Northcote Rise

Money stays local. It sounds simple, but it's true — every dollar spent at a local business does more work for the neighbourhood than one spent at a chain or online. And in winter, when the strip needs it most, that matters even more. It pays the staff who live down the road, keeps the heating on for the trader next door, and circulates back through High Street again and again.

It's not just a nice idea — it's how a neighbourhood stays a neighbourhood, especially through the quieter months. So next time you're deciding where to spend, remember: shopping local isn't just good for your local. It's good for all of us.

Looking for something for dinner tonight? Zircon Restaurant, at 240 High Street, serves up Sri Lankan cooking that's quickly becoming a strip fav

Think hoppers so soft they barely need chewing, lamb pan rolls packed with flavour, and a lamb shank biriyani built on patience: slow-cooked meat, spices balanced rather than blasted. Save room for the watalappan; the rich, silky coconut custard is the kind of dessert people specifically come back for.

Beyond the food, it's the warmth that stands out: welcoming service, a relaxed room that works for a date night or a family dinner, and a drinks list that pairs easily with the spice. Whether you know Sri Lankan cuisine well or you're trying it for the first time, the team's happy to walk you through the menu.

Northcote's food scene keeps getting deeper, and .restaurant is a big part of why.

To book, head to their website.

Oku Den, at 260A High Street, Northcote, stocks the kind of things you end up buying for yourself as much as anyone else. It's a carefully curated mix: Japanese porcelain and ceramics, jewellery ranging from casual to fine, clothing, homewares, scents, and gifts for every occasion, each piece chosen with a genuinely good eye rather than picked to fill shelf space.

Regulars talk about the range as much as anything: elegant, well-made pieces at prices that don't feel like a stretch, and staff who make the whole experience easy, whether you know exactly what you're after or you're just having a look.

It's the sort of shop where you go in for one thing and leave with a candle, a mug, and a gift for someone else entirely. That's part of the charm of a space that's been put together with real care, everything feels considered, nothing feels random.

Next time you're on High Street, be sure to give yourself a bit of time to wander through

Come for the cold, stay for the community. There's something about winter that slows the strip down — the fogged-up windows, the smell of something simmering, the regulars nodding hello like they always do.

Northcote Rise isn't just a place to shop or eat. It's the trader who saves your favourite gift for someone special, the bar that always has a seat for you, the little nods and check-ins that make High Street feel less like a shopping strip and more like an extension of home.

A bit of rain forecast for the week ahead but High Street doesn't do fair-weather only.

The shopfronts are open, the ovens are going, and the bars are pouring regardless of what's happening outside.

If anything, a grey sky is the perfect excuse. Duck into a café for something warm, book that appointment, grab a long lunch somewhere cosy, or settle in for a drink while the rain does its thing on the awnings outside. Northcote's traders are open, ready and glad to see you — wet weather gear optional.

Umbrella in one hand, coffee in the other. See you on the strip.

Next Tuesday, Nina turns 80!

It's also the day she steps back from Silk Road Rugs & Tours, the Northcote gem she's run for the past decade at 306 High Street — so it's a big one all round.

For ten years, Nina has welcomed people into her world — handmade rugs, lamps, jewellery, art, books and Tibetan singing bowls sourced from all over the globe. Her Mongolian yurt has hosted sound bath healings, shamanic drumming circles, tea ceremonies and poetry readings, alongside a warm team of healers always up for a chat.

She's given just as generously behind the scenes too, spending years as a Northcote Business Association committee member, offering her time, energy and wisdom to help guide the local business community.

Two milestones, one very big day. Swing by 306 High Street between now and next Tuesday, wish Nina a happy 80th and a happy retirement.

Winter's quiet on High Street, but it's not quiet for the traders. The heating's still running, the rent's still due, the staff still need their hours — even when the foot traffic drops and the days get short.

Your local is counting on you. Not in a dramatic way — just in the everyday way that a coffee here, a birthday present there, a Friday night booking instead of a delivery app, adds up to someone keeping their lights on.

So next time you need something — a gift, a haircut, a good feed — maybe start here before you start scrolling.

Winter calls for something warm, indulgent, and a little bit alpine, and Zsa's Chalet has it covered. Every Wednesday in winter, Zsa's transforms into a cosy alpine retreat with Alpine Winter Wednesdays.

Expect raclette and tartiflette, golden schnitzels, oozy baked brie, and a charcuterie board loaded with saucisson sec and gurkensalat. It's a spread built for slow eating and good company.

To match, there's a line-up of alpine wines including Prié Blanc, Kerner, and Nebbiolo, alongside warming winter drinks like spiced apple pie cider and hot buttered rum.

Rug up, pull up a seat, and settle in. Alpine Winter Wednesdays run every Wednesday throughout winter at Zsa's Chalet.

To book, head to their website.

There's a new destination on High Street for beautiful hair. Blow Bar & Co has opened at 266 High Street, Northcote, with owner Aneta bringing her vision to life—a salon where clients can relax, unwind, and leave feeling their absolute best.

Blow Bar & Co offers expert colour services, precision cuts, signature blow waves, and styling. Whether you’re visiting for a complete colour transformation or simply treating yourself to a blow wave, every appointment is designed to feel like an experience rather than just another salon visit.

With a complimentary barista-made coffee or one of Blow Bar & Co’s signature cocktails, with homemade cookies adding the perfect finishing touch.

To book an appointment, visit their website or click the booking link in their bio.

There's a kind of magic that doesn't happen on a screen. The barista who remembers your order. The shop owner who tells you exactly why that jumper's worth it. The stranger who tips you off about the best bites two doors down. You don't get that from a scroll.

This winter, put the phone away for an afternoon and take a walk down High Street instead. Duck into somewhere new. Ask what they'd recommend. Let one shop lead you to another — that's half the joy of Northcote Rise, not knowing what you'll find until you find it.

Rug up, head down, and see who you meet.