Guidebook for Kensington

Greg & Jason
Greg & Jason
Guidebook for Kensington

Food Scene

This is the closest cafe to our apartment. It is operated by a community organisation called AMES, with profits going towards helping migrants into education and work. Try the shakshuka.
Fifty-Six threads cafe
56 Derby St
This is the closest cafe to our apartment. It is operated by a community organisation called AMES, with profits going towards helping migrants into education and work. Try the shakshuka.
An alternative place with a record bar out the front and a nice courtyard out the back. It can take a while to get your food at brunch times... a little patience is needed. 7 min walk from apartment.
27 lokalaca preporučuje
White Rabbit Record Bar
176 Bellair St
27 lokalaca preporučuje
An alternative place with a record bar out the front and a nice courtyard out the back. It can take a while to get your food at brunch times... a little patience is needed. 7 min walk from apartment.
The local pub with decent food and a Tuesday trivia (book in advance). 5 minute walk from apartment.
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Hardimans Hotel
521 Macaulay Rd
21 lokalaca preporučuje
The local pub with decent food and a Tuesday trivia (book in advance). 5 minute walk from apartment.
The most popular café in Kensington. Beautiful food and good service.
52 lokalaca preporučuje
The Premises.
202 Bellair St
52 lokalaca preporučuje
The most popular café in Kensington. Beautiful food and good service.
Decent Thai food by night, a café by day.
Thai By Night
170 Bellair St
Decent Thai food by night, a café by day.
The best laksa in Melbourne. On Friday and Saturday nights, be prepared to wait half an hour for a table as it gets really busy. Very fast service. Try any of the laksas and roti chanai.
125 lokalaca preporučuje
Laksa King Flemington
6-12 Pin Oak Cres
125 lokalaca preporučuje
The best laksa in Melbourne. On Friday and Saturday nights, be prepared to wait half an hour for a table as it gets really busy. Very fast service. Try any of the laksas and roti chanai.
Next door to Laksa King. If you can’t get a table at Laksa King, come here. A bit more expensive, but similar Malaysian cuisine and quieter, so you can talk.
36 lokalaca preporučuje
Chef Lagenda Malaysian Kitchen
16 Pin Oak Cres
36 lokalaca preporučuje
Next door to Laksa King. If you can’t get a table at Laksa King, come here. A bit more expensive, but similar Malaysian cuisine and quieter, so you can talk.
Closer to Flemington, this is our favourite Ethiopian restaurant. Staff are friendly… you share a big platter with multiple curries and bread (injera) and eat with your hands.
32 lokalaca preporučuje
The Abyssinian Restaurant
277 Racecourse Rd
32 lokalaca preporučuje
Closer to Flemington, this is our favourite Ethiopian restaurant. Staff are friendly… you share a big platter with multiple curries and bread (injera) and eat with your hands.
Japanese / South American fusion, this place is awesome. Lots of sashimi, so you need to like raw fish. We recommend the degustation options.
38 lokalaca preporučuje
Nobu
8 Whiteman St
38 lokalaca preporučuje
Japanese / South American fusion, this place is awesome. Lots of sashimi, so you need to like raw fish. We recommend the degustation options.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare; the Soufra degustation is highly recommended.
32 lokalaca preporučuje
Maha
21 Bond St
32 lokalaca preporučuje
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare; the Soufra degustation is highly recommended.
Fine dining Italian, Modern Australian. Owned by Guy Grossi celebrity chef. The food is sensational, and the staff will really look after you.
35 lokalaca preporučuje
Florentino
80 Bourke St
35 lokalaca preporučuje
Fine dining Italian, Modern Australian. Owned by Guy Grossi celebrity chef. The food is sensational, and the staff will really look after you.
Our all-time favourite restaurant… we like it so much we bought the cookbook and try to replicate the recipes! Asian fusion food, the pork belly in caramel sauce is the best you will find anywhere.
