Under?

Our Work Australia packages will set you up with everything you need to live and work in Australia. We’ll process your Australia working holiday visa for you, book your transfers and arrival accommodation, and we'll be on hand with unlimited job placement services for the duration of your visa – helping you find your feet, find a job and meet your soon-to-be best buddies for a year of earning and adventure.