What's happening in Melbourne
The best things to do this week
Play with baby goats, ride on on a magic carpet and load up with show bags – it’s Royal Melbourne Show time
Drop to the bottom of the deepest prehistoric oceans in ACMI's immersive VR experience for families
Even if you're not into AFL, the sheer excitement of the AFL Grand Final weekend is something worth experiencing. To help celebrate Melbourne's biggest...
Oriental Teahouse is serving bottomless dumplings
This masterclass lets you learn to cook with some of MasterChef’s best alumni
Think you have to go to Japan to see the cherry blossoms? Think again
Melbourne’s Nicola Gunn hilariously subverts the serious matter of making theatre with young artists
The latest news
Competitions and announcements
Become the popular one in your peer group, the San Telmo way
The San Francisco bag outfitters are opening up shop in Melbourne
The best of Melbourne
This is it: the definitive list of the people, the places and the things that make our city so great
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
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.
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 know how it is. You pop in for a quick drink when a glance at the snacks menu reminds you that something to do with your other hand would complete this picture of pre-dinner bliss. Maybe it’s a little cheese and cured meats to whet the appetite; some dips to sate the rumblings of a hungry stomach; or a bridging meal that could be a snack or could be dinner depending on how you’re feeling. And the best part is, whether you go on to make a meal out of it or leave it there, you can pay for all of these bar snacks using your 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.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that: antipasto is a dish loved by the grazers of the world. In what might just be the greatest Italian invention, apart from the espresso machine and Isabella Rossellini, the traditional spread consists of cheeses, cured meats, olives, seafood, pickled vegetables, and breads; and is usually served as the first course of a meal. Anti - pasto = Before - meal. But, down here on our Antipodean shores, an antipasto platter is a meal unto itself. Best served with a bottle of wine and friends who share your choice in cheese selection; antipasto is a fine art in the Melbourne restaurant scene. Whether it’s a grazing plate at your local bar, or more of a fancy feast, we hunted down some of the best antipasto plates in Melbourne. When it comes to getting the cheque, you can 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.
A dish born in the Indian subcontinent, curry has been adopted and adapted by many cuisines, from Thailand to Malaysia and Japan-via-Britain, with each culture applying their own configuration of herbs, spices and fresh ingredients to create something entirely new. Next time you’re hankering for a serving of saag aloo, massaman or goan barramundi curry, hit up one of these restaurants around town. And after you’ve used your naan to mop up every last drop, you can pay in confidence knowing these venues welcome American Express.
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Timbuk2 are opening their first ever store in Australia, and to celebrate they are helping Melburnians to break up with their bag. What does that mean? Well, if you head into Timbuk2's brand new store at 321 Little Collins Street in the CBD from September 7-10, you can drop off any old bag (in any brand, size or style) and Timbuk2 will donate the bag to a local charity or recycling centre and you'll get 20 per cent off their in-store Timbuk2 purchase. Timbuk2 creates backpacks, messengers, totes, laptop and cycling bags that are durable and practical. Bike messenger Rob Honeycutt founded the company in San Francisco’s Mission District back in 1989. These days you can find their quality made backpacks all across America, the world and now Melbourne. To celebrate their Melbourne launch, Timbuk2 have also created a custom Melbourne bag – they'll be giving away five of these limited edition, city-inspired bags to customers that participate in the 'Break Up with Your Bag' event. Also, one lucky winner will get to design their ultimate Timbuk2 bag, which will be custom created for them in San Francisco and sent directly to their home. Find out more about Timbuk2.
Part gym, part Pilates studio and part wellness centre, Kaya is Melbourne's first mind and body health club. You can think about it less as a generic gym and more like a little oasis that's all about combining working out with a functional, fresh and beautiful studio spaces. Kaya specialises in Pilates reformer, traditional yoga, barre, boxing and fitness circuit classes, plus there's also dedicated weights and cardio zones. This month if you become a Kaya member you'll also receive a style-cut and finish with a relaxing massage thanks to the team at Lady Marmalade Hairdressing. That's along with four week's free membership. This special membership gift grants you unlimited access to over 330 classes per week plus the ability to follow it up with a swish hair refresh from a senior director stylist at Lady Marmalade. Membership to Kaya means access to work out in both of Kaya's studios – located in Prahran and Emporium – plus access to their entire studio which includes luxe showers and on-site services including a nutritionist, physiotherapist, massage therapist and osteopath. Find out more about Kaya Health Clubs and join today.
Every year, the Melbourne Fringe Festival makes jaws drop and eyes widen across the city with their out-there line-up of theatre, comedy, art, music and events. This is Melbourne at its weirdest and one of the best ways to get a feel for the city's cultural underbelly. Past events have included a series of interactive seesaws with Siri-like intergration, drag shows, a Shania Twain a capella choir and an amateur water ballet dedicated to periods. The festival also routinely books big name comedians, including Arj Barker and Sammy J. This is just scratching the surface – there's more than 400 events each year across roughly 160 venues in and around Melbourne. For the full program, visit the website. And remember: this is your opportunity to take risks on bold new works. Jump in, and enjoy the ride. RECOMMENDED: Our top picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Left your Bank of Melbourne card behind the bar by mistake? Dropped your wallet? No need to stress, the Bank of Melbourne has your back. Their mobile banking app enables customers to get cash out from your Complete Freedom account at any Bank of Melbourne ATM, and you can also temporarily lock your card, so there will no funny business while it’s out of your sight. Because it might find its way back to you – it might magically reappear behind the couch or in your other pants. In fact, research conducted in 2016* showed three out of ten people had a false alarm regarding a lost card that ended up being safe and sound after all. But what to do while you wait for your missing card to show up? We suggest you kick back and relax in one of these cash-only or cash-preferred venues in Melbourne... What's more, the Bank of Melbourne is giving $75 cash back to new customers that open a Complete Freedom everyday account online by September 28, 2018 and deposit $500 ($250 for Students/Under 21s) within 45 days of opening the account**. *2016 Lost Cards Report; the research was commissioned by Westpac and powered by Lonergan Research. **New Complete Freedom customers only. Offer period is Sep 3, 2018 to Sep 28, 2018. Read the terms and conditions at bankofmelbourne.com.au before making a decision and consider if the product is right for you.
