What's happening in Melbourne
The best things to do this week
This Tina Arena-led production is seductive, powerful and completely rewarding – but you need to work for it
Watch a troupe of amateur dancers covered in sequins and glitter give it their absolute all
Melbourne’s Rooftop Bar is your destination for high-flying al fresco film screenings this summer
Sofitel is serving up a black and white high tea to celebrate the NGV’s epic new Escher exhibition
Your social calendar is sorted for the warmer months with great tunes at the NGV
Do Christmas the French way with Alliance Française's annual festival market
[Sponsored] Explore truth, lies and illusion in this new art and theatre exhibition
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Explore truth, lies and illusion in this new art and theatre exhibition
Dance all night to some of the world’s best electronic and house music
Got a client you need to impress, or a team you need to reward for a job well done? How about a business lunch at San Telmo – and we’ll pick up the tab?
The summer pavilion opens in the Queen Victoria Gardens with a calendar of arts, architecture and culture-focused events
The yuletide spirit is strong at Chadstone
See all the high octane action in person without having to spend a cent
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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It seems everyone’s talking about Tasmania these days. It comes as no surprise when you consider just how much this southern state punches above its weight in terms of attractions, nature adventures, top-notch wineries and incredible restaurants. One way to get amongst the best of the Apple Isle is by attending the much-lauded (and free!) Taste of Tasmania festival, which is set to take over Hobart this summer. Running from December 28 to January 3, the Taste of Tasmania is a free festival that celebrates all of Tassie’s best bits, from world-class food and locally made malt whisky to local musicians, artists and more. It takes place on Hobart’s fabulous waterfront and features 47 diverse ticketed events, including fine dining events, masterclasses and cooking demonstrations. There is also 110 market stalls, free live entertainment, cooking workshops and more, letting both locals and visitors get amongst the action. The Taste of Tasmania is Australia’s oldest and largest food and wine festival, and in 2018 it’s celebrating its 30th birthday. A highlight of this year’s festival will be the culinary program, which features workshops on cheese, gnocchi and sausage making, bush tucker tours, an abalone masterclass, fermentation classes, a pickle party, a gin supper club, yum cha events for kids and a huge barbie breakfast with all profits raised going to support vulnerable Tasmanians. Everything is proudly 100 per cent Tasmanian, with over 110 stallholders showcasing local
This New Years Eve, Prahran's Smith Hotel will be transformed into the Garden of Eden as it sheds the old year and steps into 2019 in style. The night kicks off at 8pm and will run until late. To start, head chef Andrew Brahram and his team will be cooking up a storm for guests, who can sit down and enjoy a three-course meal with a glass of sparkling wine for just $65 per person. The menu will feature canapés of fresh oysters and parfait en croute with a choice of two entrées: an heirloom tomato, ricotta and peach tartine, or a snapper crudo with pickled carrot, licorice and sorrel. Mains include crispy skinned ocean trout marmitako, a grilled wagyu rump or an orzo risotto. There will be dessert, of course, so get ready to dig into cherry and coconut souffle with dark chocolate sauce, or a cheese platter with Cornish Yarg, fruit bread, poached figs and lavosh. Or if you’re not interested in dinner, take advantage of the four-hour drinks package at the newly opened Atrium bar. It’s just $90 per person and includes roving canapés and live entertainment. The selection of canapés includes oysters with Chardonnay vinegar granita; cured Hiramasa kingfish with pickled cucumber and lime purée; goats curd and carrot tarts; vegetable frito; steak tartare; chicken liver parfaits and more. You can book your spot here, and do so quickly because spaces are limited.
