When you're doing an office coffee run, it's widely expected that you'll do what it takes to get the best cup possible. Whether it's hoofing it an extra block, through Bourke Street Mall or around the Metro Tunnel construction — no obstacle is too great when it comes to snagging the best coffee in Melbourne's CBD. Luckily, our fine city centre is dotted with roasters and cafes turning great single-origin and house blends into espresso, filter and cold brew coffees — you just need to know where to find them. So here we give you the best coffee shops in the city. Seek them out, and you'll be rewarded with both taste and gratitude from your caffeine-hungry co-workers. Recommended reads: Where to Find the Best Coffee in All of Melbourne The Best Cafes in Melbourne The Best Breakfast in Melbourne The Best Bakeries in Melbourne
Spotify Wrapped, the biggest day of the year for admitting to music tastes, has returned. It's the sacred day when we crack open the statistics and see what we've been listening to by the numbers. Here's hoping we've moved on from the pink pilates princess era. For Wrapped Day 2025, Spotify is taking the fun out of your Instagram stories with a series of in-person activations. Celebrating some of the biggest bands in the game, Spotify is taking over Melbourne Central Mall today with a pop-up of personalised goodies for only the most dedicated of listeners. Some Spotify users are ashamed of their hours — but this is a place to celebrate the impressive numbers. If you're a chronic listener, the dedicated office DJ, a driver who won't go a kilometre without a song or someone who just needs white noise — this is your moment. Head to Melbourne Central Mall and look for the Spotify stand near the Optus shop, and show off your hours to the staff, and you'll walk away with one of six limited edition keyrings with your listening hours engraved on the back. It's a special way to remember the year gone by, and you'll have from 10.00am to 6.00pm to visit and secure your goodies, but don't wait as they'll sell out in no time.
Prahran's High St Hotel has reopened with a fresh new direction and energised spirit just in time for the silly season. At its heart, it maintains its strong sense of community, with a quality hospitality offering, inclusive atmosphere and approachable space. The pub is led by Nic and Bianca Gordon (former owners of Blue Tongue Wine Bar), who have transformed the venue into a contemporary, multi-purpose space to create a place where people can truly connect. "Our vision is to reimagine a once iconic venue into a vibrant and multi-space destination, catering for all that work, live and play in our community — and beyond our dynamic postcode." On the menu, you'll find tried and tested pub classics such as fish and chips, hand-crumbed chicken parmas, Victorian grass-fed steaks, and cheeseburgers with seasoned fries. There are plenty of snacky small plates to get you through an afternoon of bevvies, such as deep-fried lasagne bites, crab and prawn toasts, bresaola crumpets, and haloumi with apple and honey. Bianca says, "Every dish is designed to strike the right balance between quality and approachability, creating a dining experience that feels both familiar and special." With a mega screen and multiple other large televisions, the beer garden is set to become the local go-to for match day. It's just as friendly to families, with a dedicated kids' menu and a welcoming atmosphere. And a strong sense of family and community is what sets the place apart. The venue manager and assistant are Nic's nephew and cousin; Bianca's mum helped redesign the interiors; and as part of a program to give back, the pub will launch an annual $10,000 community grant for local sporting clubs in the area. Images: Supplied.
This just in — legendary restaurateur and chef Andrew McConnell, and partner Jo McGann, have announced plans for the opening of their next restaurant, set to arrive in Melbourne mid-next year. Côte Basque, located on Crossley Street, will offer a European grill that channels the flavours and vibes of the Basque coast. "The name references our love of Basque culture and the coastline that bridges the northern Basque region of Spain and the southwest of France. The raw beauty of the region and a bounty of benchmark produce have long been an inspiration for us," says McConnell. Côte Basque will find its home in the former Becco site in the CBD. The restaurant, with a capacity for approximately 100 patrons, will retain certain original architectural features, including the green terrazzo floor, large street-level windows, and the stepped dining room and intimate bar. In collaboration with Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of ACME, McConnell has designed the interiors to pay respect to the legacy of the Becco venue (which was previously home to Pellegrini's) and reflect the mid-century features of the building. New additions will include outdoor dining and a private room on the first floor, designed for leisurely lunches, lively dinners, and intimate gatherings. Côte Basque is the first new restaurant from McConnell and McGann's Trader House group since the inimitable Gimlet at Cavendish House made its grand entrance into Melbourne's dining scene in 2020. [caption id="attachment_1048921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gimlet at Cavendish House[/caption] McConnell says, "The tradition of woodfired cooking that defines this region will be central to the menu and influence not only what we cook, but how we cook…It has been both a joy and a challenge reimagining this iconic space to both retain its legacy and evolve it for the future. We don't have many heritage restaurant spaces in Melbourne, and to have the opportunity to restore the original features in this room is a dream. To continue its lineage as a restaurant will contribute to the wonderful energy on Crossley Street, re-emerging as one of the great walk-through laneways in Melbourne's top end." [caption id="attachment_1048927" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gimlet at Cavendish House[/caption] Feature image: James Geer. Côte Basque is slated to open in winter 2026. In the meantime, check out the best restaurants in Melbourne.
