Sanam Goodman

December 2024: Summer in Melbourne is the time to shimmy out of those trackpants, off the couch and into a shiny new world. There's been a ton of exciting new restaurant openings to celebrate, while plenty of old favourites are still merrily thrumming along – all ready to welcome you with open arms. So put on something cute, grab a date and check out the best eating and drinking the city has to offer.  The continually evolving and expanding dining scene in Melbourne is both a blessing and a curse: how do you choose between so many incredible restaurants? Well, that's where we come in. Stop endlessly scrolling, and commit to making your way through Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in the state right now. Our always-hungry local experts, including Time Out Melbourne's Food and Drink Writer, Lauren Dinse, have curated 2024's most delicious and divine, innovative and imaginative, comforting and familiar, memorable and magical dining experiences right here at your fingertips. From culinary institutions like Attica, Stokehouse and Flower Drum, to emerging standouts and instant icons such as Serai, Gimlet and Amaru, we've got it all covered here. And as for the brand new restaurant and bar openings catching our eye? Check out this guide instead. Get out, and get eating! You've got a lot to get through!  RECOMMENDED READ:  Don't want to break the bank? Check out Melbourne's best cheap eats.

December 2024: Another new year is on the horizon, and Melburnians are keen to celebrate early. Our advice? Take a well-deserved break from that end-of-year slog and clink pints with friends and strangers alike at one of these friendly neighbourhood watering holes. We're nearly there! From historic boozers to gastropubs and rocking live music venues, we believe that Melbourne boasts some of the finest pub culture in the world outside the British Isles, and we’ll gladly pass out on that hill. Our pub traditions are diverse and many – the weeknight chicken parma special, boisterous trivia nights, open mic gigs, friendly (read: competitive) pool games and that ever-wholesome Sunday roast. But every liquored-up local has its own unique set of drawcards and that's what makes this scene so fun and diverse. Looking for somewhere you can bring your doggo? We know the pubs that'll greet your pooch with a smile. Want a pub where you can drink outside and soak up the rays? Our beer gardens are some of Melbourne's loveliest drinking playgrounds. And if you're looking for a pint with a side of history, we've got the intel on this town's oldest pubs. So how did we come up with this list of the very top 50 in Melbourne? Well, we've spent years drinking our way around the city, of course. We've fostered a connection with the great local watering holes since the very beginning, firm in the knowledge that they're some of our most beloved – and accessible – neighbourhood venues. In former time

Australia’s charming climates and picturesque landscapes are a recipe for some of the world’s finest wines. You’ll find more than 100 grapes grown across our leading wine regions, which are concentrated in South Australia’s Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, NSW’s Hunter Valley, Victoria’s Yarra Valley and beyond. You could spend weeks jumping between cellar doors in each region, sipping fine wines all day long – but that’s probably not entirely sensible. Why not start with our 30 top picks, and take it from there? Whether you opt to journey as part of a group or embark on an impromptu self-guided tour, these are the wineries to uncork. RECOMMENDED: Plan your winery tour around a meal at one of Australia’s best restaurants.

Melbourne is one city that has no short supply of op shops, no matter the suburb you’re in. And, as far as shopping options go, they can do no wrong: helping you shop ethically, do good for the planet and people and get your hands on some stylish finds. Whether you’re looking for '70s furniture or you’re after vintage sportswear, all it takes is a little bit of digging to find some gems, at a fraction of the price if you were to buy new. To make your op shop exploration that little bit easier, we’ve found the best spots in Melbourne for all your second-hand needs. Need a feed to go along with your shopping spree? Here are Melbourne's best cheap eats. Keen to do some good? Here's where you can volunteer in Melbourne.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, all living cost indices have risen between 7.1 per cent and 9.6 per cent for all households over the past 12 months. Essentially, we're all feeling the pinch, with prices for just about everything going through the roof.  Some expenses are unavoidable, but there are loads of ways to save a buck in Melbourne. From cheap movie tickets and free exhibitions to happy hours and shopping second-hand, we've rounded up ten tips below that will keep you and your bank account happy. Waiting on payday? Here are the best free things to do in our city. Trying to impress someone? Here are cheap (or free!) dates to try in Melbourne. 