42 lokalaca preporučuje
Red Spice Road
141 Queen St
42 lokalaca preporučuje
Our all-time favourite restaurant… we like it so much we bought the cookbook and try to replicate the recipes! Asian fusion food, the pork belly in caramel sauce is the best you will find anywhere.
This is not visible from the street and up a few flights of stairs. The décor has period charm and the menu has a European flair. Groovy music. Always busy.
62 lokalaca preporučuje
Panama Dining Room
231 Smith St
62 lokalaca preporučuje
This is not visible from the street and up a few flights of stairs. The décor has period charm and the menu has a European flair. Groovy music. Always busy.
A Melbourne institution, this place gets very busy and the stairwell gets cramped with people waiting for tables. If you book, it’s a lot easier. Try the crispy-skinned chicken. BYO.
29 lokalaca preporučuje
Supper Inn Chinese Restaurant
15 Celestial Ave
29 lokalaca preporučuje
A Melbourne institution, this place gets very busy and the stairwell gets cramped with people waiting for tables. If you book, it’s a lot easier. Try the crispy-skinned chicken. BYO.
Plenty of trendy restaurants.
151 lokalaca preporučuje
Hardware Lane
Hardware Lane
151 lokalaca preporučuje
Plenty of trendy restaurants.
Plenty of awesome cafés.
49 lokalaca preporučuje
Degraves St
49 lokalaca preporučuje
Plenty of awesome cafés.
Lively café and bar strip with cheap and decent eats. The west end of Johnston Street has Spanish restaurants and cafés.
6 lokalaca preporučuje
Johnston St/Brunswick St station
6 lokalaca preporučuje
Lively café and bar strip with cheap and decent eats. The west end of Johnston Street has Spanish restaurants and cafés.
Decent and fast Chinese food. BYO.
Ants Bistro
7 Corrs Ln
Decent and fast Chinese food. BYO.
Cheapest Chinese dumplings ever. The service is atrocious (they can throw the food on the tables at times) and the cleanliness is questionable, but we don't know anyone who ever got food poisoning.
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Shanghai Dumpling House
23 Tattersalls Ln
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Cheapest Chinese dumplings ever. The service is atrocious (they can throw the food on the tables at times) and the cleanliness is questionable, but we don't know anyone who ever got food poisoning.
Good Japanese food in the middle of the city.
Izakaya Hachibeh
143-145 Bourke St
Good Japanese food in the middle of the city.
Asian fare in a lovely restaurant setting. Busy, so you should book.
76 lokalaca preporučuje
Longrain Restaurant
44 Little Bourke St
76 lokalaca preporučuje
Asian fare in a lovely restaurant setting. Busy, so you should book.
A converted laundry in the centre of the city, the food is Asian inspired and the restaurant is small and intimate.
17 lokalaca preporučuje
Seamstress Restaurant & Bar
113 Lonsdale St
17 lokalaca preporučuje
A converted laundry in the centre of the city, the food is Asian inspired and the restaurant is small and intimate.
The best all-you-can eat buffet in town with a huge amount of fresh seafood, short-order cooks in different world cuisines and a chocolate fountain! Very pricey though. A special treat!
12 lokalaca preporučuje
Melba Restaurant
1 Southgate Ave
12 lokalaca preporučuje
The best all-you-can eat buffet in town with a huge amount of fresh seafood, short-order cooks in different world cuisines and a chocolate fountain! Very pricey though. A special treat!
Good fast service and decent café food.
15 lokalaca preporučuje
Fruits of Passion
188 Bellair St
15 lokalaca preporučuje
Good fast service and decent café food.
They do great pho here. Hidden down an arcade near Laksa King.
6 lokalaca preporučuje
Green Tea Vietnamese
320 Racecourse Rd
6 lokalaca preporučuje
They do great pho here. Hidden down an arcade near Laksa King.
Great neighbourhood hangout with nice food and coffee.
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Pepper
44 Pin Oak Cres
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Great neighbourhood hangout with nice food and coffee.

