Easter is like the grown-up equivalent of getting a new toy at Christmas and realising you’re missing the batteries. Everything’s closed. The streets are deserted. Phones go straight to voicemail as restaurateurs and café owners take a well deserved chocolate-filled break.
Or do they?
We’ve tracked down a bunch of places open over this Easter long weekend. in Melbourne.
Cafes
Three Bags Full
Abbotsford’s cool-as warehouse café is open early all weekend if you’re craving some post-dawn caffeine.
Where: 60 Nicholson St Abbotsford
Open: 8am – 4pm, Friday to Monday (Kitchen closes at 3pm)
Check out their website here.
The Boot Factory
On the grounds of the old Pentridge Prison—where prisoners made boots and uniforms for the guards—The Boot Factory is now somewhere people go for pleasure, not punishment. Known for their beautiful homemade bread, The Boot Factory’s all-day brekky menu will be running all Easter.
Where: 19 Pentridge Boulevard, Coburg
Open: 8am to 4pm, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Pidapipo
There’s no better way to finish off an Easter feast than with a beautiful scoop (or ten, no judgement) of Pidapipo’s rich and creamy gelato. They'll be slinging it all weekend on Lygon St and Chapel St.
Where: Carlton + Windsor stores
Open: 12pm to 11pm, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Photography: Michelle Jarni
Short Straw Cafe
Trusty Hawthorn, giving us the trendy cafe goods. Whether you need a caffeine fix, fritter sesh or simply a fried chicken burger, Short Straw Cafe is for you this Easter.
Where: 743B Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
Open: 7am-4pm, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Good Times Milk Bar
Bentleigh's newest cafe will be trading all weekend, get stuck into the GTMB beef burger or their ricotta hotcakes.
Where: 83 Tucker Road, Bentleigh
Open: 8am - 4pm, Friday - Monday
More info here.
Frank's
If you find yourself a little further south than usual, you'll be safe in the knowledge that Frank's is open all weekend long.
Where: 97 Cavanagh Street, Cheltenham
Open: 8am - 3pm, Friday - Monday
More info here.
St. Ali
Do these guys ever close? Short answer: not really. South Melbourne's favourite brunch bar will be open all Easter Long Weekend, shooting caffeine into the mouths of thirsty locals.
Where: St Ali, 12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne
Open: 7am – 6pm, all weekend.
Check out their website here.
Turning Point
A hop, skip and a jump away from Ripponlea station, Turning Point has your Easter brunch and dinner plans covered. Did we mention the vegan and gluten-free cocoa pops?
Where: 10 Glen Eira Ave, Ripponlea
Open: 7am-9pm, Friday. 8am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday. 7am-4pm, Monday.
Check out their website here.
Restaurants
Baby Pizza
A seafood banchetto will be running all Easter weekend long at Baby Pizza, featuring spectacular seafood to share or just to gobble down yourself. Plus, on Easter Sunday they'll be hosting a La Famiglia Feast and Lamb Arrosticini barbeque. Come to mama.
Where: Baby Pizza, Church St Richmond
Open: 7am-late, Friday and Monday. 8am-late, Saturday and Sunday.
Check out their website here.
Photography: Kong
Kong BBQ
You know it’s truly going to be a good Friday, when Kong's running an Asian-style seafood BBQ. Get on down and check this one out.
Where: Kong BBQ, Church St Richmond
Open: 12pm-late, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Ichi Ni Nana
You're never too far away from something delicious at Ichi Ni Nana, and the other restaurants in the group.
Where: 127 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Open: Friday to Monday,12pm - late
More info here.
Village People Hawker Foodhall & Upside Rooftop Bar
Upstairs at Ichi Ni Nana is also open over the break.
Where: 127 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Open: Friday, Sunday & Monday 5pm - late, Saturday 12pm - late
More info here.
Ichi Ni
Where: 12 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Open: Friday - Monday 12pm - late
More info here.
Hawker Hall
Try out Hawker Hall's drool-worthy seven-dish Yum Cha for only $38pp. Pair it up with $10 beer tinnies highball cocktails for only $10. BARGAINO.
Where: Hawker Hall
Open: 11am-late, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Chin Chin
Our favourite Asian fusion restaurant is open all long weekend! Hit them up for a mouth-watering Australian X South East Asian experience. God bless you, Chin Chin.
Where: Chin Chin, Flinders Lane
Open: 11am-late, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Kisumé
Experience a Seafood Omakase at Kisumé’s Basement Sushi Bar and Restaurant this Easter. The banquet is designed by their sushi master and is just begging to be inhaled down.
Where: Kisumé, Flinders Lane
Restaurant Open: 12pm- late, Friday to Monday
Seafood Omakase Open: 1pm Lunch seating, Friday and Saturday
Check out their website here.
Terindah Estate
Grab a glass or three of Terindah Estate wine and enjoy their Sunday live music session with Kieran Tobin. DJs and vines—that's how we Easter in Melbourne.
Where: 90 McAdams Lane, Bellarine
Open: 12pm to 4pm, Sunday
Check out their website here.
Photography: Pascale
Pascale Bar And Grill
QT’s flagship restaurant will be doing a solid dinner trade from Friday to Monday. Pro tip: try the Kaiser Burger.