H&M’s newest Innovation Stories collection has just dropped at GPO Melbourne and online and it's all about blurring the lines between the online and offline worlds. The newly released collection takes inspiration from the boundless potential of the Metaverse, letting you live out your avatar dreams and step into the fantasy of a virtual wardrobe, and get real-life access to the future-facing physical collection.  With styling brought to life by Ibrahim Kamara, creative advisor to H&M, the physical collection features a futuristic colour palette, detailed embroidery, and unique silhouettes. Standout pieces include a corset-waisted, neon-yellow dress with a full-bodied tulle skirt, a black beaded bomber jacket and pixelated accessories fit for any sci-fi film set. Sustainability is of course at the core of the collection and pieces heavily feature recycled textile waste, zero-waste pattern-cutting processes and polyester made from plastic bottles. Photograph: Supplied | OneTwo Agency H&M and the Institute of Digital Fashion co-created the digital collection, made up of five augmented reality filters accessible via the H&M app. It lets you virtually try on the pieces, mimicking the IRL experience of expressing yourself via fashion in pieces that seem almost alive. Expect a dress featuring water droplets that wrap around your body, and another with aquatic flowers that flare out into glowing algae.  “The increasingly virtual dimension of fashion creates exciting future opportun

As we inch closer to summer and start pulling out swimwear from the back of our drawers, there’s one thing that’s on a fair percentage of the population’s mind: hair removal. If you’re over the pain of waxing and sick of how time-consuming shaving is, there’s a high chance laser hair removal is the answer you’ve been looking for. Laser technology has come far in recent years, zapping away hair follicles to make for a smoother, more summer-ready you.  To help you on your journey towards a hairless life (whatever that may look like for you), we’ve rounded up some of the best spots in Melbourne to get laser hair removal.  Want to tame your mane? These are the best hair salons in Melbourne. Afterwards, hit up Melbourne's best brow and lash salons.

The 2023 season program of the Victorian Opera is finally here. Across the eight shows set to take to the stage, the upcoming season will feature two world premiere works, a new Mozart staging, a stack of international guests and some of the best homegrown and fledgling talent.  Next year will also mark the departure of Richard Mills after more than a decade as artistic director of the Victorian Opera. For his final performance, he has put together a colourful line-up of boundary-pushing shows, including a First Nations work titled The Visitors and he has even conducted and composed his own opera, Galileo. Gioachino Rossini’s La Cenerentola will open the season at the Melbourne Recital Hall on March 10, with a reimagination of the Cinderella story.  Vladimir Mass and Mikhail Chervinsky’s Cheremushki is fitting for the Melbourne audience, exploring themes of housing affordability through a Soviet-era style apartment complex at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from March 22-25. The Grumpiest Boy in the World will trace Zachary's magical journey into the world of giants and hairy creatures, with a score from Bluey musical director Joseph Twist. Bring the kids along to the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse on June 24 or to the relaxed session on June 23. Mozart’s Idomeneo will be revived at the Palais Theatre on July 4, 6 and 8, where the mythic tale of the King of Crete will be reimaged by Emma Muir-Smith set to the tune of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.  Richard Strauss’ eni

Being the only Wurundjeri female dance group is a massive feat in itself, but the dancers from Djirri Djirri have just hit a new milestone: winning the Ganbu Guljin Award at this year’s Melbourne Awards. Ganbu Guljin means 'one mob' in the Woi Wurrung language, and the award was created to shine a light on the significant achievements of Aboriginal communities. Djirri Djrri – a name that translates to Will Wagtail in Woi Wurrung – is made up of a group of women all related by blood through renowned Indigenous artist William Barak’s sister, Annie Borate. Many of the women have been dancing since they were children, and the group has performed at a number of key Melbourne events, including Dreamtime at the ‘G. Being part of the group has given them the opportunity to reconnect with their Aboriginal identity, and be proud of who they are and where they come from. The dance group can be hired for school workshops, Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies and workshops. To find out more, head to their website. RECOMMENDED: An introduction to Boon Wurrung language from Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir.

Back in 2019, neighbours Nick and Larissa Lewis and Lyndon Galvin had the special experience of having a local cook make meals for their neighbourhood. Her home-cooked meals became so popular that she had a waitlist, and she often fell behind on admin and keeping track of everything. Nick, Larissa and Lyndon saw this as an opportunity, and so began Cookaborough. As households get busier and become more time-poor, working out what’s for dinner every night can take its toll. To simplify things, Cookaborough aims to connect local food businesses and cooks to customers while handling all the tedious admin and behind-the-scenes operational stuff, like customer management, delivery routes and food labelling.  The way it works is simple: jump on the platform to look at menus from local cooks and businesses, then choose your meals before the menu closes. The meals for the week are then made to order each week and are delivered to you or made available to be picked up at a time of your choice.  Cooks on the platform include everyone from home cooks and local food stores to chefs. The menus they each offer operate on a weekly cycle, helping minimise food waste and keep things efficient for everyone.  It’s also the only platform that meets all the requirements of the NDIS and HCP, giving those using these programs access to nutritious and delicious food – something they may not often have the opportunity to enjoy.  “Busy households are shifting from 'what’s for dinner tonight’ to ‘what’

