Features | URBAN LIST MELBOURNE

Ability Fest Is Making An All-Electronic Return, With PNAU Set To Headline

The world would be a far better place if there were more festivals like Ability Fest, but for now, we can relish in the fact that the country’s most inclusive event is making a triumphant return this October, taking over not just Melbourne but making an exciting debut in Brisbane.

Travel

How I Holiday: A Travel-Lover’s Guide To Korean-Style Rotisserie Chicken And Concept Stores In Seoul

Welcome to How I Holiday, a series of travel stories and recommendations shared by friends of Urban List from Aotearoa and Australia.

Entertainment

Keli Holiday’s New Record Capital Fiction Reintroduces The Peking Duk Star To The World

The musician shares the inspiration behind the new album's romantic ballads and synthy dance bops—and why he handed over the record release schedule to his fans.

Food & Drink

Old Garage Cafe

Down in the leafy streets of Camberwell, there’s a sleepy little cafe that’s been making some noise in the suburban precinct. Old Garage Cafe which launched back in mid-2020 has made its home out of a former mechanic's garage, the industrial feel of the space with the raw brick interior brings back some of that repair shop charm. Tucked down a side street just off the main drag Old Garage has a very casual feel, a doggo friendly policy also adds to the welcome atmosphere.

A long, minimally-designed wine bar with bottles on the right hand wall.

Bars & Pubs

Glou

We love a wine down here in Melbourne, and we also love a yarn. So we think you’re going to love the new Glou wine store opening on Smith Street. The team behind Glou are building a community around sustainability and awareness in the wine industry with their part shop, part tasting bar. You can pop in for a chat and a sample, before stocking up on your favourite sustainable drops.

Bars & Pubs

The Provincial Hotel

The Provincial is pretty much the Grand Old Dame of Brunswick St pubs. If you don’t have three stories of loose nights here, you’re not a true Northsider.

Gifts

Greener House Nursery

If you haven’t stopped by Greener House Nursery on Sydney Road in Brunswick yet you’re seriously living your life wrong.

Food & Drink

3 Aussie Creatives Share Their Must-Try Lunar New Year Dishes

At its core, Lunar New Year is a reset button. A chance to hit pause after the chaos of the year just gone, and spend time with the people you love.

Guest Editors

“The Missing Piece In Circular Fashion Is People”: Marcus Crook On How HoMie Puts Community First

From a humble Facebook page to a flagship store in Fitzroy, the Melbourne-born streetwear brand has scaled fast. But it's never been about following fashion cycles or chasing cultural capital; it’s always been about serving people.

Features

Food Writer Becca Wang Shares Her Go-To Lunar New Year Recipes For Year Of The Horse

Let’s face it: the Gregorian calendar’s New Year's is overrated.

Travel Tips

Here’s How You Can More Than Double Your Annual Leave In 2026

Thanks to those long couple of years we were grounded at home, we’re guessing plenty of you have clocked some serious annual leave days, so why not start thinking ahead and planning your next big adventure?

Features

How Daniela Maiorano Blends Her Abruzzo Roots With Byron Bay Values For Simple, Flavourful Hosting

A fourth-generation chef raised in Abruzzo, Italy, Daniela Maiorano knows a thing or two about hosting the Italian way. Now settled in Byron Bay, she's found a way to blend her two worlds to create simple, flavourful food that hits every time.

Travel

From Safaris To City Exploring: Where Our Team Is Flying In 2026

Ready to hit the skies in 2026? Us too. From pristine Greek islands and sandy beaches of Sri Lanka to the neon-lit streets of Seoul, here's where we're heading (and why) this year.

Features

How To Show Up: Invasion/Survival Day Rallies Happening Across Australia On January 26

We’ve rounded up all the Invasion/Survival Day rallies happening around the country in 2026. Turn up, show up, and remember—we’re always stronger together.

