Multicultural, laidback and blessed with an amenable climate, Australia’s cities are bursting with neighborhoods where a great cup of coffee and a plate piled high with delicious food is the norm rather than the exception. The great outdoors can be a terrific brunch spot or a table in the sun at a trendy microbrewery, although a view of a stunning beach or leafy park is always an appreciated bonus. In Australia people live for the weekend – and in these often achingly cool suburbs, the living is good.
A former Greek enclave, then a haven for Vietnamese immigrants, lively Marrickville is a proper melting pot and a magnet for foodies. Just four miles (7km) from Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD), you’ll find old school Greek delis, Italian cheese shops and some of the best Vietnamese food in the city. The suburb is known for its iconic microbreweries too, including the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, named in honor of the late beer-loving Australian prime minister and a nostalgic nod to Eighties Australia. The center also features an Australian-Chinese bistro run by one of Sydney's top chefs.
Compile any list of Australia’s coolest neighborhoods and Fitzroy nearly always comes out on top. Eclectic, creative and ever evolving, it was the highest ranked Aussie suburb in Time Out’s 2022 list of the 51 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World. It was congratulated for its “artsy and eclectic beating heart”, with the rooftop bar at Naked For Satan (pictured) getting a name check. A stroll along lively Brunswick street is a must, before exploring the ‘quieter’ corners of Gertrude, Smith and Johnston Street. Make sure you drop by The Workers Club, a legendary venue in Melbourne’s thriving live music scene.
Lonely Planet once named Adelaide’s West End as the coolest neighborhood in Australia. And as soon as you step foot in this lively hub of laneway bars, restaurants and galleries you’ll quickly see why. Every taste is catered for, from cocktail crawls to whiskey and wine, with Malt and Juniper and Shotgun Willie’s must-visit destinations. The landmark Jam Factory is ground zero for Adelaide creatives and within a block you’ll find Ace Open, the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, the Samstag Museum of Art and SASA Gallery. The options are limitless in this part of town.
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Once the heart of Brisbane’s notorious red light district, Fortitude Valley has cleaned up its act but kept the party vibe. Time Out recently voted it one of the 51 coolest neighborhoods in the world, remarking that “If you want to party, this is one of the best places in Australia”. There’s a sophistication too, with its heritage-listed buildings housing trendy boutiques, cafes and restaurants plus a classy nightlife scene. Make sure to head to the suburb’s northeast edges for the Foster and Black Roastery, a hip coffee hangout that attracts visitors from all over the world.
Head north out of Perth’s CBD, cross the railway line via the historic Horseshoe Bridge and 10 minutes later you’ll find Northbridge – the gritty, creative mecca of Perth that wears its checkered past proudly. Quite literally on the wrong side of the tracks, it was once famous for its houses of ill-repute. Now its graffiti-clad buildings are home to fantastic restaurants offering cuisines from all over the world and the highest concentration of bars in Perth. There’s culture too with a range of fantastic galleries, theatres, cinemas and book shops tucked away in its tiny lanes and along William Street.
Hobart’s gorgeous waterfront used to be a place of convict-era pubs, factories and flophouses, flickering briefly into Australia’s national consciousness each year as the finish line for the annual Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race. Now those same buildings house the Henry Jones Art Hotel, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) and a host of buzzing bars, restaurants and cafes. Even the weekly Salamanca Market has picked up its game, focusing less on tacky tourist souvenirs and more on the wonderfully local produce that is grown across Tasmania.
No neighborhood reflects Canberra’s stunning transformation from staid abode of civil servants to one of the country’s most exciting cities than the neighborhood of Braddon. In less than a decade it has gone from a strip of grungy car yards to a hip city precinct where Canberrans can indulge their love of good coffee, fine food and boutique shopping. A 10-minute walk from the CBD – or even quicker by e-scooter – will have you sampling Australia's number one craft beer at the BentSpoke Brewing Co, tucking into Spanish-influenced char-grilled delights at the Black Fire Restaurant or conversing over a quality brew at Lonsdale Street Roasters.