You work hard, you play hard and gosh you should get to relax hard too —and what better way to do that than with a healthy dose of luxury down at one of the best spas in Melbourne? Spend your day of self-care kicking around in a comfy robe, being pampered like a boss and having all the time in the world to enjoy yourself, stress-free. Well, that idyllic image is an easy one to tap into since Melbourne is home to a vast array of top-notch spa destinations (often in some of Melbourne's best hotels). Whatever your budget, skin type, or go-to massage style, there's a luxurious spa treatment for you right near the CBD. Go get your glow on and thank us after you've found your inner peace at one of the best day spas in Melbourne. Recommended reads: The Best Natural Hot Springs in Victoria The Best Glamping Spots Near Melbourne The Best Heated Swimming Pools in Melbourne The Best Date Ideas in Melbourne Inner Studio, Collingwood While Inner Studio doesn't offer massages and beauty treatments, it does have all the essential day spa facilities you need for a proper self-care sesh. You can either drop by to use the different plunge pools and sauna in your own way, or you can sign up for one of its wellness classes. You can take a group breathwork class or yoga workout — followed by plenty of spa time — to help you manage stress, relax and regain some energy. Individual classes and sauna sessions cost $45 a pop, while the weekly memberships range from $65–$75 depending on whether you just want to roam the facilities or would prefer to also participate in classes. Whichever option you choose, you've got to make a little time for relaxing by the fireplace, sipping on some tea before heading back into the real world. EQ Wellbeing, South Melbourne Most Melbourne spas tend to set up cool spaces full of wellness technologies and then simply leave you to choose your own adventure. This can be great for those who know how to use such facilities, but there are a lot of us out there who could do with some guidance. EQ Wellbeing addresses this by setting up specific wellness journeys throughout its site, each created to target different needs. You'll be told how and in what order to use the hammam, sauna, rain room, lounge, plunge pools, and light and sound therapy dome — as you either seek to relax, re-energise or de-stress. And while EQ prefers not to be labelled as a spa — it basically is. And it is a damn unique one at that. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne CBD Other Melbourne spas struggle to compete with the total luxury offered at the Ritz-Carlton, and none come close to having such spectacular views — for its spa is located all the way up on the 64th floor. And you don't only get to gawk at the views from the large infinity pool. The men's and women's bathrooms also have views across the city, which you can admire from the plunge pool, sauna and steam room. On top of that, each of the treatment rooms has floor-to-ceiling windows — which is great even if it is a little wasted on you while your head is down on the table. When it comes to treatments, you've got the lot. Massages start at $230 for an hour, and facials begin at $240, plus there are stacks of add-ons and packages. For example, the Blue Rose Experience includes a foot ritual, mud body wrap, and full body massage with warm jade stones ($540), and the Indulgent Rose Experience includes a foot ritual, rose oil massage, and facial with rose quartz gua sha ($540). The therapists here are outstanding, and worthy of the high price. Park Club Health and Day Spa at The Park Hyatt, East Melbourne With five stars to its name, the Park Hyatt is a study in luxury and its onsite Melbourne day spa is no different. This one offers a whole range of therapeutic massages and facial services, along with rejuvenating body treatments designed to blast away toxins and leave that skin in ship-shape condition. Get your glow on with the revitalising wattleseed body polish (a wattleseed and walnut exfoliating scrub designed to brighten, soften and renew the skin, $195), or try the purifying lemon myrtle clay body wrap ($280), that begins with a foot cleanse and exfoliation and is aimed at detoxifying your skin and body. Spa treatments lasting an hour or longer will even get you complimentary valet parking and access to all the wet areas in this luxury Melbourne spa. About Time Bathhouse, Torquay Mornington Peninsula is home to stacks of world-class day spas and bathing spots, but the Surfcoast has long lagged behind. Fortunately, things are looking up for this side of Victoria's coastline, thanks to the late-2024 opening of About Time — a luxe day spa and bathhouse located in Torquay. The Torquay spa is fully equipped for all your luxury bathing needs within its brutalist building. Inside, it has a magnesium pool, cold plunge pool, traditional sauna and steam room, plus private infrared saunas and ice baths that can be booked for groups of up to eight people. Step outside to the garden surrounded by towering gum trees, and you'll find hot and cold magnesium pools that are tailor-made for social bathing with mates. Those after treatments can also get all your usual Melbourne spa offerings. [caption id="attachment_747192" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rhiannon Taylor[/caption] Lancemore Mansion Hotel Spa, Werribee Park A trip to the stunning Lancemore Mansion Hotel Spa might just change your definition of luxury. Firstly, it's housed in a grand historic mansion that'll have you feeling like Marie Antoinette. Secondly, the day spa itself boasts an air of exclusivity, featuring gorgeous spaces, ambient sounds, and a menu of primo massages and spa packages designed for maximum pampering. Find yourself easily tempted by lush sounding options like the Sparkling Indulgence ($295): a full body exfoliation followed