What’s On: Ditch The Clubs, This Sober Sauna Rave Comes With All The Dating Prospects You Need
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
Looking for the best things to do in Melbourne this weekend? From blockbuster food festivals and pop-up markets to immersive art shows, live music gigs and family-friendly events, the city is heaving with must-see happenings.
Whether you’re craving hidden laneway bars, buzzy inner-north restaurants, big-ticket cultural exhibitions or free outdoor activities, our Urban List guide to what’s on in Melbourne is packed with the city’s hottest events, openings and experiences.
Keep scrolling for the tastiest eats, coolest activities and can’t-miss events lighting up Melbourne right now.
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Wondering what's on in Melbourne? Here are Urban List's picks for the best things to do in Melbourne this week, this month and beyond:
The World’s Oldest Children’s Bookshop Has A New Home In Brunswick East
Image Credit: The Little Bookroom | Website
A big win for little readers: The Little Bookroom has opened in East Brunswick Village! Founded in 1960 in Melbourne’s Metropole Arcade, this specialist spot is dedicated to children’s books, storytelling and imagination—welcoming all young bookworms from babies to teens.
You’ll find everything on these shelves, from early learning publications and pretty picture books to collected fairy tales, hardcover classics, iconic series we grew up with (Narnia and Nancy Drew, anyone?), fresh YA novels and more.
Despite moving locations a few times, The Little Bookroom has remained open and trading for 65 years (and still features bookshelves from the original shop!). Its new home in the heart of East Brunswick Village places it within a lively hub of shops, dining and entertainment—where parents can grab a wine, catch a movie or let kids roam in the local brewpub. It’s not tucked away in suburban nothingness, which is a welcome relief for millennial parents who still want to enjoy the good things with their little ones.
Beyond books, the shop entertains and educates with author and illustrator events—including book launches—plus workshops, storytime sessions and school programs.
The newly-reopened Little Bookroom is located at 8 Village Avenue, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Ink, Markets & More: TATTOMANIA Celebrates 3 Years Of Good Marks Tattoo
Ready up, Melbourne—TATTOMANIA is back and bigger than before! On Saturday, Dec 6th, from 11AM till late, Good Marks Tattoo throws its wildest flash day yet to celebrate three awesome years of ink and artistry.
With 11 incredible tattoo artists spread out over three buzzing levels, you can score sizzling flash pieces from just $150. And as if that’s not enough, four special guest artists are joining the party to crank up the creativity!
A lively market will be on deck, featuring funky jewellery and clothing stalls. But wait, there’s more—Get tattooed and try your hand at “Chase the Ace,” where a dart throw could win you extra tattoo vouchers. How’s that for a sweet bonus?
This 18+ celebration is fuelled by heaps normal beer and partnered with Cham Coffee next door—meaning $2 coffees and 10% off food to keep you going all day long. Whether you’re after fresh ink, market treasures, or just a good time at the tattoo parlour, TATTOMANIA is your ticket to one-day-only body ink fun!
Bring your crew, get creative and celebrate Brunswick’s bold and buzzing tattoo scene!
TATTOMANIA kicks off at 4 Dudley St, West Melbourne on Saturday, Dec 6th, starting at 11AM and going till late.
There's Some Serious Contenders In The Ring For Christmas Sparkling & Fizz Fest Is The Showdown
In the pantheon of great sparkling wines, people turn to the Champagne region of France as the be all and end all for a bottle that seeks to impress. We like champagne as much as the next person, but there's some serious bottles of fizz coming out of Australia that gives the classic Champagne a run for its money.
In hopes of showing us just how great local sparkling wines can be—and giving us some options for Christmas entertaining—there’s a cool little winebar in Blackburn running a ‘Fizz Fest’ this weekend, showcasing the best drops in Australia.
“Australian sparkling is at a really, really exciting place right now,” says Natural Science co-owner Tristan Jallais. “Fizz Fest is our way to share this excitement and with the Festive season fast approaching, we're hosting this event to help people find their ‘special occasion’ and their ‘any occasion’ sparkling wines.’
Whatever occasion you are looking forward to this summer, you are gonna have a bottle of sparking at the table, so it might be worth coming along to see how things stack up against the frenchy fizz.
This will be a fun day, regardless of your stance on wine regions. Fizz Fest is on this weekend, Saturday, 22 November from 2-5pm. Tickets are $15.
Popcorn With The Pooches? Dogs Are Welcome To Moonlight Cinema This Summer & There's Snacks To Match!
Image: Moonlight Cinema X Lyka | Supplied
Moonlight Cinemas across the country are opening up the gates for furry friends to come sit and watch the big screen from Wednesday, 3 December.
Running ‘til 5 April 2026, the cinema will be set up in Royal Botanic Gardens. With offerings across all major cities excluding Perth, it sounds like it’s gonna be a summer of tail wagging. Watching a film with your dog always increases the magic of the moment—especially when you're under the stars.
Dogs running around could make for a pretty engaging movie night, especially with the paired snacks that are provided at the door, courtesy of Lyka, the gourmet dog food meals on wheels service. You could be eating popcorn while your best friend chews down a Turkey Dental Jerky treat from a specialised goodie bag. Good boy.
Things sound like they could get interesting with that many dogs running around—but we’re here for the plot.
Meet Your New Lover At Melbourne’s First Sober Sauna Rave Where Kombucha Is The New G&T
Image: Wellness Social Club | Supplied | Words: Olivia Tiralosi
Melbourne nightlife is so 2024… with matcha raves and run clubs on the rise, sober sauna raves are the next new thing, and this one comes with its own colour-coded dating prospects.
