Food areas · Australia
Opening a cafe or restaurant in Melbourne: 3 food areas compared
What stands out
The CBD has the most residents within 1 km, about 21,000, and Footscray the fewest, about 10,200.
The CBD has the most food places for its residents: one for every 15.
The CBD has the youngest residents (median age 29.5) and Footscray the oldest (34.4).
Each area is measured from one point on its main food street, on 17 October 2026. Residents and places within 1 km, compared with everyone within 3 km.
| Measure | Fitzroy | Melbourne CBD | Footscray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents within 1 km | About 20,000 | About 21,000 | About 10,200 |
| Median age | 32.932.1 within 3 km | 29.531.3 within 3 km | 34.433.8 within 3 km |
| Largest adult age group | 25–3430% of residents | 25–3433% of residents | 25–3422% of residents |
| Food and drink places within 1 km | 417 | 1,374 | 166 |
| Residents per food place | One per 48One per 46 within 3 km | One per 15One per 41 within 3 km | One per 62One per 203 within 3 km |
| Stations within 1 km | 0 | 6Nearest: Town Hall, 330 m | 3Nearest: Footscray, 340 m |
| Offices on the map | 53 | 192 | 53 |
| Kinds of place that match most closely | None stands out | Bubble tea and Burgers | None stands out |
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Fitzroy
Measured from Brunswick Street at Johnston Street
4 universities and colleges are within 1 km, so students come in term time.
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Melbourne CBD
Measured from Swanston Street at Bourke Street
1,374 food and drink places are on the map within 1 km: one for every 15 residents, against one for every 41 in the surrounding 3 km. That many usually means people come from elsewhere to eat.
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Footscray
Measured from Barkly Street near Footscray station
166 food and drink places are on the map within 1 km: one for every 62 residents, against one for every 203 in the surrounding 3 km. That many usually means people come from elsewhere to eat.
1Limits
What these pages can’t tell you
- Residents aren't diners. Workers and visitors who live elsewhere aren't counted, and the ages are 2020 estimates.
- The map misses places, and says nothing about how busy any of them is.
- Nothing here covers the lease: rent, visibility and parking.
Two checks only you can do: count who walks past at your hours, and test the rent against cautious sales. For census counts, see the ABS Census QuickStats for Greater Melbourne.