What's happening in Melbourne
The best things to do this week
Sort out your Christmas shopping before getting a dose of culture
One of the King Valley's favourite wineries is pairing up the Barre restaurant at Arts Centre Melbourne for a sumptuous feast – and you definitely...
ACMI is transforming into a glittery discotheque and roller skating rink for one night only
It wouldn’t be Melbourne Music Week without this night of free gigs and dance parties across the city
You'll be puffed for sure after climbing every stair in Eureka Tower – but you'll also be raising much-needed funds for a good cause
The Bellarine Peninsula’s top music festival returns with an A+ line-up
Remember the Myer windows of the past at this extra-special Christmas exhibition
The latest news
Competitions and announcements
See bold minimal sculptures at this exhibition of recent work from the Irish artist
See all the high octane action in person without having to spend a cent
CBD laneway bar Whitehart is throwing one hell of a Melbourne Music Week party
Find your style match with independent makers and designers at this three-day art, fashion and design festival
Ladies and gents, suit up at this custom tailor in Richmond and enjoy a discount on your first order
The best of Melbourne
Wondering what to do in Melbourne? Take a look at our ultimate bucket list: 50 fun things to do in Melbourne, plus what makes the city great, from the food to the festivals and everything in between.
Expert tips for exploring the city's best attractions for zero dollars
From world-beating cocktail lounges to down-and-divey saloons, here's everywhere worth drinking in Melbourne
Behold, our eat-and-destroy list – a guide to Melbourne's best restaurants, from fine dining to cheap eats
When you think Melbourne, some of the words that come to mind surely must be 'coffee', 'laneways' and 'street art'. Street art covers almost every nook and cranny of our creative, colourful city, but there are more highly concentrated clusters than others. These are the street art hotspots that any self-respecting 'grammer should be snapping: the city's ten best street mural hotspots, in all their spray-painted laneway glory. Continue your art journey through Melbourne at these free galleries, or purchase your very own piece of art at one of these weird and wonderful shops.
If you know where to look, you can get by in Melbourne for a lot less than you'd think
If you're looking for a break from the inner-city grid, there's no better cure than a day trip from Melbourne.
Melbourne area guides
The heart of the city, home to Chinatown and some of Melbourne's best restaurants and arts institutions.
Exceptional Italian food, gelato and coffee, plus an excellent museum and theatre.
Kensington has northwest charm in spades: there are wide, tree-lined streets, plenty of public transport and green spaces aplenty.
Inventive bars, geek girl boutiques and envelope-pushing eateries. Plus live music institutions.
Multicultural hub, with dining options from all over the world and a thriving food scene.
Our guide to casual dining in Melbourne with American Express
Twirling spoons at the ready? We’ve scoured Melbourne’s many Italian restaurants to find these Nonna-approved pasta dishes, from pillowy soft gnocchi to tangy pesto just made to be sopped up with bread. The best part? You’ll be able to dine in confidence with the knowledge that these venues welcome American Express. Buon appetito!
Melbourne is home to excellent Chinese restaurants that serve up dim sum with serious style. Whether you're after an elegant banquet, a hangover-soothing repast or some steaming hot dumplings, these restaurants have some seriously great dim sum dishes. At all these venues, you’ll be able to dine in confidence with the knowledge that they welcome American Express.
You can find something cheap and delicious on almost every street in Melbourne – the city has never had an issue in feeding the masses for less than a tenner. It's not all dims sims and jam doughnuts either: in the world's most liveable city, $20 will get you treats like goat's cheese churros, pillowy xiao long bao, and pear and black pudding tarte tatin. And when it comes to the bill you can pay with confidence, knowing these venues take American Express.
Plant eater or not, the thrill of landing a plate of crunchy, just-fried falafel is the stuff of every food nerd’s dreams. These deep-fried balls of goodness can look and taste slightly different depending on which country they come from. Syrian and Lebanese falafel tend to have a chickpea centre, while Egyptian ones are usually made of ground fava. Use our cheat sheet to track down your favourite version in Melbourne, and pay in confidence with American Express.