Interested in checking it out? Melburnians are being welcomed to Preston’s very own Wellness Social Club, from 6–9 pm on November 28 for hot and cold therapy, hoop drums and hangover-free fun.
Attendees can hit Ascension and submerge themselves in all the facility has to offer, from sound baths to cold plunges.
“We are inviting Melburnians to come experience a new type of sesh, one that will leave you feeling refreshed, recharged and buzzing with a natural high,” the crew at Wellness Social Club says.
Mingle with others stress-free by simply strapping on a colour-coded wristband—green for flirty sparks, blue for friendships, red for the vibes.
Plenty of people can say they met their partner online, but how many can say they met theirs at a Sober Sauna Rave?
If you’re ready to get buzzed on vibes, book your ticket here for $65.
Get Around Our Secret Menus In Partnership With Amex
Image: Love Letter | Urban List
In case you missed it, we've teamed up with American Express for a blink-and-you'll-miss-it secret menu dining series. This is your chance to taste the dishes that chefs whip up when they're not plating your usual order—your VIP pass to fresh flavours you won't find on the menu.
From 1 to 30 November, we're taking over more venues across Melbourne with exclusive secret menu dishes.
For this round, Tarts Anon chef Gareth Whitton is taking us for a trip down memory lane with his blueberry & lemon myrtle tart, while the crew at Love Letter are giving the classic surf & turf a glow up with prime rib, lobster tail and Skull Island prawns. Get your skates on, these won't be around for long.
Pop Over to Prahran Square For a Bubble Exhibit That Will Blow Your Mind
Image: Ephemeral Collection | Supplied | Words: Olivia Tiralosi
Ever dreamed of floating on a bubble (just us!?)—well, this interactive exhibition at Prahran Square might be the closest you’ll get.
Ephemeral Collection and The Bubble Emporium are inviting Melburnians to see the world through a rainbow of light and colour.
For a two-week run, until 23 November, you can immerse yourself in a forest of monstrous bubbles up to eight meters tall.
And for five special nights from 12-16 November, you can soak up music with the Golden Oldies at 6pm and The Boys in Blue at 8pm, under a sea of bubble magic.
Whether you're headed out during the day with the fam or looking for a little something romantic for you and your beau in the evening, Prahran Square is the place to float on over to this November.
NGV Set To Dazzle With Their Upcoming Cartier Exhibition
Image: NGV / Cartier Exhibition | Supplied
Don your petticoat and collect your monocle for this dazzling new exhibition featuring all things sparkly from tiaras to necklaces and timepieces.
Cartier is gearing up to grace Melbourne with a never-before-seen exhibit of their finest jewels from June to October in 2026 at The National Gallery of Victoria.
The collection will include the house’s signature ‘Garland style’ tiara, worn by the one and only Rihanna (royalty in her own right) in 2016.
And for all the crows out there, worry not, for plenty of other shiny bits that have graced the very heads of Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Margaret, and The Duchess of Windsor will be present.
Cartier currently boasts a whopping 3,500 pieces in a growing collection, and with 300 of those jewels set to visit Melbourne, in a panoply of gems, the exclusive display is one of a kind.
“This exhibition is set to be a brilliant addition to our arts and cultural calendar, providing tourists and locals alike a unique opportunity to see treasures never before seen in Australia,” Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks says.
Step Inside Four Ecosystems At Melbourne Museum's Epic New Immersive Gallery
Image: Our Wonderous Planet | Supplied
Discover how deeply we’re connected to the natural world at Our Wondrous Planet, the largest permanent gallery ever built at Melbourne Museum. This groundbreaking, multi-sensory experience spans 1,800 square metres, immersing you in four vital ecosystems: reef, rainforest, ice and soil.
Soar through a lush canopy, trigger a coral spawning under a full moon and feel the squelch of earthworms beneath your feet. It’s an awe-inspiring journey designed to ignite wonder at life’s incredible improbability. The experience goes deeper, exploring our shared ‘tree of life’ and connection to Country through a First Peoples-led space, before challenging visitors to make a difference in a collaborative future-focused zone.
Join in, this is a powerful, visceral call to protect our interconnected planet.
THE DETAILS
Where: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
When: From 20 September, 2025
Price: $18 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, Free For Children
Feel, Play, Explore—The Museum of Desire is Calling
Image: Museum of Desire | Supplied
Ever wanted a museum visit to leave you blushing, breathless or just downright tempted? Melbourne’s Museum of Desire is about to make all your aesthetic and erotic dreams come true. This immersive playground of art and intimacy invites you to step into a world where curiosity is currency and touching (some things) is very much encouraged.
From interactive installations that let you orchestrate moans with a laser-controlled instrument to a photo booth where your hands and lips do all the work, this is not your standard “look, don’t touch” exhibition. Expect neon-lit seduction, queer art and experiences designed to make you think, laugh and maybe question why we ever made sex taboo in the first place.
With over 25 spaces to explore, whether you’re here for a date night, a friend adventure or just to see what all the moaning—I mean, buzz—is about, the Museum of Desire guarantees an unforgettable time.
THE DETAILS
When: Until October 2025, Check website for hours
Where: 92 Rupert St, Collingwood VIC 3066
How: Grab a ticket here (18+)
Main image credit: NGV | Supplied
Urban 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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