by a 30-minute neck back and shoulder massage as well as a 30-minute replenishing facial. Conclude your Melbourne spa treatment with a cheeky glass of bubbly in its luxe lounge. [caption id="attachment_803436" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Tremp[/caption] Sense of Self, Collingwood Housed in a stunningly converted Collingwood warehouse, Sense of Self is flipping the script on the usual wellness concept, instead delivering a "no BS" offering centred on inclusivity, connection and restoration. The soaring, light-filled space takes its cues from the bathhouses of Europe, Africa and Japan, with an abundance of greenery designed to soothe and uplift. A massage and mindfulness studio upstairs offers various relaxation and remedial treatments, like the extra deep The Fix massage (from $170 for 60 minutes). Or, you can settle in and get acquainted with the range of bathhouse facilities, including a Finnish sauna, a 39-degree mineral bath and a cold plunge pool. Entry to one of the best spas in Melbourne gets you full use of all these elements, with weekday prices starting from $65 for two hours. Chuan Spa at The Langham, Southbank Book in for a treatment at the opulent Chuan Spa in The Langham and you'll also score access to its premium bathing facilities. That includes this stunning saltwater pool and outdoor deck with views across the city. The massage menu heroes traditional Chinese techniques, while multi-treatment options combine things like mineralising salt exfoliations, plumping facials and mud masks. You can even take their online quiz to determine which of their five core elements you resonate most with, which can then be applied to your Chuan treatment. These treatments, the views across the city and the bathing facilities all combine to make this just about the best spa in Melbourne. Sakura Lounge, CBD Sakura Lounge is a Japanese-style day spa (sans onsen) tucked away down Warburton Lane. And the Melbourne spa is a winning option for those looking to go all out, offering an array of all-day packages that won't break the bank. Think: traditional Japanese massages, invigorating foot treatments and hydrating facials rolled out one after the other until you've well and truly found your inner zen. With tea and sweets served throughout, and sushi and champagne as optional inclusions, you'll finish up at Sakura feeling more pampered than ever. Try the 2.5-hour Decadent Detox package (foot treatment, chocolate body treatment and hot-stone massage), which clocks in at a reasonable $200. Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, Fingal If you like the idea of rounding out a wine-filled Mornington Peninsula getaway with some pampering, you'll have to add this luxe spa and thermal springs destination to your coastal itinerary. Fingal's Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is the latest addition to Melbourne's spa scene, opening in September 2022. Expect new and sleek amenities throughout their modern facility. Along with its series of 22 geothermal springs and pools, Alba's offering a premium spa experience, with an impressive menu of treatments and therapies to suit all needs. Drop by for a hydration massage or invigorating facial before or after a soak, or set aside a few hours to indulge in one of the top-to-toe spa packages. Botanica Day Spa, CBD A serene urban oasis within the InterContinental, Botanica Day Spa offers a variety of packages to suit whatever mood your mind and body are in. That includes the tension-melting Botanica De-Stress ($250), featuring a full-body massage, aromatherapy foot massage and heavenly frangipani scalp massage — a trio we could probably all do with every now and then. You can find your groove with a selection of targeted skin and beauty therapies or lose yourself for a few blissful hours with a multi-treatment Melbourne spa journey. What's more, the calm, contemporary surroundings will do just as much for your mood as any muscle-melting hot stone massage. Saltair Spa, Port Melbourne Nestled in the cosy coastal suburb of Port Melbourne is the luxury two-storey day spa Saltair Spa — sure to be a go-to when you're in need of indulging in a little self-care. With its elegant and contemporary design, the two-storey day spa creates an atmosphere of sophistication and calm. The skilled therapists provide tailored treatments using Babor skincare products, and treatments on offer range from massages to facials, skin needling, waxing and much more. Saltair Spa also offers real treat yourself-packages for couples and groups as well as individual day passes and facial programs — ideal if you're in the market for some primo pampering. [caption id="attachment_583596" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Endota Spa[/caption] Endota Spa, Various Locations Endota Spa sites are located all over Australia and New Zealand — with over 20 sites in Melbourne alone. And even though it is a huge chain, it's surprising to see how quality is not lost. Yeah, you won't find pools, saunas and other luxe day spa facilities at any of these spots, but they do a whole host of treatments at fairly affordable prices. Get around some of its facials, massages or more luxe treatments without breaking the bank. Just prepare for the spa therapist to lightly spruik Endota's own wellness products at the end of your treatment (which are actually pretty good, to be honest). Skin Day Spa, St Kilda If you're after a spa destination that's clean, minimalist and ultra-relaxing, Skin Day Spa on Chapel Street has the goods. This little sanctuary offers a hefty menu of spa and beauty treatments (we're talking lash and brow tints, waxing and spray tanning), but when some unwinding and full-body pampering is on the cards, we recommend settling into the one-hour, muscle-soothing deep relaxation massage ($149). There's also LED