MELBOURNE | Stretching south from Ruckers Hill down toward Merri Creek, Northcote is a neighbourhood whose gems are easy to miss as you head past Fitzroy North and Clifton Hill, towards Thornbury and Preston . Walking along High Street reveals a vibrant, creative neighbourhood that seamlessly blends historic pubs, a food truck park, and a culturally diverse food scene.
It’s a suburb where you can grab exceptional falafel, Syrian homestyle feasts, Sri Lankan curries, or a quiet drink in a converted bookshop all in one afternoon. It’s easy to spend a full day wandering up and down High Street, filling the gaps between your food and drink adventures with street art sightseeing and shopping at independent boutiques
Whether you’re hunting down a morning bowl of breakfast ramen, settling in for a glass of natural wine and lives tunes spun by local DJs, or cracking open a beer by an open fireplace in a former church, Northcote’s quirky venues are well worth your time.
To help you navigate all that suburb has to offer, here is my local’s guide to the best food and drinks in Northcote.
At-A-Glance: Where To Eat & Drink The Best Food In Northcote
| Venue | Category | Highlight / Must-Order |
| Welcome To Thornbury | Food Truck Park & Bar | Rotating Food Trucks & Outdoor Beer Garden |
| Loku | Sri Lankan Restaurant | Black Pork Curry & Betel Leaf Tacos |
| High Note | Wine Bar & Music Space | Vintage Opera House Speakers & Natural Wines |
| Wazzup Falafel | Middle Eastern Eatery | Crispy Falafel Wraps & Falafel Boxes |
| Goodwater | Whiskey Bar | 200+ American Whiskeys & French Onion Grilled Cheese |
| Shamiat | Syrian Restaurant | Eggplant Salad, Cabbage Rolls & Mujadara |
| Bicycle Thieves | Cafe & Brunch | Breakfast Ramen & Ricotta Banana Fritters |
| Buck Mulligan’s | Whiskey Bar & Bookshop | Irish Whiskeys & Second-Hand Books |
| Tahina | Middle Eastern Vegetarian | Shakshuka & Green Falafel Pockets |
| Wesley Anne | Historic Pub | Cosy Open Fireplace & Pub Classics |
| Donny’s | Neighbourhood Bar | Drinks & Casual Bites |
| Northside Wines | Bottle Shop & Wine Bar | Curated Regional Wines |
| 300 Grams | Burger Joint | Smashed Patties & Crinkle-Cut Fries |
Dining, Cafes & Casual Eats
Welcome To Thornbury
Brought to Melbourne by the team behind Mr Burger, Homeslice, Brunswick Mess Hall, and Fancy Hank’s, Welcome To Thornbury (technically in Northcote) is Melbourne’s permanent food truck park set up in a former car yard. It combines a fixed bar with a massive indoor and outdoor seating area.
Must-Try: Rotating dishes from Melbourne’s best food trucks paired with cocktail jugs or craft beer.
520 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Loku
Named after the Sinhalese word for “eldest,” Loku is run by chef Lanka Imiyaarachchige alongside her children. Drawing on her Tamil-Sinhalese heritage, Lanka serves refined home-style Sri Lankan dishes cooked from scratch.
Must-Try: The rich black pork curry cooked with dark roasted curry powder, or the betel leaf taco with fried oyster mushrooms.
298 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Wazzup Falafel
Run by Ahmad Al Alaea and Bara Sifi, Wazzup Falafel brings Jordanian and Palestinian street food traditions to High Street. Everything is made from scratch daily, delivering falafel with an unmistakable lightness and crunch.
Must-Try: The special wrap packed which is generously filled with falafel, hummus, tomatoes, pickles, baby rocket, cucumber, fresh mint, fried eggplant, cauliflower, chips, and spicy sauce.
343 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Shamiat
Run by Syrian refugees Helda Almorani and Atallah Abo, Shamiat is a welcoming restaurant, sweet shop, and cafe offering authentic, fresh Syrian cuisine and Middle Eastern hospitality.
Must-Try: The eggplant salad with pomegranate molasses, the cabbage rolls, and the mujadara lentils with crispy caramelised onions.
64 Victoria Road, Northcote VIC 3070
Bicycle Thieves
Named after the classic 1948 Italian film, Bicycle Thieves is a bright, modern cafe by Chris Griffiths and Shri Bhagwanda offering a creative multicultural brunch menu where everything is made entirely from scratch.
Must-Try: The breakfast ramen with umami-packed broth, noodles, soy-marinated soft-boiled egg, and kaiserfleisch.
449 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Tahina
Run by Roy Sassonkin and Natalie Powell, Tahina serves gourmet vegetarian and vegan Israeli street food inspired by Roy’s family kitchen in Tel Aviv.
Must-Try: The ‘white’ shakshuka with wild mushrooms, Jerusalem artichokes, and goat’s cheese, served with hummus, tahini, and pita.
223 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
300 Grams
A neighbourhood burger joint along High Street, 300 Grams is a go-to spot for classic smashed beef patties, fried chicken burgers, and tasty sides.
Must-Try: Try their take on the Whopper, with a side of fried chicken tenders.
313 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Bars & Nightlife
High Note
Located at the base of the Northcote Theatre, High Note operates as an intimate wine bar, creative community space, and live music venue founded by Jamie Bennett, Umut Turkeri, and James Clarke.
Must-Try: Natural wine while listening to music played through vintage Altec Lansing 511B speakers salvaged from the Sydney Opera House.
220 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Goodwater
Brought to life by a powerhouse team of veterans from Melbourne’s top bars, Goodwater is an unpretentious neighbourhood bar with a massive focus on American whiskey and regional American snacks.
Must-Try: Expertly guided whiskey pours from their 200+ bottle collection, paired with delicious Southern US-inspired snacks.
300 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Buck Mulligan’s
Named after the opening character in James Joyce’s Ulysses, Dublin-born owner Eamonn Hennessy’s Buck Mulligan’s is a unique hybrid bar and second-hand bookstore.
Must-Try: A pour from their extensive specialty Irish whiskey selection while browsing books or relaxing in the rear courtyard.
217 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Wesley Anne
Housed in a historic former church building, Wesley Anne is a quintessential Northcote institution featuring stained glass windows, a cosy open fireplace, and live music.
Must-Try: A pint of craft beer by the open fireplace during winter or in the courtyard during warmer months.
250 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Donny’s
A welcoming neighbourhood drink spot along High Street, Donny’s offers a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere for local beers, cocktails, and catching up with friends.
Must-Try: A classic house cocktail and a spot at the bar.
61 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Northside Wines
Operating as both an independent bottle shop and a neighbourhood wine bar, Northside Wines showcases an exceptional selection of local and international independent producers.
Must-Try: A glass of French wine paired with light bar snacks.
543-545 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
My Top Northcote Dining Tips
- Explore High Street & Beyond: Start your day with brunch at Bicycle Thieves or falafel at Wazzup Falafel, then explore the incredible stretch of bars and shops up High Street. If you have grocery shopping to do, be sure to pop in Psarakos along the way for fresh produce and speciality Greek and Mediterranean pantry items.
- Settle in for a Drink: Unwind with whiskey at Goodwater or Buck Mulligan’s, enjoy natural wine at High Note, or cozy up by the fire at Wesley Anne.
- Getting Around: Northcote is easily accessible via the Mernda train line (stopping at Northcote or Westgarth stations) or the Route 86 tram running straight up High Street.
Heading Further Up High Street?
Explore more of Melbourne’s inner north with my guide to Where To Eat & Drink In Thornbury.