What's happening in Melbourne
The best things to do this week
Enjoy more than 40 free events celebrating Indigenous culture and creativity
This stunning festival of flowers is on now in the Dandenong Ranges
Come see the Royal Exhibition Building transform into the most pawsome place on earth
See the latest styles, discover your next artist and get inked at this three-day tattoo festival
A free photo exhibition of real-life Disney princesses is now showing at Fed Square
Celebrate the tastes and traditions of Europe at the Vic Market's newest nocturnal event
Feast on pork that's been fed with the botanicals that create Four Pillars' award-winning gin
Melbourne's biggest book lovers have moved to the vibrant Queen Victoria Market
The latest news
Competitions and announcements
Progress – A Festival of Ideas is a series of talks, music, theatre and performance that runs for two weeks at Monash Clayton campus, May 16-26. The theme of the festival is of course ‘progress’ and will interrogate that word in various ways. Events range from Fleur Kilpatrick’s climate change play Whale to all-star comedy night Smokestack featuring Tom Ballard and Zoë Coombs-Marr; a concert of protest songs to Archie Roach on stage with Paul Grabowsky; and cabaret to jazz. Talks cover feminism, technology and creativity, an interview with Iranian refugee, journalist and writer Behrouz Boochani live from Manus Island via video link, and the mysterious ‘wheel of bias’ that prevents human progress. Time Out has ten coveted double passes that will get you into 19 events in Progress – A Festival of Ideas, including all of the above. Yes, you read that right – win one of these babies and you and a friend had better cancel all your engagements for a fortnight, as you’re going to be very busy, stimulated and entertained. To win, enter below by Wednesday, May 8. Enter here
Everyone in Australia has heard of Chadstone – The Fashion Capital. The shopping, food and entertainment destination doesn’t do anything by half – when Chadstone does something it does it big. So when the precinct teams up with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this April, you can be sure the entire complex will be shaking with big belly laughs. Festival de Luxe is part of Chadstone’s four-week entertainment series landing on Saturday, April 6. Like the rest of Melbourne, Chadstone is ready to split its sides with laughter when Melbourne International Comedy Festival rolls into town – but not everyone can travel into the city to get their giggle on. That is why Chadstone’s Festival de Luxe is bringing the laughs closer to residents in the city’s southeastern suburbs. The month-long laugh-stravaganza will bring down the house with a top-notch line-up of comedians from around Australia. For the first time, the Comedy Festival Showcase (April 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21) will be setting up shop in the Parlour at Chadstone for Festival de Luxe. Every weekend from April 6 to 21 guests can laugh till they cry, with the showcase on at 5.30pm on Saturdays and 3pm on Sundays. The show is hosted by the hilarious Dave Callan (as well as other special guest hosts), and you can expect to get giddy with some of the country’s top rib-tickling comedians. Little laughers are catered for too, with sketch, circus and musical comedy. Almost every day over the school holidays kids will be t
Collingwood’s backstreets are home to Rupert on Rupert, an eyeball-wooing bar and restaurant graced with high ceilings, light-drenched interiors and a mini forest’s worth of pot plants and trees. Ric Corinaldi and his wife Mali opened Rupert in 2015 and have since made it synonymous with cool cocktails, kicked-back Sunday sessions and many bespoke weddings. It makes sense as soon as you enter the big, heavy glass door that separates Rupert from its namesake Collingwood sidestreet. This place is so pretty it deserves a Hollywood screen test. Think big, brown Chesterfield couches paired with finely crafted wooden tables, an atrium-style roof and rooms flooded with greenery. Out the back, there are two custom-made fireplaces which come in handy when winter rears its very chilly head. There's also a sexy cocktail lounge out the back which is perfect for private dinner parties or events. Now, if you can tear yourself away from the interiors, you'll be able to settle down for a cheeky drink or even a full-blown meal as Rupert is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Be sure to check the venue's website or Instagram in the lead up to a visit as they may be closed for private events. Even on a weekday, this light, bright and pared-back restaurant is buzzing. Head chef Samuel Wilson has put together a menu that’s made for sharing – but there are a couple bigger dishes you’ll want to hog all to yourself. Charcoaled ricotta gnocchi is saddled with butternut pumpkin an
Time Out Melbourne magazine is now completely free. While newsagencies will no longer stock the quarterly magazine, you can pick up a copy at selected cafés, shops, entertainment venues and hotels around the city. In addition, friendly Time Out helpers will be handing out copies at major city train stations on the day of publication. You can pick up a copy of our Bar Awards issue on Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8 at Flinders Street Station Flagstaff Station Parliament Station
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.