light therapy to revive and de-stress skin, dedicated pregnancy massages and luxurious facial treatments to suit a whole range of needs. The whole host of premium treatments helps make it one of the best spas in Melbourne. Aurora Spa & Bathhouse, Sorrento A new flagship for the award-winning Aurora Spa Group, Aurora Spa & Bathhouse is set within the Continental Sorrento. This cutting-edge, 500-square-metre bathhouse is a luxe indoor wellness precinct boasting numerous mineral pools and one of the largest saunas in the southern hemisphere. Offering a modern take on traditional bathing practices, Aurora is kitted out with a suite of state-of-the-art facilities and experiences for you to explore. Along with that Nordic-style sauna, you'll find features like an icy plunge pool, an aromatherapy steam room, the 36-degree sky-lit Daydream Pool, a reflexology pool and a suite dedicated to halotherapy — a treatment that involves breathing in salty air. Meanwhile, the adjoining spa is offering treatments ranging from holistic facial therapies and massages, to algae body wraps and botanically-charged scrubs. Natskin, North Ringwood Hidden out in North Ringwood, Natskin might just be one of Melbourne's best kept wellness secrets. This warm and inviting Melbourne spa oasis offers a diverse menu of treatments, from stimulating skin therapies to stress-relieving massages. You can tailor your experience or opt for one of the many multi-treatment packages, that range from a classic massage-facial combo to a couples' retreat offering in one of the spa's duo suites. Really earned some downtime? Book in for the 2.5-hour Rejuvenator package and escape reality with a skin-boosting exfoliation, tailored body wrap, scalp massage, hour-long body massage and fresh juice to rehydrate ($310). Japanese Mountain Retreat, Montrose Escape the hustle with a jaunt out to the Yarra Ranges. Just over an hour away from the city lies Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose, a luxurious mineral hot springs haven boasting a series of fully private outdoor mineral pools, meaning you won't have to share your soak with any strangers. There's also an opulent Roman-style bathhouse for those who prefer an indoor dip, and a range of add-on dining experiences available to amp up any visit. You can even stay the night, with a variety of pamper-filled accommodation packages on offer. Top image: Alba Thermal Springs & Spa courtesy of Visit Victoria
His hotel concierges are charismatic and committed, while his lobby boys are devoted and delightful. His foxes are nothing short of fantastic, and his dogs are as resourceful as they are adorable. Every time that he turns his attention to a family dynamic — be it siblings, strained parent-child relationships or friendships so close that they feel like bonds of blood — dysfunction always reigns supreme. And, when all of the above occurs, it does so within immaculately symmetrical yet immensely eccentric frames. Yes, we're talking about Wes Anderson, and the distinctive body of work that the American filmmaker has splashed across cinema screens over the past three decades. Usually chronicling some kind of caper, often featuring a retro 60s and 70s soundtrack, and styled so meticulously that each image could happily hang on anyone's wall (in fact, he's even curated museum exhibitions), his films are like no one else's. Often brought to life by a familiar cast of faces — Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Anjelica Huston, Tilda Swinton, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Bob Balaban, Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson and Benicio del Toro, to name a few — they firmly resonate on their own frequency. And, understandably so, they've amassed quite a following. But, from a filmography to-date that spans from Bottle Rocket to The Phoenician Scheme, which is the best? As always, that's a subjective question. Like ranking Studio Ghibli movies, it's also a task made all the more difficult by a simple fact: Wes Anderson has never made a bad film, not once. That said, while some are flatout masterpieces that will always stand the test of time, others are entertaining but don't necessarily demand multiple rewatches. That's what we found when we revisited the 13 features (well, 12 and four shorts packaged as an anthology film, which we're counting) currently on his resume, and soaked in his inimitable cinematic creations. And, here are the results: our rundown of Anderson's films from worst — again, not that there's any such thing as a terrible Anderson flick — to best. 13. Moonrise Kingdom By virtue of their format, a ranked list always requires something to come in last place. Moonrise Kingdom earns that honour on Wes Anderson's filmography — not because it isn't great, which it is, but because it's the movie on his resume that can stick in the mind the least. A bittersweet story about first love and finding a home, it's also the rare Anderson film that feels as much a part of its genre as part of the director's oeuvre. In other words, it's definitely an Anderson flick, but it also charts rather recognisable coming-of-age territory. Still, watching 12-year-olds Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward, Slayers) and Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman, Angry Neighbours) set the New England island of New Penzance aflutter when they run off in the name of romance is typically charming. Moonrise Kingdom streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. 