Have you been priced out of North Melbourne? Fear not, look a little bit further and you’ll discover some fantastic suburbs with the same vibe, but an altogether more approachable price tag. For postcodes with that same creative energy, community spirit, and culinary scene North Melbourne is known for, you can’t go past Ascot Vale, Flemington, Kensington and West Melbourne.
Join us as we jump into why these suburbs are fast becoming a major drawcard with savvy homebuyers and investors alike.
Ascot Vale
Just 6km from Melbourne’s CBD, Ascot Vale is a suburb that quietly overachieves, boasting tree-lined streets, heritage homes, and riverside lifestyle, along with a killer café scene, stacks of green space, and easy commuting. Blending old-school charm with modern living, there’s no wonder it is fast becoming one of the city’s most desirable neighbourhoods.
Serious food & drink cred
If you're the type who judges a suburb by its food and drink cred, Ascot Vale’s got you sorted. Union Road is its foodie heartland, serving everything from artisan coffee at Bar Libretto to cheeky cocktails at Lulu’s Social and craft brews at Jimmy’s Tap & Barrel. Hungry? Pull up a seat at Ascot Vale Hotel, a beautifully restored 1875 icon serving up next-level pub classics (don’t skip the legendary handmade dim sims). For riverside vibes, head to the Anglers Tavern for beers, bistro eats, and a beer garden that’s dog friendly to boot.
Getting around & outdoors
When it comes to commuting, living in Ascot Vale means kissing gridlock goodbye for good. You’ve got trains, trams, and buses all within reach. Zip into the city in 15 minutes on the train or take the scenic route via tram in about 30.
And whether you prefer to work up a sweat or chill with a picnic, Ascot Vale lets you do the outdoors your way. There’s the Maribyrnong River Trail for running, cycling or romantic strolls; lush green spaces like Victory Park and Fairbairn Park, along with the option to squeeze in a cheeky round at the Riverside Golf Course. When Melbourne’s weather does its thing, Ascot Vale Leisure Centre with its gym, pools, and fitness classes is perfect for keeping your workouts fun (and dry) when it’s pouring outside.
A property market with something for everyone
Ascot Vale residents include a vibrant mix of young professionals, families, and long-time locals, with most aged between 20 and 39. The suburb is majority families with 21% aged under 18 years old, creating a lively, community-driven atmosphere.
Blessed as it is with Victorian terraces, Edwardian gems, and Californian bungalows, much of Ascot Vale’s real estate is basically a love letter to period architecture. While its premium Rothwell Hill precinct is home to some eye-wateringly expensive bricks and mortar, with a suburb median of $1.355 million for houses and $580k for units, there's still something here for everyone.
Flemington
Flemington is where old-world charm meets multicultural energy. Best known as the home of the iconic Melbourne Cup, this inner-city suburb offers way more than a world-famous horse race. We're talking leafy streets, buzzing eateries, heritage homes, and a coveted city fringe location. Whether you're house-hunting or looking to invest, it’s got all those inner-north vibes you’re looking for, minus the price tag.
Get your tastebuds ready
When hunger beckons, head to Racecourse Road – the suburb’s main artery – where you’ll find cuisine from pretty much every nook and cranny of the globe. Whether you’re down for a steaming bowl of Laksa or Pho, reliably delicious Chinese, Japanese or Indian, or something from further afield such as Ethiopia or Somalia, Flemington has you covered.
For a caffeine fix, locals swear by Pepper Café, Mama Bear Café and the extremely dog-friendly Wolf and Hound Café. Another Flemo fave is Crown Street Stables – which along with a strong food game and heritage stables location, gets extra kudos for being a social enterprise employing people with a disability.
At night, settle in for a wine, craft beer or cider (or all three — no judgement here) at Pin Oak Beer & Wine. This all-female-owned business has built a strong local following for its curated, rotating selection of independently produced libations, while also moonlighting (in a good way) as a bottle shop.