Features

“Authentic Allyship Involves Real Commitment To Truth-Telling”: Why Jan 26 Is No Day To Celebrate

Clothing The Gaps has teamed up with Lush, launching a limited-edition Always Will Be soap, with 75% of sales donated directly to Clothing The Gaps to support education and advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Features

Home Run Holiday: How Comedian Samantha Andrew Took A Swing On A Trip To South Korea

After a multi-city tour of bucket list destinations, Samantha Andrew fell head over heels for South Korea.

Features

From Sun-Drenched Sips To Signature Cocktail Stations: How We’ll Be Entertaining This Summer

Sunday seshes, backyard dinners and warm nights that roll into the early hours of the morning—summer hosting season is fast approaching. These are the trends and hacks we're loving for effortless entertaining.

shake shack burger, crinkle cut fries and blue smash shake at australian open pop-up

Food & Drink

Blue Shakes And Secret Sauces: Shake Shack’s First Serve Down Under At The Australian Open

Blue shakes, crinkle-cut fries and cult-favourite burgers—Shake Shack has landed down under for the first time at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Travel

Nothing But Memories: Why Sketch Artist And Creator Tom Ford Prefers Experiences Over Souvenirs

Australia’s own Tom Ford travels more in one year than most people do in their adult lives.

Travel

Chasing Adventure: How Creator Renee Buckingham Ran Headfirst Into Love With Europe

If you ask content creator, podcaster, and avid traveller Renee Buckingham how she likes to explore the world, she’s got a couple of different modes.

Entertainment

Notes From The GOAT: Your Guide To Summer Streaming

GOAT-approved flicks, matching snacks and our favourite moments to recap. Here’s what we’re watching—and what you should be too.

Travel

Matty Fahd Swapped The City For The Country And Found The Magic In Slowing Down

When TV personality, podcast presenter and dad of two Matty Fahd locked in his family’s first trip together, it turned out to be one for the books.

Travel

Flying For Love: How Louis Hanson Turned Ghosting Into An Unforgettable Trip

When the saying “once bitten, twice shy” was coined—the creators didn’t take Louis Hanson into account.

Food & Drink

Here’s How To Catch Up With Your Mates This Summer Without Blowing The Budget

Sail through the slew of new year birthdays and anniversaries with these tips for budget-friendly celebrating.

Features

All For Under $50: The Body Shop Has Your Secret Santas And Stocking Stuffers Sorted

From Secret Santas to fussy family members and mates who have it all—The Body Shop's got Christmas sorted with these budget-friendly picks.

U:L Recommends

Christmas Sorted: The Ultimate Guide Gifting Something Special To Everyone On Your List

Your go-to guides for beauty-lovers, adventure-seekers and everyone in between.

Food & Drink

Bar Sophia: Marameo Team’s Greek Wine Bar Lights Up Glen Iris

This new spot by restauranteurs Michael Badr (Marameo) and Marco Tenuta (Marameo, Il Bacaro) opened in November and is delivering old-school high-energy hospitality with a neighbourhood hole-in-the-wall feel.

Things To Do

Add To Cal: Your Shortcut To Victoria’s Best Regional Events

With a stacked calendar of festivals and events lighting up regional Victoria, the season’s never looked so good.

Travel

Trout Dip And River Tubing: How Model Katie Muirhead Unwinds In New York State

Katie Muirhead initially came to New York for only a few months. Nine years later, this Sydney-raised model and copywriter has well and truly found her place.

Food & Drink

Sydney’s Hospo Legends On The Importance Of Community

Square has teamed up with local chef Joel Bennetts to create Good Neighbours, a video series spotlighting the legends behind some of the city’s most-loved spots.

Guest Editors

Melbourne’s Best Sandwiches 2026, According to Bangin’ Sangas’ Ross James Howse

We sat down with Ross James Howse, the Naarm-based Chief Sandwich Officer and founder of @banginsangas. This ex-UK baker turned Melbourne food creator has built a devoted community around epic sangas and lifestyle bites. Here, Ross guest edits our best sandwiches list and shares why Melbourne’s scene bangs harder than anywhere else.

