The Best Things To Do In Melbourne This Weekend
Searching for the best things to do in Melbourne/Naarm this weekend? You're in luck. The calendar is always full of top-tier happenings in Melbourne.
Whether it's a foodie find, a magical night market or a street festival, Melbourne is serving up another weekend of fun events and activities.
Here’s everything that's on in Melbourne this weekend.
Miss Trixie Is Hosting A $6 Bake Sale
The Co.Bake Space, 239 Swan Street, Richmond | 9am, Saturday 19 July
Image: Miss Trixie | Supplied
Melbourne’s favourite internet cake queen Miss Trixie (AKA Alice Bennett) is celebrating six years with an in-person bake sale where everything, from cakes and cookies to brownies, is just $6.
The lineup is predictably mouthwatering. There’s a chocolate Malteser cake, flourless orange and raspberry cake, vanilla earl grey and shortbread cake, white chocolate and raspberry cake with passionfruit curd, Milo cookies, choc-chip cookies, and even a range of gluten-free options. Miss Trixie operates exclusively online, so this is a rare chance to get your hands on her goodies in person.
Last year, her birthday sale sold out in just two hours; so get there early, BYO container, and note that limits may apply.
July’s Opening A New Melbourne Flagship, And Throwing A Party To Celebrate
QV Melbourne, Melbourne CBD | 9am–7pm, Saturday 18 July
Image: July | Supplied
While you might wish you were Euro-summering right now, at least you’re in town to grab cute new luggage for your next trip. July, the homegrown travel brand that makes ultra-chic, it-girl-esque luggage, is opening the doors to its biggest Australian flagship at QV Melbourne—and to celebrate, they’re throwing a party for customers.
The huge new space (250 square metres, thank you very much) was inspired by Italian piazzas, and feels more like a boutique hotel than a retail store. The opening day event will see complimentary champagne pouring, Hector’s Deli doughnuts for the first 100 people through the doors, and a live DJ keeping vibes high.
Shoppers will also have first access to the new Endless Summer collection, which features four limited-edition suitcase colours that aren’t yet available anywhere else in the country. Plus, score gifts worth up to $520 with purchase. Head to QV this Saturday 18 July to check it out.
FIRE UP THE GROUP CHAT
Warm up this winter by checking out these local fire-fuelled experiences.
Fireside Feasting At Cleveland Estate
A warming open-air dining experience on the romantic vineyards of the Macedon Ranges, this unique feast features the ancient ritual of cooking over fire using the region’s best local produce, built for social dining, flickering in the fire’s glow.
Fancy Hanks
A restaurant all about fire and seriously good barbecued chook? Sign us up! Fancy Hank’s are the pros of slow-cooked, wood-fired meats (we’re talking up to 22 hours), bringing melt-in-your-mouth brisket, pulled pork and ribs to your ever-grateful belly, packed with that glorious, smoky flavour only a looooong time in the smoker can do.
The Little Food Market
Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton | Friday 17–Sunday 19 July
Image: Little Food Market | Supplied
The largest curated food market in Australia is headed back to the Royal Exhibition Building this winter, with The Little Food Market uniting over 200 producers, makers, and kitchens under the one (very grand) roof.
Over three days, the market will showcase everything from artisan cheeses (like Milawa, Bruny Island, and Vannella) to small-batch spirits, cool-climate wines, fresh pastries, and pantry goodies. Making their Little Food Market debuts this year are the viral Sebby’s Scrolls, Kōri Ice Cream, Ocean Road Abalone, and The Gospel Whiskey.
The Feasting precinct gives you the chance to experience a sit-down meal from some of Melbourne’s top kitchens, without the booking. Don’t miss Allegria Pasta, Wonderbao, Dingo Ate My Taco, or Casa Nata. Across the weekend, you can also expect live demos and tastings from food icons like Julia Busuttil Nishimura (Ostro), Gareth Whitton, Tobie Puttock, and Sharon Flynn.
The Little Food Market runs from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July, with tickets from $15 available at the door and online.
Latin Rooftop Party For A Cause
Spiegel Haus, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne | 2–7pm, Saturday 18 July
Image: Spiegel House | Supplied
Take a break from Melbourne winter and step into a Latin American party this Saturday. Verbena Rooftop will transform Spiegel Haus into a free, all-ages festival packed full of music, dance, food, and culture, and it’s all timed to coincide with Colombian Independence Day weekend. Even better, it’s raising funds for Venezuela earthquake relief through Latin Stories Australia—so what excuse do you have to not party for a cause?
All afternoon and evening, expect live Latin bands, DJs, cultural performances, and authentic Latin American food, all conveniently in the heart of the CBD. Make sure you donate on the day to support relief efforts, and RSVP here.
