Where to eat, drink and LOL at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The beautifully boisterous beast that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) takes over the city once more from March 30 to April 24. Even if you’re a seasoned pro at navigating one of our best-loved events, plotting your schedule can still be overwhelming. 

With most shows over and done in under an hour, the best way to maximise your MICF experience is to bundle together a few funny folks playing the same venue, grab a bite to eat nearby first, followed by a post-show drink. 

Here are our top recommendations centred on the CBD.

_{Urzila Carlson | Photograph: Supplied/MICF}

Melbourne Town Hall

This heritage-listed beauty in the heart of the city plays host to a veritable smorgasbord of sassy comedians during MICF. Massive stars take over the main hall with its enormous organ, but there are a squillion more folks squished into every available spot, from broom cupboards up. Catch them hawking their wares on the street outside, next to a pop-up box office, for further inspiration. It’s an electric atmosphere and the must-see destination of the fest.

You’ll be able to snort-laugh along to Nazeem Hussain, Urzila Carlson, Dave Hughes, Fern Brady, Joel Creasey, and the do not under any circumstances miss Steph Tisdell here.

Eat at: Meatmaiden. You’ll never forget the wow factor when you first step down into the most glamourous bunker in town. Veggoes beware: the focus of this stunning restaurant is right there in the name. You’ll find artfully hung carcasses galore, with steaks and smoked meats the go. Flash your Comedy Fest ticket and you’ll get a complimentary cocktail and canapé for good measure.

Grab a nightcap at: Cabinet Bar & Balcony. One of the CBD’s best-kept secrets, this gorgeous haunt is accessed by a nondescript staircase on Rainbow Alley. An intimate, candlelit space where they hang spare chairs on the wall, it has a great vantage point looking out over the hustle and bustle of Swanston Street. You can also grab yummy flatbreads here for a swift and simple feed.

_{The Barre | Photograph: Graeme Denholm}

Arts Centre Melbourne

The great white spiral perched atop the Arts Centre is as close as Melbourne comes to rivalling Sydney’s Opera House for a postcard-ready skyline hero. The vast entertainment complex brims with intriguing nooks and crannies and sits on the wide, tree-lined stretch of St Kilda Road, opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Famous Spiegeltent will be set up on the Arts Centre forecourt for the duration of the festival too. 

You’ll be able to bow down to the undisputed queens of Melbourne comedy Judith Lucy and Denise Scott here, as well as fellow legends Tripod, last year’s Most Outstanding Show-winner Geraldine Hickey, the incomparable Zoë Coombs Marr and international star Stephen K Amos. In the Famous Spiegeltent, check out UK musical due Flo & Joan.

Eat at: Hero at ACMI. If you’re looking to treat yourself, pop across the road to this stylish outpost on Federation Square. A swish dining hall encompassed within Melbourne’s screen cinema, it’s home to fine feeds from celebrity chefs Karen Martini and Philippa Sibley.

Grab a nightcap at: The Barre. You don’t even have to set foot outside the Arts Centre to grab a great glass of vino in this gloriously curved drinking spot. They’re doing a MICF special charcuterie paddle for two paired with Elephant in the Room Chardonnay or Pinot Noir for $65.

_{Forum Melbourne | Photograph: Visit Victoria}

Forum Melbourne

The grande dame of Melbourne gigs is an astoundingly trippy space that’s done up like a faux Roman or Ancient Greek palace, all not-quite marble busts, imposing columns and a midnight blue ceiling studded with sparkling stars. It’s bonkers, and you simply must. 

Of course, a razzle-dazzle venue like this is the perfect spot for the debonaire Rhys Nicholson, outré drag star Karen from Finance, the unvarnished Nat’s What I Reckon, and Celebrity MasterChef alumnus Dilruk Jayasinha.

Eat at: Pastuso. Tucked away on Melbourne’s rock star tribute AC/DC lane, this Peruvian wonderland is one of the city’s finest places to eat. Make sure you wash down lip-smacking tangy ceviche and charcoal-smoked meat feasts with a few Pisco Sours.

Grab a nightcap at: Garden State Hotel. Only a short stroll along Flinders Lane from Pastuso, this vast and impressive drinking hole stretches across many floors and encompasses Italian-inspired eatery Tippy-Tay. It’s a great spot to live, laugh and love in.

_{Aaron Chen | Photograph: Suppled/MICF}

Athenaeum Theatre

This beautiful haunt was founded way back in 1839 and is one of the most jaw-dropping places to visit during MICF. In keeping with the nickname ‘Paris end’ given to the top of Collins Street, it feels like you’ve walked into a theatre within the French capital downstairs, and one of Montmartre’s saucier joints upstairs.

This is where you can catch American star Arj Barker, British funnyman Ross Noble, the irrepressible Akmal and fast-rising star Aaron Chen.

Eat at: Maremeo. Take a stroll around the block and settle into this contemporary Italian eatery ensconced in Russell Place that likes to work up nonna-shocking twists on traditional dishes. They have a great courtyard out back if the weather holds up. Also, flashing your MICF ticket stubs unlocks a couple of specially priced set menus.

Grab a nightcap at: The Crafty Squire. Brewing gurus James Squire work up their fine selection of amber ales right here in their Russell Street brewhouse. Sit back and sink a few pints, or opt for a bottle of wine with a board of cold cuts, cheeses, olives, dips and whatnot for $55 during MICF.

_{Wil Anderson | Photograph: Supplied}

Comedy Theatre

Another stalwart of Melbourne’s artistic scene, the Comedy Theatre with its Spanish-influenced architectural stylings has stood in the top right-hand corner of the CBD since 1928. We especially love it because there is literally a bar on either wing of the theatre, thereby minimising effort on topping up before you chuckle.

All hail the comedy king Wil Anderson who has not one, but two shows at the Comedy Theatre this year. You can also tee up Tommy Little, plus inimitable duo Lano & Woodley. 

Eat at: Daughter in Law. Indian-born restaurateur extraordinaire Jessi Singh made a splash here and in NYC. His latest venture on Little Bourke is a beauty with rose-coloured walls, peacock blue banquette seating and rule-breaking variants on his home country’s classic fare.

Grab a nightcap at: Punch Lane. You’ll work up a thirst in the amount of time it takes to peruse all the delightful drops chalked on the blackboard of this legendary wine bar on Little Bourke Street. Show off your MICF ticket and you can also band a Punch Lane offers for ticket holders a Melbourne Gin Company G&T for only $10.

Browse the entire MICF program.