News

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

Fire up the group chat and start brainstorming your doof stick designs, because Victoria’s hottest NYE festival is returning with a cracking line-up. And it tastes a lot like Diet Pepsi. 

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.

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.

Fancy a UNESCO-listed soup? At Otakoï on Chapel Street, dishes like borshch (a “Ukrainian icon”) are given pride of place by co-owner Hanna Kachura.

Inspired by his grandfather, Tom Sarafian’s first restaurant Zareh is set to open in a matter of days, serving delicate cuisine inspired by Armenia and Lebanon.

For reasons we all know, the not-so-humble Beef Wellington has been courting attention, so where can you actually try one?

Will East Brunswick Village ever stop? The latest addition to the hub's smorgasbord of offering is the much-hyped Korean spot, Dodam.

Clear your calendars—MECCA’s game-changing Bourke Street flagship store's opening is imminent and we're betting those queues will be crazy.

After quietly closing at the end of 2024, the Yackandandah Hotel—affectionately known as ‘The Bottom Pub’—has reopened, helmed by a top-tier Melbourne chef.

Saúde! Melbourne’s favourite floating party palace, Afloat, is back for its 10th season on the Yarra and this time, they’re ditching Melbourne for the golden beaches and samba beats of Rio de Janeiro.

Whether you’re a literature buff swooning over the likes of Mr Darcy, wading through the mysteries of Hill House, or simply a sucker for a good antipasto, this unique bookclub is unrivaled in Melbourne’s current novel landscape.

You’ve seen him on MasterChef, you’ve probably drooled over his food—and now renowned Aussie chef Shannon Bennett is back in his hometown, slinging stripped-back but seriously cheffy dishes in Fitzroy.

Peninsula fave Alba Thermal Springs and Spa has just launched a brand-new on-site accommodation offering: The Sanctuary—a collection of hilltop villas overlooking the lush surrounds of Fingal.

Pssst... Word is that there is a GLO up on Lygon Street (that is, a new GLO Gelateria of course!). The owners of the beloved Universal Restaurant on Lygon Street are taking a step into the dessert realm, and we are here for it.

The crew that brought us Tipo 00 are back at it again with their fifth restaurant, but this one is noticeably different.

After weathering the unexpected loss of its Cremorne HQ with just four weeks’ notice, cult-favourite Tarts Anon has made a triumphant return—this time with a new light-filled flagship on Church Street in Richmond.

Remember The Crafty Squire on the corner of Russell and Little Collins? The iconic venue has had a bangin' renovation and is now serving up a stunning city-view rooftop and boozy slushies. 

There’s something deeply fulfilling about breaking into a bar of the Viral Dubai chocolate—the crisp snap of a perfectly tempered block, the slow melt of velvety chocolate on your tongue. If you’ve seen Kourtney Kardashian breaking apart her Kit Kats in that oddly satisfying way, you’ll love the Viral Dubai chocolate for the same reason. 

Melbourne’s culinary scene is about to get smoky and seductive with the arrival of II.II.VI (Two-Two-Six), a 115-seat modern Australian restaurant from the crew who brought us Ministry of Crab.

The Commons is rewriting the work-life balance playbook with a luxe Richmond wellness hub repping 200+ weekly classes and a next-level bathhouse—complete with magnesium pools, ice plunges, and even a wellness concierge.

Carvery has taken us right back to the 90s with their supreme offering of roast meats, fresh salads and takeaway rolls. Expect Victorian proteins by weight, a daily salad bar, fresh house-made rolls dripping in gravy and a grocery section at this Toorak soon-to-be-staple.

We’re all for a rooftop, especially one that opens out onto Melbourne’s brand new Sky Park, suspended over Collins Street. Quarterhouse in Docklands, just near Southern Cross station is bringing us just that—with three levels of after-work or pre-game goodness, the mega-venue is set to be your go-to spot when you’re in that part of town.

Hold onto your hearts, Melbourne—the world’s most adorable gang is about to make its grand entrance! The long-awaited Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe, after much speculation, has finally swung open its doors, bringing the whimsical world of Sanrio to life in an Australian first-of-its-kind immersive dining experience. And yes, it’s as adorable as it sounds.

Melbourne’s affair with wine is about to get a transformation. Melbourne Winery, housed in the historic Ross House on Flinders Lane, is where traditional artisanship meets metropolitan elegance.

Beauty fans west of Melbourne are in for a treat and a Tim Tam. Adore Beauty is opening its second Melbourne store, and it's everything you love about the online store, with so much more.

Move over, Sydney—Melbourne’s about to get a dose of the Merivale magic and we've got our fingers and toes crossed for a certain famous woodfired bread.

Ever been at the kids’ play centre and thought, ‘I wish there was a little more here for me?’ Well, you’re not the only one. Hoopla has opened as Australia’s first ‘parent’ focused kids indoor play centre and family outing spot (read: there’s a grown-ups menu). 

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

In an Australian aviation first, Virgin Australia is making history as Australia’s first airline to allow small pets in the cabin.

