Your ultimate guide to Melbourne
Discover the city's best things to do, culture, dining, nightlife, bars and theatre
What to do in Melbourne
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Time Out Food Awards
Melbourne, it’s time to mark Monday September 18 in your calendar because the annual Time Out Food Awards are upon us. Join us as we toast the city’s best fine dining restaurants and casual diners; degustations and sensational takeaways; top chefs and rising stars. Expect delicious drinks, sweet tunes brought to you by Flex Mami, and great food by Pontoon St Kilda Beach – not to mention all the suspense of the awards as we give back to those venues and talent that make feasting in Melbourne superb. Tickets are $70 + BF and include food, drink, fun and a copy of the annual Time Out Food Awards issue ($4.95 value), hot off the presses before it hits newsstands. Limited first release tickets go on sale Thursday July 20.You can also have your say by voting in the People's Choice awards. Powered by Eventbrite in association with
Seeking out Creatures on the road from Melbourne to Geelong
Apart from an open-range zoo, the freeway between Melbourne and Geelong is there to take you where you want to go, not to inspire you. But it’s just one hour’s drive to get to the city that’s the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. Drive straight to the waterfront to find the Geelong of today and the Geelong of yesteryear merging thanks to the presence of more than 100 bollards painted in the likeness of local identities. Created by late local artist Jan Mitchell, the figures nod to Geelong’s maritime heritage, with sea captains, sad clowns and dart-smoking broads of days gone by all represented. There’s also a dog called Timmy who loves digging up rocks from the seabed. This classic slice of beachside Australiana is found amid the sunshine and seagulls in hot chip search-and-destroy mode. Down in South Geelong, another great Australian tradition lives on. Taking an old wool mill and spinning it into a multipurpose space, Little Creatures Brewery is an ode to the fine art of brewing. It’s also a cinema, canteen, pizzeria, and on the weekend an arts market too. This is Little Creatures Geelong head brewer Warren. With a look of contentment on his face that could only come from working in the beer industry his whole life, Warren has travelled around the world helping thirsty people out with craft ales since before craft brewing was cool – from the Cook Islands to the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Arizona, Sydney, Melbourne and now Geelong. Warr
August is Ardbeg month in Melbourne
Winter getting you down? Ardbeg is on the case. All month long, top Melbourne bars are shaking up their classics to bring you a round of specials using Ardbeg, the peatiest Islay Single Malt scotch whisky out there. From whisky flights to a whisky-infused burger, an Ardbeg-infused winter warmer should be your solace this August – you certainly earned it.
11 secrets Canberra's been keeping from you
Pssst: did you know Canberra has excellent – truly excellent – restaurants? Add to that award-winning cafés, museums that tell the story of our nation, some fabulous hip hotels and a snowy winter playground and you’ll know where your next weekend mini-break destination is.
Rice Paper Sister
If you like Rice Paper Scissors, you'll want to check out its little sister Rice Paper Sister on Hardware Lane. The South East Asian-inspired restaurant is by owners Rahmie Clowes and Shane Stafford and with this venture, they are moving away from the street food approach towards a more refined dining experience. Rice Paper Sister focuses on share dishes inspired by dishes from Bali to Bangkok, using local ingredients. Try snacks like the kangaroo tartar with chilli, roasted rice and burnt eggplant dressing; raw kingfish with white soy, fermented rice vinegar and yuzu; and the tempura Queensland lobster roll with nori mayo and chrysanthemum leaves. Make room for larger plates like the crisp fried whole flathead with holy basil and garlic; Balinese style roast suckling pig with young jackfruit salad and roti; or slow cooked goat shoulder served with a tamarind, green bean and tomato salad. Round off your meal with cocktails that reflect the South East Asian influences throughout the meal like the Vietnamese Espresso Martini and the fresh coriander-infused mojito. Find out more about Rice Paper Sister.
Newmarket Hotel
Away from the hustle and bustle of St Kilda's foreshore, the Newmarket Hotel is serving classic and more contemporary pub grub, wood-fired pizzas, bar snacks and refreshing drinks. Start off your Newmarket feast with a build-your-own charcuterie board; pick your base (brioche, oat crackers or flat bread), nibbles (olives, dips or sun dried tomatoes), creamy cheeses, cured meats and get ready for a snack party. If you're after something a little heartier chef Christian Abbot (who was a finalist on the UK’s Master Chef) has devised a menu that elevates counter meals to the next level. He's firing up Gippsland eye fillet and smoked pork shoulder on the grill, but try the signature Newmarket burger and parmas too for a classic pub experience. All year round, the courtyard is also great spot for a post-beach drink, so pull up a seat and join the locals at this backstreet pub to check out St Kilda's hidden gem.