Let’s be real – a household pool isn’t something very many of us have constant access to. In fact, stats show that a whopping 87 per cent of Australians living in this sunburnt country don’t have access to a pool. This summer, Swimply is changing that by offering luxury pool-by-the-hour rentals, connecting local pool owners to pool-searching folk across the country. This year, it’s bolstered its offering with even more pools in even more locations, giving you the chance to rent a private pool from just $25 per hour. Most locations with pools also offer other summer-appropriate amenities, like a barbecue and pool toys, helping you make a day out of your pool escape. Whether you’re after a rooftop couples retreat or a pool to fit your family, Swimply has you covered.  And, if you’re one of the lucky 13 per cent that has access to a pool, you can earn a little extra income by renting your pool out on the platform to give you a neat little side hustle without having to do a thing.  Swimply is available Australia-wide in most major cities, as well as some regional areas. To book your private pool experience, head to the Swimply website or download the Swimply app. Can't swing a private pool rental? Head to Melbourne's best outdoor pools or hit up the beach instead.

Following what has been an incredibly tumultuous two-year period for the hospitality industry, it’s no surprise that the industry is rife with mental health issues and a lack of employment support.  Led by Brendan Leeds, a passionate hospitality professional, Clipboard Hospitality is an online platform created to combat the pain points felt by the global hospitality industry as a whole and to steer it towards a brighter future. The platform features a ‘hospo board’ where users can stay up to date on new job listings, events and news in the industry, with the ability for job-seekers to create a profile that acts as a digital CV, letting them detail their skills, experience and even share photos related to their practice. It’s more than just an employment platform, though. With mental health issues only on the rise due to burnout and poor working conditions, wellness is at the forefront of the platform’s purpose. Users have access to tailored well-being courses designed specifically for hospitality workers, as well as local community events and resources.  Local businesses can join as hospitality wellbeing ambassadors, by sponsoring one of Clipboard’s wellness programs to help create a new normal for the industry. There’s also the ability to come on board as an official Clipboard partner, joining other movers and shakers of the hospo world – including the Prince, Mitchelton, Quest and Foodservice Australia – to help shape a positive hospitality culture and become a relevant voi

Preston’s newest happening venue, the Keys, is here to make bowling cool again. Forget uninspiring interiors and lacklustre food – the refurbished warehouse comes with maple-wood furnishing and custom fittings inspired by the retro bowling alleys of the US, all with a tasteful retro touch throughout the beer garden, 12 bowling lanes, gaming arcade, bar and bistro. The menu includes elevated pub classics and a hefty range of pizza, which all washes down well with any of the 48 beer taps pouring local favourites available at the three bars (yes, you read that right).  The 600-person venue is particularly pumping from Friday to Sunday, with DJs providing tunes well into the night. The bowling alley has been crafted from old trimmings of now-closed vintage alleys from across the country, with lanes available to be booked prior to or on a walk-in basis. Games start at $18 per adult and $12 for kids, or lanes can be booked on an hourly basis for groups of up to six people. And, if you’re in the mood for more fun and games after your bowl, there’s even a gaming arcade featuring some classic favourites. Plus, there's mid-week trivia on Wednesdays.  The perfect spot for a casual drink, a competitive bowl or a big celebration, the Keys is here for some retro, reimagined fun. Keen to check out more of Preston? Use this local's guide to Preston and see what else the suburb has to offer. 

Already home to Shane Delia’s iconic modern Middle Eastern restaurant Maha, the Bond Street laneway in Melbourne’s CBD has welcomed a new and elegant sister venue, Jayda. Named after Delia’s daughter, the opulent cocktail bar is accessed through the ground floor of the art-deco Alkira House and is a welcome theatrical addition to what can sometimes be a quieter part of the CBD.  Cocktails are the focal point, with a bespoke list of eight considered cocktails imagined into existence by award-winning mixologist Orlando Marzo. Delia’s favourite is the Strawberry Cream Negroni, made using an unlikely but lip-smacking mix of rosehip, blackberry leaves and dehydrated yoghurt. The wine list is crafted from Maha’s very own cellar, featuring the likes of a Ngeringa Pinot Noir 2021, Wine Farm Chardonnay 2019 and Dom Perignon 2012.  Head chef Daniel Giraldo (Maha, Maha East and Maha Bar) worked closely with Delia to create the considered menu, which is presented simply into five sections designed to be eaten together: raw, snacks, more, sweet and cheese. On the raw menu, expect hand-shucked oysters and Oscertra Caviar, before moving over to snacks such as spiced lamb, garlic and Aleppo pepper cigars with date jam and almonds, and Ortiz anchovy and za’atar. The more substantive items on the menu are perfect for a late-night feed, featuring Maha’s signature slow-cooked lamb shoulder served with a side of crisp shoestring fries.  As for the sweets menu, choose from peach and ginger, tahini

