Best Indian restaurant near Clifton Hill Melbourne — Masti Fitzroy, 7 minutes from Queens Parade

Masti is an authentic North Indian restaurant at 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC 3065. Led by Curry Queen Chef Manpreet Sekhon — trained in five-star hotel kitchens across Punjab for two decades, recognised by Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra, the Czar of Indian Cuisine. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm, serving authentic North Indian cuisine, an Indian cocktail bar, and Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan. 7 minutes from Queens Parade, Clifton Hill.

Clifton Hill has a well-loved local dining scene along Queens Parade — neighbourhood venues with loyal regulars who value character and community. Masti is something different: a nationally press-featured restaurant led by one of Australia's most credentialled Indian chefs, with an Indian cocktail bar, Indian single malts and Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan. Seven minutes from Clifton Hill station and two tram stops from Queens Parade.

📍 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 — 7 min from Queens Parade Clifton Hill
📞 (03) 9427 2121
🕔 Tue–Thu 5pm–9:30pm · Fri–Sat 5pm–10pm · Sun 5pm–9:30pm · Mon closed

Book your table now — walk-ins welcome.

After Darling Gardens — the Indian dinner Clifton Hill has been missing in 2026

Darling Gardens is one of Clifton Hill's most treasured spaces — expansive lawns, a cricket oval, heritage rotunda, playground and the dog off-leash area that draws the suburb's community together every weekend. After a morning or afternoon at Darling Gardens, Queens Parade locals want somewhere genuinely excellent for dinner.

Queens Parade has good neighbourhood dining. What it doesn't have is a credentialled, press-featured North Indian restaurant with an Indian cocktail bar. Masti is 7 minutes away on the Tram 86 line — two stops south-west along Queens Parade into Fitzroy, then a short walk to Brunswick Street. See our full menu here.

After the Merri Creek Trail — where Clifton Hill cyclists and walkers eat

The Merri Creek Trail runs along Clifton Hill's eastern boundary — one of Melbourne's most beloved cycling and walking paths, connecting the inner north to the Yarra River and Capital City Trail. Clifton Hill residents use it year-round. After a long trail ride or riverside walk, the question is always where to eat something worth the trip.

Masti is 7 minutes from the Merri Creek Trail by Uber or 10 minutes by Tram 86 westbound to Brunswick Street. Our menu is built for sharing after a day outdoors — generous curries, tandoori platters arriving hot, freshly baked naan throughout. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm.

Queens Parade dining — what the strip has, and what only Masti offers

Queens Parade is a genuine inner-north dining destination — Victorian-era shopfronts, neighbourhood character, venues that Clifton Hill residents return to week after week. The Indian options on Queens Parade are charming, community-focused venues that serve their regulars loyally. What they cannot offer is a chef with twenty years of Punjab five-star hotel training, recognition from India's most celebrated culinary figures, a full Indian cocktail bar, and Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan.

Clifton Hill residents who want a serious Indian dining experience — the kind that earns coverage in Time Out, Broadsheet, Good Food and Urban List — make the 7-minute trip to Masti. It is consistently worth it. Read Chef Manpreet's story here.

The Curry Queen — why Clifton Hill's discerning diners choose Masti

Clifton Hill has a median house price of $1.47 million and a population that skews strongly toward professionals and couples who eat out regularly and know good food. This is a community that has tried the Queens Parade options and knows when something is genuinely in a different category.

Chef Manpreet Sekhon trained in Punjab five-star hotels for twenty years. Recognised by Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra. Featured in Time Out, Broadsheet, Good Food, Urban List and Eatability. Founder of Eastern Spice in Geelong and Elchi in Melbourne's CBD. No Indian restaurant on Queens Parade has these credentials. The 7-minute trip to Brunswick Street is what separates a neighbourhood local from a genuinely special evening.

What Masti has that no Indian restaurant on Queens Parade currently does

Pure single-cuisine North Indian — the depth of Punjab

Every spice ground fresh daily. Every sauce made from scratch. Butter chicken tomatoes charred over open flame. 24-hour black dal. Amritsari fish. Live clay tandoor at 480 degrees. Queens Parade's Indian options are good neighbourhood venues. Masti is a single-cuisine North Indian kitchen operating at full depth — and the difference is unmistakable from the first bite. See our full menu here.

All three premium Indian single malts — nowhere near Queens Parade pours these

Rampur from the Himalayas, Amrut from Bangalore, Indri from Haryana. No venue on Queens Parade or in Clifton Hill pours all three. Ask for the tasting flight at Masti's Indian cocktail bar — our sommelier will walk you through each one alongside original Indian-spiced cocktails.

Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan

Same live clay tandoor, same char, same texture as the original. A full vegan menu: Soya Chaap, Honey Chilli Cauliflower, Chickpea Vindaloo, Dal Tadka. Every Tuesday is our vegan curry night — $28 for rotating plant-based curries with vegan naan. 7 minutes from Queens Parade.

Wednesday BYO — corkage free, every week

If what you love about Queens Parade dining is bringing your own bottle, Masti has a Wednesday BYO night — corkage free, every week. Bring the bottle. The food will earn it. See all weekly specials here.

Getting from Clifton Hill to Masti

• By tram from Queens Parade: Tram 86 westbound two stops to Smith Street, then walk south to Alexandra Parade and east to Brunswick Street. 10–12 minutes total

• By car from Queens Parade: West along Alexandra Parade, right onto Brunswick Street. 7 minutes. Street parking on Brunswick Street and side streets

• By car from Darling Gardens: West on Queens Parade to Hoddle Street, south to Alexandra Parade, west to Brunswick Street. 7 minutes

• By Uber from anywhere in Clifton Hill: 7 minutes direct to 354 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

• By bike from the Merri Creek Trail: Follow Capital City Trail west to Brunswick Street — 10 minutes on dedicated paths

• By train: Clifton Hill station to Collingwood or Fitzroy North, then short Uber or walk. 12 minutes total

We are at 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. Walk-ins always welcome.

Frequently asked questions — Clifton Hill locals ask

What is the best Indian restaurant near Clifton Hill Melbourne?

Masti on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy is the best Indian restaurant near Clifton Hill — 7 minutes from Queens Parade. Led by Curry Queen Chef Manpreet Sekhon, featured in Time Out, Broadsheet, Good Food and Urban List. Authentic single-cuisine North Indian, live tandoor, Indian single malt bar. Book here.

How far is Masti from Clifton Hill?

Masti is 7 minutes from Clifton Hill by car or Uber — west along Alexandra Parade to Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. By tram, Tram 86 westbound two stops from Queens Parade then a short walk. Get directions here.

Is there good Indian food near Queens Parade Clifton Hill?

Clifton Hill's Queens Parade has neighbourhood Indian venues. The best credentialled, press-featured North Indian dining near Queens Parade is Masti — 7 minutes away on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Authentic North Indian, live tandoor, Indian cocktail bar, open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. Book here.

Is there Indian food near Darling Gardens Clifton Hill?

Yes — Masti is 7 minutes from Darling Gardens by car or Uber. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. Book your table here.

Is there Indian food near the Merri Creek Trail?

Yes — Masti is 7 minutes from the Merri Creek Trail in Clifton Hill by car, or 10 minutes by bike along the Capital City Trail to Brunswick Street. Authentic North Indian, live tandoor, Indian cocktail bar. Book here.

Is Masti open on Sundays near Clifton Hill?

Yes — Masti is open every Sunday from 5pm to 9:30pm. Our Sunday Amritsariya Affair — Chole Bhature with unlimited lassi for $25 — is one of our most popular nights. Book your Sunday table here.

Is there vegan Indian food near Clifton Hill?

Yes — Masti has Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan plus a full vegan menu. Every Tuesday is our vegan curry night at $28. 7 minutes from Queens Parade, Clifton Hill.

Can Masti cater for events near Clifton Hill?

Yes — our catering team handles functions for 20 to 200+ guests, live tandoor available. Perfect for Clifton Hill home events, Darling Gardens functions and corporate gatherings. Email hello@eatdrinkmasti.com or call (03) 9427 2121.

The best Indian restaurant near Clifton Hill in 2026 — book Masti tonight

📍 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 — 7 min from Queens Parade, Darling Gardens and the Merri Creek Trail
📞 (03) 9427 2121
✉ hello@eatdrinkmasti.com
🕔 Tue–Thu 5pm–9:30pm · Fri–Sat 5pm–10pm · Sun 5pm–9:30pm · Mon closed

Book your table online — or walk in. Clifton Hill's best Indian restaurant is 7 minutes away on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.