If we needed more proof the Brisbane-Melbourne migration is a real thing, long-standing River City legends Blackbird are bringing their smoky steaks and bangin’ cocktails down south.

Meredith Music Festival is back for 2025, and they’ve just dropped a banging line-up to follow the events of last year.

A cafe, a moody Thai restaurant, and one of the only rooftop bars in the inner west—all in one.

The team behind Carnegie's Sowl is bringing refined Greek eats to South Melbourne with Aegli—expect luxe regional dishes, heritage flavours and a next-level slow-roasted lamb shoulder.

The Lelit Bianca V3 is a stunner, no doubt about it. But visual appeal aside, this is definitely the coffee machine you buy when you’re ready to go beast-mode on your home coffee. That being said, it’s also not for everyone, and I’ll tell you why.

At the north end of the city in Healeys Lane (where Paik’s BBQ is, IYKYK) has officially been turned into the city’s Koreatown, marked with Australia’s first traditionally crafted Korean totem poles. 

Melbourne’s CBD just got a delicious chunk of Taipei with the arrival of AhMa Taiwanese Streetfood—the latest venture by acclaimed chef Spring Chee who has creds from Big Comma and Tokyo Motto. 

It’s Mother’s Day every day at Brunetti Classico for sous-chef Alexandra Di Biaise. She and her two children Davide and Nicole are all chefs in the kitchen at the Lygon Street institution—which turns 40 this year.

South Melbourne's new pizza spot Pizzateca Lupa is an ode to Roma, with two different (but equally delicious) styles of pizza on offer.

Arguably Melbourne's best restaurant, and the one with the best view, Vue de Monde has seen some incredible chefs through its doors. But current executive chef Hugh Allen has achieved quite a lot in his 29 years and counting, and now he can add restaurateur to his resume. 

You've probably heard of it. It's Collingwood's hottest new rooftop with almost 360-degree views of the city, mixing a touch of glamour, a little bit of edge and most importantly, some bangin' cocktails.

Chef and food advocate Simone Watts has done it all—cooked, farmed and travelled the world—and now she’s landed at Barragunda Dining on the Mornington Peninsula, transforming the way we think about food. 

The southern hemisphere’s largest shopping centre, Chadstone has just dropped the lineup for a massive 26,500sq m foodie precinct. The two areas, The Market Pavilion and Dining Laneway will host some of Melbourne’s tastiest food retailers. 

Today’s diners are more intentional, discerning, and value-driven than ever. They’re eating out more frequently, but scrutinising every dollar, expecting premium experiences without the premium price tag.

Patience, young padawan LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition will be knocking down blast doors and arriving in Melbourne on 4 May at Melbourne Museum.

Frank Green—we know them, we love them. For many, the brand is a symbol of the original emotional support water bottle that has stood by us (literally) and continues to hold our hand throughout the day. Now, we can peruse them IRL.

We’re calling it a touchdown. Further cementing Melbourne as Australia’s sporting capital, next year we’re going to be able to catch live NFL games. Yep, American football—the National Football League—a la Travis Kelce is coming to us live.

Melbourne. We’re a city of laneway cafes, late-night restaurants and bustling basement bars—and arguably the world’s best food scene. And behind the scenes are some very talented women. But it’s not always roses for them. They’ve breached an industry that has a shockingly low rate of participation from women—in some areas of hospitality under 15 percent of the workforce is female.

We all have memories of traversing the empty foyer of South Yarra's Jam Factory to head to the cinema, but no more. The iconic precinct has officially closed to make way for a $2.75 billion redevelopment which will see it become a massive shopping and dining hub that will land somewhere between Collins Street in the CBD, and Chadstone Shopping Centre—bougie.

Beginning in December, legendary tattooer Andrew Mcleod from Chapel Tattoo and his team will be tattooing individuals as part of an activation by not-for-profit organisation In Pieces to raise awareness around suicide and provide free mental health training.

So what is it about these little shops—some of which have been operating longer than most readers have been buying mortadella—that are so very captivating?

The humble south-eastern suburb of Dingley Village will soon be home to a state-of-the-art wave park. The project, pending State Government approval, has since been given the green light after a five-year wait when it was initially pitched in 2019.

At around 11:4opm last night, an earthquake was felt across Victoria.

Today, Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll announced that American company Conduent Business Services has been awarded Victoria’s public transport ticketing contract. 

Vision Australia and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia are asking for a favour in looking after their gorgeous eight-week old pups, and we have no doubt that you, like us, are wondering if it’s really them doing us the favour.

The recent global lockdown has brought upon us many unforeseen spectacles from the animal world. Hundreds of thousands of pink flamingoes took over Mumbai, jackals appeared en mass across Tel Aviv, and mountain goats descended from their perches to many a street across Wales. Now, a lone seal has made its way into Melbourne’s Yarra River.

From humble beginnings as a hotspot for family getaways, The Mornington Peninsula is today just as synonymous with those seeking a more luxurious escape. This can be attributed to the 200+ wineries in the area, indulgent experiences and accommodation—and now, the opening of Alba Thermal Springs and Spa is set to offer another reason to visit the region.

