Where To Eat, Play And Stay Around Yarraville

We love inner-city living with suburban charm and Yarraville meets the brief. Alluring many to the West with its leafy green streets, views of the CBD and dynamic hospo scene, it's certainly worth the quick spin over the West Gate Bridge. 

Dotted with heritage buildings, Yarraville’s history has both been honoured and elevated of late. From fine dining at the acclaimed Navi to slow mornings at the Yarraville Village Farmers Market, there’s good reason this suburban oasis has cemented itself as one of Melbourne’s best.  

Here's everywhere to eat, play and stay around Yarraville next time you visit. 

The Best Restaurants In Yarraville

Navi

83b Gamon St, Yarraville

Image: Navi | Instagram

Serving up sleek ambience and experimental dishes served on handmade ceramics, Navi is Yarraville’s must-try intimate fine dining experience.

Chef and Owner Julian Hill hand-picks his suppliers (and his foraged ingredients), transforming sustainable, native and wild produce into innovative explorations of modern Australian cuisine. From black garlic and salmon roe macarons to chargrilled octopus with Geraldton wax miso and ink potato chips, expect the unexpected at one of the best restaurants Yarraville (and Melbourne) offers.  

Railway Hotel

35 Anderson St, Yarraville

Image: Railway Hotel | Instagram

Established in 1938, Railway Hotel has cemented itself as a local gem. Boasting leather banquettes, a swish pool table and trivia nights, this beloved haunt is the quintessential Melbourne pub experience. 

That said, the menu’s a cut above the usual. You can still get your classics like the chicken parma, steak sangas and a pie of the week, but there are nods to Melbourne's multicultural tastes, like chicken karaage, harissa lamb meatballs and Asian beef salad. It also has a rooftop overlooking the Yarraville Village making it an ideal spot to perch for a pint, a pizza and people-watching. 

Tzaki

31 Ballarat St, Yarraville

Image: Tzaki | Instagram

Channelling the spirit of the modern Athenian wine bar, Tzaki is some of Melbourne’s finest contemporary Greek food, no question. Tzaki has a chill, neighbourhood vibe that makes even strangers feel like locals, with a bar centred around a woodfired oven where the magic happens.

They switch up the menu constantly, but there are a few classics that stick, like stretchy flatbreads scooped through tarama, luxurious mousaka and a braised chickpea dish that will live in your mind rent-free. To finish, a cold tsipouro and warm, gooey feta cheesecake, with or without caviar.

Village Cantina 

30 Ballarat St, Yarraville

Image: Village Cantina | Instagram

Serving up all the Tex-Mex spice and vibes, Village Cantina is a simple pleasure that won’t break the bank. Expect a variety of quesadillas, tacos and loaded burritos on offer, with a bit of juicy birria thrown in, best washed down by one of their several mojito or marg variations. Gluten free and vegan options make it the perfect spot for big group hangs with a few dietaries. Not to mention a life-saving recovery lunch after a big, big night…

Pizza d’Asporto 

2-6 Ballarat St, Yarraville

Image: Pizza d'Asporto | Instagram

An ode to their rich, Italian heritage, Pizza d’Asporto is a family-run business offering a Southern Italian menu bolstered by recipes passed down through generations. Expect traditional pizza and pasta dishes, as well as antipasto, four types of fluffy focaccia and small plates like broccolini with toasted pine nuts and truffle oil—yum.

Feel the energy among the bustle of Yarraville Village, dining alfresco under festoon lights or watching the world go by from within. 

Eleni's Kitchen + Bar

28 Anderson St, Yarraville

Image: Eleni's Kitchen + Bar | Instagram

Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar brought authentic Greek food to Yarraville over 50 years ago, serving generations of locals and earning a heartfelt place as one of Yarraville’s best restaurants. Named after the family’s matriarch, expect generous home-style dishes, like oven-baked pepper and tomato, stuffed with rice, vegetables and mixed herbs, as well as gooey saganaki cheese served four ways. Here, seafood reigns supreme, so expect high-quality, fresh and often charcoal-cooked deliciousness. 

Fun tip: Eleni’s knows how to party, holding Greek Tavern Nights filled with plate smashing, live music, dancing and of course, a solid taverna feast. 

