Melbourne's Best in the West

The secret is out! Melbourne’s inner-west is as good as it gets for variety and cultural diversity, with a few surprises thrown in.

The train or bus will get you to Footscray Station, from where you can start your urban adventure in this culturally rich suburb. Having an early lunch is a good idea, as Footscray offers so many culinary options. Kick things off at 8bit [8 Droop Street], a burger joint inspired by 80s-style arcade and video games, with menu items named to match. Try the Golden Axe, a fried chicken burger with cheese, sriracha mayo and slaw. Walk off your lunch and discover that it’s not just laneways in the CBD that boast outstanding street art — don’t miss the epic mural at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Footscray street art is so plentiful, it warrants its own Google Maps directory.

Coffee and a sweet treat are in order next and there is a reason why T. Cavallaro & Sons [98 Hopkins Street] claims Melbourne’s best cannoli. It’s because they have been made here to an unaltered family recipe for more than 60 years. Grab your coffee and cannoli and head to the Maribyrnong River, where you can people watch, snap selfies and take in the tranquil parklands that hug the river. You may even stumble upon the Footscray Community Arts Centre [45 Moreland Street] and get to meet one of the makers, thanks to the artist-in-residence program.

Time for dinner. Up in Smoke [28 Hopkins Street] is about taking food to the next level by smoking it and pairing it with a selection of more than 50 different beers. If you aren’t that hungry we’d suggest the cauliflower in red eye sauce from the munchies menu, but if you’ve brought your appetite, go for a full rack of ribs. End your day with a visit to The Reverence Hotel [28 Napier Street]. Catch a band, sip on a chardonnay and reflect on your day. Let us know what you liked best by using the hashtag #melbournenow.

Can't Get Enough of the Inner West?

Check out Seddon and Yarraville. The train will get you to the station at either of these suburbs, with all the delights of the main streets just a stone’s throw away.

Common Galaxia

Shop 3-4, 130 Victoria Street, Seddon

Choose from the all-day menu. Wagyu beef burger at 8am? Why not. Ferrero Rocher waffles for dinner? You got it.

Sedonia

41 Gamon Street, Seddon

Jewellery, homewares, objects of interest and plenty of things you never knew you needed are on offer. Think curious, clever, Instagrammable and on trend.

Seddon Deadly Sins

148 Victoria Street, Seddon

If you like the name, you’ll love this uber-hip eatery. Too cool for a website, it only uses social media to show off its wares. Follow along to keep up with the generous ever-changing menu or wander in and be surprised.

Luxsmith

5 Gammon Street, Seddon

Yes, you can eat here, and the menu is innovative and expansive, but not as vast as the globally inspired drinks menu. Take a liquid tour around Australia via Austria.

Goje Vegan Frozen Yogurt

38 Anderson Street, Yarraville

No we didn’t say ‘go vegan’; we said ‘Goje vegan’. After a visit to this place, though, you may just want to. None of the decadence and creaminess you’re used to have been sacrificed here.

Village Idiom

34 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Quirky, stylish, surprising, artisan and inspiring are just a few of the words that come to mind when you step inside. More than a gift store, this is an emporium of the imagination.

The Sun Theatre and Book Shop

8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville

Step back in time to 1938, and enjoy the art deco style of this cinema with all the modern tech of Hollywood. Its bookstore in the same building houses more than pulp fiction — it’s a tastefully curated collection.