There’s nothing quite like a trip to Ikea. It’s a labyrinth of showrooms and furniture, and it’s not hard to find yourself spending hours and hours in the store, following the guiding arrows on the floor with a desperation that it will lead you to the ideal fittings that you didn’t even know was missing till you came across it. 

Around this time last year, The Australian Government, Department of Treasury (℅ Josh Frydenberg) introduced the News Media Bargaining Code. The code is intended to level out the sheer power imbalance between Australian news media publishers—like us—and digital platforms such as Facebook and Google. The code, in effect, should allow the two parties to reach an agreement on fair remuneration for displaying news on these platforms. 

This is not a drill, everyone's fave wine fest—Pinot Palooza—is officially returning to the thirsty city of Melbourne after two years' hiatus.

In a move to get us supporting small businesses in the aftermath of Omicron, the Victorian Government has announced a whopping $201 million stimulus to support hospitality, tourism and entertainment.

On a quiet day, It can be tough keeping up with the latest coming out of Australia's cultural capital, especially so in a post-2020 world, and that's why this piece of content exists.

What if we told you that the holier-than-thou bagged wine was set for a major comeback? 

Stay up to date with our live list of the latest updates of restrictions around Melbourne.

Instant Myki top-ups have arrived.

The Seismology Centre, the local earthquake observatory for southeast Australia, has just posted early reports on their Twitter that the 5.3 magnitude earthquake was felt across the state with the epicentre being in Gippsland, near Licola North. 

In a year where we all could've used a visit to the supernatural amphitheatre the sad news has come over the wire that the wonderful Meredith Music Festival will not take place in 2021, pushing back its 30th anniversary out another year. 

Premier Daniel Andrews dropped the big news during his Tuesday press conference that the Pfizer vaccine will now be available to 16-39yo’s as of tomorrow Wednesday 25 at 7am. 

In a bid to get more Victorians vaccinated, AstraZeneca is now available to any 18 to 39yo across the state who provides informed consent. 

A staple of Melbourne’s nightlife for over 12 years, New Guernica’s intricate and jungle curated multi-room nightclub and bar have sadly just announced that they’ll be closing up shop. 

The hunt is on.

May movie mayhem is here. 

This is not a drill, everyone's fave wine fest—Pinot Palooza—is officially returning to the thirsty city of Melbourne after a years' hiatus.

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie are back to their impressive chocolate-slinging antics with the month-long Rocky Road Festival of Flavours. And while you’re probably still getting your cavities filled from the seemingly endless supply of easter eggs in the pantry buckle up because this one’s a biggie.

It’s that wonderful time of the year again as lagers, stouts, sours, pilsners and pale ales descend upon Melbourne for Good Beer Week 2021. Celebrating its tenth trip around the sun Good Beer Week kicked off back in 2011 and this anniversary is one hell of a sud soaked festival of amber ales. 

After seven years on the now-iconic South Yarra corner, French fine-diner Entrecôte is making a move one suburb south to Prahran.

The team who brought you the Peninsula Hot Springs are about to open a second location, this time, in East Gippsland’s Metung.

To celebrate Moomba Festival and bring people back into the CBD, the City of Melbourne is offering up free parking in and around the city between midday Friday 5 March 2021 to 11.59pm Monday 8 March 2021.

This is not a drill, everyone's fave wine fest—Pinot Palooza—is officially returning to the thirsty city of Melbourne after a years' hiatus.

Facebook announced that it would officially be removing all news content, local and international, from its feed in Australia. If you’ve been wondering what it all means, where you’ll read the news online, don’t worry—you’re not alone there. Here's how you can stay connected with Urban List now and into the future. 

Melbourne’s city skyline is going to look a little greener, with Beulah announcing that it’s $2 billion skyscraper, Southbank by Beulah, is on track to be the world’s tallest vertical garden. The skyscraper is set to be 365 metres high and the external vertical garden will reach a total of 5.5 kilometers. That’s as long as running a full lap around The Tan, then running a little more. 

For the last twelve months, Victorians have been ticking off the calendar days with a daily update from Dan Andrews. We’ve grown accustomed to his pandemic updates and matching attire for good and bad news—we’re looking at you, North Face jacket. While the press conferences never miss a day, we don’t always get much notice on the time. That’s where @WhatTimeDan comes in. 

After years of seeing fares climbing incrementally just enough to have a whinge to your mate about it while you take the number 11 into Fitzroy, PTV has just announced a three month. 30% discount period on off-peak train, tram and bus services.

Plus, you could win free margaritas for a year.

Hosier Lane is one of Melbourne's busiest tourist attractions, you'd be hard-pressed to find a time when you walk past it and it's not absolutely packed with people checking out the amazing art that adorns its walls. Sometimes you'll even catch work being produced on the spot.

The legends at Funlab just never stop. Fresh off the opening of the 70s-gaudiness of Juke’s Karoke Bar, the team have just put the finishing touches on Melbourne’s second edition of Holey Moley, this time you’ll find it at Crown.