The Summer Arts & Entertainment Guide

The nights are long; savour them in the best outdoor (or air conditioned) events.
Rich Fogarty
Published on December 11, 2014
  • News

    The Best Waterfalls You Can Swim Under Near Melbourne

    Forget TLC. Go chase some waterfalls in Victoria.

  • News

    Where to Find the Best Ice Cream and Gelato in Melbourne

    Whether you like your gelato and ice cream scoops creamy, salty, vegan or served with hot chips, you can find them here.

  • News

    The Best Outdoor Swimming Pools in Melbourne

    Melbourne's best outdoor swimming pools cater to athletes, casual summertime swimmers and those just looking to cool off during extra hot days.

  • Restaurant

    Marquis of Lorne

    411 George Street, Fitzroy

    Drink down on the street, dine at the second floor restaurant or soak up some rays on the rooftop.

  • News

    The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne

    Wait till the weather is just right, then fill your esky with cold beer, natural wine and an oversupply of snacks and get picnicking.

  • News

    The Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne

    Rise above the burning concrete and escape to the echelons of summer delight.

  • News

    The Ten Best Bloody Marys in Melbourne

    The ultimate breakfast of champions.

  • News

    The Ten Best BYO Restaurants in Melbourne

    Offset the damage to your wallet on your next night out.

  • Bar

    St Hotel - CLOSED

    54 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

    Once a questionable choice of venue, the Saint Hotel has been transformed into a sleek Thai dining space and bar.

  • News

    The Nine Best Rum Bars in Melbourne

    Where you'll find this city's best Zombies, Dark 'n' Stormys, Mai Tais, house infused apricot rum and more.

  • News

    MTC Announces NEON 2015 Season of Independent Theatre

    Carnivals, cannibals and the real, foul-mouthed, alcoholic Calamity Jane.

  • News

    Melbourne's Longest Eatery The Arbory Is Now Open

    Taking cues from New York’s Highline, Melbourne's newest spot runs 150m along the old Sandridge railway line.

  • Restaurant

    Tokyo Tina

    66A Chapel Street, Windsor

    The third sister has been born, and she brings a Japanese edge to the family.

  • Event

    Movies Under the Stars

    Thu, 26 Feb, 2015

    Point Park, Docklands

    Lap up the last of the openair cinema season with Docklands' free version.

  • Event

    Tomato Battle

    Sat, 28 Feb, 2015

    Flemington Racecourse, Flemington

    Let the Romas fly.

  • News

    New Food Precinct The Archway Opens in Flinders Lane

    Homemade smores, chilli salt slices, maple bacon chipotle bagels. Lunch just got interesting in the CBD.

  • Event

    Fat Tuesday Southern Food and Music Festival

    Tue, 17 Feb, 2015

    Hardy Reserve, Brunswick

    Fat Tuesday, or French Mardi Gras, means offensive amounts of delicious, greasy, Southern barbecued goodness.

  • Event

    Luna Park On Play - The School of Life

    Sat, 21 Feb, 2015

    Luna Park Melbourne, St Kilda

    The School of Life and Rockwiz’s Brian Nankervis are letting you play all day. Really.

  • Event

    Fashion on Film 2015

    Sat, 21 Feb - Sun, 8 Mar 2015

    Watch Vogue shoots with Lena Dunham, trace the history of bespoke Italian menswear, celebrate the glory of '90s fashion.

  • News

    Zara Home Launches in Australia

    Extend your wardrobe to your walls.

  • News

    Bar Exuberante is Melbourne's Newest Secret Rum Bar

    Find a little piece of Old Havana in the back of Bar Economico.

  • Event

    Slide Melbourne

    Sun, 15 Feb - Mon, 9 Mar 2015

    Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne

    Be the first to experience the biggest street slide in the world.

  • Event

    Farnsworth Republic For Dogs

    Mon, 16 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb 2015

    ACCA, Melbourne

    The hottest canine event of the season.

  • Event

    Supergraph 2015

    Fri, 13 Feb - Sun, 15 Feb 2015

    Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton

    Welcome to an art fair you can actually afford.

  • Event

    Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival 2015

    Wed, 11 Feb - Sun, 15 Feb 2015

    ACMI and Cinema Nova, Melbourne

    Spend the Chinese New Year with some of the country's latest cinematic exports.

