Rathdowne Village: The Overlooked Carlton Strip

If Lygon Street is for romantic dinners and date nights, then Rathdowne Street is for next day brunch. Rathdowne Village itself is two blocks east of Lygon Street and then a short walk up past Princes Street – that’s where you hit the Sunday morning haven. Surrounded by picturesque terrace houses and shaded by trees, the quaint retail and café hub is home to enough coffee shops and breakfast cafés to spoil you for choice. Most of the crowd here are Carlton locals and a bit of an older demographic, so it may not be the cheapest option, but it is more peaceful owing to the lack of a big tourist crowd. It is also simply a more beautiful street than its more urban counterparts.

Small Victories, 617 Rathdowne Street
A definite highlight is Small Victories, a cute and cottagey café with a lovely outside seating area, serving an array of baked eggs and organic juices as well as a reviving Bloody Mary. Small Victories is probably the most popular here and can get quite packed at peak brunch time, so showing up a little earlier can be useful on those days when you aren’t quite so hung over that you can’t get out of bed.

smallvictoriescafe.com.au

Depot De Pain, 693 Rathdowne Street
Depot De Pain specialises in pretty little cakes and coffee. It’s a nice alternative to the somewhat played-out and tourist filled Brunettis. Good for when you’re in the mood for a quieter atmosphere in which to read or enjoy a more intimate outing. One thing Brunettis has over it, however: Depot De Pain is miniscule in comparison.

depotdepain.com.au

Alice’s Bookshop, 629 Rathdowne Street
For lazy weekend after-breakfast activities, look no further than Alice’s Bookshop at 629; a cosy little second hand bookseller’s where you can browse for a good while. Or if borrowing books is more your style, Carlton Library is located at 667 and is open from 10am on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays, and is a soothing space in which to relax, read, and recover from a big night.

alices.com.au

For retail therapy Rathdowne Village also has you covered with numerous clothing, homeware and food stores. If you’re looking for a change of scene for your city weekend activities, Rathdowne Village is definitely worth checking out.