Melbourne News

Sydney Road's finally got its big-screen swagger back—over 40 years in the making. The Thornbury Picture House duo, Gus and Lou Berger, just flipped the switch on Brunswick Picture House at 510-512 Sydney Road, turning a heritage horse-stabling relic into an 81-seat indie haven with killer sound and a bar built for all-night film analysis debriefs.

Whether you're a seasoned BTV camper or a first-timer ready to enter your festival era, here’s everything you need to know before packing the car and hitting the road.

Touching down on 16 January 2026, this high-voltage mash-up of elite tennis and live music is returning to Rod Laver Arena for one night only, revving up the party vibes for Australian Open Opening Week. 

Lacoste is bringing its global Le Club Lacoste experience to Australia for the very first time, and they’re doing it by building a 20+ metre floating tennis court on the Yarra.

Melbourne’s bar scene is in its vinyl era and the newest name dropping the needle is LB’s Record Bar, opening Friday 28 November on iconic Meyers Place.

Melbourne’s festive forecast is famously unpredictable (yes, even by Melbourne standards), but early signs are already giving us a sneaky glimpse at what December 25, 2025 might look like.

Melbourne’s city centre is finally getting its own true-blue independent taproom, thanks to indie legends Venom Brewery.

Melbourne, your pop prayers have been answered: Lady Gaga is bringing her MAYHEM Ball Tour to Marvel Stadium this December.

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.

Is it better than Christmas coming early? Not quite, but we'll take five new train stations instead.

An institution of New York’s cocktail scene is hitting Flinders Lane. Established in Manhattan’s East Village in 2006, Death & Co changed the game for contemporary cocktails, becoming a global icon and drawing hordes of discerning drinkers to its venues across the US.

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

Jump in the DeLorean, we’re taking it back to the 80s with this new Tokyo-vibin’ rooftop izakaya taking over the former Madame Brussels spot. 

Keen eyes watching the Prahran side of High Street will have noticed The Smith quietly shut its doors and has been amidst a glow-up (and dare we say it, a serious upgrade).

If you haven’t had the chance to catch Cirque du Soleil live yet, take this as your cue—their KOOZA tour is landing in Australia in 2026.

Summer in Melbourne is coming in hot (literally).

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.

Kensington’s beloved local, the Doutta Galla Hotel has officially reopened its iconic red doors after a year-long renovation that has completely transformed the 1889 landmark.

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

Ready for a blast from the past? Combining the nostalgia of the Australian classic chicken shop with punchy, contemporary Athenian wine bar vibes, Kokoras is bringing woodfired, Greek style chicken to the inner west. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.