  • News

    This Swing Table Just Made Meetings Way More Fun

    Swing your way through boring PowerPoint presentations.

  • Event

    Sustainable Living Festival 2015

    Sat, 7 Feb - Sun, 1 Mar 2015

    Melbourne

    All the tips you need to make life a little better.

  • Bar

    Magic Mountain Saloon

    62 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

    An eatery and bar spawned from one of Melbourne's best hospo pedigrees.

  • News

    Could This New Sky Garden Be the Workplace of the Future?

    Forget the tedium of the office cubicle. The future is harvesting your own lunch, wearable tech and abseiling during coffee breaks.

  • News

    Van Gogh Paintings Realised as Haute Couture

    Van Gogh's little straw hat has never looked so Bjork.

  • Event

    St Kilda Festival 2015

    Sat, 31 Jan - Sun, 8 Feb 2015

    Various locations in St Kilda, St Kilda

    Get amongst Melbourne's biggest (and most wallet-friendly) street festival.

  • Event

    Summer Sundays

    Sun, 8 Feb, 2015

    NGV International, Melbourne

    The NGV are crashing festival season with a series of weekly free garden parties.

  • News

    A Look Back at Ten Years of Laneway Festival

    The last ten years have seen Australian festival after Australian festival launch and go under. How have Laneway managed to nail it?

  • News

    This New App Can Tell You Which Friend Stresses You Out Most

    Want to surround yourself with positive people? There's an app for that.

  • Restaurant

    Code Black Howard Street

    119 Howard Street, North Melbourne

    Code Black starts a spin-off on Howard Street, and it's not just the same shtick.

  • Event

    Belle and Sebastian

    Sun, 1 Feb, 2015

    Palais Theatre, St Kilda

    Indie-pop royalty blown in on a breeze of Glaswegian whimsy.

  • News

    Pope Joan Crew to Reinvent the Humble Milk Bar

    Meet Jack Horner, who'll sit on a corner.

  • News

    Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch Wanted Your Nine-to-Five Job

    The Glaswegian lead singer also thinks you might have written his music for him.

  • News

    Win Passes to Palace Cinemas Thanks to Appleton Estate

    One of summer's classic cool retreats, now with a cocktail to match.

  • Event

    The Val Cinema

    Fri, 23 Jan - Sun, 15 Feb 2015

    Swan Street Chamber Of Commerce, Richmond

    The Val is back in action for a summer pop-up on Swan Street.

  • News

    All the Best Ways to Spend Australia Day 2015 in Melbourne

    Sausages, citizenship, the Triple J Hottest 100. Celebrate what you value this Australia Day.

  • News

    Eau de Vie to Open New Boilermaker House

    Picture 700 whiskies. Now pair them with 80 beers.

  • News

    Brunswick Street Cider House to Open Summer Pop-Up Garden

    Just in time for the Australia Day weekend.

  • Restaurant

    Union St Brewers - CLOSED

    34 Union Street, Brunswick

    Brunswick's newest cafe is baking their own bagels and pouring their own brew on Union Street.

  • Bar

    The Rooks Return

    201 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

    Your local better watch out — The Rooks Return threatens to take its place.

  • News

    Entrecote Brings Parisian-Style Dining to South Yarra

    Dine like a Parisian — late, simple, with fries.

  • News

    The Ten Best Summer Getaways From Melbourne

    When the Fitzroy Pool just doesn't cut it, get your friends together for one of these jaunts out of town.

  • News

    Five Reasons To Head To Sugar Mountain That Have Nothing To Do With Nas

    Despite what the buzz may tell you, there's more to this festival than Illmatic.

  • Bar

    The Grand Trailer Park Taverna - CLOSED

    87 Bourke Street, Melbourne

    East Coast trailer trash at its finest (and funnest).

  • Event

    Slidestreet

    Sat, 24 Jan, 2015

    Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne

    Your summer dreams just came true. This 315 metre-long Slip 'N' Slide is unfurling in Fitzroy Gardens.

  • Event

    Whisky at the Cinema

    Wed, 21 Jan, 2015

    Kino Cinemas, Melbourne

    Two of your favourite things together at last.

  • News

    Build Your Own Smartphone With Google's Project Ara

    Pick and choose the components of your phone. Nice one, Google.