12. The Darjeeling Limited In Anderson's fifth film, three brothers take a train across India in the eponymous locomotive. During their trip, Francis (Owen Wilson, Loki), Jack (Jason Schwartzman, The Last Showgirl) and Peter (Adrien Brody, The Brutalist) work through their sibling baggage while literally carting around matching orange-hued, monogrammed baggage. It's been a year since they last crossed paths at their father's funeral, and life isn't treating any of them kindly — with Anderson and co-writers Schwartzman and Roman Coppola (Mozart in the Jungle) balancing the brothers' existential malaise with episodic antics both on the train and off. As stylish as any Anderson-directed feature, The Darjeeling Limited is served best by its performances, as well as its touching blend of sadness and humour. The Darjeeling Limited streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. 11. Bottle Rocket When Anderson made his feature directorial debut back in 1996, he did so with this crime-comedy caper about three friends planning a series of heists in the absence of any other direction in their lives. Based on a short film of the same name that he helmed two years prior, and co-written with Owen Wilson, who also stars, Bottle Rocket establishes many of the filmmaker's trademarks from the outset — including his penchant for witty interactions, as well as his love of dressing his characters in coordinated outfits. Owen Wilson plays Dignan, the driving force; however, as his recently voluntarily institutionalised best friend Anthony, this is Luke Wilson's (No Good Deed) time to shine. A third Wilson, their elder brother Andrew (Father Figures), also pops up, because of course he does. Bottle Rocket streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. 10. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More It might've originally been released as four separate short films, led by Best Live-Action Short Oscar-winner The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, but this 2023 addition to Anderson's resume always made sense as an anthology. In its 39-minute namesake chapter, Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) plays Roald Dahl, who did indeed pen the tale that gives this suitably symmetrically shot affair its name — the book it's in, too. The account that the author spills to start is about a man who has learned to see without his eyes (Ben Kingsley, The King of Kings), the doctor (Dev Patel, Monkey Man) fascinated with him and the gambler (Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric) who wants to master the trick, and is one of several in a movie that enthusiastically makes Anderson's love of layers known in its playful structure as much as its faux set. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More streams via Netflix. Read our full review. 9. Isle of Dogs A literal underdog tale about scrappy canines, a plucky orphan and a pooch-hating politician with an evil scheme, Isle of Dogs is one of the most Wes Anderson-esque movies the filmmaker has ever made. Filled with heart, humour and witty dialogue, this doggone delight is constructed with the tail-wagging enthusiasm of man's best friend — and, as well as sporting all of the beloved Anderson traits (quirky quests, spirited characters, symmetrical compositions, a distinctive colour palette and a huge cast among them), it tells a stellar story. The setup: when his uncle, Megasaki City's mayor, bans all dogs to Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari (Koyu Rankin, Dead Boy Detectives) risks his life to follow his four-legged companion. At every moment, the director fills his narrative to the brim like an overflowing bowl of dog treats, spoiling viewers like he'd spoil his own animal companion. Isle of Dogs streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. 8. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou will always be Anderson's undersung gem. It's so quintessentially Anderson and, with its length, it's guilty of sprawling — but every absurdist moment is a marvel. The premise, casting Bill Murray (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) as a Jacques Cousteau-style oceanographer intent on getting revenge on the just-discovered jaguar shark that killed his best friend, is instantly amusing. Trapping a crew of offbeat folks at sea while Zissou pursues his quest provides plenty of comic as well as thoughtful moments, too. The soundtrack of David Bowie songs, including Portuguese-language covers by The Life Aquatic co-star Seu Jorge, sets the pitch-perfect mood. And, visually, Anderson's pans through a cross-section of the ship are always striking. Also, no one has ever watched this film and not immediately wanted a pair of Team Zissou sneakers. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. 7. Rushmore In Anderson's 1998 breakout film, there's nothing that Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) loves more than Rushmore Academy. As the director conveys so engagingly, his 15-year-old protagonist has spent the bulk of his life at the exclusive private school — mainly starting extra-curricular clubs, as well as annoying both the headmaster (Brian Cox, The Parenting) and his classmates with his enthusiasm, all while barely caring about his grades. Then, just as he befriends a wealthy company owner (Bill Murray), Max falls for the new first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams, Dune: Prophecy). One of the best of Anderson's coming-of-age films, Rushmore deploys both Schwartzman and Murray to perfection, while weaving a smart yet also often dark comedy about learning to adjust your dreams. Rushmore streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. 