It wouldn’t be a complete list of the best op shops in Melbourne without featuring the Brotherhood of St Laurence store in Brunswick. From quality vinyl to furniture, books and popular clothing brands, it's a gold mine in the form of an op shop. The ‘special finds’ section is particularly great if you’re on the lookout for vintage designer. And best of all, it’s perfectly positioned, close to all of the goodness that Lygon Street has to offer.

Just in time for summer in 2022, local gelato purveyor Pidapipo blessed us with the opening of Pidapipo Laboratorio, a fabulously fun and Willy Wonka-esque destination for dessert devotees. Coming a long way from its pop-up Test Lab on Faraday Street in 2013, Pidapipo’s Laboratio pays homage to its radical roots, leading the way in ice cream innovation with a healthy dose of collaborations, limited-edition flavours and artisan chocolates to go round.  In short, if your sweet tooth isn't afraid of a funky new flavour experiment you'll be like a kid in a candy shop here. Collab highlights in the last twelve months include a partnership with Tom Sarafian to create a Lebanese ashta gelato with sliced Iranian pistachios; Natalie Paull (of Beatrix Bakes fame) to create a Peach Alabama gelato cake; the Fishbowl team to create an exciting range of gelato mochi; and more recently, celebrated Aussie chef Dan Hong to create a salty sweet assortment of flavours for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2024 program. One of the leaders of the gelato revolution in Melbourne, the brand has stayed true to its ethos of experimentation over the years, and it's a strategy that's clearly paying off as Pidapipo has just celebrated its tenth birthday. Congrats Pidapipo! Expect an exclusive gelato menu celebrating local produce and specialty flavours, and a behind-the-scenes look at co-founder and chef Lisa Valmorbida as she develops and tests limited-edition flavours like white chocolate with pink

Ask any Prahran local, and they’ll probably have a fond story for you about the Duck. The much-loved hotel has been servicing the neighbourhood since the late 1800s, with one of the few intact Victorian-era hotel facades remaining in the area. When it came time to refurbish it under its new ownership, the team behind Rustica and Hobsons Bay Hotel made sure to stay true to its rich 150-year-plus history, elevating its gastro-pub status with a new layout and refined menu.  Its interior now features an 84-seat open-plan dining room, public bar and 40-seat private dining room, matched with a lush, sprawling beer garden perfect for long and lazy summer afternoons. In its previous iteration, the spaces in the pub lacked cohesion. Now, a large part of the inside has been opened to create the expansive dining room, with its earthy tones and brass accents.   Head chef Ben Pigott (Hobsons Bay Hotel, Supernormal, Cumulus Inc, Van Haandel Group) offers up a classic brasserie menu, centred around the new wood-fired grill. Feast on wood-fired wholemeal flatbread with black garlic toum & smoked salmon caviar, grilled Shark Bay scallops with herb butter and charcoal grilled duck breast with braised red cabbage, crispy potato hash and plum jus. “Our menu reflects the history of the building in that we have set out to create food offerings that combine classic pub fare while wanting to keep things interesting with some refined dishes,” says Pigott. Expect all the classic pub specials during t

Now there are even more places you can get your hands on a sleek new July suitcase for your upcoming travel plans, with the retailer opening a brand new Melbourne CBD store. Found in among all the best luxury brands at 80 Collins Street, the new store is perfect for that quick lunch break stopover, with a clean, easy-to-shop layout. July bags have taken the travel world by storm with their uber-functional features like a charging port, silent wheels, detachable laptop case and crush-proof cover. Did we mention all the bags come in a range of ultra-cool colours?  After you pick up some new luggage, peruse our guide to the best road trips from Melbourne.  