  • Bar

    Jardin Tan

    Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra

    A bit of Vietnamese exoticism in the middle of the Botanic Gardens.

  • Restaurant

    Gelato Messina Fitzroy

    237 Smith Street, Fitzroy

    How do you know it's summer? You're standing in the queue at Messina again, dummy.

  • News

    Gelato Messina to Launch International Soup Kitchen

    You won't find boring ol' tomato soup in these cans.

  • News

    This Durable Cardboard Bike Costs Just $10 to Make

    A bike so cheap that it's not even worth the energy deployed in trying to steal it.

  • Event

    Midsumma 2015

    Sun, 18 Jan - Sun, 8 Feb 2015

    Various locations across Melbourne, Melbourne

    Melbourne's favourite summer festival is back to paint the town every colour in the rainbow.

  • News

    The Ten Best Things To See At Midsumma 2015

    Melbourne's favourite summer festival is back to paint the town every colour in the rainbow.

  • Event

    South Melbourne Night Market 2015

    Thu, 15 Jan - Thu, 5 Mar 2015

    South Melbourne Market, South Melbourne

    South Melbourne Market has a whole lot more to offer than dim sims.

  • Event

    Royal Croquet Club

    Fri, 16 Jan - Sun, 1 Feb 2015

    Birrarung Marr, Melbourne

    It's time to break out the Pimms.

  • News

    The Ten Best Things to Come Out of Jamaica

    Jerk, James Bond, the world's finest coffee and rum? Thank Jamaica.

  • News

    Cookie Team to Open New Magic Mountain Saloon

    The brains behind The Toff in Town, Cookie and Boney have made a new nest in a 19th century warehouse.

  • News

    Swan Street Chamber of Commerce is Actually a New Pop-Up Food Precinct

    Pop-up record stores, ice cream sandwiches and retro films. Hell-o, Swan Street.

  • News

    Ten Tasty Ways to Break Your 2015 New Year's Resolution

    Rules are made to be broken - especially ones that cut out food.

  • Event

    Wye Oak

    Sat, 10 Jan, 2015

    The Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood

    Soaring, unmissable folk direct from Baltimore to you.

  • News

    Summertime Sips: Three Rum Cocktails to Make at Home this Summer

    Your pool party punch and post-festival nightcap, sorted.

  • Event

    So Frenchy So Chic In The Park 2015

    Sun, 11 Jan, 2015

    Werribee Park, Werribee

    Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi.

  • Event

    Danny Brown

    Sun, 4 Jan - Mon, 5 Jan 2015

    Corner Hotel, Richmond

    Fast, frantic and truly original, Detroit's must-see rapper returns to Melbourne.

  • News

    The Best New Year's Day Parties in Melbourne

    Dust off that hangover, 2015 awaits.

  • Event

    Woodford Folk Festival 2014/15

    Sat, 27 Dec 2014 - Thu, 1 Jan 2015

    Woodfordia, Woodford

    Set up camp, let your hair get knotty, and roam makeshift tarpaulin towns.

  • News

    The 2014 Boxing Day Movie Smackdown

    It's a fierce field of contenders, except for one sadly flabby has-been.

  • News

    The Enduring Lure of Shakespeare Under the Stars

    Why do midsummer nights go so well with the Bard? Shakespeare in the Royal Botanic Gardens director Glenn Elston has a hint.

  • Event

    Orphans' Christmas 2014

    Thu, 25 Dec, 2014

    Federation Square, Melbourne

    With free food, games and movies at Fed Sqaure, Christmas away from home isn't looking half bad.

  • Event

    Gasometer Hotel Summer Season 2014

    Sat, 20 Dec 2014 - Fri, 27 Feb 2015

    The Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood

    Everything else may be winding down for the year, but The Gaso is only just getting started.

  • Event

    Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival

    Wed, 7 Jan - Fri, 30 Jan 2015

    Coburg Drive-In, Coburg

    Ditch the tacky choc tops for some gourmet creme brulee.

  • Restaurant

    Goje Frozen Yogurt

    38 Anderson Street, Yarraville

    More than your typical frozen treat, this is small batch frozen yoghurt that might actually be good for you.

  • News

    Concrete Playground's Summer Reading List

    Ten books from this year that no bibliophile should miss.