Travel

Antiquing And Baked Apples: How Talent Manager Em Mannswirth Unwinds In New York State

So where does she go to recharge? Escaping the hustle and bustle of New York is a must for Emma Mannswirth, and she loves heading to both central New York State and the Finger Lakes.

Guest Editors

The World As A Studio: Sophie Coote On How SIR. Finds Its Stories In Cities, Textures And People

Urban List guest editor Sophie Coote gives us a peek behind the curtain at SIR. The Label and shares what inspires her and her collections.

Travel

Lobster Rolls And Long Island Beaches: How Artist Pam Hendry Resets In New York State

New York is a state of great escapes, and Pam Hendry knows it well.

Restaurants

It’s Big, It’s Loud, It’s Kosher & It’s Absolutely Bananas, Shelly Is A Feast For The Senses

From jaunts under the sea to sensory deprivation and Village People-themed discos, this concept-dinner-show-bar-chaos with a two-month waitlist is the most fun you’ll have at the table all year.

Gifts

These 17 Sustainable Gifts Are Your Answer To Conscious Gift Giving

Conscious gifting just got chic. From refillable beauty buys and recycled gold jewellery, these sustainable gifts get our green thumbs up.

Travel

$5 Eats And Three-Star Stunners: Aussie Chef Dave Pynt’s Singapore In 48 Hours

According to Burnt Ends chef Dave Pynt, even a quick stop in Singapore is enough to get out and see the best of the city.

A collage of images for the Christmas Gift Guide.

U:L Recommends

The Best New Zealand Christmas Gift Ideas So You Can Smash Out Your List For 2025

Shop our selection of the best Christmas gift ideas this side of the North Pole.

News

The Waterside Hotel Is Set To Open This Weekend, Here’s What You Need To Know

Get ready for The Waterside Hotel—a seven-level Flinders Street venue with a rooftop bar, Asian restaurant, and restored 1925 facade.

Food & Drink

Menulog Is Shutting Down In Australia—Here’s What You Need to Know

In sad news for those who love a couch feed, Menulog has announced it will cease operations in Australia.

Features

Dusty Boots And Disco Balls: What’s Behind Australia’s Country Comeback?

We’re saddling up and showing you how to ride the wave of the country revival, Aussie style.

Sustainability

Feeling Gross About Your Food Scraps? This Is How Our Team Reduces Waste In The Kitchen

Picking up new habits can be hard, especially with things as routine as throwing scraps in the bin, so we asked our team for their best advice.

Food & Drink

From Stale Bread To Sad Veggies: 5 Recipes To Help You Cut Down On Food Waste At Home

Got a drawer of wilting veggies? Bread that's seen better days? Give your ingredients a second life with one of these easy recipes.

Features

Is There An Ethical Way To Eat Meat? This Aussie Company Reckons So…

Fancy foie gras? The stigma long associated with what's regarded as the pinnacle of haute cuisine might have gone out the window with this lab-grown solution.

Things To Do

The Ultimate Guide To Designing A Trending Kitchen That Matches Your Vibe In 2026

From morning brews to late night snacks, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so it's important to get it right.

Features

It’s Time We Expected More From The Brands We Love—Here’s Why

More than ever, we don't just want our values to be reflected in brands' messaging, we want to see them in practice, from the shop floor to HQ.

Restaurants

A Lick Of Paint & A Complete Concept Overhaul For Toddy Shop, Tropp Reckons

In a matter of months, Fitzroy’s Toddy Shop, as we know it, will be no more.

Features

Conscious Consumption: How To Shop Your Values, According To Our Team

Shopping your values can be easier said than done, so we asked our team for their best advice on putting your money where your mouth is.

