Northcote Rise

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Northcote Rise

Conversations and music, a strip of shops, cafes, bars, people and experiences — welcome to Northcote Rise.

High Street Northcote is one of Melbourne's most dynamic and creative locations, with a history spanning 150 years. Today High Street is home to one of Melbourne's most interesting and eclectic mix of retailers, bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

18/07/2026

Walk down High Street lately and you might notice some subtle changes. Northcote Rise is looking sharp! Fresh paint has gone up on a few shopfronts, old tags have been cleaned away, and some spaces are undergoing renovation, gearing up for their next chapter. New traders are settling in too, filling gaps and adding fresh energy to the strip.

None of this happens on its own. A big thank you goes out to Anthony from the Darebin Community Clean Up Crew for kicking off the movement, and to every volunteer who's donated their time since. Thanks also to Robert for generously building a website to support the effort, and to local Bunnings and Dulux for their donations along the way.

Looking ahead, keep an eye out for a new stage being built at The Chalice, Northcote Uniting Church, ready for community events in the months to come. Northcote Portraits is also continuing to unfold across the strip, with artists bringing local stories to life through public artworks at sites throughout the precinct.

17/07/2026

Korean fried chicken has been a High Street favourite for a while now. SamSam Express, at 315 High Street, Northcote, has built a loyal following with its bold flavours and a menu made for sharing.

The chicken comes both bone-in and boneless, tossed through a choice of house sauces, with soy garlic and spicy Korean chilli among the regulars' picks. Alongside the chicken, there's tteokbokki stir-fried with rice cake and fish cake, kimbap rolled a handful of different ways, and bibimbap served with either wagyu beef or tofu. It's the kind of menu that rewards a group order, where everyone gets a taste of something different.

SamSam is part of a small family of Korean chicken and beer venues, and the Northcote spot has become a regular fixture on the street, drawing steady crowds through the evening.

Whether it's a quick boneless box on the way home or a proper sit-down group feed, remains one worth pulling up a seat for.

16/07/2026

Best mates for 21 years and proud Northcote locals, Age and Jools have always called High Street an extension of home — the lounge room, as they put it.

For years there was a running joke between them: one day they would open their own small businesses, side by side on High Street.

Then one afternoon, while enjoying a Guinness and sitting outside Buck Mulligan's, they spotted a for-lease sign across the road. The joke stopped being a joke and instead of two shops next door, they built one, North Star Barbershop at 204 High Street Northcote.

Age brings 18 years of barbering to the chair, along with years spent training the next generation of barbers. And with Jools at the helm alongside, the pair are shaping what they've always dreamed of: creating a space for the community to gather, connect and feel at home. Swing by for a master cut and enjoy a complimentary beer, whiskey or espresso while you're there.

They've also paid quiet homage to Open Studio, by installing a beautiful new bar, keeping the original stained glass windows, and thoughtfully fitting out the space with art deco light fittings, art and plants. Somewhere between a barbershop and a lounge room which is exactly the point. But Jools and Age aren't stopping there. The barbershop and space is about to evolve into much, much more - stay tuned for more exciting news to come.

Ask them why Northcote, and the answer comes easily: the people. A city version of a country town. The village.

Bookings can be made online, and walk-ins are always welcome.

13/07/2026

4 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY

Northcote Portraits — Artist EOI

Calling all artists.

Northcote Portraits is seeking creatives who want to be part of a community art and storytelling project right here on High Street.

Expressions of interest have been open for two weeks — if you've been thinking about applying, now is the time. Submissions close THIS Friday 17 July at 5pm. Full details of the project are available via the link in bio.

11/07/2026

Local Loves You Back

Local businesses remember your name, support community events and reinvest in the neighbourhood but they need your support in return, especially through winter.

Quieter streets hit independent traders hard.

When you choose to shop and dine on Northcote Rise rather than staying in, that decision has a real impact. It keeps doors open, staff employed and the community you love intact.

Northcote Rise is full of people who show up for this neighbourhood every single day.

Shop local. Visit local.

10/07/2026

There's a reason Buck Mulligan's at 217 High Street is one of Northcote Rise favourites year round — but winter is when it really comes into its own.

Named after the iconic character in James Joyce's Ulysses, is part stylish Irish whiskey bar, part boutique bookshop specialising in Irish fiction, plays and poetry. Eamonn and the team have built the perfect winter spot right here on Northcote Rise.

When the temperature drops, there's little better than settling in with a whiskey by the fire, browsing the shelves or catching one of their intimate tastings or book events.

The specialist range of Irish whiskeys is exceptional, with selections from Scotland, America, Australia and Japan alongside beer on tap, fine wines and cocktails.

Keep an eye on Buck Mulligan's later in the year as they take part in our Northcote Portraits project.

09/07/2026

More than a decade ago, Mesob opened on High Street with a simple dream: to share the culture, food and hospitality of Ethiopian heritage with Melbourne.

The name comes from the traditional woven table used in Ethiopian homes for sharing food with family and friends — a symbol of community, connection and togetherness that continues to guide everything they do. At Mesob, food is more than a meal. It's how stories are told, milestones are celebrated and strangers become regulars.

Richly spiced stews and traditional dishes served atop injera, the soft tangy flatbread made from teff flour, are shared communal style in a warm, welcoming space filled with colour and culture. Generous vegetarian and vegan options sit alongside meat dishes, local wines and Ethiopian beers.

As a family-owned business proudly woven into Northcote's multicultural community for over ten years, Mesob believes food has the power to bring people together and create understanding between cultures. Everyone is welcome at the table.

Keep an eye on Mesob later in the year as they take part in our Northcote Portraits project.

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar, 213 High Street Northcote.

04/07/2026

Northcote Portraits — Artist EOI

Calling all artists.