6. Fantastic Mr Fox Combine Anderson, a magnificent Roald Dahl-penned all-ages story and stunning stop-motion animation, and you get a match made in cinematic heaven. Dahl wrote the acclaimed 1970 children's novel about the canny and cunning titular fox, of course, while Anderson brings it to vibrant life with a voice cast that includes George Clooney (Wolfs), Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building), Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe (Nosferatu) and Owen Wilson (and via a script co-written with Frances Ha, Marriage Story and White Noise's Noah Baumbach, too). While Fantastic Mr Fox marked Anderson's first animated feature, he's a natural when it comes to witty comedy paired with playfulness and a whole lot of sight gags. As for the story, it follows Mr Fox's (Clooney) efforts to outsmart a trio of mean farmers — and it's told here with energy, personality and Anderson's usual flair. Fantastic Mr Fox streams via Disney+, Stan, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. 5. The French Dispatch Editors fictional and real may disagree — The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun's Arthur Howitzer Jr (Bill Murray) among them — but it's easy to use Wes Anderson's name as both an adjective and a verb. In a sentence that'd never get printed in this film's titular tome (and mightn't in The New Yorker, its inspiration, either), The French Dispatch is another one of the most Wes Anderson movies Wes Anderson has ever Wes Andersoned. It spins three main stories and a couple of delightful interludes like it's laying out pieces from its titular magazine, and it's as symmetrical, idiosyncratic and thoughtful as the writer/director's work has even been. Plus, the cast is packed, as well as glorious in offbeat performances as always, with Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Benicio del Toro (Reptile) and Jeffrey Wright (The Last of Us) among the standouts. The French Dispatch streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. 4. The Phoenician Scheme It'll always be a glaring oversight that Ralph Fiennes didn't win every award that he could for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Here's hoping that Benicio del Toro's efforts in The Phoenician Scheme aren't similarly overlooked. After the actor's sublime work for Anderson in one of The French Dispatch's segments, the Traffic Oscar-winner is again exceptional as Anatole 'Zsa-zsa' Korda, who starts this film in a plane crash, then trying to appoint his sole daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton, The Buccaneers), a trainee nun, to agree to be his heir. They give each other a trial period — as a father, and as the person who'll carry on Zsa-zsa's legacy. Their other key focus: attempting to enact the titular scheme. Both del Toro and Michael Cera, as a Norwegian tutor, couldn't be more at home in front of Anderson's lens. This is also one of his movies that cuts deep emotionally, and seamlessly shows how he's a master at his usual touches while also venturing into new territory. The Phoenician Scheme released in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Read our interview with Benicio del Toro and Michael Cera. 3. Asteroid City Asteroid City is Anderson's 11th movie, also a desert spot known for a hefty crater caused 5000 years ago and a play about said locale. As the film itself tells viewers direct to-camera, however, the latter two — the setting and the theatre show — definitely aren't real, even within the world of the feature itself. Anderson gets especially playful in this film about a Junior Stargazer convention, the motley crew of folks that it brings to town in September 1955 and the otherworldly interloper who causes chaos. Staging a play within a TV show within a movie, he gets as smart and moving as his work has ever been to contemplate art, authenticity, and the emotions found in and processed through works of creativity, too. As the closest thing that the ensemble piece has to leads, Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson (Fly Me to the Moon) are astronomically spectacular, as are the film's look, feel, insightful musings, sense of humour and crater-sized impact. Asteroid City streams via Paramount+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. 2. The Grand Budapest Hotel Many a well-known actor has graced Anderson's frames. Most have done so multiple times, with Bill Murray appearing in ten of his 13 films thus far. But no one has put in a performance quite like Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel. As the dedicated concierge at the titular holiday spot in the Republic of Zubrowka, he's a powerhouse — as amusing as he is charming, vibrant, confident, soulful, wily and determined. Indeed, it's no wonder that Anderson lets this layered tale of friendship, war, fascism and tragedy hang off his leading man. The rest of his ensemble cast works a treat, including Saoirse Ronan (Blitz) and then-newcomer Tony Revolori (Servant), and this is one of Anderson's most aesthetically stunning creations. Still, without Fiennes, it would've lacked quite a bit of its ample magic. The Grand Budapest Hotel streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. 1. The Royal Tenenbaums In his first two films, Anderson focused on characters striving for greatness, be it through pulling off heists in Bottle Rocket or tying their identity to their school in Rushmore. In The Royal Tenenbaums, the titular family's three children were all once great. In fact, they were child prodigies. But as adults, their lives have seen more disappointment and joy, a truth that stern widower and finance whiz Chas (Ben Stiller, Nutcrackers), fiercely private playwright Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow, The Politician) and ex-tennis star Richie (Luke Wilson) are forced to face just as their father (the now-late, great Gene Hackman, Welcome to Mooseport) resurfaces and their mother (Anjelica Huston, Towards Zero) prepares to get remarried. Although undeniably whimsical, it's the most melancholy, poignant and deeply felt of the director's features. And, in its visuals and its performances, it's also oh-so-rich with affecting detail. The Royal Tenenbaums streams via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video.
