After-Hours Gallery Visits, French Dining and Garden Illuminations: Your Guide to the Ultimate Melbourne Culture Fix
Plan your perfect winter weekend in Melbourne around one of this year’s most exciting exhibitions.
In partnership with 
Monet. Degas. Renoir. If those names sound familiar, it's because they're some of the most renowned and revolutionary artists of the impressionist movement. Now, their masterworks will make a grand entrance in Melbourne, and it'll be sure to draw the crowds.
The NGV's Winter Masterpieces® series is known for bringing blockbuster exhibitions to Melbourne, and this year is no exception. The French Impressionism collection opens Friday, June 6, and brings over 100 works from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to the National Gallery of Victoria for a rare glimpse into one of art's most influential movements. Expect hazy sunrises, countryside hills, dancers in motion and gardens drenched in light by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet and more.
But while the paintings are the headline act, the city more than lives up to the hype. From cosy dinners and cinematic nights out, to garden trails lit up after dark, this is the perfect opportunity to see Melbourne really come alive. Planning a visit to see the NGV's Winter Masterpieces®? Don't stop at the exhibition. Here's how to turn a few hours of Impressionism into a totally unforgettable weekend.
Michael Pham
NGV Friday Nights
Every Friday during the exhibition, the NGV stays open late for NGV Friday Nights. Your ticket includes after-dark access to French Impressionism between 6pm and 10pm, as well as live music, food and drinks in the Great Hall. Catch performances from artists like Mindy Meng Wang王萌 and Tim Shiel, whose collaborative project blends electronica, pop and classical Chinese traditions into something entirely new.
Wander the exhibition with a glass of bubbles in hand, sample a wine flight from Yering Station, or grab some French-inspired dinner. It's everything Melbourne does best: art, music, food and a good excuse to stay up after the sun has gone down.
Dame
Exploring the gallery during the day? It's worth breaking things up with a long lunch at Dame Melbourne, just a few blocks away from the NGV. Set in what's colloquially known as the 'Paris-end' of Collins Street, this elegant venue features high ceilings, beautiful brunch plates, and the perfect opportunity for people watching as the afternoon drifts by.
Alex Drewniak
Maison Bâtard
Within walking distance from the NGV, Maison Bâtard puts a modern spin on the classic French bistro. From restaurateur Chris Lucas, it's the kind of place that doesn't take itself too seriously but still delivers when it comes to top notch food and wine, with multiple levels of sophisticated dining rooms. On Thursday to Saturday, descend downstairs into 'Le Club', for (very) late-night supper, cocktails and shows.
Jana Langhorst
Elio's Place
If you're looking for something more low-key, Elio's Place on Flinders Lane is a European-inspired bistro that delivers comforting, crowd-pleasing favourites from 8am until late every day. The menu changes regularly and you'll always get a warm welcome as you walk in. It's the sort of spot where you can show up spontaneously, skip the fuss and focus on good food and good company.
Lightscape
After dinner, swap the gallery walls for open skies. This year, award-winning immersive light experience Lightscape is once again transforming the Royal Botanic Gardens into a glowing, dreamlike trail of illuminated tunnels, giant floral sculptures and projections. It's immersive, surreal, and very Melbourne. Running from Friday, June 20 to Sunday, August 10, this is a must for anyone who believes art doesn't have to stay inside galleries.
Open House Melbourne
If you're in Melbourne at the end of July, Open House Melbourne is worth lining up. Across one weekend (Saturday, July 26 - Sunday, July 27), dozens of the city's most fascinating buildings are opening their doors for public tours. From historic theatres and hidden rooftop gardens to incredible private homes, it's a rare chance to step inside some of Melbourne's most interesting spaces and see the city from the inside out.
Melbourne International Film Festival
Looking ahead, August brings the Melbourne International Film Festival, a citywide celebration of independent cinema from Australia and around the world. If your idea of a perfect winter night is catching a world premiere with a glass of red in hand, MIFF is your festival. It turns the entire CBD into a buzzing hub of late-night screenings, director talks and film club energy.
In their day, the French Impressionists changed the way the world saw beauty. In Melbourne this winter, you can follow their lead: wandering through galleries by day, neon gardens by night, and cosy dining rooms in between.
Head to visitmelbourne.com.au to discover more of what makes Melbourne every bit different.
Images courtesy of Visit Melbourne
By Jacque Kennedy