One of the world’s largest craft beer operators, Brewdog, has partnered with Australia’s leading pub operator Australia Venue Co. to create a unique craft beer experience set inside the historic E-Division building at Coburg’s Pentridge Prison.  Spread across two levels, the venue features a range of spaces for all sorts of experiences and celebrations, from an indoor dining room to three function areas and a sprawling beer garden drenched in sunshine.  There are 20 craft beers on tap, from session-strength pale ales and lagers to imperial stouts and sours. If you’re not much of a beer drinker, there’s an impressive selection of wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages to suit all preferences. To go alongside the tasty brews, the menu is 50 per cent plant-based with rotating specials, including two-for-one on Vegan Mondays, and all-you-can-eat wings for $25 on Wing Wednesdays. Brewdog Pentridge is open Monday to Sunday, from noon until late. Love a good sesh in the sun? These are Melbourne's best beer gardens.

Following recent research on start-up funding that discovered only eight per cent of funders back businesses with all-women founding teams, the Female Founders Festival is here to shake things up and help women-owned businesses fight back.  Now in its second year, the event was created by Australia’s very own and much loved 100 per cent female-owned spirits company, Baby Pink Gin, and aims to showcase some of the best products from a range of local, female-founded businesses. Happening at the Commons in Collingwood on May 6, it’s the perfect opportunity to get your Mother's Day shopping done and support some amazing women making moves in the world of business.  “I wanted to create an event that not only celebrated female-founded businesses, but made it easy for shoppers to support local when doing their Christmas shopping, and discover new brands and products outside of Instagram,” says Ellen Weigall, the founder of Baby Pink Gin and the festival.  The line-up of exhibitors is set to include Two Birds Brewing, Makoha Designs, Vintage Collect, Kleins Perfumery, Holly Lulu Intimates, Darsy Skin, Kubo and Tillie J Wines. There will also be pop-up activations from businesses like Hello Blooms, a fully functional bar serving only female-owned drinks and a fully female-run coffee and pastry van. Word on the street is that four-legged friends are more than welcome, so make sure to bring them along too. The Female Founders Festival is taking place at the Commons at 36-38 Gipps Street

Famed 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee and eight-time Grammy winner (yes, eight), Beck, is finally coming to Melbourne, performing at the Palais Theatre on Monday, April 3 2023. After his smash-hit 1994 debut ‘Loser’, Beck’s albums spanned across all genres, dabbling in alternative rock, indie, funk and experimental pop. Some of his biggest feats include his 1996 multi-platinum album Odelay, his 2014 Album of the Year Grammy winner Morning Phase and his most recent 2019 album Hyperspace, named by People Magazine as his best in a decade.  When it comes to a Beck show, you can expect the unexpected as he picks and pulls songs from his 30-year-long catalogue of genre-surfing. For his 2023 tour, expect more acoustics and artful melodies as he moves away from music maximalism and towards a more stripped-back approach.  Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. Consider yourself a gig-goer? Here's where to see live music every night of the week in Melbourne.

Though Camberwell is a suburb with plenty of personality, its food offering hasn’t always hit the mark. In 2021, local Italian joint La Perla came about to shake things up and has been serving up pizza pies, tasty drinks and groovy tunes to Camberwell locals ever since.  Former Denton Wine Bar chef Kieran Hoop joined forces with business partners Stefan Moon and David Cooper to make it all happen, bringing together their common passion for music, food and wine to create the now buzzing neighbourhood spot. It’s the perfect amalgamation of rustic Italian with inner-suburb hip, with an interior that celebrates breezy tones and unpretentious intimacy. The menu is fairly simple but is done well. Snack on pickles, cheeses and cured meats, before diving headfirst into a pizza menu that features both the traditional and the inventive. Expect a margherita with fresh fior di latte and basil, wagyu bresaola with sugo and dressed bitter salad greens, and a pumpkin, pine nut and sage version for the veg lovers among us.  If you’ve got room for dessert after all of that dough, get your hands on a classic tiramisu or a boozy and rich babà cake soaked in liquore della Giamaica. As for drinks, choose from one of the many classic cocktails, a crisp beer or local wine.  Got pizza on your mind? Check out the best slices going around with our round-up of the best pizza in Melbourne.

As Andrew McConnell’s flagship eatery, Cutler and Co is the leading example of Melbourne fine dining done exceptionally well. Its Gertrude Street location – nestled among some of McConnell’s other standout spots including Marion, Builders Arms and Morning Market – brings an air of coolness to the sophisticated venue.  At its core, Cutler and Co is about simple, refined food. The menu is influenced by the seasons, an amalgamate of quality local produce and the well-practised cooking techniques of its team of chefs. Seafood manages to weave its way into many courses, with local prawns, spanner crabs and fish aplenty. If you’re in the mood for a long lunch, a Sunday at Cutler and Co gives you the chance to slow down over four courses, with a reasonably priced wine matching for only an additional $55.The newly curated a la carte summer menu opens with a mix of mussel and tomato, served alongside a kangaroo tartare tart and light pomme souffle. As for entrees and mains, you can expect a bright and tangy spanner crab with yoghurt, radish and apple, and a wood-grilled Gundagai lamb, with crisp fried anchovies and pickled walnuts to cut through the richness. As for dessert, treat yourself to a simple chocolate delice that pairs almost too perfectly with the bitters and spice of a glass of matched Nomino Amaro.   