Bar Romanée

25 Anderson St, Yarraville

Image: Bar Romanée | Instagram

Euro-leaning and wine-centric, Yarraville’s Bar Romanee fulfills your most romantic Continental dreams. It's a rotating and succinct menu, spanning from snacks like Cobb Lane’s bread with cultured butter and pickles mussels on potato cakes, to larger plates like an eye fillet with Café de Paris butter or crispy, pillowy pan-fried gnocchi. Awash with green velvet, wine bottles and marble, it's the perfect spot for a date or a catch-up with mates and small plates. Stop in for Happy Hour, daily from 3-6pm. 

Glovers

34 Ballarat St, Yarraville

Image: Glovers | Instagram

Ms Botanica is no more, but in her place is Glovers, a Euro-style wine bar that hits all the right notes. Exposed brick, bentwood bistro chairs, bottle-lined walls and low lighting set the mood. Perfect for a post-work snack, a romantic date night or a leisurely weekend lunch. They've already got a cult following for snacks like chicken parfait toasts and lamb skewers with oregano and mint yogurt, with bigger dishes like caramelised chicken thigh with cinnamon salt and lemon or pan-fried semolina gnocchi and a simple lemon posset to finish. Matched with stunning wines and crafty cocktails, this is your new fave.

Fun tip: Eat like a local and chase the weekly specials. Come by for happy hour with $3 oysters, the Thursday $30 steak night or Wednesday's ultra-bougie $20 schnitzel.

The Best Bars In Yarraville

Navi Lounge 

83b Gamon St, Yarraville

Image: Navi | Instagram

Navi Lounge is the boozy counterpart of Julian Hill’s fine diner. It's all about approachable sophistication here as both the bar snacks and cocktails feature native ingredients and capture Navi’s knack for creativity, like salt and vinegar fish skins and the savoury duck baklava. The cocktail-snack-pairing flight is absolutely worth the splurge. Wine aficionados will love diving into the award-winning list. Off the booze? Their house-made non-alcs are honestly so good you won't feel like you're missing out at all. Nestle in for a cosy night and try Navi Lounge's cocktail flight paired with snacks. 

Hopheads Yarraville 

53 Anderson St, Yarraville

One of three locations, Hopheads' Yarraville venue is a love affair of craft beers and good times. Securing it as one of the best beer bars Yarraville has to offer, the team offer 12 brews on tap (which you can see online) and an epic library of bottles to try, from the easy-to-drink to the rich and rare. Live music from rotating local artists set the communal vibes at Hophead’s most weekends, so be sure to rally your mates and pop in. They also host a weekly run club for each of their venues, so if you’re keen on a jog that finishes with a free beer, sign on up!

Barkley Johnson 

11 Anderson St, Yarraville

Image: Barkley Johnson

We love a hybrid wine bar-meets-deli-meets bottleshop and we rate Barkley Johnson among Melbourne's best. Floor-to-ceiling racks of wine hold everything from local makers to carefully selected imports that'd make any wine aficionado's heart skip a beat. Don't know what you're after? The knowledgeable team will point you in the right direction - and you know what, sometimes that's a cocktail! Pull up a chair to graze on some charcuterie or swing by to pick up a bottle. 

The Best Cafes In Yarraville

Rocco's Deli

122 Roberts St, Yarraville

Image: Rocco's Deli | Instagram

Rocco's Deli has been a Yarraville icon since 1977, in all its no-fuss glory. The line snakes out the door every day as locals and travelling foodies patiently wait to wrap their hands around Rocco’s Italian-style roll. 

Made fresh and simple, sandwich-fans can customise their roll with an array of high-quality, sliced-to-order deli meats, cheese and antipasti on offer. And these sangas are stacked and generous. The family-run business also sells grazing boxes, authentic Italian take-home meals and sweet treats like Rocco’s renowned brûlée doughnuts. 

Cobb Lane Bakery 

1-3 Taylor St, Yarraville

Image: Cobb Lane Bakery | Instagram

Now with multiple locations (including a CBD store) and a booming wholesale business, there’s no doubt Cobb Lane is one of the best bakeries Melbourne has. 10 years strong, their sourdough has stolen the hearts of many, and their cookies and canele make your morning coffee and pastry run that little bit more special. 

