Taylor Swift is coming to Melbourne, and the whole city seems to know it. With definitive proof that this is her world and we’re just living in it, there’s everything from cocktail nights to cruises, cookies to the Queen Vic Summer Night Market, completely Taylor-inspired, and best believe it’s all bejewelled. To find out all the details on Queen Taylor’s takeover, keep on scrolling.
The Confectionist X Co.Bake Space Pop-Up
Image credit: Co.Bake Space | supplied
The team from The Confectionist are taking over Richmond’s Co.Bake Space, just in case you want to eat Taylor Swift’s head. Yes, you read that correctly. Specialising in face cookies, Georgia Chiarella and Gabriel Rocha from The Confectionist are launching cookies for the most dedicated of Swifties, including Taylor's face, her most iconic outfits and accessories, and loaded cookies, inspired by Swift's home baking. You can pre-order via their website right here.
Fargo & Co Brunch Era
Fargo & Co are switching up their infamous brunches with an Eras-inspired twist. With four brunch sessions across Saturday 17 February and Sunday 18 February, there’ll be a DIY slushie station, themed cocktails and of course all the best brunch foods you could want. Book here.
Taylor Sheesh At Fed Square
Image credit: Taylor Sheesh | supplied
Manila-borned drag queen Mac Coronel AKA Taylor Sheesh, is bringing her version of the Eras tour to Melbourne—the Errors tour. Having blown up on social media from performing throughout the Phillipines in shopping malls and stadiums, she’s bringing her show down under for her first major public appearance in Australia. She’ll be joined on stage with some Bollywood dancing with Sapphire Dance, dance pop-ups from Body Electric and voguing from The House of Diesel, plus, if you dress up as your fav iteration of Taylor, you could win a trip for two to the Philippines. Catch Sheesh Friday 17 February from 7:30pm. Find out more details here.
Skydeck’s Sky-High Pre-Concert
If you’re looking to elevate your concert experience in the most literal of senses, Melbourne Skydeck is inviting you to come on up and potentially see a glimpse of the star before her concert begins. 300 metres above sea level means the view will be a sight for sore eyes, and Skydeck is walking distance from the MCG so you won’t miss any of the action, and you’ll get a cocktail or mocktail on arrival. Click here for the deets.
Era Boat Cruise
Hop aboard the Victoria Star for a cruise that will have you singing the night away on Saturday 17 February. You’re encouraged to dress up, whether it’s inspired by her Folklore era or perhaps something more Bewelled. Menu items will be based on her too, so drink your Blank Space Bubbly while you eat their Fearless feast. They’ll also have trivia games, song lyric contests, and a Taylor Swift dance-off. Click here to book.
QVM Summer Night Market
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Image credit: QVM | supplied
Forget Valentine’s Day, it’s Taylor Swift’s Day at the QVM Summer Night Market, on Wednesday 14 February. The whole market is singing Taylor’s praise, from food and drink to entertainment. You’ll be sipping pretty on a Swiftail, a strawberry, vodka and lemonade cocktail garnished with fairy floss. There’ll be a cover band playing all her best hits, and roving entertainment paying homage to Taylor. There’ll even be silent disco held by Guru Dudu with an Eras-themed playlist. Find out more details here.
The Smith Drag Brunch
The Smith are doing a TV (Taylor’s Version) of their drag brunch, so you know there’ll be plenty of glitter. Of course, there’ll be Taylor-inspired spritzes, wines, beers, mocktails and juices, so prepare to shake it off at the 12pm or 3pm sesh. Click here to book.
Drag Bottomless Brunch & Drag Trivia At Harlow
Disco Island Brunch is getting a Taylor Swift-style makeover, with 2 hours of Taylor-inspired food and drinks, hosted by their fabulous drag queens. They’re also doing a separate trivia night, with plenty of music and a drag performance or two (or three). Book here for Saturday 17 February and Sunday 17 February.
Yakimono And Chin Chin Are Serving Up Taylor’s Fav Cocktails
Image credit: Yakimono | supplied
According to a restaurant she frequented in Kansas City, a French Blonde is Tay Tay’s cocktail du jour. A blend of grapefruit juice, gin, Lillet Blanc, and elderflower liqueur, a French Blonde is so classic, it never goes out of style (sorry, had to). Of course, Yakimono and Chin Chin are both paying homage to the songstress by offering up a rendition of the cocktail on their menus while she’s in town, so drop by if you wanna see what the fuss is all about.
Prefer your Swiftie cocktail riverside? Melbourne's floating bar, Afloat, is also adding the rumoured favourite sip to their cocktail list during the Eras tour craze.
For those kicking southside, race to Lona Misa and get hyped with these limited-edition themed cocktails: Champagne Problems, Cruel Summer, Swift-jito, Lavender Haze, Shake It Off, and French Blonde (Tay's version).
Pre-Show Parties At Riverland Bar
Riverland Bar will be hosting pre-show parties across the Taylor Swift show weekend, so if you’re looking to pre-game, or just didn’t manage to score a ticket and wanna cry with some Swifties in solidarity, they’ve got you sorted. Walking distance from the MCG means you’ll get to breathe some of the same air as Taylor, and they’re making sure the music doesn’t die all night. A temporary tattoo artist will be on-site to give you glitter tattoos, with all proceeds going to charity.
Richmond Club Hotel Trivia
Get your trivia on at Richmond Club Hotel. If you think you know Taylor best, they’re doing three nights of straight trivia 12th through 14th February, so make sure you brush up. Make sure to book here.
The Posty Pre-Show Party
The Posty is hosting pres, and it’s only a 15-minute walk to the MCG. Starting from 12pm Saturday 17 February, it’s two hours of bottomless bevs including spritzes, house tap beers and wine, as well as a shareable grazing platter for the gang. Click here to book.
Village Belle Hotel Decades Brunch
Village Belle are putting on a brunch, so expect back-to-back Taylor hits from 3pm onwards on Saturday 17 February. There’ll be vocalists and DJs to wash down two hours of bottomless brunch and some Taylor-inspired slushies. Book here.
Karaoke At Stike Bowling
Image credit: Funlab | Supplied
Thanks to Stike Bowling, if you missed out on the golden Taylor Swift ticket, you can shake it off with your very own Eras Tour concert with your besties. Belt out your best Cruel Summer or Lover rendition while sipping on strawberry mojitos and tropical gin cocktails. Book your singing sesh here.
Chicken Swifties At Hector’s Deli
Did you spot Tay-Tay munching on some chicken tenders at a recent NFL game? Well, Hector’s Deli did, and now you can get her favourite chicken tenders with hot honey and “seemingly ranch” this weekend. Only available at South Melbourne and Fitzroy outposts.
Flash Tattoo With Fine Line Tattoos
Image credit: Fine Line Tattoos | Supplied
This one's for the die-hard Swifites, just walk, pick, and get inked. The pros at Fine Line Tattoos are hosting a flash tattoo event at their Carlton studio across the Eras Tour weekend. Choose from a range of bespoke Taylor-inspired designs for $200 a pop, designed by Cholo himself. Walk-ins only, running Friday 16 February to Sunday 18 February, 9am to 5pm.
Check out everything else happening around Melbourne while Tay Tay is here—right here.
Image credit: Taylor Swift