Brunswick, where the vibes are strong and the coffee’s stronger. It’s a suburb forged in history, and now radiates with a diverse cultural energy that's truly one-of-a-kind.
This humble suburb has always been a place where creativity thrives and authenticity is king—it’s the type of place that simply can’t be imitated.
Brunswick At A Glance
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With truly so many places on offer, it can feel like a mighty task to find the top spots. Well, consider this your express ticket to the best eats, drinks, and good times this legendary 'burb has to offer.
Without further ado, here are the best cafes, restaurants, bars and things to do in Brunswick according to Urban List:
Best Cafes In Brunswick
Brunswick knows how to do good coffee. No matter your brew preference, there's something for every type of thirst, craving, mood, and weather. Here are a couple of our fave Brunswick cafes and if you're after the best, take a peek at our full list over here.
ONA Coffee
22 Ovens Street, Brunswick
Image: ONA Coffee Brunswick | Supplied
Specialty coffee powerhouse ONA Coffee is best described as a sort of coffee Mecca. On the menu is over 15 coffee variants, along with milk, batch brews and pour overs, with cups ranging from $5 to $25. The team here are actual superstars, taking out places in the World Barista Championship, Australian Latte Art Championship and a slew of other titles. They take their job seriously and will happily offer you any coffee-related guidance you may need.
Also one of the best Brunswick brunch spots, you’ll find brunch classics like smashed avo, zucchini haloumi corn fritters and Turkish eggs on the menu as well as fun creations like green chilli scramble and okonomiyaki waffle. Or, our fave Saturday morning plan is to grab a baked good from Ovens Street Bakery across the road pre- or post- ONA coffee.
Kohi No Deshi & Disciple Roasters
16 Black Street and 18 Black Street, Brunswick
Disciple Roasters and Kohi No Deshi are the perfect neighbouring coffee duo. Disciple is a coffee cellar door which serves exclusively black coffees. This is one for the serious coffee lovers. Owner and coffee expert Marwin Shaw features a selection of 15 premium black coffees at this joint. The belief here is that great coffee is all about the raw product, so the team focuses on excellent coffee production and minimal intervention with the coffee bean.
Next door is Disciple Roasters' newer milk-based sister, Kohi No Deshi. This is where you’ll find all the milky coffee goodness you desire, with plant-based milk options available too. The coffee here is just as premium, and you can select from multiple blends on offer. It’s the yin and yang of coffee in true Brunswick style. It's also some of the best coffee Melbourne has to offer.
Osoi
Shop 3, 219 Albion Street, Brunswick
Tucked away just off the Brunswick bike path, the guys at Osoi are serving up a stack of different kinds of matchas (more of Melbourne's best matcha over here) as well as coffees and little pastries, making it the perfect lo-fi brunch or catch up spot. They do a take on a Vietnamese iced coffee that is a proper heart-starter and perfect for extreme caffeine lovers.
For the matcha queens out there, the ichigo (strawberry) matcha, mango genmaicha—reminiscent of mango sticky rice—and matcha cloud—a pandan- infused matcha cream levitating atop coconut water—are highly sought-after. Check their Insta for cute events they host like a matcha and crafting dates or lattes and leads outings.
P.S. See our full rundown of the best Brunswick cafes right here.
Best Restaurants In Brunswick
From iconic cheap eateries that are in their flirty thirties to new Italian pizzerias that will haunt your dreams (in the best way possible), these Brunswick restaurants are some of our top recs, but if you're after a comprehensive guide to the suburb's dining scene, check here.
Nina’s Bar & Dining
11 Florence Street, Brunswick
Nina’s Bar & Dining is an absolute cutie. The menu is vegetarian friendly with stunners like broccoli and gouda croquettes, grilled sugarloaf cabbage and BBQ carrots. Or masterpieces like the cook strait snapper fillet and rump steak with mustard jus for the meat eaters.
But it’s the weeknight dinners we’re absolutely loving. Our favourite is the Tuesday night specialty: $35 steak (including a vegan lion’s mane mushroom steak option) and a glass of malbec for $12.
