Northcote’s restaurant scene reflects the suburb’s personality — eclectic, unpretentious, and surprisingly deep for a strip that runs barely three kilometres. High Street is the spine, with restaurants ranging from casual weeknight dinners to proper sit-down spots you save for birthdays. The mix of cultures that have settled in Northcote over the decades means you can eat Ethiopian, Indonesian, Italian, Middle Eastern, and Modern Australian without leaving the 3070 postcode.
1. The Estelle — The Destination
Chef Scott Pickett’s Northcote bistro serves “a touch of innovation without being scary or confronting.” The dining room is sharp without being stuffy. The set menu at $95pp includes five courses and is the best value fine-ish dining in the inner north. The wine list is deep enough to impress without requiring a sommelier certificate.
Where: 245-247 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Price: $80-$120 for two a la carte, $95pp set menu Best for: Date night, impressing visitors, the set menu
2. Mesob Ethiopian — The Community Table
Ethiopian food is inherently communal — you share from the same platter, tearing injera and scooping stews. The doro wat is rich and slow-cooked, the vegetarian platters are enormous and colourful, and the live jazz on weekends turns dinner into something closer to an event. The mixed platter for two ($35) is enough food for three.
Where: 303 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Price: $16-$35 per person Best for: Groups, BYO (no corkage), weekend live jazz
3. Yuni’s Kitchen — The Hidden Indonesian
Located behind Northcote’s old Uniting Church — you literally walk down a path alongside the building to find it. Husband and wife team Yuni and Matthew Kenwrick serve food inspired by Yuni’s upbringing in Yogyakarta, Java. The nasi campur ayam ($16) is the Indonesian equivalent of a tasting menu. The ikan pepes — barramundi steamed in banana leaves with sambal — is stunning. BYO with zero corkage makes it one of the cheapest and best date dinners in Melbourne.
Where: Behind the Uniting Church, 255-257 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Price: $15-$18 mains, BYO no corkage Best for: Date night on a budget, Indonesian food that rivals anything in Melbourne
4. Va Penne — The Sicilian Neighbourhood Spot
Home-style Sicilian fare — hearty pastas, nostalgic desserts, and a bread basket you’ll want to smuggle home. If you can’t get a table on weekends, grab a seat at the bar, order a spritz, and soak in the Palermo-meets-Melbourne atmosphere. The Sicilian-style cannoli ($9) with ricotta filling and pistachio crumble is non-negotiable.
Where: 371 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Price: $19-$28 mains Best for: Walk-in bar seats, Sicilian pastas, the cannoli
5. Pizza Meine Liebe — The Woodfired Standard
German name (“pizza my love”), Italian soul, Melbourne attitude. Thin, slightly chewy bases topped with clever seasonal combos, woodfired to a perfect char. The menu changes based on what’s good — a margherita ($17) is the test, and if the base and sauce hit, everything else will too. They don’t deliver, which is deliberate — pizza doesn’t travel well and they know it.
Where: 301 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Price: $17-$25 pizzas Best for: Dine-in woodfired pizza, seasonal specials
6. Vex Dining — The Veg-Forward Wine Bar
Created by two former head chefs from Neighbourhood Wine and Bar Romantica, Vex treats vegetables as the main event. The space splits between a sunlight-filled dining room and a fairy light-studded lemon tree courtyard. Standout dishes include smoky-sweet turnips with brown butter glaze and an amaro sorbet for dessert.
Where: High Street, Northcote Price: $60-$90 for two with wine Best for: Veg-forward dining that doesn’t feel like compromise
Weeknight vs Weekend Dining
Weeknights are your sweet spot. Walk-in friendly, quieter, and you get the kitchen’s attention. Tuesday to Thursday is when locals eat out casually — and several venues run midweek specials (the Croxton’s Wednesday parma night, for instance).
Weekends bring the crowds. Book ahead for The Estelle, Va Penne, and Mesob on Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday dinner is an underrated option — quieter than Saturday with the same quality.
Price Guide
| Restaurant | Two-Person Dinner | BYO? |
|---|---|---|
| The Estelle | $160-$240 | No |
| Mesob Ethiopian | $50-$70 | Yes, no corkage |
| Yuni’s Kitchen | $40-$60 | Yes, no corkage |
| Va Penne | $60-$90 | No |
| Pizza Meine Liebe | $50-$70 | No |
| Vex Dining | $60-$90 | No |
Getting There
All six restaurants are on or near High Street. The 86 tram from the CBD runs the full length of the strip. Northcote station and Merri station on the Hurstbridge/Mernda line are both within walking distance. Separation Street runs east-west if you’re coming from St Georges Road.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best BYO restaurant in Northcote? Yuni’s Kitchen — zero corkage, brilliant food, and a date night for two with BYO wine for about $50 total. Mesob Ethiopian is also BYO with no corkage.
Where should I book for a birthday dinner? The Estelle for the set menu experience, or Mesob for a communal feast with a big group.
What’s open on Mondays? Most restaurants close Monday and Tuesday. Mesob is open daily from 5:30pm. Check individual venues for current hours.
The Verdict
Northcote’s restaurant scene punches above its weight because the kitchens here care more about quality than hype. You can have a $40 Indonesian feast at Yuni’s Kitchen or a $200 degustation at The Estelle, and both will be among the best meals you eat in Melbourne this year. The BYO options at Mesob and Yuni’s make Northcote one of the best-value dining suburbs in the inner north.
More on Northcote: Northcote Suburb Guide · Cheap Eats in Northcote · Date Night in Northcote
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