If you're looking for a break from the inner-city grid, there's no better cure than a day trip from Melbourne.
Behold, our eat-and-destroy list – a guide to Melbourne's best restaurants, from fine dining to cheap eats
Expert tips for exploring the city's best attractions for zero dollars
Book in for the best Melbourne shows with our guide to new and upcoming theatre in Melbourne. Our theatre critics recommend the best shows to see right now, as well as the most exciting upcoming shows in Melbourne. For more Melbourne theatre information, check out our latest reviews and our guide to scoring cheap theatre tickets.
From world-beating cocktail lounges to down-and-divey saloons, here's everywhere worth drinking in Melbourne
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.
Melbourne area guides
The heart of the city, home to Chinatown and some of Melbourne's best restaurants and arts institutions.
Inventive bars, geek girl boutiques and envelope-pushing eateries. Plus live music institutions.
Whether you are after great eats, a night out or a film at a Victorian-era cinema, Elsternwick is a great place to find yourself.
We should err on the side of caution when describing Williamstown as “greater Melbourne”. Not only will the locals love to tell you it’s only 20 minutes to the city (and no tolls!), but there’s a beach that’s accessible via public transport, a gorgeous pier to stroll down and stunning views towards the city and across Port Phillip Bay. As Melbourne's first seaport, Williamstown has swiftly developed into a trendy seaside suburb with a village feel. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants, you can hop on a bike and circle the water’s edge, or just find a quiet spot to sit and think about all the things you still have left to do. Looking for more fun in the west? Check out our guides to Footscray and Yarraville while you're here.
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.
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In Melbourne, most locals can hardly wait for summer to end each year. No, it’s not that they’re fed up with the hot weather – it’s because the end of summer each year means one thing: the start of the footy season. Because the return of the AFL (and NRL if that’s your thing) isn’t just about the games. Oh no. It’s also about the atmosphere – the ability to bond over a few drinks with a couple of strangers before a match or commiserate with other fans after a loss. And for locals, Transport Bar epitomises all that’s good about the footy season with free-flowing beers, pub food and friendly crowds. The appeal of Transport isn’t just its location. To be fair, the location is a big drawcard for fans headed to the MCG, with Transport right next to Flinders Street Station and only a 15-minute walk to the ‘G (ten if you’re really keen). You can even catch a tram from Transport to Marvel Stadium in Docklands for free (catch the number 75 or 35 from Flinders Street). But the bar has also won over fans from all sporting codes for its impressive list of beers, wines and cocktails that help make match day just that little bit better. We challenge any beer lover not to find something they like at Transport Bar. The venue rocks 15 beers on tap (including Furphy, Little Creatures and Guinness) as well as a huge number of bottled beers from Melbourne and around the world. Prefer a vino before the big match? Transport has six different wines on tap and a whole lot more by the bottle. And f
Inviting riverside pub the Wharf Hotel has answered everyone’s prayers — they have taken the concept of bottomless brunch (where you would usually get sugary drinks and indulgent treats which definitely don’t pass for breakfast) and have flipped it on its head with healthier low-sugar cocktails so you can treat yourself without the calories. Every Saturday afternoon from 2pm-4pm, grab a few mates and settle yourself on the garden deck where for $49, you will be served up unlimited jugs of cocktails with a healthy twist — they are made with a ‘shrub’ starter (a mixture of fruit, vinegar, and sugar). The shrub syrup is used as the base for some tempting tipples, especially when you know they contain less sugar than the bevvies usually found in your typical Saturday sesh. There are currently some pretty enticing cocktails on offer, like tequila, watermelon and basil, or Bacardi, mint and cucumber. Also looking good are the dark rum and spiced pineapple or a Vodka and berry bliss option, and you’ll be able to enjoy any and all of them with a healthy grazing platter to share between you and your mates. Flavours will change seasonally, and you’ll have to book ahead in order to snag yourself some prime real-estate on the banks of the Yarra for a couple of hours. To check out the details on the Wharf Hotel's website and book a table click here.