If you’re keen on ditching the screens and getting all that pent up energy out of your kids these school holidays, look no further than the Chaos Lab. Coming to Melbourne’s District Docklands from January 6 to April 23, the wild and wacky lab features ten interactive stations designed to let imaginations run wild.  Kids can meet Chaos Lab’s very own mad scientist and his team of quirky lab assistants, and get the chance to work as his intern throughout the laboratory. Get hands on with fluro slime in The Slime Zone, before heading to The Gravity Wall to learn the ins and outs of the laws of gravity. For some glow-in-the dark fun look no further than the UV Room, battle it out shoes off in The Ball Pit, and get lost in the maze of mirrors. Each session runs for around an hour, with ticket prices starting at $29 for children and $10 for adults. To purchase tickets, head to the Fever app or Fever website.  After more family-friendly fun? Here are the best activities for kids in Melbourne.

The winners of the Eat Drink Design Awards have just been named for 2022, showcasing the Australian restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and retail spaces that are making leaps and bounds in contemporary design and architecture. Melbourne has led the way as the standout winning city, taking out five of the eight awards. And we're not surprised, given its longstanding status as the cultural capital of the country.  Notable Melbourne winners include Di Stasio Carlton by Hassell winning Best Restaurant Design for its nod to Italian architecture. The Music Room by Dion Hall unsurprisingly took out the Best Bar Design, with its luxe and moody interior, and buzzing Gertrude Street eatery Rocco's Bologna Discoteca won Best Identity Design, with Congrats Agency bringing its signature playful touch to the venue.  The new and already overwhelmingly popular Ace Hotel Sydney won Best Hotel Design, with its pops of colour and seamless blend of hospitality and luxury. Despite its location, Brisbane Airport’s the Common by Sullivan Skinner took out Best Cafe Design, and Adelaide Festival Pavilion - The Summerhouse by CO-AP snagged the title of Best Installation Design. “Several related themes and observable trends made an impression on the jury this year amongst the winners. They are best understood when seen through the lens of our collective, not-quite-post-Covid moment as an Australian and indeed a global society. In uncertain, troubling times, the design community seems to be embracing a tr

For one day only this October, you can support climate change action and eat free ice cream at the same time. It may sound too good to be true, but as a Certified B Corp, Ben & Jerry’s has always been active when it comes to social and environmental justice. Its recent partnership with Torres Strait Islander-led climate group Our Island Our Home is a clear example of this, joining forces with the organisation to drive awareness of the current climate crisis through a delicious pint of ice cream. Its new limited-edition non-dairy collab flavour ‘This is Our Whirled’ has just hit Woolworths, Metcash and Ben & Jerry’s scoop stores across Australia. The new signature flavour is made with sunflower butter and packed with chocolate chip cookies, chocolate sandwich cookies, and chocolate cookie swirls. The packaging features the artwork of proud Torres Strait Islander and art activist, Dylan Mooney, celebrating the resilience of Torres Strait Islanders who are fighting to protect their homes through the Our Islands Our Home campaign. The Our Islands Our Home campaign was created by Traditional Owners of the Torres Strait to urge the new Federal government to take stronger climate action, demanding them to commit to 100% renewables in the next 10 years and support Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait Islands) communities to build community-owned renewable energy, among other things. A portion of profits from the sale of every pint will go directly to Our Islands Our Home, which is as good an

Calling all movie buffs: Classic, Lido and Cameo Cinemas are reducing the price of all movie tickets to just $5 all week, from the first session on Thursday, September 8 to the last session on Wednesday, September 14. This is the perfect opportunity to catch some big flicks on the cheap (and have enough money left over for popcorn), including Jordan Peele’s Nope, the Brad Pitt-starring action thrill-ride Bullet Train and Emma Thompson's sex-positive comedy Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. As an extra special bonus, if you happen to sign up for a Movie Club membership you’ll get your hands on a $1 ticket on sign-up and renewal, cheap movie tickets for two years and special access to advance screenings. You can start booking your $5 movie tickets online first thing Monday, or purchase directly from the box office.