Just north of Fitzroy, bustling Brunswick is a little more laidback and multicultural than its more feted neighbor. Wander down Sydney Road and you’re just as likely to find a Mediterranean grocery store or an Arabic eatery as a hipster cafe or microbrewery, although there are plenty of those too. This traditional-meets-contemporary vibe is like catnip to Melbourne's cool-cat hipsters, who start the day with an espresso at Code Black Coffee, enjoy a pint at the Temple Brewing Co, take in a performance at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute and end the night with a kebab from the Alasya Turkish Restaurant.
Just a 10-minute walk from Sydney’s Central Station, Surry Hills is famous for the Belvoir St Theatre, where Cate Blanchett first trod the boards, as well as for its funky boutiques and vintage fashion stores. There's also an eclectic mix of leafy streets and industrial buildings adorned with street art. There’s a strong coffee culture too, with Single O the go-to, but other popular spots like Reuben Hills, Sample Coffee Roasters and Paramount Coffee Project, found in the heritage-listed Paramount Pictures building, also serve up quality brews. Surry Hills is just moments away from Darlinghurst and Oxford Street, home to Sydney’s world-famous annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Beachside Brighton is Adelaide city’s trendiest coastal neighborhood. It’s only a 20-minute train ride from the CBD, but once you step onto the platform and breathe in the invigorating sea air you feel transported to another world. With its picture-postcard foreshore and traditional fish and chips shops, Brighton has the air of a seaside village. But wander the backstreets and you’ll find plenty of hip cafes and creative precincts like Summertown Studio, a converted warehouse where local artisans beaver away, live music is played and you can get the best coffee on the coast.
When this northern suburb in Perth was founded in 1901, the Governor’s wife Lady Lawley had only one stipulation: if it was to be named after her husband, there could be no drinking establishment. Thankfully, no notice was taken and now the suburb hosts some of the city’s favorite watering holes such as the charming Queen’s Tavern, the sleek industrial Five Bar and the Must Winebar, with its Champagne room and wall of wine. Mount Lawley is equally famous for its Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, but what makes it really cool is the restored Art Deco Astor Theatre and its calendar of alternative stage acts.
Brisbane’s West End is home to an impressive array of culturally diverse cafes and restaurants and a growing craft brewery scene, especially along the main drag of Boundary Street. But live music remains its beating heart. Some of the biggest names in Australian music got their start here – the Bee Gees, The Saints and the Go-Betweens, to name a few. Drop by The Bearded Lady, West Room or Loft West End for a chance to see the next big thing from north of the border.
A relaxing 30-minute ferry ride from Sydney’s Circular Quay, Manly is one of those rare places that offers both a cosmopolitan buzz and a chilled coastal vibe. The beach here is divine; a long strip of golden sand lined by majestic Norfolk pines. There are plenty of fantastic cafes, restaurants and old-fashioned Aussie pubs to enjoy too. Take a surf lesson in the morning, then retire to the 4 Pines Manly Brewpub along the esplanade near the ferry terminal for an award-winning lager and spectacular views back towards the city.
Newcastle is an old steel town set on a beautiful harbor two hours north of Sydney. Once grimy and unloved, it has undergone something of a renaissance and is now home to street art, iconic ocean baths and cool cafes. Nowhere is that transformation more apparent than in Mayfield, one the city’s oldest suburbs. It has scrubbed up and leaned into its industrial heritage to become the number one brunch spot in Newcastle. The toasties served up by Perry The Feeder in Mayfield East are to die for.
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No suburb divides more Melbournians than this gritty seaside neighborhood. The grease paint is smeared, the costumes faded and tatty. But you’ll still find terrific alfresco beachfront dining at the St Kilda Sea Baths, socially-conscious art at Space2B and a cold beer and live band at the legendary Espy. Just like the famous entrance to its Luna Park, St Kilda gives off a slightly unnerving vibe but what fun there is to be had inside. Take a stroll down Chapel Street on a sunny day and it’s clear that St Kilda’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.