Drinks & Nightlife

Thai food in a quirky bar / restaurant. The rooftop bar upstairs from here has a rooftop cinema showing movies on the fake turf during the summer.
381 lokalaca preporučuje
Cookie
252 Swanston St
381 lokalaca preporučuje
Thai food in a quirky bar / restaurant. The rooftop bar upstairs from here has a rooftop cinema showing movies on the fake turf during the summer.
Awesome Spanish tapas, you need to book well in advance. Alternatively, go to MoVida Next Door, who take walk-ins.
203 lokalaca preporučuje
MoVida
1 Hosier Ln
203 lokalaca preporučuje
Awesome Spanish tapas, you need to book well in advance. Alternatively, go to MoVida Next Door, who take walk-ins.
Sophisticated feel, with beautiful views of Melbourne city. Free entry, but trust us, they make the money with the drinks! We only stay for a couple of drinks just to prep ourselves for fancy dinner.
297 lokalaca preporučuje
Lui Bar
525 Collins St
297 lokalaca preporučuje
Sophisticated feel, with beautiful views of Melbourne city. Free entry, but trust us, they make the money with the drinks! We only stay for a couple of drinks just to prep ourselves for fancy dinner.
Themed bar…think European country clubs from the 70s…cheap cocktails purchased by the jug.
163 lokalaca preporučuje
Madame Brussels
59 Bourke St
163 lokalaca preporučuje
Themed bar…think European country clubs from the 70s…cheap cocktails purchased by the jug.
Amazing view of Melbourne city, walk in entries can be problematic, so call ahead if you really want to go. They usually have live jazz/soul bands playing.
166 lokalaca preporučuje
Blue Diamond
123 Queen Street
166 lokalaca preporučuje
Amazing view of Melbourne city, walk in entries can be problematic, so call ahead if you really want to go. They usually have live jazz/soul bands playing.
Irish bar, with lots of Irish people, Irish gigs, Irish beer and Irish fun.
45 lokalaca preporučuje
The Quiet Man Irish Pub
271 Racecourse Rd
45 lokalaca preporučuje
Irish bar, with lots of Irish people, Irish gigs, Irish beer and Irish fun.
Busy local pub opposite Newmarket train station. Serve decent pub food too.
35 lokalaca preporučuje
Doutta Galla Hotel
339 Racecourse Rd
35 lokalaca preporučuje
Busy local pub opposite Newmarket train station. Serve decent pub food too.
In an out-of-the-way alley (lane way off a lane way…off another lane way), past some rubbish bins, this place is set up like a chemistry lab; order a syringe drink.
189 lokalaca preporučuje
The Croft Institute
21 Croft Alley
189 lokalaca preporučuje
In an out-of-the-way alley (lane way off a lane way…off another lane way), past some rubbish bins, this place is set up like a chemistry lab; order a syringe drink.
This is a tiny bar (max 15 customers at a time), again, very hidden. Best cocktails in Melbourne! Only standing room, so it is not a place you will be spending all night at.
48 lokalaca preporučuje
Bar Americano
20 Presgrave Pl
48 lokalaca preporučuje
This is a tiny bar (max 15 customers at a time), again, very hidden. Best cocktails in Melbourne! Only standing room, so it is not a place you will be spending all night at.
This place is divided into the affluent West Berlin, and the grungy East Berlin; ask to sit in East Berlin preferably on the bunk beds) and order a German cocktail (they are quite strong!) or beer.
188 lokalaca preporučuje
Berlin Bar
16 Corrs Ln
188 lokalaca preporučuje
This place is divided into the affluent West Berlin, and the grungy East Berlin; ask to sit in East Berlin preferably on the bunk beds) and order a German cocktail (they are quite strong!) or beer.
Large venue with a big screen and regular drag shows with the usual topless male backup dancers through the night; upstairs is quieter and offers a good view of the dancefloor. Cover charge $20. LGBT.
10 lokalaca preporučuje
GH Hotel (Greyhound Hotel)
1 Brighton Road
10 lokalaca preporučuje
Large venue with a big screen and regular drag shows with the usual topless male backup dancers through the night; upstairs is quieter and offers a good view of the dancefloor. Cover charge $20. LGBT.
Free entry. A great night with unpretentious gays… however, the downside is all women need to be escorted by a male. Don’t bother trying to get in if you are a group of girls. Open till 6am.
13 lokalaca preporučuje
The Peel Hotel
46 Peel St
13 lokalaca preporučuje
Free entry. A great night with unpretentious gays… however, the downside is all women need to be escorted by a male. Don’t bother trying to get in if you are a group of girls. Open till 6am.
Molly Meldrum’s local…you are bound to find him there on the weekend.
8 lokalaca preporučuje
DT's Hotel
164 Church St
8 lokalaca preporučuje
Molly Meldrum’s local…you are bound to find him there on the weekend.
Very hidden bar (on a lane way, off a lane way). Really nice chill out place, a little alternative where most of the bartenders are covered in tattoos, but it appears to attract all kinds of people.
18 lokalaca preporučuje
Sister Bella
9 Sniders Lane
18 lokalaca preporučuje
Very hidden bar (on a lane way, off a lane way). Really nice chill out place, a little alternative where most of the bartenders are covered in tattoos, but it appears to attract all kinds of people.
Palm trees on the roof…has a tropical feel about it.
59 lokalaca preporučuje
The Carlton Club
193 Bourke St
59 lokalaca preporučuje
Palm trees on the roof…has a tropical feel about it.
Most popular of roof top bars, so it can be too busy for our liking.
175 lokalaca preporučuje
Rooftop Cinema
252 Swanston St
175 lokalaca preporučuje
Most popular of roof top bars, so it can be too busy for our liking.
Cool bar up plenty of stairs. Quirky and have table service.
23 lokalaca preporučuje
New Gold Mountain
21 Liverpool St
23 lokalaca preporučuje
Cool bar up plenty of stairs. Quirky and have table service.