QV Melbourne is doing Christmas a little differently this year, doing away with your twee preconceptions and thinking a little outside the (gift) box. Throughout November and December the precinct is embracing the most wonderful time of the year with a festive (and free) party that combines Christmas traditions with bright colours, fun food and cutting-edge technology. From November 23 right through to December 21 QV Melbourne will be hosting Colour/Party, a bright, colourful celebration of the festive season. This isn’t your usual Christmastide pop-up. QV are skipping the kitschy decorations for a fun, innovative and interactive selection of events. Santa is cool, but QV want you to meet someone else this Christmas at Colour/Party. Introducing the QV Cane-Deer, a jolly augmented reality (AR) Christmas creature created by Sydney-based creative studio Vandal. QV Cane-Deer is a scruffy but cute reindeer who loves candy, dislikes One Direction and was pipped to the post to lead Santa’s sleigh by Rudolph. Head along to QV to meet Cane-Deer for yourself. He’s the official host for the party and will be popping up all over the Colour/Party activation: find him on the permanent big screen in QV Square where he’ll be inviting visitors to dance or play with him (or you can give him a big high five). QV’s Cane-Deer is definitely not camera shy and he hopes you’re not either because he’d love to snap a selfie with you. To get a photo with the cheeky character (or transform into h
During summer in Queensland it’s all systems go on fun and frivolities. The southeast corner in particular becomes a flurry of activity, including sporting tournaments, music festivals, art exhibitions and much more. As 2018 ticks over to 2019, you can watch all the tennis action in Brisbane, let your hair down at one of the country’s biggest folk festivals, and enjoy a spot of polo by the beach. Culture buffs can peruse international works of contemporary art, while sports nuts sit it out for three days at the Gabba with eyes fixed on a cricket ball. In between the formalities there are plenty of other places to chill/explore (depending on your energy levels), including Brisbane’s inner-city beach at South Bank, which makes even locals feel like they’re on holidays; the hill with a view, Mt Coot-tha; and wine trails through the Granite Belt. You can also head offshore to Stradbroke, Moreton and Fraser Islands, the latter being the world’s largest sand island, or get lost in the hinterlands behind the Gold or Sunshine Coasts. Of course, the coasts are also ripe for beachy stuff, so bring your towel and a surfboard.
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!
It’s always a good time to indulge in fancy seafood. We scoured the city for the best fish and shellfish dishes around, spanning pastas, rolls, tacos, sashimi, mousse, croquettes and much more. Then, when it comes to getting the bill, you can pay in confidence knowing these venues welcome American Express.
It's never too early to get kids interested in classical music, and who better to do it than the world's most famous musical child prodigy? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will come to life on stage, accompanied by a live accordionist and accomplished circus performers. Expect physical comedy, daredevil acts and of course, Mozart's famed music. But who is Mozart, really? Is he the pun-loving, cheeky larrikin known to his friends? Or is he the genius musician and composer, performing in a wig before kings and courtiers? Through this performance, audiences will get to know both sides of the musical genius. It's a performance of musical mayhem, and it's appropriate for children aged three and up.
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.
Electric Gardens is making a triumphant return to Melbourne, with a bigger and better line-up than ever before. The event is going until 1am, so there will be full warehouse vibes. Underworld is headlining, so you know it’ll be an epic party. House maestro Erick Morillo and techno DJ Eats Everything will be supporting. Live and loud will be Bag Raiders and Set Mo. Electric Gardens will rock Shed 14 in Docklands on January 18, and you can win a pass for you and three mates to go to the show. Enter below before Monday January 7. Enter here
They’ve got one rule down at Beer DeLuxe: beer is king. With this in mind, they’ve recently given their Federation Square location a princely facelift, adding a royal forest of botanicals to their beer garden. Here, you can spend sunny afternoons tasting paddles of their best brews and working your way through the hearty menu of one-hand munchers, pizza pies and meat-bread combos. They've got more than 20 taps frothing the best brewed stuff and endless bottles from ambers to pale ales and wheat beers to barrel-aged Belgium styles. You could be in for a long, lazy afternoon getting to know Beer DeLuxe's beer bible under the shade of their sprightly young ferns and fresh new plant walls. Oh, and there’s also some tasty drops of vino, for those more inclined to a grape fermentation. Got something worth celebrating? Gather the office crew or your best mates and raise a pint to the year that was in the garden, spread some Christmas cheer, or rejoice in a golden toast to the sunshine itself. The brew masters at Beer DeLuxe will set you up with space for up to 20 party people, a $600 bar tab and $400 of piping hot pizzas and moreish grazing plates for their hop garden Christmas party package. Simply send a line to the events team to organise a happy beer celebration, right down to last-minute festive plans. If you’re a popular beer-lover and need something a little larger than the $1,000 package, this can also be happily arranged. The more beer, the merrier.