New arrivals to San Francisco International Airport could be forgiven for thinking celebrities regularly patrol the halls. After all, what else could be causing the crowds of people to swarm intermittently, their smartphones held aloft ready to capture the perfect selfie? But it’s not a celebrity the gaggle is waiting for – not a human celebrity anyway. As SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel explains, it’s LiLou the pig that the crowds want to see. “She is such a unique idea,” says Yakel. “It’s like an A-list celebrity going through your airport." LiLou has been bringing love to San Francisco Airport since 2015 as part of the Wag Brigade, a group of therapy animals who voluntarily patrol SFO’s terminals giving out pats and cuddles to frazzled travellers. The idea to bring animals into the airport comes as more and more airports around the world try to make air travel a little less stressful. “We’re always looking for unique ideas that would surprise and delight our guests,” says Yakel. And no one surprises and delights quite like LiLou, with the tutu and tiara-wearing porker barely able to make it a few metres without being approached for a pat. “It’s been quite an amazing reaction,” says Yakel. “A lot of selfies, a lot of people wanting to come up and pet her." "Just like any good A-list celebrity, LiLou lets the adoring fans come to her" The saying might be that you should never work with animals (or children), but in this case LiLou and the rest of the Wag Brigade ar
The Hop Sessions has landed at Beer DeLuxe Hawthorn and it's all about showcasing the best local craft brews. To do so, they'll be hosting a craft beer brunch every Sunday from 11am. For $50 per person, you'll enjoy a two-hour package of craft beer where you can sample brews from the likes of Abbotsford's Moon Dog and Sydney’s Northern Beaches Modus Operandi, alongside Holgate Brewhouse, 3 Ravens and Hawthorn Brewing beers. The beer list changes weekly so you'll always find something new to try. Along with your schooners, you'll get to choose a meal from Beer Deluxe's brunch menu, which takes breakfast classics into pub meal mode. Choose between a breakfast burger with a milk bun, bacon, avocado, spinach, tomato relish and a fried egg; pulled barbecue pork burger with fried egg and hollandaise sauce; or a pulled chicken and corn omelette. If you're after a lighter option, opt for the mixed mushroom bruschetta with feta, lemon and parsley salsa; or crushed avo with pickled jalapeños and poached eggs. You can reserve a table anytime from 11am, so get a bunch of mates together and book in for the beer-focused brunch. Find out more about the Hop Sessions – Craft Beer Brunch at Beer Deluxe.
Melbourne is known for its dynamic arts and culture scene year-round, but from October 3-21 it goes into overdrive when the Melbourne International Arts Festival takes over some of the city's most important public spaces, cultural institutions, galleries and theatres. If you're looking for a fiery public spectacle, French artists Compagnie Carabosse will be taking over the Royal Botanic Gardens with Fire Gardens, a series of huge, flaming installations that will light up the gardens for three nights only. The Royal Botanic Gardens will also play home to Lexicon, a new work (and the only Australian performance) by immersive circus arts troupe NoFit State. To follow on from last year's House of Mirrors, the trippy 1000 Doors will take over Arts Centre Melbourne's forecourt. It's a maze of doors, some locked, some open, some leading to corridors and rooms, and some leading to cupboards and dead ends. Visitors will be able to walk through the installation, opening whatever doors they fancy and discovering new and interesting pathways through the maze. Melburnian music lovers will want to nab tickets to 16 Lovers Lane, a one-night-only supergroup performance of the classic album with the original members of the Go-Betweens, Paul and Dan Kelly, Romy Vager, Laura Jean and Jen Cloher. Contemporary dance will also take centre stage with the Australian premiere of modern ballet A Quiet Evening of Dance, and a large-scale production of operatic dance piece Layla and Majnun. Check
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.
The beating heart of the Melbourne Fringe Festival is its raucous club, where art-loving audiences dance and drink at themed parties presented by different performers every night. The Melbourne Fringe Festival Club kicks off with the Opening Night Party on Thursday, September 13, complete with an opening ceremony lead by DJ Andrew McClelland of Finishing School fame and the Sydney duo the Dollar Bin Darlings. Other highlights of the program include All that Glitters is Blak, Fringe's very own First Nations dance extravaganza, as well as Queen of the Night a celebratory tribute to Whitney Houston. If you're after more nostalgia make sure you head along to the Year 10 Formal night, or 1992-1-OMG!, a super fun '90s themed pop party. If you're not into dancing, head in for the Test Drive comedy night hosted by Nath Valvo, the theatrical Circus Battle Royale, or sign up for All Gender and Sexuality Speed Dating. And that's far from it. For the full list of parties, head to the Festival Club website. It's open every Tuesday to Saturday night and it's totally free! It's not uncommon for queues to snake out of Arts House, so arrive early to avoid disappointment. Find out more about the Melbourne Fringe's Festival Club here.
Do you long for the days of classic arcade games? QV Melbourne has heard your pleas and they’re hosting a free, three-week retro gaming festival called Game/On. From August 31 to September 23 QV Square and its surrounding laneways will be transformed into a gamer’s paradise complete with retro '80s fitout, a live game art mural, competitions and a selection of old-school arcade games. Here’s what to expect from the free Game/On festival at QV Melbourne.