Where: Level 1, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne
Open: 6:30am –11am, 6pm – 11pm, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Stokehouse Precinct
Everybody’s favourite beach house is open for business this long weekend, and we could not be more thrilled. Stokehouse’s laid-back vibes offer everything you’d want from a weekend away at the beach, without the arduous packing and super long drive.
Where: 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Stokehouse: Lunch and Dinner service, Friday to Monday
Pontoon: 12pm until late, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Cutler & Co.
If you’re looking for somewhere gorgeous to impress the out-of-towners, this Fitzroy restaurant and bar is the way to go. Open from 12pm Sunday, Cutler & Co. have got your traditional Easter lunch sorted.
Where: 55–57 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Dining Room: Friday, Saturday & Sunday (closed Monday)
Check out their website here.
Hanoi Hannah New Quarter
Get a Watermelon Spritz in you at the New Quarter—the latest iteration of the unequivocally tasty Hanoi Hannah. These groovy new digs will have your Insta story going off its tits.
Where: 79 Swan Street, Richmond
Open: 12pm-late, Friday - Monday
Check out their website here.
Fatto Bar & Cantina
Pizza tastes better Yarra-side at Fatto. Celebrate your significant, Easter-sanctioned decrease in nine-to-fiving by going IN on some pizzas with your crew. And then hit the toon for good measure.
Where: 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Open: 4pm-late, Friday and Monday. 12pm-late Saturday and Sunday.
Check out their website here.
Tokyo Tina
Long weekends call for spontaneous sojourns to Tokyo, right? If your budget doesn’t allow the real deal, Tokyo Tina will get you pretty damn close. PSA: Their crispy avo bao is the sh*t.
Where: 66A Chapel St, Windsor
Open: 12pm-late, Friday-Monday. 12pm-late Saturday and Sunday.
Check out their website here.
Neptune Food & Wine
If a mood-lit, mediterranean affair is what you’re longing for this weekend, hit up Neptune. There’s genuinely 300 different bottles of wine to choose from on the menu, so bring a decisive friend.
Where: 212 High Street, Prahran
Open: 12pm-12am, Friday and Saturday. 12pm-11pm Sunday. Closed Monday.
Check out their website here.
Yagiz
Turkish food is MADE to bring people together. For the ultimate foodie fam’s Friday night dining sesh, head to Yagiz for some hearty feeds that you won’t be able to pronounce, but will definitely swoon over.
Where: 22 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Open: 5:30pm-11pm, Friday. Saturday-Monday, closed.
Check out their website here.
Bars And Pubs
Grosvenor Hotel
Open late all weekend long, the Grosvenor Hotel is the perfect place for a bite and cheeky bev.
Where: 10 Brighton Road, St Kilda East
Bar open: 12pm - late, Friday to Monday
Bistro open: Lunch and Dinner, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Speakeasy
Chapel Street is probably never too far from your mind on a long weekend, so Speakeasy will be there for you.
Where: 359 Chapel Street
Open: Friday 3pm - 1am, Saturday 9am - 1am, Sunday 9am - 10pm, Monday 9am - 3pm
More info here.
Newmarket Hotel
Leagues away from your standard pub grub, Newmarket Hotel will be dishing up its famous soft shell crab BLAT tacos all weekend long. Get around it.
Where: 34 Inkerman St, St Kilda
Open: 12pm - late, Friday and Saturday. 12pm- 11pm, Sunday. 12pm-late, Monday.
Check out their website here.
Photography: Arbory
Arbory Bar and Eatery
If Arbory Bar & Eatery keeping its doors open over Easter doesn’t make you believe in magic, then we really don’t know what will. Spending a long weekend sitting back and relaxing with a cocktail in hand and a Southern Fried Chicken Burger in our bellies sounds like our idea of heaven.
Where: Flinders Street Railway Station, 1 Flinders Walk, Melbourne
Open: 7:30am until late, Friday to Monday
Check out their website here.
Lover
Chapel Street's newest hot spot that brough Melbourne the delicious tones of In-N-Out burger.
Where: 60 Chapel Street, Windsor
Open: Friday - Saturday 5pm - 1am, Sunday 5pm - 11pm, Monday: Closed
More info here.
The Butterfly Club
Grab a theatre performance and a cheeky cocktail while watching a heckaz comedy show, running every night over Easter.
Where: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place
Open: Friday 30 March- Monday 2 April, 5pm-Late
Check out their website here.
Pilgrim Bar
Right on the banks of the Yarra River is an intimate waterfront venue featuring boutique Australian wines and seasonally-inspired menus. Best part? It’s open every night over Easter.
Where: Pilgrim Bar, Federation Wharf
Open: Friday 30 March, Saturday 31 March, Monday 2 April
Check out their website here.
Photography: Annika Kafcaloudis
Belleville
Smack bang in the middle of the CBD, this restaurant, cocktail bar and live music fusion venue is open over Easter with comedy shows every night! Get ready to get your giggle on at Belleville.
Where: Belleville, Globe Alley
Open: Friday 30 March – Monday 2 April
Check out their website here.
Tasma Terrace
This pop-up venue is home to 16 comedy shows every single night for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Where: Tasma Terrace, 6 Parliament Place
Open: Friday 30 March- Monday 2 April
Check out their website here.
Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis
