About

Hello and welcome to Norf Guide.

Born from the idea of sharing with locals and visitors alike all the great places, spaces and unique little discoveries that can only be found in Melbourne’s inner north. The northern side of the city enjoys a distinct cultural difference to that on the otherside of the Yarra, one that needs to be experienced to be appreciated, this is what we set out to do.

As well as putting together this website, Norf Guide publishes a rather attractive printed little guide to Melbourne’s more colourful inner northern suburbs.The free guide is updated twice a year, and can be found in all of the places listed here.

A directory not a review
The main idea for Norfguide.com.au was to publish an online version of the printed guide.

Norf Guide is a directory not a review. The places listed in the area guides pay us so that we can pay our printer, our webcoder, sometimes our landlord and have a lil bit of coffee money left over. In deciding on a format we thought a review would A) be too much work B) we can't be bothered with all that writing (we're visual people) C) we'd get bored and lose interest which wouldn't do the places listed justice so better to let them speak for themsleves and D) There's so much reviewing going on that no-ones enjoying -- go find out for yourself we say. So the blurbs you read for the places listed here were written by the places themselves.

+Blog
In late 2010, to coincide with the release of Issue 3 a blog was added. We like taking pictures and want to share them so a blog seemed like a good place to start. Plus none of our places were using the old 'events' section of the website which was running empty for quite a while and wasn't much use to anybody. We're reluctant bloggers here at Norf Guide. We're not so self important that we think you actually care what we think so we promise you'll never read what we had for lunch (unless of course it makes for a great picture or our food writer slips something in without us noticing because, well she is qualified). Here you can expect that we'll share happenings in Melbourne's North, tell you what our places are up to and post some pics.

Updates
The places listed on this site are updated to coincide with a new issue of the printed Norf Guide, usually every 6 months, most likely every 12. It's not a review, we prefer to enjoy something than rate it and yes we do play favourites, so priority is given to the places that are listed with us.

The blog part is updated whenever we feel like it, usually when we come across something interesting, we've got some pics to share or someone sends us something to tell you about.

Advertising
Cross-site banner and mini-banner campaigns are available on Norfguide.com.au. Please get in contact for more information about the Norf Guide online advertising options and rates.

Free stuff
If you're from a big brand or a PR firm we're happy for you to send us free stuff, infact anyone can send us free stuff. We'll tell everyone that you sent it to us. We're most likely to keep it for ouselves but if you send enough we might feel generous and give some of it away.

Background to the inner North
In recent times the adjoining suburbs of Melbourne’s inner north have enjoyed a renaissance. The many artists, thinkers, actors, students, academics, comedians, political leaders, sportsmen, scientists and writers all flocking to the area are quickly transforming it into the centre of the city’s experimentation and creativity. Once a no-go zone for some, the area has come a long way from it’s industrial roots. Some are even calling it the Brooklyn of Melbourne.