Brunswick Loft — Your Rooftop Escape Above the Old Lyric Theatre

The Space

58m2, across one bedroom and 1.5 bathrooms

What You Actually Get

A one-bedroom loft with real character, set on the rooftop of the old Lyric Theatre inside a beautifully converted brick warehouse. It’s fully furnished and thoughtfully decorated, with sleek modern touches that sit comfortably alongside the exposed brick and industrial bones of the building. The open-plan living space flows straight onto a private alfresco balcony — good for a morning coffee or a sunset drink, depending on your mood and the time zone you’re still adjusting to.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and stone benchtops, there’s a Smart TV with free Netflix for the nights you don’t leave, and a study alcove if you need to get some work done without setting up shop at the kitchen table. Reverse-cycle air con and heating cover the living area, with a fan in the loft bedroom for warmer nights. You’ll also find a laundry with storage and a separate powder room — small details, but the ones that make a short stay feel like it’s actually set up for living, not just visiting.

Parking is undercover and secure for one car, which in inner Melbourne is worth more than it sounds.

Worth knowing upfront: converted loft buildings sometimes carry gentle background sound from the building’s own systems. It’s part of what comes with loft living, and it’s generally very subtle — not something that should bother most guests, but we’d rather you know than be surprised by it on night one.

The Location (Without the Spin)

Brunswick is a genuine Walker’s Paradise — daily errands, a tram stop, dinner, and a live gig are all within an easy stroll, no car required. The 19 tram (North Coburg–Flinders Street) stops nearby at Brunswick Rd/Sydney Rd, and Jewell Station on the Upfield line is just 350m away if you’d rather take the train. You’re 3.5km from the Melbourne CBD — a 10-minute tram or drive — with quick access to Princes Park, Royal Park, Carlton and Lygon Street too.

Sydney Road itself is the main event: an eclectic strip of shops, cafés, pizzerias, pubs and bars that doesn’t feel manufactured for visitors, because it isn’t. This is a suburb that’s kept its character — think vintage stores, live music venues, and a genuine mix of cultures and cuisines rather than a curated “lifestyle precinct.” Outdoor types are well covered too, with Melbourne Zoo, Royal Park Golf Course and local tennis clubs all nearby, and East Brunswick’s Lygon Street worth the stroll for its own quieter café scene when Sydney Road feels a bit much.

Where to Eat (We’ve Actually Been)

• Lux Foundry, Hope St — a converted warehouse that’s been Brunswick’s brunch heavyweight for over a decade. Big, buzzy, and worth the occasional queue.
• A1 Bakery, Sydney Rd — a family-run Lebanese bakery since 1992. Order a za’atar manoushe at the counter and eat it on the walk home.
• Da Bepi, Sydney Rd — a Venetian-style wine bar with cicchetti from $5. Good for a long, low-key evening that doesn’t need much planning.
• Shop Ramen, Sydney Rd — a strong bowl of miso ramen, including a solid vegetarian option.
• The Cornish Arms, Sydney Rd — a proper pub with one of Melbourne’s biggest vegan menus, so nobody in the group misses out.
• Feeling brewery-inclined? Temple Brewing Co. and Thunder Road Brewing are both close by, alongside some of Melbourne’s best vintage shopping for the afternoon in between.

Parking, Sorted

Undercover, secure parking for one car. (Height 2.2m)

Pet Friendly

Pets are welcome here, subject to our pet stay conditions — just declare them at the time of booking.