  • Event

    Haus Party at Munich Brauhaus

    Wed, 31 Dec, 2014

    Munich Brauhaus Melbourne, Melbourne

    Raise a stein to one bier-fuelled New Year's Eve.

  • Guide

    The Summer Travel & Leisure Guide

    Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.

  • Guide

    The Summer Design & Style Guide

    Forget layers; summer and style go hand in hand, and its greatest hits are never disposable.

  • Guide

    The Summer Food & Drink Guide

    You've not a care in the world besides finding that new cabana bar and staying there.

  • Event

    St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2015

    Sat, 7 Feb, 2015

    Footscray Community Arts Centre, Footscray

    Celebrating ten years of Laneway shenanigans, it's only fitting to invite Mac DeMarco's mum to the party.

  • Event

    Summersalt

    Fri, 23 Jan - Sat, 21 Feb 2015

    Various Melbourne venues, Melbourne

    Come for the giant inflatable whale, stay for the art.

  • Event

    Shadow Electric Cinema 2015

    Fri, 2 Jan - Thu, 2 Apr 2015

    Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford

    The convent's cinema is open for another year. Share a bevvy with Talking Heads, Christopher Nolan and Wes Craven under the stars.

  • Event

    Mr Claws Lobster Rolls Pop-Up

    Thu, 20 Nov 2014 - Sat, 31 Jan 2015

    Mr Claws, Collingwood

    If you hadn't planned on eating lobster rolls all summer, think again.

  • Event

    Craft Supermarket 2014

    Sat, 6 Dec 2014 - Sat, 31 Jan 2015

    Craft have your Christmas shopping sorted with this unique artists' market.

  • Event

    Rooftop Cinema 2014-15

    Sat, 6 Dec 2014 - Sat, 31 Jan 2015

    Rooftop Cinema, Melbourne

    Curtin House is lighting up once more with big releases, cult flicks and childhood nostalgia atop the city's skyline.

  • News

    The Five Best Summer Drinks in Melbourne

    Quench your thirst with these summer concoctions both spiked and non-alcoholic.

  • News

    Shadow Electric Outdoor Cinema Announces 2015 Program

    Share a bevvy with Talking Heads, Christopher Nolan and Wes Craven in a convent.

  • Event

    Melbourne Designed Twilight Markets

    Mon, 1 Dec - Sun, 21 Dec 2014

    QV Melbourne, Melbourne

    Because who said gift-giving had to be stressful?

  • Event

    Southgate Cinema 2014

    Tue, 2 Dec 2014 - Tue, 24 Feb 2015

    Southgate Cinema, Southbank

    The only place you can watch free movies under the stars without the fear of getting rained out.

  • Event

    Mambo: 30 Years of Shelf-Indulgence

    Sat, 6 Dec 2014 - Sun, 22 Feb 2015

    The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne

    Follow the 30-year trajectory of the people behind the iconic farting dog.

  • Event

    Moonlight Cinema 2014-15

    Thu, 4 Dec - Mon, 29 Dec 2014

    Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, South Yarra

    Get your picnic at the ready; the Botanic Gardens are coming to life again.

  • Bar

    The Emerson

    145 Commercial Road, South Yarra

    One of the best rooftops south of the river.

  • Bar

    Jimmy Watson's

    333 Lygon Street, Carlton

    Among the best-kept secret rooftops.

  • Bar

    Rooftop Bar

    252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

    Rooftop Bar is the centrepiece of Melbourne's alcohol stocked skyline.

  • News

    A Guide to the Perfect Summer Playlist from the Makers of JukeCase

    Road tripping, house partying, beach-bumming. Here's how to soundtrack your summer.

  • Event

    Coburg Night Market 2014

    Fri, 28 Nov - Fri, 19 Dec 2014

    Bridges Reserve, Coburg

    Not sure what to do with your Friday nights before Christmas? Relax. Coburg's got this.

  • Event

    Ben and Jerry’s Openair Cinema 2014

    Sun, 30 Nov - Sun, 21 Dec 2014

    Don't settle for that simple choc-top at your usual movie theatre; step your summer game up a notch by heading to St Kilda Beach for a proper 'Sundae Session'. With great bands, new movies, and free ice cream, what's not to like?

