Travel to Melbourne to see this Disney exhibition and discover the city at its cultural best

The exhibition offers a rare insight into the studio’s near-century of filmmaking with original sketches and artworks selected by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library in Los Angeles. Explore the five kingdoms of the world of Kumandra from Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) through a giant projection. Experience an immersive room featuring scenes from The Lion King (1994) and Pocahontas (1995), or step inside a scene from the very first Disney full-length feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). This exhibition shines a spotlight on Disney’s pioneering artistry and technical innovation, as well as the filmmakers and storytellers that have worked with Disney over the years. 

ACMI’s free immersive exhibition The Story of the Moving Image is a sprawling journey into the craft and creativity behind films, TV, videogames and art. See amazing original artworks from Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, a spectacular costume from Oscar winner The Favourite, armour from The True History of the Kelly Gang, and props, storyboards and photos from the making of The Dry. With a focus on First Nations storytelling at the centre, as well as ancient shadow puppets, Victorian-era magic lanterns and original cameras, this exhibition is a real eye-opener.

ACMI’s new restaurant, Hero, is aptly named: it’s no supporting player when it comes to the Melbourne restaurant scene but rather a key protagonist. Celebrity chef Karen Martini is calling the shots with a modern Australian menu taking an Italian approach. Amuse your appetite with entrées such as baccalà fritte and lemoni, or Ortiz anchovy with special sauce and onion ash on toast; tuck into luscious mains such as pasta stracci and prawn al aglio, chilli and white bean, or paccheroni verde, mint oil, peas and ricotta. Desserts are courtesy of another A-lister, pastry chef Philippa Sibley, while the wine list is by star sommelier Philip Rich (of Prince Wine Store and Kisumé).

Adjacent to ACMI in Fed Square you’ll also find the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which is currently exhibiting the first major retrospective of Maree Clarke, a pivotal figure in southeast Australian Aboriginal art and cultural practices. Maree Clarke: Ancestral Memories is on now until February 6, 2022. Get a fantastic lunch or dinner at Big Esso by Mabu Mabu, an all-day bar and kitchen celebrating contemporary Indigenous culture with a seasonal menu incorporating delicious native flavours. The Koorie Heritage Trust offers authentic Victorian Aboriginal experiences including the Birrarung Wilam walk; one of the largest collections of Koorie art and artefacts on permanent display; an annual exhibition program showcasing local Aboriginal artists; plus the opportunity to purchase handcrafted locally made gifts.

Zagame’s House (66 Lygon St, Carlton) opened in 2019 after an $18 million renovation and features plush king-sized beds, velour armchairs, rainfall showers and one of the best-stocked minibars in town. Local fashion stores and Chinatown have inspired the look of Next Hotel (103 Little Collins St, Melbourne) with elegantly minimalist furnishings and a food offering melding Hong Kong by way of Sicily. A grandiose chandelier that once adorned the Palais Theatre announces that the theme of the Lancemore Crossley St (51 Little Bourke St, Melbourne) is the theatre district it occupies. The sunlit rooftop is a highlight – lounge on the beachy daybeds or warm up by the contemporary fire pit. Having opened in February 2021, W Melbourne is one of the coolest hotels in the city not only because it has eye-opening interiors, a premium restaurant and a sexy top-floor pool, but because it’s also home to a secret bar.