The Brisbane neighborhood that takes in New Farm, Newstead and Teneriffe is proof that there’s more to being cool than a grimy inner-city past. Sure, this former farming area has its fair share of trendy cafes, restaurants and bars set around converted warehouses and wool stores, but it’s also home to New Farm Park, one of the city's oldest, grandest and largest parks. And while the old Brisbane Powerhouse has been transformed into an exciting creative hub, it’s the riverside cycleways and parkland around it that have proved equally popular.
This pocket-sized neighborhood is Adelaide’s best kept secret. Backing up against the East Adelaide Parklands and Botanic Garden, it offers an enviable outdoor lifestyle as well as all the perks of inner-city life. Lured by affordable rent, many of the city’s creative industries have set up shop in the laneways and backstreets of Kent Town, resulting in a host of exciting new cafes, bars and restaurants along King William and Rundle Streets to cater for them. This being Adelaide, Kent Town also boasts nine boutique cellar doors, two gin distilleries and a microbrewery.
Leederville – or Leedy as the locals call it – is a little bit quirky and increasingly popular with the tastemakers in Perth. Lune Leederville is one of the city’s few remaining and operating Art Deco cinemas screening year-round arthouse films, and in the warmer months it hosts an outdoor cinema. Oxford Street buzzes with sidewalk cafes and restaurants specializing in Spanish, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. On Friday and Saturday nights you can jump onboard a rickshaw for a Leederville Food Safari, a foodie tour of the suburb’s most exclusive eateries.
A wave of immigrants from Vietnam in the Seventies turned this unassuming suburb into a little piece of Indochina in western Sydney. Now people come from all over the city to get lost in Cabramatta’s laneways and arcades that are tightly packed with shops, stalls and restaurants selling everything from fabrics to amazing pho, banh mi and traditional Vietnamese desserts. The sheer variety of truly world-class dishes can be overwhelming so joining a food tour like Gourmet Safaris or Taste Cultural Food Tours is highly recommended.
Once a center for southern European migrants, these days Footscray is one of the best places in Melbourne to slurp a bowl of pho, grab a masala dosa, tuck into traditional Ethiopian injera flatbread or simply buy ingredients at the bustling Footscray Market. Brunch is big here too – Footscray Milking Station is a long-time favorite – and Back Alley Sally's (pictured) is a top choice for a tipple. Footscray Community Arts Centre offers an exciting program of theater performances and art exhibitions. And the annual St Jerome's Laneway Festival is arguably Melbourne’s most exciting music event.
Perched beside Canberra’s iconic Lake Burley Griffin, Kingston is an intriguing mix of old and new. The historic part of the neighborhood is defined by its heritage homes, boutique shops and cozy cafes. The foreshore is the flashier younger sibling, with modern lakeside bars and restaurants offering the very best in sunset dining and drinking. There are galleries and glassworks, books stores and boutiques, but the focus is always the lake. Consider indulging in a ‘floating picnic’ on board a specially designed boat from GoBoat rental to really make the most of it.
Set up on a hill just a little north of the city, Paddington is Brisbane’s version of a cool inner-city neighborhood. There are the old workers' cottages and character homes, of course. And Latrobe and Given Terraces are lined with independent boutiques, vintage stores and quirky cafes serving up a hearty breakfast. This being Brisbane things are just a bit more relaxed. People linger a little longer over their coffee here and take their time over brunch. Luckily the siren call of the local antique stores and op shops (thrift stores) gets most people moving again.