Melbourne’s inner-north Collingwood has seen gentrification over the last 20 years, bringing in inventive bars, boutiques and envelope-pushing eateries of every description. It’s still a little grungy, and it’s still known for its live music. In Sydney, Redfern has a deep-rooted history of Indigenous culture, as well as an industrial past, that’s now home to exciting new bars, creative community hubs and historically significant street art. We think you’ll like it. Redfern is only one stop away from Central Station, or a 20-minute walk.
Queenstown really packs a lot in. Not only is it the largest ski resort in New Zealand – during the peak season the picturesque Southern Alps are dotted with snow bunnies like kiwifruit on giant white pavlovas – it’s also the home of bungy jumping and all manner of heart-stopping adventure activities. Food and wine lovers are well catered for, too.
Progress – A Festival of Ideas is a series of talks, music, theatre and performance that runs for two weeks at Monash Clayton campus, May 16-26. And you have the opportunity to win double passes to 19 events throughout the festival. The theme of the festival is ‘progress’ and will interrogate that word in various ways. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll think as the festival showcases some of Australia’s best creative talent across a series of comedy shows, theatre performances, talks and gigs. Events range from Fleur Kilpatrick’s climate change play Whale to all-star comedy night Smokestack featuring Tom Ballard and Zoë Coombs-Marr. Music shows include a concert of protest songs, Archie Roach on stage with Paul Grabowsky, plus cabaret and jazz. Talks cover feminism, technology and creativity, an interview with Iranian refugee, journalist and writer Behrouz Boochani live from Manus Island via video link, and the mysterious ‘wheel of bias’ that prevents human progress. Time Out has ten coveted double passes that will get you into 19 events in Progress – A Festival of Ideas, including all of the above. Yes, you read that right – win one of these babies and you and a friend had better cancel all your engagements for a fortnight, as you’re going to experience two weeks of inspiring music, theatre and ideas at Monash University. To win, enter below by Wednesday, May 8. Enter here
No matter how big your TV or how clear your sound system, watching a footy match in a bar or pub is always going to be better. It’s not just the easy access to burgers and beers, it’s the atmosphere that comes with sharing the match with total strangers as well as your mates. It may not be the same as being at the ‘G, but then it’s not always possible to score tickets (not to mention when your team isn’t playing at home). Always on the lookout for somewhere good to catch the match? Head over to Crown, where you’re sure to have a ripper of a time no matter the outcome of the game. There’s a stack of great venues to grab a drink with your mates at Crown. The Pub and Sports Bar are the two that footy fans need to know about Why? Well, first of all there is no way you can match the quality and quantity of the screens at Crown. Each bar has multiple, mega-sized screens throughout the venue that make your telly at home look like a Nokia 3310. The Pub features a total of nine screens while Sports Bar really smashes it out of the park with a whopping 20 screens to gaze at. Plus they screen multiple sports (as well as the day’s biggest matches) so you can stay updated on every code. And because Crown takes its sports coverage seriously, you can even check out the live schedule so you know exactly what’s screening. Seeing the AFL at these venues also means footy snacks far tastier than frozen party pies and cocktail frankfurts. The Pub does pub grub and it does it well. We’re talk
Trinket Bar on Flinders Lane is launching a delicious weekend lunch special. Starting May 4, you will be able to indulge in an endless amount of doughy goodness and bottomless sweet tipples. They may be bottomless but Trinket aren’t skimping on the pizza quality with seasonal produce woodfired on sourdough bases and inventive menu combinations. There are thirteen different options to choose from, with toppings like bresaola with fresh chilli, parmesan and carpaccio, or prawns with zucchini, anchovies and mozza. For a zingy vegetarian option try the smoked eggplant, squash, salsa verde and goats cheese. Browse ahead of time and check out the full menu on their website. Match your pizza with four bottomless cocktails available over the two-hour period. Try a frozen Bellini, a Trinket Spritz, with pineapple tepache, Amaro Nonino, cherry and Prosecco, an Americano with Campari and sweet Vermouth, or a Bicicletta with Campari and white wine. The bottomless pizza and cocktails special is only $49pp and available between 12.30 and 2.30pm on the weekends. So, whether you’re celebrating something special, or just coming in off a shopping day around the CBD, Trinket Bar is ready for you with endless pizza and delicious cocktails in hand.