  • News

    Mr Claws Lobster Rolls Pop Up On Smith Street For Summer

    The guys behind Huxtable and Huxtaburger have teamed up for a mouth-watering new venture.

  • News

    Moonlight Cinema Announce 2014-15 Program

    Whip out the picnic rugs and get the wine cooler at the ready.

  • News

    Rooftop Cinema Announce 2014-15 Program

    Twilight Pimms and Drop Dead Fred? Yes please.

  • News

    Say Hello to Summersalt: Melbourne’s New Outdoor Arts Festival

    Come for the giant inflatable whale, stay for the art.

  • Event

    Batman Market

    Sat, 25 Oct - Wed, 31 Dec 2014

    Batman Market, Coburg

    Batman has just solved all your hungover weekend woes.

  • Restaurant

    Plus Five Smoothie - CLOSED

    265 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

    They've got the green, the chocolate and every smoothie in between.

  • News

    The Ten Best First Date Spots in Melbourne

    Because no one should have to suffer through a bad Tinder date.

  • Event

    Falls Festival 2014

    Sun, 28 Dec 2014 - Thu, 1 Jan 2015

    Lorne, Lorne

    Spend NYE with SBTRKT, Jamie XX and alt-J.

  • News

    The Ten Best Healthy Cafes in Melbourne

    Raw Snickers bars, superfood salads and sugar-free pancakes. When did healthy food get so tasty?

  • News

    The Ten Best American-Inspired Restaurants in Melbourne

    Melbourne often goes in waves with its international influences on dining, but there's one that's been around for a while now.

  • News

    The Ten Best Places to Get Your Cheese Fix in Melbourne

    We love cheese. And because we know you do too, we've found the 10 best places to get your cheese fix in Melbourne.

  • Restaurant

    Cafe BU - CLOSED

    585a Canning Street, Carlton North

    Sip a coffee above the suburbs atop the perfect Carlton North perch.

  • News

    The Ten Best Laneway Bars in Melbourne

    Melbourne is always bragging about its 'best-kept secrets'. These are what we mean.

  • News

    Homegrown: The Five Most Sustainable Restaurants in Melbourne

    Some venues are going past the first point of call and minimising their environmental impact in big ways.

  • News

    Ten Standout Craft Beers to Try Before the End of Summer

    Meet some local beers doing amazing things with hops, water and yeast.

  • News

    The Ten Best Beer Gardens in Melbourne

    Rooftops be damned, the humble beer garden is the place to be this summer.

  • News

    Ten Outdoor Accessories to Make Your Next Camping Trip the Ultimate

    The best gizmos and accessories for getting back to nature.

  • Bar

    Loop Roof

    Level 3, 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne

    A gem in Melbourne's rooftop crown.

  • Bar

    Naked in the Sky

    285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

    The best position on Brunswick Street is in the sky.

  • News

    The Ultimate Escape in the Daintree and Port Douglas

    For the ultimate Aussie getaway, we head far, far north to Port Douglas, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

  • News

    The Bluffer’s Guide to Summer Entertaining

    Be the host/hostess with the most/mostess.

  • News

    Summer Style Guide for Men

    Because swim shorts 24-7 are not socially acceptable unless you live on the beach.

  • News

    Summer Style Guide for Women

    Some of the season's best looks for every taste.

  • News

    Ten Hotel Oases That Will Cool You Down in Summer

    Boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith have the lowdown on where the trendsetters sleep.

  • News

    The Ten Best Cafe Courtyards in Melbourne

    Because coffee tastes better with the sun on your back.

  • News

    The Best Bike Shops in Melbourne

    Whether you're a fixie rider on training wheels or a regular Cadel, Melbourne has the bike shop for you.

  • News

    The Five Best Scenic Running Routes in Melbourne

    One of the best bits about running is exploring new suburbs and parks like these.

  • News

    The Ten Best Pizza Joints in Melbourne

    We have rounded up ten of our favourite places to grab a slice, with both newcomers and familiar faces featuring on the list.

  • Bar

    Naked For Satan

    285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

    It’s the Pintxos that truly set Naked for Satan apart from the 7,564 other bars in Melbourne's inner hub.

  • News

    The Five Best Vineyard Getaways in Australia

    Pop open a bottle of estate-grown wine at these stylish stays among the Australian vines.

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