A good stir-fry is all about the breath of the wok – that magical combination of heat, impeccable timing and squeaky-fresh produce that transports you straight to the backstreets of buzzy Asian cities. Whether it’s a smoky char kuey teow, crunchy Laotian noodles or an upgrade on the classic beef and black bean, we’ve sought out the best stir fries in Melbourne. Check out the diverse range of dishes that come alive in the wok, and pay in confidence knowing these venues welcome American Express.
We love a good rooftop and a pub will always earn an extra special place in our heart if it’s got a great beer garden – so it’s agreed by almost everyone – dining in the sunshine is always a good idea. With that in mind, we scoured the city for the best terraces, balconies, rooftops and gardens, where you can enjoy an alfresco snack and a brew or two. Then, when it comes to getting the cheque, you can pay in confidence knowing these venues welcome American Express.
Melbourne’s vibrant food scene has no shortage of treats that won’t bust your weekly budget. From tasty Mediterranean and Asian classics to Middle Eastern and American dude food, these are all excellent dishes by chefs at the top of their game. All these venues take American Express. Would you like a complimentary side with your meal? Check out these Side with Amex venues.
Creative sushi chefs and excellent produce make Melbourne a great place to explore the magical combination of rice, seaweed and protein. The fact that it makes for a swift, filling and inexpensive lunch makes sushi an irresistible siren song to busy workers and students, who flock to the hundreds of restaurants that fill every corner of the city. To make things even easier, at all these venues, you’ll be able to dine in confidence with the knowledge that these venues welcome American Express.
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Jameson is hosting a blockbuster festival called JJ's Place filled with live music, exclusive beer and whiskey tastings and delicious snacks for one-day only at the Easey Street showroom. The best part? It's free entry, with your first round on the house for you and a mate, if you register on the site. JJ's Place promises a packed and exciting day with your pals, especially if your crew are music lovers. The festival is headlined by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, with sets from Bec Sandridge and Bitch Diesel to boot. The tunes will be flowing the entire event with PBS Djs between live sets. The festival also boasts the launch of Jameson Caskmates IPA editions, a blended Irish whiskey finished in IPA beer barrels. The hoppy, smooth whiskey will be served up the way it is best enjoyed, with fresh lemon and tonic. There'll also be other delicious selections from the Jameson Caskmates family to try: the stout with soda and orange; the hard shandy; and a limited edition Young Henrys Irish pale ale boilermaker. Alongside whiskey tastings, you'll also get the chance to watch a live barrel charring with the Jameson master distiller and Master cooper. JJ's Place has also got great snacks to pair with all that delicious whiskey and beer, teaming-up with local burger faves, Leonards's House of Love who have cooked up a Jamo-inspired dish, 'Mates Plates. Round-up your mates and register for JJ's Place here.
If sitting around sipping bevvies and eating delicious canapés with some of Australia’s cricketing legends sounds like a good time to you, then gather round because this is something you need to know about. On Friday, November 23 The Duke is holding another of its seasonal rooftop sports luncheons, hosted by Liam Pickering and featuring guest cricketers Damien Fleming and Brad Hodge. The luncheon takes place just before the Australis vs India match at the MCG (which begins at 7pm), so you can enjoy it before heading off to the game. It will run from 1-4pm and costs $110 to attend. The price includes a three-hour drinks package (featuring Furphy beer and house wine) and roaming nibbles, as well as the opportunity to meet Fleming and Hodge. Damien Fleming, otherwise known as the ‘Bowlologist’, is one of Australia’s great swing bowlers. He first played for Australia in 1994 against Pakistan and was the only Australian to take a hat-trick. Brad Hodge made his debut on the international stage in 2005 when he joined Australia’s team against India, and he has made over 17,000 first-class runs. His batting average sits just under 50, and he now focuses on T20 matches. Some of the Duke’s past sports luncheons have included stars such as Ian Bothan and Kevin Sheedy.
