Brighton: What's got celebs and foodies flocking to this bayside locale

Brighton is only about a 20-minute drive from the CBD but feels like a beach escape. The exclusive neighbourhood has a laid-back atmosphere, grand ocean-view mansions and excellent coffee, making it one of the most coveted suburbs in Melbourne.

Of course, the beach is a big drawcard of living in the coastal suburb. Dendy Street Beach is famous for its 96 brightly coloured bathing boxes, most of which have been around since the early 1900s. Given their size, these tiny, postcard- worthy shacks are some of Victoria’s most expensive real estate.

The waters here are usually calm, so the beach tends to be filled with morning swimmers, paddleboarders and kayakers. On windier days, you’ll see kitesurfers catching air further out in the bay. Over at the Brighton Beach Gardens, expect a pack of adorable dogs out for a run, a pup-friendly beach and scenic city views.

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Brighton is an equally popular spot for cyclists, who can cruise down Beach Road or along the picturesque Bay Trail. You can also walk along the latter – it’s an easy seven kilometres from Sandringham or just under nine from Elwood – skirting Port Phillip’s beautiful coastline.

Cafe culture is strong in the seaside suburb, so you’ll never be short of options for a post-swim feed. Brighton Schoolhouse offers all-day breakfast in an 1840s heritage-listed building and has a sun-soaked outdoor area that’s a dream on warm days. Then there’s Pantry, a cosy, brick- lined brunch haunt serving chilli crab scramble and loaded brekkie rolls. For great coffee and pastries, head to The Little Ox, which has been a local favourite for nearly 15 years, or The Espresso Room by family-owned grocery store Devolas.

Operating since 1921, Devolas is a neighbourhood go-to for flowers, fresh produce and delicious small goods. Make a stop at Andrew McConnell’s fancy butchery Meatsmith afterwards for top-of-the-line steaks and ready meals, and you’ve got yourself the perfect dinner at home.

For shopping, Church Street is the place to be. It’s dotted with well-known Australian brands including Scanlan Theodore and Elka Collective. There’s also the second location of high-end fashion boutique Grace (designed by leading interiors expert Tali Roth), which stocks luxury international labels like Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Proenza Schouler and more.

In the evening, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Lately, the buzz has been centred on Brighton newcomer Henrys. The slick bistro offers a variety of Euro-leaning dishes, ranging from pizza to a 300-gram sirloin cooked over the Josper grill (best eaten with duck-fat potatoes). For Italian, head to the airy Botticelli Ristorante & Bar, classic Sicilian joint Cucina & Co or Aromi, which takes inspiration from the regions of Piemonte and Napoli. If you book a table at the latter, make sure to order the steaming mussel pot with crusty bread and the zucchini and king prawn fettuccine. Or grab a table at 10 Greek Plates around the corner where it’s all about overflowing souvlaki and flaky spanakopita.

For something more casual, locals can usually be found at the Brighton Beach Hotel – one of the suburb’s oldest landmarks – or nearby pub Half Moon, which is great for a sunny arvo.

Agent lens

with Michael Gibson from Forbes Global Properties

What was your most memorable sale and why?

A couple of years ago we sold Shandford – 17 St Ninians Road – a classically beautiful 1920s home, and one of Brighton’s founding estates. The vendors, the Pontings, entrusted us completely, to the point where we only saw him [Ricky Ponting, former Australian cricket captain] at the very start and end of the campaign due to his international cricket commitments. And interestingly, after marketing the property both locally and internationally, the eventual buyer lived only a few doors down. The power of the Golden Mile.

For sale in Brighton

Expressions of Interest Closing 18 March 5pm

6-8 Elwood Street, Brighton VIC 3186

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This sophisticated Brighton estate, designed by leading architects SJB, offers resort-style living with a 20-metre palm-lined infinity pool, an al fresco shower, a sunken lounge, a firepit, an outdoor stone kitchen and a tennis court. Inside, an elevator connects a grand dining room, a kitchen with Wolf appliances, a wine cellar, a luxe gym, a home theatre and a gallery-like basement garage.