Someone's asked you to organise dinner... for a group in Melbourne. Don't get anxious. Sure, it's a little daunting to have everyone's enjoyment hinge on your choice of restaurant — you've got to make sure that you can get everyone a seat, that dietaries are catered for, and, most importantly, that everyone has a good time. All you've got to do is find somewhere that's large, loud and takes group bookings. And Melbourne's got plenty of those. With a large group, you have the luxury of making a booking at Chin Chin or eating copious amounts of seafood at Jim's. Great (and delicious) things happen when you bring people together, so get your best ones involved in a group chat and organise dinner at one of these restaurants that welcome big rowdy groups. Recommended reads: The Best Set Menus in Melbourne for Under $100 The Best Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Bars in Melbourne The Best Restaurants in Melbourne's CBD
When Yakamoz, a Mediterranean restaurant in Brunswick East, offered a double cheeseburger as a lunch special one random Sunday, the owner and chef could not have anticipated what would come next. The burger took on a life of its own, evolving into a separate business, attracting viral fame, and becoming one of 2025's most sought-after food items. Charrd now sells hundreds (and hundreds, and hundreds) of burgers each day. It was also just crowned as the 14th best burger in the world. Owner Ogulcan 'OJ' Atay and head chef Cagri Ergin of Yakamoz have worked tirelessly for the last few years to build up their much-loved restaurant on Lygon Street. Yakamoz is Mediterranean food without boundaries or limitations. The restaurant's dishes are intended to transcend national borders and focus on ingredients found across the Mediterranean. Cold and hot meze spans from hummus with green harissa, to muhamarra with feta and almonds, Turkish chicken wings, to haloumi with brown butter, honey and walnuts, and charcoal lamb and chicken shish with zhough. There's woodfired rigatoni puttanesca, charcoal lamb cutlets and market fish with beurre blanc, but the true star of the show is the woodfired pide. It's hard to do justice to the charry goodness of the pide breads with words alone. Topped with the likes of spiced beef with tomato and onion, three cheeses with grape molasses and mushrooms with caramelised onions, add an egg and experience smoky, salty, creamy goodness. However, from the moment the double cheeseburger first appeared, it became one of the most sought-after items at Yakamoz, with customers disappointed they could only get their hands on it on Sundays. So OJ and Cagri took matters into their own hands and opened Charrd, a tiny take-out window at the back of Yakamoz, down St Phillip Street, dedicated to the famous burger. And they don't muck around at Charrd. There are just two burgers on the menu, available in single or double, and there are no additions. There are also no seats and no vegetarian options available (for now). But has that deterred hordes of Melburnians lining up for unthinkable amounts of time to try one? Also no. We're not sure if it's the charcoal-grilled patties, the chilli jam, or perhaps the truffle mayo, but there is something buzzy about these burgers that has created a hype that we haven't seen in some time. So go on, if you haven't yet, join the queue. Images: Supplied.
When entering Reine & La Rue, it's hard not to be enamoured by the interiors, which won the top gong at Australia's Interior Design Awards in 2024. The 150-seat restaurant boasts tall granite columns, lofty ceilings, ornate neo-gothic details and a showstopping stained glass window right behind one of the bars. It's an absolute beaut. Whether you're first walking in or just nipping off to the loo, you'll be looking up and around the space, simply gawking at it all — making the waiters constantly remind you not to fall down the many small steps scattered about the space. Contemporary French fare is the name of the game here, and it can be sampled in a myriad of luxurious ways. First, you can drop by for a next-level sip-and-snack session, pairing a bunch of small bites with champagne and cocktails. This is the way to go for those wanting to dine here without totally blowing the budget. Alternatively, you can head in and order the enormous seafood platter for two people ($240), and take your time feasting on this all night. Of course, a glass of champagne wouldn't go amiss here, nor would some totally unnecessary but altogether lavish caviar service (go all in with the N25 Kaluga for $450). The extensive menu features a diverse selection of French dishes. Start with snacks such as the bluefin tuna with spring radish and orange, or the spanner crab crumpet with roasted macadamia and elderflower. For mains, consider the Loddon Estate duck, which comes with sugar loaf cabbage with blackberries. Pair it with buttery mashed potatoes with bone marrow and jus gras for a really decadent feed. Steaks are, of course, a highlight here as well — especially as the chefs love to take full advantage of the kitchen's woodfired hearth. No less than five top-grade steaks are featured here, easily paired with house-made sauces and a selection of sides. As this is a true French fine-dining gem, dessert is far from overlooked at Reine. Keep it simple with a solid cheese selection, or soft serve Jersey milk ice cream, or try a seasonal special as a pistachio, apricot and bay-leaf petit-choux. For drinks, you can get on the cocktail train, sample spirits and play around with the non-alcoholic options, but you'd be a fool to ignore your sommelier. These guys are pros and clearly love what they're doing. If you have the budget, let them go rogue and pair each course with some next-level drops — you won't be disappointed. Now, the former bar and courtyard space has been transformed into La Rue Terrasse, a French-inspired outdoor drinking and dining destination for the summer months. Tuck into a more concise menu from 5pm, including a wagyu cheeseburger, King Prawn rolls and oysters with seaweed mignonette. From 4 to 6pm, the upgraded space will play host to La Rue Hour with $15 cocktails. Images: Supplied.
