Fitzroy is the kind of place that gets under your skin. A 10-minute Uber from the CBD, yet somehow a world away from it. It has the galleries, the laneway bars, the third-wave coffee shops, the independent bookstores — all of it packed into a handful of walkable streets that feel alive at any hour.
If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne and wondering where to base yourself, Fitzroy is a strong argument. Here’s everything you need to know about staying in the neighbourhood.
Why Fitzroy?
Fitzroy sits just north of the city, roughly 2 kilometres from the CBD. That proximity means you’re never far from the big-ticket Melbourne experiences — Federation Square, the MCG, the National Gallery — but you’re staying somewhere with its own genuine character, not just a hotel corridor.
The suburb centres around Brunswick Street and Smith Street. Brunswick Street is the older soul: vintage clothing stores, wine bars, live music venues. Smith Street runs cooler and newer — it was voted one of the hippest streets in the world by Time Out, and it earns it. Restaurants from neighbourhood staples to cocktail bars and bottle shops that double as degustation dinners.
Where to Eat
Fitzroy punches well above its weight on food. A few places worth knowing:
- Cutler & Co on Gertrude Street is one of Melbourne’s best fine dining restaurants. Book ahead.
- Hammer & Tong on Smith Street is the go-to for breakfast — simple, seasonal, excellent coffee.
- Vegie Bar on Brunswick Street has been feeding the neighbourhood since 1991 and remains the best vegetarian restaurant in the city.
- Otter’s Notebook — Japanese-influenced small plates, always packed, always worth it.
What to Do
Fitzroy has its own gallery scene. The Neon Parc gallery on Brunswick Street shows emerging Australian artists. Gertrude Contemporary is one of the best artist-run galleries in the country.
On Saturdays, the Rose Street Market draws artists, craftspeople and designers from across Melbourne. It’s the kind of market that actually sells interesting things.
Carlton Gardens, just over the Fitzroy border, is worth a morning walk — the Royal Exhibition Building on the grounds is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Melbourne’s most beautiful buildings.
Getting Around
Fitzroy is one of Melbourne’s most walkable suburbs. Trams run frequently down Brunswick Street (Route 96 and 112) and connect directly to the CBD in under 15 minutes. Most things worth seeing are within easy reach.
Where to Stay in Fitzroy
If you want to actually live like a local rather than just visit, a short-term rental is the answer. Artist Abodes offers boutique short-term rentals in Fitzroy and neighbouring Collingwood — all styled with unique furnishings and designed to feel like a home rather than a hotel room.
Properties are fully equipped with premium inclusions: full kitchen, hotel-quality linen, NBN WiFi, SMEG appliances. One of the highest-rated short-term rental operators in Melbourne’s inner north.
Browse properties and book direct for the best rates and early check-in.
Explore more: Fitzroy is a great base for getting out and about. Check out our experience guides on Melbourne’s art galleries and the NGV, walking tours of Melbourne’s laneways and street art, and Melbourne’s food and bar scene.