Northcote Portraits is seeking creatives who want to be part of a community art and storytelling project right here on High Street.

Expressions of interest have been open for two weeks — if you've been thinking about applying, now is the time. Submissions close Friday 17 July at 5pm, so don't sit on it. Full details of the project are available via the link in bio.

03/07/2026

Say hello to Loku — Sri Lankan home cooking at 298 High Street, Northcote.

takes its name from the Sinhalese word for "elder" — the nickname given to owner and head chef Lanka by her family, and a reflection of the love and care she has always poured into cooking.

That care is on the plate. Sri Lankan home cooking made the way it was always meant to be — rich in flavour, rooted in tradition, and deeply nourishing. The kind of food that reminds you what a good meal can do.

Fragrant, warming, and layered with spice, every dish is built on technique passed down through generations. From slow-cooked curries to the kind of rice and curry spread that makes you want to linger, Loku is the real thing. Comforting, considered, and made with genuine heart.

Loku is one of the newer additions to our precinct and we're so glad she's found her home here on the Rise. Come down to High Street, pull up a seat, and let Lanka cook for you. We have a feeling you won't want to leave.

02/07/2026

Winter is when local businesses need you most.

It's cold, it's dark and the couch is calling, but heading out to High Street matters more than you might think.

Every coffee, every meal, every purchase made with our traders helps keep the places you love open and thriving through the quieter months.

Northcote Rise is here all winter — great food, unique retail and welcoming spaces ready to make the trip worth it. Don't hibernate. Your locals are counting on you.

Shop local. Visit local.

27/06/2026

If you haven't discovered Inthanon Thai yet, consider this your sign.

Sitting at 182 High Street, Inthanon has quietly built a loyal following among Northcote locals — and it's easy to understand why. Authentic Thai flavours, made with care and served in a space that feels warm and welcoming from the moment you walk in.

From fragrant curries to bold, considered dishes that take you somewhere else entirely, is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that reminds you why eating local matters.

Whether it's a midweek dinner or a slow weekend meal with people you love, this is High Street dining at its best.

Find them at 182 High Street, Northcote.

26/06/2026

.optical is one of High Street's favourites for a reason.

Born out of a love for the finer details, SPECS carry a unique collection of eyewear you won't find on every corner — sourced from small independent designers around the world.

The team are drawn to pieces that strike the balance between function and form, playing with design, craftsmanship and materials until they land on something special.

Whether you're after a proper eye test or the full styling service, the experience is considered from start to finish. You'll walk out with glasses you actually love — frames that feel less like a purchase and more like a find.

Pop into 228a High Street and see what catches your eye.

25/06/2026

Teddy Bear Dentist Open Day — this Saturday, 27th June at Paladin Dental, 365 High Street.

The team at are hosting a free family morning to help little ones have a happy, positive first experience at the dentist. Kids are invited to bring along their favourite teddy, and together they'll play dentist, count teeth and take a ride in the chair — all the fun, none of the nerves.

There's plenty more to keep the kids busy, including face painting, hair tinsel, and games with prizes to win. There'll also be a colouring competition, with one lucky entrant taking home a free clean and a goody bag.

Every child who comes along will receive a complimentary kids travel toothbrush kit to take home.

Spots are free but limited. Families can secure their place by booking through the link in Paladin's bio.

20/06/2026

There's something about a live gig on a cold winter's night that just hits different.

Northcote Rise has long been a home for live music — and this season, the strip is alive with it. Catch a big ticket show at Northcote Theatre or Northcote Social Club, or find something a little more intimate at 303 the Bar, The Wesley Anne or Piano On High.

Whatever you're after, it's all right here on High Street.

Local bands deserve local crowds and local venues need you. The energy in the room, the discovery of an artist you've never heard before or a favourite you've seen plenty of times — you only get that by showing up.

So this winter, buy the ticket. Support the music. Support the Venue.

Tag someone you'd drag out into the cold for a good gig

19/06/2026

📣 Expressions of Interest are now open!

The Northcote Business Association is calling on artists to be part of Northcote Portraits — a new permanent public art and storytelling initiative celebrating the rich First Nations and multicultural stories that shape the Northcote Rise precinct today.

Northcote Portraits will deliver up to 20 small to medium-sized, vibrant street artworks across the precinct, each paired with storytelling that honours the people, cultures, histories and lived experiences that shape who we are. Through creativity and connection, the project aims to strengthen community pride, reflect local identity and transform our public spaces.

Funded through the Victorian State Government's Multicultural Business Precinct Revitalisation Program with support from Darebin Council, the project is being led by the Northcote Business Association alongside local artist .

There are currently 14 sites open for application, with a further 4–5 to come over the next week.

Want to be involved? Head to the link in bio for everything you need to know about the project, the selection criteria and how to apply.

18/06/2026

Warm up where it matters — shop local this winter.

When the temperature drops, so does foot traffic — and for small business owners on High Street, that's felt immediately. The same rent, the same wages, the same overheads — with fewer customers coming through the door.

Every coffee, meal, purchase or booking you make on Northcote Rise this winter keeps a local business viable, a local wage paid and a neighbourhood worth coming back to.

The strip needs you. Now more than ever.

13/06/2026

Winter has well and truly arrived on High Street — and Northcote Rise has never felt more inviting.

The strip is full of reasons to get out of the house right now. Warm up over a long lunch, find something special to wear, discover a new favourite local haunt or simply take a slow walk past the shopfronts as the cool air settles in.

This is the season that reminds you why neighbourhood matters — and why everything you need is right here on High Street.

Come for the warmth. Stay for the community.

Address

High Street
Melbourne, VIC
3070

Website

https://northcoterise.com.au/northcote-portraits, https://northcoterise.com.au/

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