The Wharf Winter Glasshouses
18/38 Siddeley St, Docklands | June–September
Image credit: Supplied
Celebrate Defiant Love At The Rebel Heart Exhibition
Keith Murdoch Gallery, State Library Victoria | Until 27 January 2027
Image: Rebel Heart | Eugene Hyland
Love doesn’t follow a rulebook, and the State Library Victoria’s latest exhibition is dedicated to the people who throw that book entirely out the window. Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations uses the Library’s extensive archive of letters, diaries, and rare manuscripts to share stories of romantic defiance across the ages, from Victorian-era same-sex couples to a mid-century marriage caught in the crossfire of the White Australia policy.
The high notes of the exhibition include a mourning brooch woven from the hair of pastoralist couple Anne Drysdale and Caroline Newcomb, and the story of bushrangers Captain Moonlight and James Nesbitt after they met in Pentridge Prison. Eventually turning to the present, Rebel Heart explores digital intimacy through mixtapes, DMs, and even AI relationships.
Check out original music commissions from Angie McMahon, Mindy Meng Wang, Mo’Ju, and Amos Roach, all of which respond to the material on display to add a truly moving layer to the experience. Entry is free, and the exhibition runs until January 2027; find out more here.
Grazeland’s Winter Program
Grazeland, Spotswood | June–August 2026
Image: Grazeland | Supplied
Grazeland is going all-in for winter this year, and it's not just the incredible food line up giving you a reason to visit. With something for everyone across the season, including a little extra school holiday magic from a snow machine with honest-to-goodness real snow, and a magical Christmas in July event with festive dishes and fairy lights.
All throughout winter, you can also catch FIFA World Cup matches screened live alongside the usual AFL and NRL games. It’s the perfect spot to gather the crew for great food, cold drinks, and a buzzy atmosphere to boot.
Weekend entertainment runs from Friday through Sunday each week. Headliners include a Mauritian band on 21 June, Latin Night on 4 July, and a Middle Eastern night with bellydancers on 22 August.
We're huge fans of the pan-fried dumplings at Lucky Little Dumpings, the quesadillas at El Taco and the hand-made pasta at Pasta E Basta (all great options on a cols winter night). But the one thing you can’t miss? The $25 Winter Feed that keeps people coming back. Get a full-size main meal and full-size dessert for $25 across more than 20 different vendors; we’re talking options like Hainanese chicken rice, Philly cheesesteaks, currywurst, steak sandwiches, and churros with dipping chocolate.
Caviar After Dark At La Madonna
La Madonna, Melbourne | Until 31 July
Image: La Madonna | Supplied
You might've had a caviar bump, but we doubt you've ever had an entire caviar degustation. That's about to change—La Madonna has just launched Melbourne’s only all-caviar degustation, and it’s an indulgent experience worth dressing up for.
Caviar After Dark is a five-course menu built by Michelin-trained chef Jacopo Degli Esposti, and places premium Anna Dutch caviar at the centre of every dish. Think bluefin tuna tartare with basil coulis and Baerii caviar, a generously finished spaghetti with caviar and lemon butter, and a surprising dessert wildcard: house-made negroni caviar (spherified from La Madonna’s barrel-aged negroni), served in an oyster shell.
La Madonna strikes the balance between luxurious and approachable, even with its moody chandelier-lit decor, and this caviar degustation is no different. Caviar After Dark is running Tuesday through Saturday until 31 July, with tickets for $220pp and an optional wine pairing at an extra cost. Find out more and book here.
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Waitress: The Hit Broadway Musical
Her Majesty’s Theatre | Until July 19
Image: Waitress The Musical | Instagram
The hit show described by New York Magazine as “sweet, sassy, passionate and delightful", has arrived in Melbourne.
Waitress: The Musical embraces universal themes of hope, resilience and camaraderie as it relays the story of Jenna, a small-town waitress and expert pie maker trapped in an abusive marriage. Her way out? A baking contest.
The stellar cast includes Natalie Bassingthwaite as Jenna while extraordinary talents Gabriyel Thomas and Mackenzie Dunn tread the boards as Becky and Dawn.
The ever charistmatic Rob Mills is Dr Pomatter and emerging superstar Keanu Gonzalez is Earl.
With strong language and themes of domestic violence, the show is a tale of empowerment, friendship and strength. Get tickets here.
Bubble Planet
62 Dawson St, Brunswick | Ongoing
Image credit: Bubble Planet | Supplied
Lift your spirits: Bubble Planet is floating into Brunswick on 1 April.
Bubble Planet has already mesmerised more than ten cities around the world—from London to Los Angeles, and New York to Milan—where it’s drawn over five million visitors. How does it work? Well, guests move through a spherical universe via multiple rooms, each featuring surreal, dream-like landscapes and everything from giant inflatables to floating soapy bubbles. Explore the Giant Bubble Dome, where you can relax on huge inflatable clouds while watching meditative animations above, and the continuous illusions of the Infinity Room.
There are 11 rooms to discover at Bubble Planet (hosted at Fever Melbourne). Visitors of all ages will love the colourful combination of technology, creativity, and the senses in this floor-to-ceiling sensory experience.
Main image credit: City of Melbourne | WebsiteUrban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.
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