Community vibes with big-city convenience
Flemington is home to students, professionals, young families, and long-standing migrant communities, with 23% of residents aged 19–30. The overall vibe? Young, diverse, and on the pulse.
Flemington’s housing is as eclectic as its community, with cute Victorian terraces, converted warehouses, townhouses and sleek apartments all jostling for space. And with a median unit price of $512k and $1.14 million for houses, whether you're a buyer or investor, there is plenty of value to be found in this suburb.
Green space aplenty
Despite its city-fringe address, Flemington punches above its weight when it comes to green space. You’ve got Debney’s Park for sport and picnics, access to the Maribyrnong River Trail for weekend strolls and bike rides, and of course, the main attraction, Flemington Racecourse, whose manicured acres can be enjoyed for the price of a race-day ticket.
First out of the gate for transport
Located just 4km from the CBD, public transport and city proximity are Flemington’s secret weapons. With trains from Newmarket Station getting you into the CBD in 15 minutes, and Route 57 trams running right down Racecourse Road, getting around is easy-peasy. The cherry on top? It’s a highly walkable suburb, with transport, cafes, shops, and parks all within easy schlepping distance.
Kensington
Tucked just a stone’s throw from the CBD, Kensington serves up all the inner-city village vibes you could ask for — think leafy streets, converted warehouses, killer coffee, and a serious foodie scene. Throw in a strong sense of community and low-key cool factor, and it’s no wonder this suburb is one of Melbourne’s most quietly coveted postcodes.
Great coffee & even better eats
Get your daily caffeine fix at The Premises, a much-loved local favourite dishing out bang-on brekkie and Seven Seeds coffee in a sun-soaked corner spot. Just down the road, Rumble Coffee Roasters is all about ethical sourcing and small-batch roasting, with an industrial-chic café where you can sip on a single origin and watch the beans being roasted fresh.
If you’re after something sleek and sustainable, Cassette is the modern café-meets-community space dishing up seasonal food with a minimal-waste twist. And for a hole-in-the-wall vibe, Luncheonette delivers a New York-style café feel just opposite the station, perfect for a grab-and-go or a lazy mid-morning bite.
When the sun dips, Kensington’s food scene keeps on delivering. La Tortilleria is a must for taco lovers,this no-fuss eatery slings handmade tortillas and bold Mexican flavours in a casual setting. For something a little more luxe but still super chill, Arnold’s brings a neighbourhood wine bar vibe with Mexican-inspired plates and a killer wine list to match. The Abyssinian is a long-time local gem serving up soulful East African dishes that are perfect for sharing, and if you’re in the mood for a classic pub, Hardimans Hotel has your back with all the cold beers and laidback vibes you could want.
An effortless commute into town
Whether you're zipping into the office or heading out for a night in the city, getting around is effortless in Kensington. There’s a plethora of transport options, including two train stations: Kensington and South Kensington,plus regular buses and bike-friendly routes to get you to the heart of the action in under 15 minutes. Deep into an unmissable podcast ep or novel? Indulge yourself with a leisurely 30-minute tram ride into town.
Nail your daily calorie burn
When it comes to keeping active, Kensington delivers in spades. JJ Holland Park is a firm local favourite, packed with amenities including a playground, BMX track, skate park and open spaces perfect for dog-friendly walks or casual kick-arounds.
The Maribyrnong River Trail and Capital City Trail both wind through Kensington, offering shared paths for cyclists and walkers alike, which is ideal if you’re in the market for some serious Ks or just out for a laidback stroll. And recreation in Kensington is set to level up later this year, when its beloved Community Aquatic and Recreation Centre reopens after a major upgrade.
An approachable entry point to the inner-north
Kensington’s housing scene is a character-filled blend of past and present, where tree-lined streets of Victorian terraces and workers’ cottages meet sleek apartment blocks and clever warehouse conversions. It’s the kind of suburb where history hasn’t been bulldozed, it’s been embraced and reimagined.