Madonna Electric
833 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Image: Madonna Electric | Supplied
Mondays hit different when you know you’ll be hitting up Madonna Electric for their weekly bottomless pizza night. You read correctly, all you can eat pizza crafted to perfection in an old school Italian joint (think Nonna’s house vibes)—it doesn’t get much better. It’s ambient, cosy and you won’t want to leave (except maybe to lie down).
Though no matter what day of the week you visit, you’re guaranteed a good and delicious time. They do pizza right here. The dough at Madonna Electric is cold fermented over three to four days, hand stretched and then baked in a stone base oven. The result is a thin, perfectly crisp base that will make regular appearances in your dreams.
Check out more of Melbourne's best here:
A1 Bakery
643-645 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Image: A1 Bakery Brunswick Melbourne | Supplied
No guide to Brunswick would be complete without a mention of the iconic A1 Bakery. Having reached cult-status long ago, the original A1 Bakery on Sydney Road in Brunswick is the spot for all your Lebanese baked goods. The family-run bakery, cafe and Middle Eastern grocer founded in 1992 is famous for being cheap and cheerful, while still slinging excellent food.
Formerly the haunt of only students the bakery has passed into legendary status with folks from all walks of life diving into a cheese pie or settle in for coffee and to watch the day go by.
Casa Chino
212-214 Albion Street, Brunswick
Image: Casa Chino | Supplied
Casa Chino has got to be one of the most beautiful restaurants in Melbourne. The undercover alfresco dining space is adorned with vibrant greenery running overhead along exposed wooden beams, and the centre-piece tree lights up with fairy lights, emitting a soft, warm hue.
For the food, you’re up for some bold Chifa—Chinese-Peruvian cuisine. An unexpected collision of Chinese-Cantonese spice with Latin American ingredients. You can go the sharing route with two set menu offers at $39pp and $59pp, or nibble as you go on the a la carte menu that spans across small plates, raw seafood, dim sums, skewers and plates hot off the wok.
Hungry for more? This is our full rundown of the best restaurants in Brunswick.
What To Do In Brunswick Melbourne
While some might say the best things to do in Brunswick are eat, drink and be merry, there are certainly some fun activities and locations to check out if you feel so inclined. Here's what to do in Brunswick once your stomach is full and your thirst is quenched:
Go Op Shopping At Savers
330 Sydney Road, Brunswick
No trip to Brunswick would be complete without popping your head into the second-hand oasis that is Savers. Of course, this humble suburb is renowned for its op shopping and there are countless op shops in Brunswick to check out (most of which are worth a quick peruse), but this megastore is one of the largest with racks upon racks of previously loved threads. Also stocking kitchenware, furniture, books, shoes—whatever you need, there's a good chance you'll find it here. The Brunswick locale even has self-serve checkouts, making for some seriously streamlined op shopping. This is without a doubt one of the best op shops Brunswick has on offer.
Get Tailor Made Trousers At Dejour Jeans
542 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Image: Dejour Jeans | Supplied
A Brunswick institution since 1989, Dejour Jeans on Sydney Road is a denim lover's dream. This not-so-hidden gem offers Australian tailor-made jeans from $65. The entire shop from floor to ceiling is filled with jeans. Choose from a variety of styles, and pick from pretty much every colour of the rainbow. You can get measured up by the denim maestro, go grab a coffee and voilà—your very own perfect fitting pair of jeans.
Take A Swing At What The Putt
305 Sydney Road, Brunswick
What The Putt is an indoor mini golf experience providing even measures of quirky and competitive. This grown-up wonderland serves up 18 holes of pure delight, each packed with playful obstacles and cheeky surprises (think loop-de-loops, trick shots and maybe an artful shortcut or two). Ideal for date nights or big group shenanigans, it’s mini golf cranked up with neon lights, upbeat vibes and a side of loaded fries (thanks to their food and bev packages).
Psst, keen for more mini golf? Here are the best mini golf spots in Melbourne.
Image credit: Ain Raadik (Visit Victoria).
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.
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