Overview
This is your once-a-year opportunity to show your ma how much she means to you. And there's no better way to do that than with an unexpected adventure. Ditch your usual local on Sunday, May 12 and take Mum somewhere she's never been before — whether that's a boozy brunch in St Kilda, a day exploring the NGV or a ceramics class. All kinds of mums — from artists, foodies and vegans to feminists and fashion lovers — are covered on this list, as is the entire spectrum of budgets. Organising Mother's Day doesn't get any easier.
HEAD TO A BOOZY 'SPA DAY' AT THE PUB
This year, Mother's Day just happens to fall on Good Beer Week, and the CBD's Whitehart is treating your mum right. It's collaborated with Sydney's Batch Brewing and Poor Toms Gin to bring you Mumosa Day — during which the duo will create boozy concoctions inspired by the mimosa. Each ticket includes a beer, cocktail and woodfired pizza for lunch from Northcote's Primo. Plus, mums will be able to indulge in massages and manicures, and get a goody bag to take home. Live music by local act Let's Vibe will be rocking throughout the day, too. Tickets are $45 a pop, with $5 going toward St Kilda Mums charity, which helps mothers in need.
Jared Sluyter
LEARN TO MAKE CLAY POTTERY TOGETHER
If you reckon it's about time your mum started exploring her arty side, then accompany her to this ceramics workshop at the Work-Shop Melbourne on May 11 and 12. The two of you will get an introduction to the basics of ceramic hand building, including the tools and skills to create three pieces from scratch. Leading the class is Tina Thorburn, who owns her own ceramics practice, Clay by Tina. Tickets, at $140 a pop, include three hours of play and all materials, plus added decorating skills like painting underglaze and pattern carving.
Gareth Sobey
SIP COCKTAILS AND LISTEN TO JAZZ IN FITZROY
The classiest of mums deserve a jazz-age evening at Fitzroy's The Everleigh. The hidden cocktail den is offering a $49 set menu for Mother's Day that includes three gin cocktails and a special strawberries and mascarpone dessert. There will also be live jazz on throughout the evening, starting from 5pm. Bookings are only required for groups of seven or more, and bigger groups can also reserve the Starling Room. It's a fine evening of cocktail sipping and live music listening that won't break the bank, either.
GO OUT FOR A VEGAN DEGUSTATION
Lavish mum with health-conscious affection at Serotonin Eatery's Mother's Day degustation dinner. From 6pm on Mother's Day evening, the paleo and vegan Richmond cafe is hosting a mum-inspired feast, including a high-tryptophan menu, free of gluten, sugar and dairy — all designed to boost moods and make diners feel pretty darn good. Each ticket includes drinks, the venue's signature vegan cheese platter, a main meal and dessert. Tickets are around $80 per head, with tables available for up to six people. Book in for a solo evening with just Mum, or bring the whole family.
DRINK BOTTOMLESS ESPRESSO MARTINIS AT THIS ST KILDA PUB
What says "I love you" and "thanks for putting up with me" better than a boozy brunch session with the family? Show Mum you care and treat her to a hard-earned tipple, at the Mother's Day edition of The Newmarket's weekly martini brunch. For $54 each, you'll enjoy a dish from the brunch menu along with two hours of bottomless frosé, sangria, espresso martinis, mimosas and bellinis, plus beers and wines. Enjoy a feast, spend some quality time with mum and avoid the washing up, all at once.
CELEBRATE ALL THINGS FEMALE AT TWO BIRDS' FEMPOCALYPSE
We don't doubt that your mum's one of the strongest people you know — so there's no better place to spend Mother's Day than at Fempocalypse. Hailing from Sydney's Wayward Brewing, the female-led event is making its way down to Two Birds Brewing for the second time for this year's Good Beer Week. It celebrates female leaders in industries such as brewing, entertainment, food, artisan goods and music. The day kicks off at noon with brews from Two Birds — Australia's first female owned brewery — along with a full lineup of female and non-binary DJs and live acts, all curated by Footscray's Love Shack Studios. There'll be plenty of food and local makers stalls around too, plus 'brewtoonist' Em Sauter will be in the house. Tickets are only 15 bucks online — a real bang-for-your-buck gift for mum.
Tom Ross
SPEND THE DAY AT THE NGV
Chances are your mum has been to the National Gallery of Victoria before, but this is your chance to really make a day of it. If your mum likes fashion, start with the The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift — it features over 150 haute couture pieces from some of the world's most iconic fashion houses. Think Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and Alexander McQueen. Then check out the fresh new collection of contemporary Chinese art from Sydney's White Rabbit Gallery, which features neon, immersive and poignant works from established and emerging artists. When you ned a break, slide yourselves over to the NGV Tea Room for sandwiches and a cuppa.
HEAD TO A BOOZY DEVONSHIRE TEA
If your mum's the kind that loves a good brew, she'll be pretty stoked to know that she can enjoy one with some scones this Mother's Day. And she's bound to get a kick out of an invite to The Cherry Tree Hotel's Mum-worthy Beer-Vonshire Tea. This one's a beery riff on the classic Devonshire Tea, where the scones are infused with beer and matched to a lineup of Victoria's top ales and lagers. You'll be handed a rose petal brew on arrival before tucking into unlimited scones with locally made condiments. The afternoon event will run from 1–4.30pm and tickets are $30 a pop.
Top image: NGV by Eugene Hyland.