With median house prices sitting around $1.11 million and units around $550K, it offers a more accessible entry point than neighbouring inner-north hot spots, making it a magnet for the growing number of young professionals, creative types, downsizers and growing families who call it home.
West Melbourne
West Melbourne is where grit meets glam, its industrial past blending seamlessly with creative energy, leafy streets, and a thriving arts and foodie scene. Just a stone’s throw from the CBD, this once-industrial pocket has transformed into one of Melbourne’s most happening and sought-after suburbs.
Industrial grit, meet urban charm
While West Melbourne’s industrial roots can still be seen on its western side, its east has been transformed into a vibrant mix of homes and businesses. Tree-lined streets are dotted with workers’ cottages, modern apartments, and cleverly converted factories, blending old and new in classic inner-city style.
This architectural mix attracts a diverse crowd, from young professionals and creatives to downsizers and long-time residents who can’t get enough of West Melbourne’s history, heritage, and hipness. Its growing popularity is reflected in its median property prices: $1.12 million for houses, with units averaging $450k.
Strong food & drink creds
There’s no shortage of great spots to grab a cup of joe and a great feed in West Melbourne. A local gem, Udom House serves homestyle Thai brekky dishes, a rotation of flaky pies and excellent coffee from Supreme, while the sun-soaked 279 Victoria Street seamlessly blends Japanese flavours with Aussie cafe culture with rotating coffee, specialty hot drinks,like their black sesame soy latte and flavour-packed onigiri.
For no-frills Balinese cuisine, Warung Agus is a family-run spot that’s been calling West Melbourne home for 30 years. Here you’ll find bright interiors, warm hospitality and classic Indonesian flavours. The laid-back beerhouse Benchwarmer is the new kid on the block, repping 18 taps with limited releases from local and international brewhouses. Come for the pints but stay for dinner, with plenty of Japanese-inspired snacks and larger izakaya plates designed to keep the whole crew happy.
The cosy Drunken Poet is a West Melbourne institution, pouring Guinness and Irish Whiskies to a lively crowd against a backdrop of live music nearly every night of the week. For a quieter atmosphere, pull up a seat at Willows & Wine, part wine bar, part book shop, where you’ll find an impressive drinks list, grazing boards, simple toasties and plenty of games to keep you entertained.
Getting around & hanging out
With the CBD just 2 km away, getting into town from West Melbourne is as effortless as it gets. Hop on a train and be in the city in under 10 minutes or take a tram or bus and get there in around 15. Feeling active? It’s a comfortable 25-minute stroll.
West Melbourne’s beloved park, Flagstaff Gardens, is where the locals love to hang out, enjoying its lush lawns, towering trees, and all the usual park must-haves like playgrounds, tennis courts, and electric barbies. But the real hidden gem? The City of Melbourne Bowls Club, tucked inside the gardens and the perfect spot to enjoy a pot or two over a game on the greens.
Serious creative credentials
West Melbourne isn’t just about cool conversions and leafy parks, it’s also a cultural playground bursting with artistic talent. From Blender Studios, the urban art hub offering workshops, pop-up markets, and puppy yoga (yes, really), to West End Art Space, a contemporary gallery showcasing local and international artists, there's inspiration to be found at every turn. Add in Impro Melbourne, the city’s longest-running improvised theatre company, and you've got a suburb with serious creative credentials.
And then there’s West Melbourne’s iconic live music and event space, Festival Hall. Since the 1960s this former boxing venue has hosted a diverse line up ranging from The Beatles, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra to Justin Timberlake and The Foo Fighters, and even a John McEnroe tennis match (we meant it when we said diverse).
Ready to make a move in Melbourne’s inner north-west?
As you can see, you don’t need a North Melbourne postcode to enjoy the area's creative energy, next-level foodie offerings, and inner-city village vibes. Whether you're buying your first home, upsizing, or investing, these neighbouring suburbs deliver a smart, approachable alternative.
Chat with an Aussie Broker today and take the first step towards living in one of Melbourne’s most vibrant communities.