Sightseeing

The defining landmark of Melbourne at the junction of Flinders Street and Swanston Street; a popular meeting spot.
710 lokalaca preporučuje
Flinders Street Railway Station
Flinders Street
710 lokalaca preporučuje
The defining landmark of Melbourne at the junction of Flinders Street and Swanston Street; a popular meeting spot.
A new precinct with restaurants and bars; Harbourtown is the shopping centre there, which can be quite dead at the best of times.
172 lokalaca preporučuje
Docklands
172 lokalaca preporučuje
A new precinct with restaurants and bars; Harbourtown is the shopping centre there, which can be quite dead at the best of times.
The tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere with views of Melbourne.
537 lokalaca preporučuje
Еурека Скајдек
7 Riverside Quay
537 lokalaca preporučuje
The tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere with views of Melbourne.
Huge and colourful with an assortment of fresh and dry produce and tacky souvenirs.
957 lokalaca preporučuje
Пијаца Краљице Викторије
Queen Street
957 lokalaca preporučuje
Huge and colourful with an assortment of fresh and dry produce and tacky souvenirs.
Popular meeting place with cafes and galleries.
797 lokalaca preporučuje
Federation Square
797 lokalaca preporučuje
Popular meeting place with cafes and galleries.
Promenade on the south bank of the Yarra, with restaurants, bars and a Sunday art and craft market.
56 lokalaca preporučuje
Southgate
3 Southgate Ave
56 lokalaca preporučuje
Promenade on the south bank of the Yarra, with restaurants, bars and a Sunday art and craft market.
On St Kilda Road, the major war memorial with a Ray of Light demonstration every half hour.
341 lokalaca preporučuje
Shrine of Remembrance
341 lokalaca preporučuje
On St Kilda Road, the major war memorial with a Ray of Light demonstration every half hour.
Beautiful trees and greenery, not if you have hayfever; watch out for the beautiful people on their daily run around ‘the Tan’.
1262 lokalaca preporučuje
Краљевске ботаничке градине Викторија
1262 lokalaca preporučuje
Beautiful trees and greenery, not if you have hayfever; watch out for the beautiful people on their daily run around ‘the Tan’.

