We all know Melbourne is the most liveable city in the world, trendy shops, nice cafés and heaps of cultural events. However, there are so many suburbs in Melbourne that choosing one either to life or to spend the day might be quite difficult. So for those who don´t know them yet, here a selection of the 5 coolest neighbourhoods in Melbourne.
5 Chinatown
Somewhat of a misnomer, “Chinatown” is filled with a wonderful blend of Asian cultures—from Vietnamese to Japanese, and of course Chinese. Start your night out getting stuffed with shockingly cheap dumplings at Shanghai Village before wandering down the streets to one of the many karaoke rooms to belt out your favorite K-pop tunes; “I Am The Best” by 2NE1 is a personal fave, but “Hush” by miss A is great for beginners. Finish up your night with bowl of ramen and takowasabi (raw octopus in a wasabi-soy sauce) at the 24-hour Shujinko on Russell Street. Kanpai!
4 South Bank
Need a relaxing day after a wild night out? Look no further! Stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens or lounge on the banks of the Yarra River. Get your higher brain working with one of the many cultural offerings available with a slew of theaters and museums for your music, play and art viewing pleasure. If that’s not your style, catch some truly Australian athletics in the form of Australian rules football at Etihad Stadium or the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. For something more universal, check out the Australian Open at the Tennis Centre.
3 St. Kilda
It’s summer in Melbourne and it’s time to get some time in the sun and sand, so head over to St. Kilda! Spend the day getting tan, then at night get your adrenaline fix on some thrill rides at Luna Park, and hop over to Palais for a concert. Now a slightly classier neighborhood, St. Kilda’s a good place to get a little dressed up and hit the bars to strut your stuff and show off your latest outfit that you picked up at one of the boutiques nearby.
2 Brunswick
Perhaps I’m a bit biased since Brunswick is my home, but bear with me here. Now a culturally diverse section of the city, Brunswick’s Sydney Road is lined with a wide variety of restaurants with cuisine from all over the world and bars with a truly local crowd. The new spot for hipsters exiled by the rising rents of Fitzroy, Brunswick’s music and arts scene is coming above ground. Get your groove on at the Railway Hotel, a bar/venue/club hybrid with a lovely central courtyard and frequent DJ festivals.
1 Fitzroy
Not to be confused with Brunswick the Neighborhood, Brunswick Street in Fitzroy is a weeklong pub-crawl waiting to happen. If you’ve had a difficult Monday, look no further than the Worker’s Club, where you can pick up pints of house draught for $4 each. $4! During the day, check out one of the many hip and quirky cafes that line the side streets, and after your fancy brunch you can peruse the boutiques along Gertrude Street. Copacabana on Smith Street has weekly free Latin dance lessons, and in no time you’ll be salsa-ing through Fitzroy and quite pleased that you’re in the coolest neighborhood in Melbourne.