Food rescue charity FoodFilled has been fighting food insecurity since 2018, partnering with retailers and charities across Melbourne to collect excess food and donate it to those in need. So far, they’ve fed a whopping 30,000 people across Melbourne, donating excess food to everyone from asylum seekers through to youth in crisis and people escaping abuse.  The demand for food has only increased since the pandemic, and FoodFilled is now looking to expand its volunteer base of over 270 people so they can get even more food to even more people who are desperately in need.  FoodFilled volunteers are mainly responsible for distributing rescued food, picking it up from retailers and delivering it to partner charities. Part of the FoodFilled mission is to also empower people to be more accountable when it comes to waste, so it’s a great initiative to get involved in if you’re looking to be more mindful of food waste and consumption.  For more information on their volunteer program and the work that they do, head to the FoodFilled website.  Looking for more ways to do good? Here are some of the best places to volunteer in Melbourne.

Ali Mousavi's father owned Italian restaurants for over 40 years, so it's no surprise that his new Chapel Street hospitality venture will continue the family tradition. Stella, slated to open in September, will be spread over four levels and is set to deliver an Italian food philosophy with a modern Australian twist. Named after Ali’s daughter, Stella is all about creating a neighbourhood-local feel with an underlying hint of elegance. Each level of the venue has been thoughtfully designed, offering a unique experience on each – from an intimate private dining room in the basement cellar to the ground floor and first-floor dining areas adorned with velvet seating, right up to the sunlit and garden-filled rooftop, there’s something for all occasions and atmospheres.  Head Chef John Park (Ines Wine Bar, Vue de Monde, 400 Gradi) is responsible for the contemporary menu, featuring house-made artisanal pasta, pizzas made in the sculptura Marana Forni pizza oven and regionally-inspired Italian sharing plates and desserts. To accentuate the Italian-leaning menu, you can expect an extensive list of local and Italian wines, plus plenty of alternative beverages to suit after-work tipples, rooftop cocktails in the sun or a post-pasta nightcap.  Finn Warnock from SUM Design worked closely with Ali to see his vision come to life, with ambient colours and elegant materials used to elevate the heritage-listed 1870s building. “Stella is a contemporary interpretation of a vibrant and traditio

Self-confessed Francophile and hatted chef Andrew Beddoes discovered his love for food after spending most Saturday afternoons in his hometown of Derbyshire cooking alongside his Granny Beddoes. After completing culinary school at 16, working at a selection of fine dining venues and taking on his first gead chef role at Café Boheme at Soho House, London, he’s now set to open his next venture right on Swan Street: Tartine. Housed in the previous Meatball & Wine Bar space, Tartine will offer an authentic yet relaxed French bistro experience. The all-day diner will capture the true essence of French dining, from the coffee window slinging pastries and Tartine sourdough bread topped with prosciutto and celeriac remoulade, through to the bistro serving beluga caviar and Champagne cocktails. There’s even the option to take the diner home with you, with a providore filled with homemade delights and a curated wine selection.  For those wanting to indulge in a longer stay, the bistro has a refined, classic menu, including oysters, charcuterie and steak au poivre. There is, of course, a star-studded dessert lineup on offer including apple tarte tatin, lemon tart and a full cheese service to round it all off. The private dining room ‘Salon Tartine’ is elevated dining at its finest, designed for special occasions or those wanting to treat themselves to a unique private dining experience with the finest French fare.  As for the interiors, they are what you’d expect from a classic French

In a move as opulent as it is unsurprising, Society has partnered with world-class caviar producer N25 to offer their golden N25 Almas Réserve Caviar across Society’s three spaces: Society Dining Room, The Lounge and Lillian Brasserie. A perfect match for the already sumptuous dining experience at Society, N25 features in top restaurants around the world with their golden N25 Almas Réserve Caviar the rarest caviar they produce, historically exclusively only enjoyed by Russian Tsars. Society will serve the sweet yet nutty caviar two ways, a ‘bump’ served traditionally on a mother-of-pearl spoon to maintain the ideal temperature and flavour ($38.50 in The Lounge), on top of the famous Caviar Pretzel ($48.50 in Lillian Brasserie) and as a star in Society Dining Room’s traditional Caviar service, with a 30g tin available ($385) to order alongside the a-la-carte menu. Book your next dining experience at Society via their website.