Arts & Culture

You can pick up some cheap tickets at Half Tix at Melbourne Town Hall for shows playing that evening… hit and miss though. If you are keen on seeing a certain show, we recommend buying in advance.
9 lokalaca preporučuje
Halftix Melbourne
208 Little Collins St
9 lokalaca preporučuje
You can pick up some cheap tickets at Half Tix at Melbourne Town Hall for shows playing that evening… hit and miss though. If you are keen on seeing a certain show, we recommend buying in advance.
Includes the Crown Casino, many bars and restaurants, high-end shopping and Village Cinemas.
615 lokalaca preporučuje
Краун Мелбурн
8 Whiteman St
615 lokalaca preporučuje
Includes the Crown Casino, many bars and restaurants, high-end shopping and Village Cinemas.

Entertainment & Activities

The largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere.
593 lokalaca preporučuje
Мелбурн музеј
11 Nicholson St
593 lokalaca preporučuje
The largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere.
If you like animals.
389 lokalaca preporučuje
Мелбурнски зоолошки врт
Elliott Avenue
389 lokalaca preporučuje
If you like animals.
Good day out for the kids, learning about science.
103 lokalaca preporučuje
Scienceworks
2 Booker St
103 lokalaca preporučuje
Good day out for the kids, learning about science.
Historic amusement park with the big mouth; small but fun.
468 lokalaca preporučuje
Луна парк Мелбурн
18 Lower Esplanade
468 lokalaca preporučuje
Historic amusement park with the big mouth; small but fun.

Shopping

A kilometre-long strip of fashionable shops and cafes and beautiful botoxed people; the cheaper shops are toward the southern end; South Yarra and Prahran are the ‘pink’ area and are gay-friendly.
458 lokalaca preporučuje
Chapel Street
Chapel Street
458 lokalaca preporučuje
A kilometre-long strip of fashionable shops and cafes and beautiful botoxed people; the cheaper shops are toward the southern end; South Yarra and Prahran are the ‘pink’ area and are gay-friendly.
Expensive gourmet market, good for a nosey.
338 lokalaca preporučuje
Prahran Market station
338 lokalaca preporučuje
Expensive gourmet market, good for a nosey.
Plenty of shopping, including Myer, David Jones, H&M, Zara and others.
412 lokalaca preporučuje
Bourke Street Mall
Bourke Street Mall
412 lokalaca preporučuje
Plenty of shopping, including Myer, David Jones, H&M, Zara and others.
Large shopping centre with a broad range of shops.
275 lokalaca preporučuje
Chadstone Шопинг Центар
1341 Dandenong Road
275 lokalaca preporučuje
Large shopping centre with a broad range of shops.
Factory outlet shopping and IKEA.
83 lokalaca preporučuje
Bridge Road
Bridge Road
83 lokalaca preporučuje
Factory outlet shopping and IKEA.
Outlet shopping centre next to the Convention Centre.
124 lokalaca preporučuje
DFO www.catalogclothing.com.au
20 Convention Centre Pl
124 lokalaca preporučuje
Outlet shopping centre next to the Convention Centre.
Highpoint Shopping Centre… the west’s answer to Chadstone.
129 lokalaca preporučuje
The Bavarian Highpoint
120-200 Rosamond Rd
129 lokalaca preporučuje
Highpoint Shopping Centre… the west’s answer to Chadstone.
Factory outlet shops and boutiques.
133 lokalaca preporučuje
Smith Street
Smith Street
133 lokalaca preporučuje
Factory outlet shops and boutiques.

Essentials

Local Woolworths, with BWS and Thirsty Camel liquor stores, and Chemist Warehouse next door.
80 lokalaca preporučuje
Woolworths Newmarket Plaza
338 Racecourse Rd
80 lokalaca preporučuje
Local Woolworths, with BWS and Thirsty Camel liquor stores, and Chemist Warehouse next door.
Closest place for basic groceries.
41 lokalaca preporučuje
FoodWorks
484 Macaulay Rd
41 lokalaca preporučuje
Closest place for basic groceries.