San Telmo doesn’t muck around. This gaucho steakhouse run by a bunch of Melbourne hospo gringos lays its carnivorous scene at the entrance, where some impressive bits of cow sit dry ageing behind glass. It’s a memorable welcome, the voluptuously marbled fat a promise in writing of good things to come. Step further into this temple de carne in Melbourne’s parliament barrio and you’ll come face to face with the open kitchen and its centrepiece parilla, where glowing hot coals are shovelled around by a brow-mopping chef who really ought to be paid danger money. The people have spoken, and the people want meat. They want meat in a lair that’s just like being transported to Buenos Aires, where cowhide in its various forms covers the menus and every other available surface. The people also want fried broccoli. The must-order dish at San Telmo is their contribution to the oeuvre known as good veg gone bad: florets of broccoli fried in batter until they scream for crunchy mercy and buried under a salty cheese blizzard of grated pecorino. You could easily sit down with a plate of these babies, a glass of something off the all-Argentinean wine list and call it lunch. But there are more strings to the San Telmo bow than steak and fried broccoli. There’s a vitello tonnato playing tribute to the nation’s significant Italian population; tissue-fragile pieces of eye fillet, dabbed behind the ears with tuna mayo and given a classical kick with capers and parmesan. There’s a born-to-be-mild
Bottomless brunches are more common in Melbourne than ticket inspectors on trams (though decidedly more enjoyable). In a city filled with avocado toasts and piddly Mimosas, there’s one place that’s doing the weekend staple a little differently. Starting November 10 the Smith is hosting Brunch with Soul, a new bottomless brunch with a divine difference. Every Saturday while you’re enjoying your endless drinks and the brunch menu, the Smith will be switching things up Sister Act-style with a live gospel choir roaming throughout the Prahran venue. Praise be – finally a brunch that lets you enjoy music from the hallowed halls while downing a sweet selection of spritzes. The Smith’s brunch drinks menu features six pretty-as-can-be spritzes to try plus house wine, beer and sparkling. For a hit of citrus try the Pamplemousse Spritz, a zingy mix of grapefruit, pinot gris and soda. Or for something botanical try the Lavender Bomb: Bombay Sapphire Gin with lavender, prosecco and soda. While the choir spreads the gospel (music) you’ll be enjoying one of the dishes on the Smith’s heavenly brunch menu. Go classic with the Smith’s almost hangover-curing egg and bacon burger (it somes sandwiched with a salt and vinegar hash brown). Those wanting to balance out their drinks with some wholesome fare can opt for the vegan and gluten-free coconut rice pudding, which comes topped with roast banana and berry compôte. Or just lean into the boozy brunch and get the Aperol French toast with gr
With a sculptural facade that gleams like a multifaceted jewel, the West Hotel sits on the western side of the city centre near the waterfront at Darling Harbour and Barangaroo. This new boutique hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and boasts brilliant designer touches including an atrium 'jungle' enjoying all-day sunshine; sophisticated dining at Solander Dining & Bar; and guest rooms with Wi-Fi, 49-inch TVs, Bluetooth speaker systems and Google Chromecast, so that guests can stream their own music and movies. The Curio Collection conducted research and found that curiosity plays a major role in travel choices. They narrowed down travellers into five archetypes: food-loving epicureans; arts-inspired culturalists; nature-seeking pathfinders; thrillseeking challengers; and switched-on spiritualists. With that in mind, Time Out has teamed up with West Hotel to curate five different lists of essential Sydney experiences, taking the five archetypes as inspiration. Know yourself, choose your own adventure, and explore the best of this city. And whether you're from out of town or a local seeking a staycation, you can book a weekend getaway at West Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. Rooms start at $218 per night.
There’s something compelling about a snapshot of a celebrity in front of a beautiful car, like a glimpse into another world. It’s an image we’ve seen a thousand times before and we’ll see a thousand times again, but few have the same timeless look and feel of a Mercedes. Commencing Monday, November 26, Mercedes me is marking the one-year anniversary of the launch of their CBD concept store with a gala and exhibition showcasing some of its classic cars and the prominent people who have owned and driven them. Several famous faces from old-school Hollywood including Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Lee and Elvis, as well as modern day celebrities like Tom Hanks, Rowan Atkinson and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton have all owned and driven Mercedes-Benz cars. The week-long display will run until Saturday, December 1, with celebrations coming to a head with the gala on Friday, November 30. It takes place at the Mercedes me Melbourne store at 525 Collins Street. Entry to the Stars and Cars exhibition is complimentary. This exhibition and gala are the latest in a series of events by Mercedes me Melbourne. Each week the store puts on something new in celebration of its values, including sport, art, design, innovation, food, wine, fashion and community leadership. Find out more about Mercedes me Melbourne's gala and exhibition here.