Haven’t thought of a Mother’s Day pressie yet? Pullman on the Park has made it easy with a brunch experience to make your mum feel like a queen on Sunday May 12. They will be serving up their renowned buffet (with a few special touches) to celebrate one of the most important days of the year, and Mums are invited to indulge for half the price of a regular ticket. It’s all happening in the Cliveden Bar and Dining, where you will find a smorgasbord of savoury and sweet delights (some with a pink twist) created by Executive Chef David Albert. Alongside fare like sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches, scrambled-egg tartlets with crispy bacon, there will be fresh seafood, paella, Tasmanian grass-fed rump and a beef carvery station set up to live out a Spanish or Italian food fantasy. After you’ve satisfied your savoury tooth, your sweet tooth will be overjoyed with the range of desserts on offer. Pink macarons and a live crepe station will sit alongside a pink chocolate fountain, because what more could you want on such a special day? Special Dilmah cocktails will also be on offer, mixing tea with alcohol into some very pleasant tipples. Tickets to the brunch are $99, but Mums will dine for $50 as a way of saying thank you for being such a superhero every day of the year. Book online to make sure you don’t miss out.
It's rare that someone starts their art collection with a major name, but it is possible to start your collection with an artist who will become one. The Other Art Fair, presented by one of the world's leading online galleries, Saatchi Art, allows the average person to purchase their own masterpiece direct from the artist. The Other Art Fair was founded in London in 2010 and successfully hopped the pond to Sydney before arriving in Melbourne in 2017. After two years, the Melbourne event is back this May with an exciting line-up of over 120 undiscovered artists chosen by a powerhouse committee of tastemakers, with works selling for as little as $100 each. The Other Art Fair is well known for focusing on the “other”, with off-the-wall immersive experiences, performances and exhibits on offer, and this year they have some incredible highlights across the four-day program (Thursday May 2 to Sunday May 5). First up is singer Courtney Barnett’s global project 'Tell Me How You Really Feel', which features a room where participants pop on a pair of headphones and are immersed in thoughts about her latest album from fans around the world. VR plays a role in 'Through the Looking Glass', an interactive piece that plays with art and augmented reality from Michelle Brown (under the moniker the Bad Lament). Instagram influencers will also feature at the fair, with Melbourne-based illustrator Celeste Mountjoy (@filthyratbag) bringing her drawings to life at her interactive comic wall, w
Theatrical storytelling, with all its heightened, fictitious elements, relies on a suspension of disbelief. It’s all the more necessary in a farce, with its exaggerated situations unravelling in deliciously ludicrous measure. Bell Shakespeare’s take on French playwright Molière’s The Miser hits such delightful and superficially pleasing notes with its uniquely thrumming rhyming gait, as it opens up on a 17th century social and familial circle. At the centre of this circle is stingy skinflint Harpagon (John Bell), but he isn’t just any ordinary money-hoarder: he’s a butt-sniffing, nose-picking Scrooge-type so depressingly frugal that he puts the miser in miserable. He cares more for the 10,000 gold crowns in a tightly screwed money pot in his garden than he does about his children, Cleante (Damien Strouthos) and Elise (Harriet Gordon-Anderson). So it’s not exactly a surprise that he misses a key piece of personal, important news: both of them are in love – Cleante with Mariane (Elizabeth Nabben), and Elise with Harpagon’s own servant, Valère (Jessica Tovey). The problem with their lovers? They’re not exactly to Harpagon’s economic standards – and Cleante and Elise must then conceal their planned betrothals. What plays out is a mismatch of cheeky scenarios filled in with dramatic irony, as Harpagon reveals his plans to marry Mariane for himself, and meanwhile setting up Elise to marry the old, wealthy widow Signor Anselm (Sean O’Shea). This is Australian writer Justin Fleming