Footscray

Follow your tummy just 10 minutes from Melbourne's CBD to sample the huge range of cuisines brought to Footscray by immigrants from all over the world. The range of cultures also ensures a unique shopping experience.

Eating and drinking
Once a centre for Greek, Italian, Croatian and Macedonian migrants, these days Footscray is home to Chinese, Vietnamese, and increasingly, North African immigrants and their cuisines. Do your noodle at a Vietnamese noodle house, sample yum cha at a Chinese eatery or branch out to Indian or Turkish food. For a taste of traditional Ethiopian injera flat bread, venture to Nicholson Street and Nicholson Street Mall.

For Modern Australian cooking at its finest, grab a meal at The Station Hotel, which has quickly built a reputation as one of the city's finest gastropubs.

Shopping
Footscray is a thriving centre of commerce. Home to the iconic Forges of Footscray store, it's also the place to go for those hard to find spices and exotic ingredients. The Footscray Market is packed full of fresh produce and seafood and is yet another place to stop for a terrific feed. The noisy, bustling Little Saigon market is also worth visiting for its selection of tropical fruits and Vietnamese vibe.

Sport and culture
Footscray is the home of the Western Bulldogs Australian Football League team. You can catch a training session to cheer on the 'Dogs' at the state-of-the-art Whitten Oval.

You'll be rewarded if you're around Footscray for Chinese New Year, or the Tết Lunar Year Festival. This vibrant, colourful Vietnamese festival features dancing dragons, live music, food stalls and fireworks.

How to get there
By train, take the Sydenham or Werribee lines from Flinders Street or Southern Cross stations. Journey time is approximately 15 minutes.