This summer, experience innovative leaps in the world of visual arts, theatre, music, dance, film and literature at the longest-running arts festival in Australia. For its 66th year, Perth Festival will invite the brightest and bravest creatives from around the world to present three weeks of performances, installations, exhibitions and events across the city. From February 8 to March 3, the 2019 program will take place – the fourth and final festival masterminded by beloved artistic director Wendy Martin. Of more than 80 exciting events on the bill, 26 will be exclusive to the summer festival in Perth. Selecting the top events on the program is a difficult task, but a few fantastic international and local ones do stand out. The 2017 festival favourite, Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak, will return this year, transforming Kings Park with the cultural and ecological knowledge of the Noongar people, who are the original owners of the land around Perth. This epic work will run over four nights, and includes light installations and audio-visual works that use the natural environment to share a message of sustainability and maintenance of the Indigenous landscape. Australian born theatrical genius Barrie Kosky brings his Komische Oper Berlin company to Australia for the first time with their production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, accompanied by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. The production drops Mozart’s famous opera into a melting pot of 1920s silent movies, Weimar c
Royal Saxon is set to get a full venue take over when Blue Moon presents Brews and Blues this November. The American beer will be hosting a hootenany, which will see a tap takeover pouring Blue Moon at the Richmond hotspot. To go with your brews, they'll also be handing out gourmet bites, created to complement the flavour notes you'll find in Blue Moon. There will also be a live art installation and live blues music all afternoon. The soirée is part of Blue Moon's national Brews and Blues tour, so get down early to enjoy complimentary drinks (from 2-4pm), alongside food, music and art. Entry to Brews and Blues is free, however you do need to RSVP via Eventbrite.
With the arrival of spring and the warmer weather comes lots of things: spring cleaning, spring racing, the sun. In recognition of the change of season, Newmarket Hotel is switching up its menu and embracing springtime flavours. The St Kilda pub is now dishing out a wood-fired vegan pizza, octopus carpaccio, sangria poached pears with honeyed almonds and pork hock served with salsa verde, daikon and Spanish toffee. Now if that isn’t enough to whet your appetite—maybe you’re after something a little more familiar—then check out the bangers and mash, pan-fried gnocchi, chicken parma, and range of wood-fired pizzas. The Newmarket Hotel also run a fun bottomless brunch session on Sundays. Brunch punters can pair their meal with a choice of bottomless martinis, mimosas, bellinis, frosé, sangria or selected wines and beers. Off the booze? You can try Newmarket's range of mocktails for the same, great flavours. It’s $54 per person with two different sessions starting at 11am and 12pm respectively. All you need to do is pick a time, grab some mates and make your booking on the website. Find out more about the menu and book a table on the Newmarket Hotel's website.
‘Now what in heaven’s name is a Live Music Safari?’ we hear you ask. Well, let us explain. On Thursday, November 22, CBD laneway bar Whitehart is teaming up with events management company and champions of music innovation, Crown Ruler, to put on a show of live bands, DJs and beat sets. It's all part of Melbourne Music Week, an annual week-long showcase of Melbourne vibrant local music scene. This Live Music Safari party at Whitehart will run from 3pm to 1am and feature a line up that spans two stages and includes some great local musical talent. New Zealand’s Lord Echo will be performing for the first time in Australia with his live band, as well as Allysha Joy, Man Made Mountain, Moses Carr, and Elle Shimada Band. During the night, Stone and Wood will be taking over the bar's beer taps, while whisky connoisseurs William Grants are taking over the upstairs bar. Plus, Montenegro will be running a pop-up Spritz bar all day, with plenty of drink specials running well into the night. The event will be a celebration of Melbourne's music culture as well as Whitehart's music curation over the last year. Grab some friends and head along – you can find more info on the gig here.
