Melbourne News

Get ready to twirl your fork as a heap of eateries across Melbourne celebrate World Pasta Day (October 25).

The team behind one of the city’s best rooftops is working their magic on the King & Godfree building, with plans for a neighbourhood osteria, a casual pizzeria and basement cocktail bar.

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

Victoria is introducing a new move this summer that will give your Myki (and your wallet) a well-deserved break.

Hawthorn’s swish new Japanese-style laneway listening bar is more than just a shrine to vintage hifi. Beyond the wall of vinyl and whisky bottles, and the eye-catching seasonal cocktails, is a fridge of ever-changing sake awaiting discovery.

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.

Globally renowned New York cocktail bar Death & Co is coming to Australia, and they’re set to completely change the way you drink. 

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

Two-hatted fine-diner Audrey’s in Sorrento is gearing up for a glow-up, rebranding as Ember as the Scott Pickett Group brings in administrators to reset and refresh the business.

Remember the Golden Square car park? Wipe it from your memory. This spring, that concrete slab on Lonsdale Street is transforming into Spiegel Haus Melbourne, a dazzling, two-level entertainment precinct designed to be your summer destination for a cack and a cocktail.

Bar Sophia will bring a breath of fresh Athenian air to the southside.

For eight years, it has stood behind scaffolding—a silent promise on the corner of Flinders and King Streets. This November, the finally wraps come off.

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

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

Never mind the rides and the showbags. The main reason to get excited about the Melbourne Royal Show is the food. And no, we’re not talking toffee apples and fairy floss, but the smorgasbord of street eats from some of Melbourne’s best-known food trucks, cafes and diners that gets bigger and more diverse every year.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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). 

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.