Northcote doesn’t try to impress you — it just does. Perched on Rucker’s Hill with views stretching from the city skyline to the Dandenongs, this inner north suburb about 6km from the CBD has been quietly out-cooling its neighbours for decades. This weekend, skip the algorithm and do Northcote like a local.
Catch a Film at Palace Westgarth
Over 100 years on High Street and still going. Palace Westgarth has five art deco auditoria, a licensed bar, and a newly installed courtyard bar for pre-movie drinks. Programming leans arthouse and foreign film alongside big releases.
Insider tip: Tuesday is discount day — tickets drop to $12-$14. Grab an afternoon session, then walk three minutes downhill to Ruckers Hill for dinner. Cinema + dinner on the hill is the Northcote equivalent of a fancy night out for about $60 total.
Where: 89 High Street, Northcote
Live Music at Northcote Social Club
Twenty-plus years of great gigs. The NSC books everything from indie up-and-comers to touring acts. The deck out back is an all-weather classic, and the parma is genuinely one of the best in the inner north. Shows Thursday through Sunday. Free live music on Mondays.
Order this: Classic parma ($22) and a pot of something local on tap. Where: 301 High Street, Northcote
Welcome to Thornbury — The Northside’s Living Room
Former Morris Minor factory turned beer garden and food truck park. Technically in Thornbury, but the border is basically imaginary. 35+ beer taps, rotating food trucks, an arcade, and DJs on weekends. The 699-capacity space fills up fast — arrive before 6pm Friday or Saturday for a table.
Where: 520 High Street, Thornbury (right on the Northcote border)
Bar Hop Down High Street
High Street between Westgarth and Station Street is one of Melbourne’s best bar-hopping strips.
Start at Oh Loretta! — The comfiest wine bar in Melbourne. Plump couches, fairy-lit courtyard, natural wine list.
Then walk to Bar Democracy — Natural wines, small plates, about 30 seats. The Wednesday wine flight ($45 for three glasses matched to three plates) is the best value tasting in Northcote.
End at High Note — Heritage-listed theatre turned wine cave. Lo-fi wines, DJs on the decks, vintage Altec Lansing speakers from the Sydney Opera House. The kind of place where “one quick drink” turns into two hours.
Getting home: The 86 tram runs until about 1:30am on weekends. Or walk to Northcote station (Hurstbridge/Mernda line) for a train.
Eat Your Way Along the Strip
- Mesob Ethiopian — The best Ethiopian in Melbourne. Tear some injera, share everything, catch live jazz on weekends.
- Wazzup Falafel — Time Out’s top 25 Melbourne venues in 2025. The falafel and fatteh are vegan, made in-house, and frankly extraordinary for the price ($12-$16).
- Tahina — Israeli street food. Loaded pita pockets, shakshuka, smoothies. Under $15 for a filling lunch.
- Pizza Meine Liebe — Woodfired, seasonal, thin and slightly chewy bases that shouldn’t work but absolutely do.
Walk the Merri Creek Trail
The trail runs right through Northcote, and the stretch from Merri station (Hurstbridge/Mernda line) down to Clifton Hill is genuinely beautiful in autumn. Sealed path, flat terrain, perfect for prams and bikes. Spot rosellas and kookaburras. Pack a picnic and stop at one of the riverbank clearings.
Start from: Merri station or any of the creek crossings off High Street
Browse High Street Shops
The strip between Murray Road and the train station has:
- Vintage and secondhand shops with actual character
- Independent bookstores where staff make genuine recommendations
- Record stores that still exist in 2026 because Northcote
- The odd antique dealer hiding between a hair salon and a Vietnamese bakery
Getting There and Getting Home
- Tram: 86 from the CBD — about 25 minutes to the High Street strip
- Train: Hurstbridge/Mernda line to Northcote station or Merri station — 15-20 minutes from Flinders Street
- Drive: Free parking on most side streets off High Street. Try Westbourne Grove or the streets off Separation Street.
- Bike: Merri Creek Trail connects to the Capital City Trail. Northcote is bike-friendly with dedicated lanes on Clarke Street.
Weekend Budget Guide
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Palace Westgarth cinema (Tue) | $12-$14 |
| Palace Westgarth cinema (weekend) | $18-$22 |
| Welcome to Thornbury (drinks + food truck) | $30-$50 |
| Bar hop (3 drinks + snacks) | $40-$60 |
| Mesob Ethiopian dinner for two | $50-$70 |
| Wazzup Falafel lunch | $12-$16 |
| Merri Creek Trail walk | Free |
| High Street browsing | Depends on willpower |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free thing to do in Northcote this weekend? Walk the Merri Creek Trail from Merri station south to Clifton Hill. Beautiful, free, and you’ll probably see a kookaburra.
Where should I eat if I’ve never been to Northcote? Wazzup Falafel for lunch ($12-$16), Mesob Ethiopian for dinner ($35 mixed platter for two). Both are on High Street and both are outstanding.
Is Northcote good for a day trip from the CBD? Perfect for it. Catch the 86 tram from Bourke Street (25 minutes), walk High Street, eat, drink, walk the creek trail, and tram home. Full day, under $80.
The Verdict
Northcote is the kind of suburb that rewards you for showing up without a plan. Walk High Street, duck into whatever catches your eye, eat where it smells good, and let the 86 tram sort out the rest. If you’ve got friends who “never go north,” bring them here. They’ll stop pretending Northcote is “a bit far” once they’ve had the Mesob platter and a natural wine at Oh Loretta!
More from the neighbourhood: Cheap Eats in Northcote · Date Night in Northcote · New Openings in Northcote · Thornbury Weekend Guide
Explore More of Northcote
- Northcote History
- Northcote Cheap Eats
- Northcote Rent Guide
- Northcote Date Night Guide
- Northcote New Openings
- Northcote Things To Do
- Northcote Cost of Living
- Northcote Young Professionals Guide
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