In what may be the best news this winter, Guide Dogs Victoria are looking for some warm homes and responsible volunteers to look after their newest litter of pups. Yes, you read that right. The puppies need to be cared for over the next twelve months while they develop basic behaviour and socialisation skills required before their formal training starts, enabling them to go on to provide essential independence to someone who is blind or has low vision. Up to twenty volunteers are urgently needed in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo to take on the rewarding but challenging task of being a puppy parent. Guide Dogs Victoria’s Puppy Development Team Leader, Naomi Wallace says, “The work we do at Guide Dogs Victoria wouldn’t be sustainable without the assistance of our Puppy Raisers. By volunteering as Puppy Raisers, the community can help us to train and raise our beautiful dogs who go on to ensure Australians who are blind or have low vision lead independent lives.” There are certain guidelines that need to be met by volunteers to be accepted as a Puppy Raiser, including having a fully-fenced yard, access to a car and not being away from home for more than four hours at a time. Volunteers need to have the time to attend training days and will also be responsible for grooming, house training and exercising their pups, although Guide Dogs Victoria will provide food, veterinary care, flea and tick prevention and a dedicated Puppy Development Adviser. You can find out more and apply to

The Fishmonger’s Son have just released a collection of curated finish-at-home meal boxes featuring their seasonal seafood served alongside speciality products from their deli – making your winter meal planning easier than ever. Each pack requires little effort post-pick-up, ideal for the nights you need a quick dinner or want to entertain guests without spending too long in the kitchen. The menu includes a prawn risotto pack with garlic, lemon and parsley, a pasta marinara pack with fresh house-made marinara and fettuccine, a fish sandwich pack with potato rolls, slaw and Japanese mayo, and a crab raviolo meat box made in collaboration with family-owned artisan pasta producer Il Nonno. The packs vary in size and can feed from 2 to 6 people, ranging in price from $35 to $55. For those looking for something even easier, their fridge also houses seafood lasagna and fish pies with the simple cooking instruction of just needing to be popped into the oven when you get home. “As the winter chill sets in, our motivation to spend hours slaving over the stove quickly diminishes. These packs provide simple, healthy, and most importantly, delicious at-home dining options that are easy to pull together,” says second-generation fishmonger Anthony. The Take & Bake packs are available for pre-order via the Fishmonger’s Son website and for pick-up at their Carlton North store.

Sydney, we can hear the bells and they bring good news: the nicest kids in town will be here when the original Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Hairspray opens in the Harbour City in early 2023.  Long-admired director Jack O’Brien (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) will lead a Broadway creative team, with Shane Jacobson (Kenny, Oddball, Guys and Dolls) fulfilling a lifelong dream by starring as beloved housewife Edna Turnblad. The role was originated by drag superstar Divine in John Waters' original cult 1988 film, before going on to be played by the legendary Harvey Fierstein on Broadway and by John Travolta in the 2007 film remake. Jacobson joins Aussie stars Todd McKenney, Rhonda Burchmore, and Rob Mills in the stacked cast lineup. After watching the first workshop reading of the music in 2001, leading producer John Frost invested heavily to secure the Australian rights and became co-producer of the Broadway production. The Australian tour is launching in Melbourne in August 2022, with a stint in Adelaide in December before it lays roots in Sydney.  Photograph: Jeff Busby “I am thrilled the original Broadway version of Hairspray is finally coming to Australia. It is an irresistibly feel-good and hilarious production for people of all ages to enjoy,” said Frost. Set in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, Hairspray tells the story of dance-loving teenager Tracy Turnblad whose ultimate dream is to dance on The Corny Collins

  The AFL season is in full swing and Brunswick's iconic Sarah Sands Hotel is giving you a good reason to head to their venue to watch the game. Round for Round lets you set up a bar tab that the pub will match, giving you double the money to spend across both food and drinks. With a maximum tab of $150 per customer (that’s a whopping total of $300 to spend), it’s sure to become the venue of choice for footy fans far and wide.  All you need to do is head down to Sarah Sands and set up your tab before the first bounce. Run, don't walk.

Leading the way in flame-grilled fine dining, Scott Pickett's Matilda 159 Domain has added a 1.7kg Blackmore Wagyu tomahawk steak to its dinner menu for a limited time only. For $600, you can get steak cooked in the signature wood-fired style Matilda is known for, served alongside a toothsome pepperberry jus. The steak will comfortably serve four to six people, so is perfect for special occasions or if you’re just really serious about your steak.  An award-winning and internationally recognised producer of wagyu, Blackmore Wagyu hand select each tomahawk steak for Matilda to ensure diners only receive the highest quality of their 100% Fullblood Wagyu beef. "With a premium product like Blackmore Wagyu, we don't have to do much – we do what we do best and let the meat speak for itself," says Pickett. Pre-orders are essential and must be booked with at least five days’ notice to be guaranteed. To order, select the ‘Blackmore Wagyu Tomahawk’ option when booking a table through Matilda's website.