Food & Drink

Crack Into These Egg-Fuelled Recipes Making Positive Change This October

Listen up, egg-lovers, protein-fiends and home cooks alike. World Egg Day (11 October) is approaching, and this year, it’s so much more than just a runny, golden yolk on your avo toast.

Markets & Food Events

This Hunky Ex-MasterChef Duo Has Decided Melbourne Deserves Better Cookies

If you’ve been sensing a distinct lack of excitement in Melbourne’s cookie scene, you’re not alone. While our city boasts an enviable lineup of pastry maestros and artisanal ice cream, the humble cookie has often been left as an afterthought on the cafe counter.

News

The Trompo-Roasted Al Pastor Taco Of Your Dreams Is In A Moody Chinatown Den

A mysterious laneway door, marked only by a neon dingo head. Behind it? The best tacos this side of the Pacific.

Features

Go-To Brekkies, Leftover Lunches And Creative Dinners: Alex Crisp Shares A Week In Her Kitchen

What does a MasterChef cook in their own home? We asked Alex Crisp for a look inside her kitchen.

Features

The Lambros Army On Running, Resilience And Raising Funds

Following on from their mammoth run across Australia in 2024, the pair have just wrapped up a run across the entire length of the UK—making them the first brothers to achieve such a feat.

News

Vacancy Rates Down, Flagships Up, Melbourne’s Had A Massive Retail Glow-Up

Melbourne's retail game is (back) alive, with an influx of international traders rushing to the CBD amid vacancy rates dropping to a new low.

Things To Do

The Future Of Work: These Are The Skill Shifts That Will Define The Next Decade

We asked a careers coach how to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape of work.

Guest Editors

Purposeful Leisure: Meg Washington And Nick Waterman Are Finding Creative Freedom On The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast has long been embraced for its relaxed, beachy life, but the coastal city is also Australia’s movie industry hub.

Things To Do

Chasing A Promotion? Here’s Your Step-By-Step Game Plan

We've got the inside scoop and when and how to secure your next big gig.

News

Decade-Strong Institution Reopens, Serving Up Silky Fukuoka-Style Ramen

Beneath Gimlet is a subterranean shrine dedicated to a silky, region-specific ramen that will have you coming back time and time again.

Guest Editors

“The Art Becomes The Artifact”: Meg Washington And Nick Waterman On Telling Australian Stories

The creative couple and long-time collaborators have always been drawn to movies and music that hold a mirror up to who we are as Australians—the good, the bad, the fraught, the collective.

Food & Drink

A Local’s Guide To Living (And Eating) Well In Brunswick

An inner-north 'burb crawling with culture, Brunswick is home to some of the best bars, coffee and food Melbourne has to offer.

Features

Don’t Get Caught Out: Your State By State Guide To Daylight Savings

Daylight savings. The twice-yearly moment that divides the nation. Some of us cheer for those extra golden hours at the pub, others mourn the sleep-in they just lost (or gained). And some of us don’t bother with it all (looking at you, Queensland). Either way, it’s coming. Here's what you need to know.

News

It’s Negroni Week, Here’s Where To Sip Hot Riffs On This Bitter Icon

It’s the most refreshing time of year: spring has finally sprung and it’s time for Negroni Week.

What's On

Late-Night Greek, A Haunted House & Sunny Park Hangs: Fringe Comics Share Their Top Recs

Nearly three thousand independent, ambitious artists—in more than 500 events—are at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. As they take to the stage, the aim is to entertain, titillate and astonish, perhaps even provoke, challenge or stun.

News

Latin American Fine Diner Makes Way For Wine Bar & Boutique Bottle-O

It takes a lot of courage to up-stumps when you know something isn't working, and that's what one of Melbourne's best chefs has done with his Latin American passion project.

Features

The Learning Curve: Your Guide To Getting Future-Ready

Feeling wobbly about the future of work? You're not alone.

Features

This Actor-Turned-Chef Is Redefining Supper Clubs With Immersive Pop-Ups

When was the last time you felt immersed in a meal? Gathered with strangers and tried something unique? Heard the story of dishes created especially for you?

