Things to Do in Preston (2026) -- 13 Local Picks

The transport audit on Preston: 43 tram stops, 35 train stops, 133 bus stops. That is what 7km from the CBD in Melbourne’s middle ring gets you. Whether that is enough depends on where you work, how you commute, and how you feel about bus timetables.

Our Top 8 Picks

The highest-rated venues in Preston across all experience types.

Cafe Lucy | 4.7/5 from 4,580 reviews | $$$ 158 King St, Preston VIC 3466

A restaurant at the King St end of the strip. The food does the talking here – no gimmicks, no theatrics. Worth the trip – 4,580+ reviews says something. Not cheap, but you are paying for the experience.

The White Table | 4.6/5 from 3,604 reviews | $$$ 318 Railway Pde, Preston VIC 3096

The White Table: cafe territory on Railway Pde. The flat white is dependable, which is all you really need. Worth the trip – 3,604+ reviews says something. Not cheap, but you are paying for the experience.

Leo House | 4.6/5 from 1,929 reviews | $ 108 Church St, Preston VIC 3929

On Church St, Leo House runs as a cafe. Get there before the 10am rush or prepare to wait. At 4.6 stars, Leo House earns its reputation. Budget-friendly – your wallet will thank you.

Preston Reserve | 4.4/5 from 3,028 reviews 35 George St, Preston VIC 3365

On George St, Preston Reserve runs as a public park. Enough room to lose a frisbee and find your calm. Rated 4.4 by 3,028+ people, which tracks.

Grace Boutique | 4.4/5 from 656 reviews 173 Elizabeth St, Preston VIC 3837

Grace Boutique is a shopping destination on Elizabeth St. Worth a stop if you are in the area. Reliable, well-reviewed at 4.4 stars.

Ivy & Co. | 4.2/5 from 4,907 reviews | $$$ 275 King St, Preston VIC 3397

On King St, Ivy & Co. runs as a cafe. Morning coffee here sets the day’s baseline. Solid 4.2 from 4,907+ reviews – consistent performer. Not cheap, but you are paying for the experience.

The Silver Bar | 4.2/5 from 2,002 reviews | $ 321 Victoria St, Preston VIC 3306

The Silver Bar sits on Victoria St, operating as a bar. Dark lighting, good pours, and a crowd that is there for the right reasons. Reliable, well-reviewed at 4.2 stars. Budget-friendly – your wallet will thank you.

Preston Library | 4.1/5 from 672 reviews 313 William St, Preston VIC 3505

A library on William St. Worth an hour of your afternoon, especially on a rainy day. Reliable, well-reviewed at 4.1 stars.

Full Directory by Experience

For a quiet morning

Leo House (4.6/5) – On Church St, Leo House runs as a cafe.
The White Table (4.6/5) – The White Table: cafe territory on Railway Pde.
Preston Reserve (4.4/5) – On George St, Preston Reserve runs as a public park.
Ivy & Co. (4.2/5) – On King St, Ivy & Co.
Preston Library (4.1/5) – A library on William St.
Charlie’s Bistro (4.0/5) – Charlie’s Bistro sits on High St, operating as a cafe.

When you’re hungry

Cafe Lucy (4.7/5) – A restaurant at the King St end of the strip.
Leo House (4.6/5) – On Church St, Leo House runs as a cafe.
The White Table (4.6/5) – The White Table: cafe territory on Railway Pde.
Ivy & Co. (4.2/5) – On King St, Ivy & Co.
The Silver Bar (4.2/5) – The Silver Bar sits on Victoria St, operating as a bar.
Charlie’s Bistro (4.0/5) – Charlie’s Bistro sits on High St, operating as a cafe.

For the active

Preston Reserve (4.4/5) – On George St, Preston Reserve runs as a public park.
Preston Aquatic Centre (4.0/5) – pool on Railway Pde – Preston Aquatic Centre.
Preston Gym (3.9/5) – Preston Gym sits on Victoria St, operating as a gym.

With kids

Preston Reserve (4.4/5) – On George St, Preston Reserve runs as a public park.
Preston Library (4.1/5) – A library on William St.

Culture fix

Preston Library (4.1/5) – A library on William St.

Retail therapy

Grace Boutique (4.4/5) – Grace Boutique is a shopping destination on Elizabeth St.
Preston Shopping Centre (4.0/5) – Preston Shopping Centre sits on Queen St, operating as a shopping destination.

After dark

Cafe Lucy (4.7/5) – A restaurant at the King St end of the strip.
The Silver Bar (4.2/5) – The Silver Bar sits on Victoria St, operating as a bar.
The Urban Kitchen (3.9/5) – The Urban Kitchen: restaurant territory on Park Ave.

Neighbourhood Tips for Preston

Preston has 43 tram stops – one of the densest tram networks in Melbourne for a middle-ring suburb. Check the PTV app for live route numbers and departure times from your nearest stop.
Regent Station is the closest train station to central Preston, with 35 station stops within the suburb boundary. From here it is a direct run into the city loop, 7km from the CBD.
Parking in Preston is manageable – residential streets are mostly unrestricted outside the shopping strip zones. The council enforces time limits near commercial areas during business hours, but weekends are generally easier.
Peak dining in Preston is Friday and Saturday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm – book ahead or eat early. Weekend brunch queues form by 9:30am at the popular spots. Weekday lunches before midday are the quietest time to eat out here.
Our verified venue database covers Preston’s restaurants and cafes with real Google Places ratings and addresses. The food strip here is a proper neighbourhood destination, not just convenience dining for residents.
Current rent figures for Preston are not yet in our database – RTBA data is pending. As a middle-ring suburb 7km out, rental prices here typically sit between the inner-city premium and outer-suburb value range.

Explore More of Preston

Venue data sourced from Google Places API, verified April 2026. Ratings and review counts reflect the latest available data. Got a correction? [email protected]