When modernism arrived in Fremantle in the 1960s the East End of the city thankfully didn’t get the memo. Its Neo-Gothic heritage buildings and iconic wool stores were spared ‘development’, giving the area a certain character and charm that continues to attract Fremantle’s most creative and innovative artists and entrepreneurs across food, music, culture and the arts. Converted wool stores offer New York-style apartment living, and there are open spaces celebrating the area’s Aboriginal heritage. The streets are also buzzing with microbreweries like the Sunshine Harvester Works (pictured) and environmentally friendly boutiques such as the Zero Waste Store.
Just up the road from the stately University of Sydney, Newtown has long been famous for its quirky, bohemian spirit. Stroll along iconic King Street and you’ll find vintage clothing stores, buzzing arts and theater spaces and a great dining and drinking scene. Beautifully-restored 19th-century terrace houses give the leafy backstreets a certain charm but there are gritty corners and a vibrant street art scene too. Head to Clem’s Chicken Shop to sample Australia’s fast-food gift to the world – piping hot fries sprinkled with delicious chicken salt.
Collingwood is one of Melbourne’s hippest suburbs but wears its blue-collar heritage proudly. A walk among the workers’ cottages and warehouses here reveals layers of local history, characterful creativity and effortless charm. For example, grab a burger at Easey’s (pictured) and you’re surrounded by old train carriages. Smith Street is packed with lively restaurants and bars and is a mecca for vintage stores. And the pubs and bars here form a vital hub for Melbourne’s very strong music scene. Catch a gig at The Tote and chances are you’re watching the next big thing on the Aussie indie music scene.
North Hobart is eclectic and culturally diverse and as edgy as it gets in Tasmania. Here street art meets working-class grunge and Taswegians tuck into arguably the best breakfasts in the state at Berta and Room For A Pony. The Republic Bar has long been an institution for drinks and live music. And elsewhere on the Elizabeth Street strip you’ll find a veritable United Nations of restaurants from Thai to Turkish. For the artistically inclined, Bett Gallery exhibits and sells some of Australia’s finest young artists' work and the State Cinema screens the latest alternative and foreign films. They have a great cafe and book shop too.
Fyshwick is another former industrial center that has transformed into a popular weekend destination in Canberra. The fabulous Fyshwick Fresh Food Market is the oldest in the city and remains the go-to place for farm-fresh produce. The Capital Brewing Co (pictured) offers expansive indoor and outdoor seating with a Brodburger van serving delicious eats. The Ona Coffee House is famous for its award-winning baristas. Fyshwick’s eclectic charm can also be found in the Niche Markets, home to local, artisanal traders and selling everything from fashion and jewelry to homeware, flowers, food and more.
Nestled in Brisbane's inner-west, Milton has quietly begun making a name for itself as one of the city’s most interesting and quirky neighborhoods. Its working-class roots are still strong – you’ll find the XXXX brewery here as well as Suncorp Stadium, the mecca of Queensland rugby league – and Park Road was one of the first Italian-style cafe precincts in Brisbane. But now the suburb’s best kept secrets like Mrs Luu’s Vietnamese Canteen, the Scratch Bar and Bunker cafe are being discovered by the rest of the city.
As a city fringe suburb, Bowden in Adelaide really shouldn’t be this cool. But thanks to environmentally conscious developments it has become something of a creative hub with wineries, markets and cultural treats aplenty, setting a benchmark for urban renewal projects across Australia. At its heart is Plant 4 Bowden (pictured), an industrial warehouse that is now home to eateries, artisan stores and a weekly roster of markets and events. There’s live music at The Gov, craft beer at Oddio and great casual dining at Jarmer’s Kitchen. Bowden has made life in the suburbs hip again.
Not many cities can say their Central Business District is cool but Perth can. In many ways Central Perth is the beating heart of the city, where you’re just as likely to find quirky boutiques as big brand shops. But it’s in the CBD’s laneways where you’ll find the real action. Edgy street art heralds a plethora of buzzing bars and restaurants, only minutes away from the city’s world-class theater scene. It's extremely walkable and close to hand – and a lot of fun.