News

Mid Air Closes After Less Than A Year, Prepares For Elevated Med Rebrand

Summer '24 hit Mid Air has closed its doors less than a year after it opened.

Things To Do

Chappell Roan Is Headlining Laneway Festival 2026

Laneway Festival 2026 lineup brings Chappell Roan, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, BENEE & more to stages across Australia and New Zealand.

Wellness

Melbourne’s Epic Docklands-Based Sauna Boat Is Ready To Set Sail

Melbourne is getting a little taste of Tasmania, with the city’s very-own Sauna Boat set to open this weekend.

Features

Rise Of The Unorthodox Cooks: Meet The Young Guns Flipping The Script On Home Cooking

How untrained and unorthodox home cooks are ushering in a new wave of food enthusiasts.

We’re Obsessed With This Food Truck Serving Istanbul’s Famous Soggy Burger

This market-based food truck is serving up the next viral trend you're about to see in your feeds: soggy burgers. We're betting Melbourne's gonna go wild.

Food & Drink

Is Banana Pudding Melbourne’s Next Sleeper Menu Fad?

Just like New York—where Sex and the City-famous Magnolia Bakery made tubs of banana pudding go viral—Melbourne is now hopping aboard the trend.

News

The Best Retro Desserts In Melbourne To Take You Back in Time

If you’re seeking a sugary treat with a dollop of nostalgia, these eateries are serving up classic desserts set to send you hurtling back in time.

News

First Look: Melbourne’s $7M Brewery In The ‘Burbs Making Stout ‘Better Than Guinness’

Cheers to that! An enormous 1200sqm, $7 million-dollar brewery in the heart of Chadstone’s The Social Quarter precinct, is set to open next month, serving more than a dozen unique craft brews.

Features

Cumbé Has Landed in Brunswick, Serving Mexico City–Style Tortas & Seriously Good Coffee

At Cumbé, Mexico City meets Melbourne over coffee and a sandwich. Specifically, tortas, one of Mexico City’s everyday pleasures.

Features

From Cafés To Community Hubs: The Black-Owned Businesses Driving Culture And Community Right Now

Here’s the thing: belonging isn’t up for debate. And if you really want proof? Just look at these nine Black-owned businesses and cultural spaces—serving up suya skewers, good coffee, big art, and even bigger vibes.

Things To Do

Collingwood’s Boutique Cinema Eclipse Is Really To Roll—And Yes, It’s Fully Licensed

Book in your tix for this single-screen, 64-seat charmer with daily sessions from 11am, late shows on weekends, a licensed bar—and house-made choc tops plus Pat & Stick’s ice-creams.

Beef wagyu onigiri at Maji Pantry, some of Melbourne's best onigiri.

Features

Melbourne’s Newest Food Obsession? Onigiri. Here’s Where To Try It

There’s nothing more comforting than a ball of sticky rice, seasoned perfectly and stuffed with pickles, egg, meat or even just a spot of tinned fish.

Things To Do

How To Navigate Now Or Never Festival: Your Must-See Guide For 2025

Returning for a third year Now or Never has made a clear mark as Melbourne’s freshest festival of bold art and new ideas. Here's what to catch, and even a hot tip for a freebie.

News

Melbourne’s Best Adana Kebab Is Scoring A Brick & Mortar Home In The City’s West

At the end of the 19 tramline are adana kebabs people travel far and wide for, waiting patiently as the intoxicating smell of spiced lamb and charcoal wafts from the Coburg North food truck, which is finding its very own brick and mortar home.

Features

Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Labubus & Where To Throw Some Money At One

With the highly anticipated debut of Pop Mart's flagship in Melbourne, the city’s love affair with eccentric collectibles has reached a fever pitch. And this time, it’s all about Labubus—the adorably fanged monster with a name that sounds like you’re accidentally summoning a demon.

Features