Madison Coffee & Cornerstore 

150 Stephen St, Yarraville

Image: Madison Coffee & Cornerstore | Instagram

Madison Coffee & Cornerstore keeps it simple—grab-and-go caffeine and nourishment. Reminiscent of an old-school milk bar (we love), the team have dialled in on crowd-pleasers like filled bagels, brekkie rolls, a hefty chicken schnitzel panini and a pastry cabinet that's too hard to pass up. They've also got a pantry corner for your restocking needs. Oh, and it's pooch-friendly! 

Masak Masak

128 Roberts St, Yarraville

Image: Masak Masak | Instagram

Fusion flavours and unique brunches are the order of the day at Masak Masak, a cheerful Southeast Asian coffee shop and eatery. Wake up with a Kopitiam breakfast of kaya toast with soft boiled eggs or Hong Kong-style French toast. Get your spice fix with Singapore chilli crab baked eggs or the vibrant goodness of Sarawak laksa. Even the sandwiches are above and beyond, like the signature Roti-John of braised lamb shoulder omelette on tiger bread with garlic chilli mayo and onions.

By night, it switches to a sharing-style menu, a fusion blend where sesame prawn toast and crispy pork belly with slaw sits beside stracciatella with grapes and pickled tea leaves.

Where To Stay In Yarraville

Heart Of Yarraville 

Yarraville

Image: Heart of Yarraville | Airbnb

This modern, two-bedroom apartment ensures you can experience Yarraville Village in full swing. The local eateries, quirky shops, train station and fairy-lit outdoor dining space are all at your doorstep. The Yarraville Gardens—just under eight hectares of leafy recreational parklands—is also just around the corner. 

Milkbar Apartment

Seddon

Image: Milkbar Apartment | Airbnb

Right next door to Yarraville, Seddon is a sleepy, leafy little 'burb that's ideal for a quiet getaway. This charming, vine-covered 'tiny house' situation is a self-contained apartment with a modern fitout, garden views and kitchenette, with a verandah simply begging for you to laze in the sun with a good book and a glass of wine.

 

Captains Retreat 

Williamstown 

Image: Captains Retreat | Instagram

Less than a 15-minute drive from Yarraville is Williamstown—a historical seaside village attracting those looking for a place to throw down a picnic rug, piers walks, fishing and swimming. Adjacent to the water, Captains Retreat offers both charming boutique-style apartments and cottages. 

Things To Do in Yarraville

Yarraville Farmers Market

Image: Yarraville Farmer's Market | Instagram

Quality local produce and farmers, hand-made crafts, and communal vibes is what the ever-wholesome Yarraville Farmers Market is all about. Gathering locals every third Saturday of the month, wander through the open-air stalls with a coffee in hand and stock up on gourmet pantry must-haves. 

Yarraville Village 

Image: The Sun Bookshop | Instagram

The streets surrounding Yarraville train station are buzzing with culturally-diverse eateries and small local businesses to shop. While the afternoon away in Art Deco beauty Sun Bookshop or pull up a chair at Ballarat Street’s outdoor dining area with a few takeaway treats. 

Sun Theatre 

Step back in time at Yarraville's iconic jewel, The Sun Theatre. Revered for its dazzling, feel-good Art Deco design, the cinema has charmed cinephiles since 1938 and boasts eight retro cinemas showing the latest films from around the globe—a must when in Yarraville. 

Scienceworks 

Image: Scienceworks | Instagram

Likely to be every Melbournian kid's favourite excursion, Scienceworks is a mesmerising museum covering all the curiosities of our universe. From astronomy and space to robots and technology, Science Works is both educational and just straight-up fun. Be sure to check out the Melbourne Planetarium too—an immersive cinematic experience exploring astronomy under a 16-metre domed screen. 

Grazeland 

Image: Grazeland | Instagram

Eat your way through some of Melbourne’s best at Grazeland. Located in Spotswood— just a quick drive from Yarraville—Grazeland is a permanent food truck park propped next to the Yarra River open every weekend. Expect shipping-container-style stalls and a diverse range of vendors such as Lokma Lokma’s famous Greek doughnuts and Smokeworks American-style BBQ. There's also a couple of stages set for live gigs, so be sure to check it out when it's humming.

Cruickshank Park

Yarraville is certainly dialled up in the parks department. Dotted with Yarraville Gardens, McIvor Reserve and Yarraville Oval, it's a surefire place to throw down a picnic rug. Plus, Cruickshank Park’s Dinosaur Park is well worth a visit. Otherwise known as McNish Reserve, it's centred around a six-by-three-meter dino made by local Footscray artists.