Carlton

If one suburb were to epitomise Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s culture capital, Carlton would likely be it. Classic Italian fare lines the famous Lygon Street - the official birthplace of Melbourne’s cafe culture and the official Little Italy - while trendy new dining options abound in nearby Elgin Street and Faraday Street, where you can also catch a show at the La Mama Theatre. Whether you prefer to stroll or jog, you’ll be spoilt for choice with Carlton’s plethora of parks, including Carlton Gardens, where you can soak up the sight of the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. The suburb is home to a mix of terrace houses and apartment blocks both new and old, and with a thriving student population, owing to its proximity to the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), rental properties are always in demand. Trams running along Lygon Street and Swanston Street mean the city is just minutes away.