Stokehouse, an enduring legend along the St Kilda foreshore, will welcome up-and-coming chef, Ellie Bouhadana, to reinvigorate its beach box kiosk this summer. The space will be reimagined as Ellie's Kiosk, a laidback location designed both for casual dining or take-out, and will serve Bouhadana's signature generous, no-fuss fare. Bouhadana worked as the Head Chef at Collingwood's Hope St radio for many years and has more recently spent time honing her craft at pop-ups across the globe. She now has an incredible opportunity to show off her knowledge, talent and skills in a collaboration with a restaurant as prominent as Stokehouse. "I love the energy of St Kilda, it's my neighbourhood, and being able to do what I love in my local area is amazing. I get to make the kind of food I want to eat — think relaxed, playful dishes like a fritto misto, enjoyed in one of the best spots in Melbourne." The menu will play to Bouhadana's recognisable, generous and simple dishes that champion produce and focus on flavour. Influenced by her Moroccan heritage and travels through the Mediterranean, her coastal-inspired style of cooking, showcased through snacks and small plates, has found a perfect match at this venue, with views across the sparkling seas and the smell of salty ocean in the air. Hugh Van Haandel, Managing Director of Stokehouse, says, "We can't wait to welcome Ellie to St Kilda this summer. Her approach to food and her style of cooking — relaxed, generous and fresh — perfectly aligns with the spirit of Stokehouse and the laidback energy of the foreshore — we can't wait to see what Ellie's Kiosk serves up." Ellie's Kiosk will operate from 4.30pm until after sunset on Thursdays and Fridays, and from 12.30pm on weekends (weather permitting). Either relax on the foreshore with a simple cocktail or natural wine, or take your snacks for a stroll down to the revamped St Kilda Pier to watch the sunset. [caption id="attachment_879066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The outdoor dining area at Stokehouse Pasta & Bar. [/caption] Feature imageEllie's Kiosk, a laidback location designed both for casual dining or take-out, will be serving Bouhadana's produce-driven, no-fuss fare.: Häre Christian. Ellie's Kiosk is slated to open on the St Kilda foreshore in time for summer. If you're searching for the freshest catch of the day in the meantime, check out the best seafood restaurants in Melbourne.
On a future visit to Hoyts cinema in Australia, you might be catching your movie of choice not just on the big screen, but in IMAX. The two companies — Hoyts and IMAX — announced a partnership in July with the goal of launching up to five state-of-the-art IMAX with Laser systems around the country. First stop was Hoyts Melbourne Central, now we know the next four locations to follow. Before 2025 comes to an end, timed before Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives, Hoyts Chadstone will add IMAX to its offering in mid-November, before Hoyts Carousel in Perth, Hoyts Melbourne Central and Hoyts Blacktown in western Sydney open in mid-December — hopefully before the third Avatar film releases on Thursday, December 18, 2025. This isn't the first time that Hoyts and IMAX have joined forces, but they haven't worked together on an IMAX site since 2019. There could still be more additions to come, since the chain operates in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, too. So, if you live in those states, start crossing your fingers. Wherever else Hoyts rolls out its new IMAX with Laser systems, viewers will enjoy 4K images displayed via an optical engine with custom-designed lenses — and showing the widest range of colours in IMAX yet — plus precision audio. "Hoyts is delighted to partner with IMAX to introduce four new screens across Australia, giving movie lovers even more ways to enjoy blockbusters on the big screen," said Hoyts Group CEO and President Damien Keogh. "The release of Avatar: Fire and Ash in December — and a tremendous 2026 slate behind it — represent a golden opportunity for IMAX and its exhibition partners around the world," added IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma1x7ikpid8[/embed] Fittingly, Australia is currently embracing IMAX in a big way. From just four locations earlier in 2025 — in Carlton in Melbourne, in Sydney, and also on the Gold Coast and in Canberra since late 2024 — the country is the tenth market box-office wise for the format around the globe. Expanding the country's super-sized cinema options, this is the third round of new IMAX locations announced in the last year. Another new Melbourne venue has been confirmed as well, launching at Village Cinemas Fountain Gate the end of 2025. Plus, EVT, the hospitality company behind Event Cinemas, has a quartet of IMAX screens on the way at venues yet to be revealed. Three will welcome in movie lovers in 2026, with the fourth arriving before 2027 is out. Hoyts' new IMAX locations are set to start rolling out in November and December of 2025. Keep an eye on the Hoyts website for more details in the interim.
Even if you've got a state-of-the-art home theatre setup, it won't come close to the sheer size and scale of IMAX. Yet this cinema-lover's choice experience has just levelled up, as IMAX with Laser is ready to redefine your viewing experience at Hoyts Chadstone. With the upgraded auditorium described as "the world's most immersive film experience," this newfangled tech lifts the bar on an already impressive encounter, delivering crystal-clear images and precision audio that won't go unnoticed. "We are proud to introduce IMAX with Laser at this world-class destination, delivering an immersive and technically advanced movie experience that continues to raise the standard for cinema in Australia," says Hoyts Group CEO and President Damian Keogh. So, what's changed? IMAX with Laser brings a vastly improved 4K laser projection system, featuring a new optical engine that makes for increased resolution, deeper contrast and colours that pop brighter than ever before. Plus, next-generation audio ramps up audience immersion to even greater heights. Putting the new system through its paces, the IMAX with Laser experience debuts with Wicked: For Good — the highly anticipated sequel to the 2024 blockbuster. Each frame of the film has been digitally remastered for the latest IMAX tech, while the audio is also remixed for maximum effect. If there's no going back after this first experience, movie-goers heading to Hoyts Chadstone can also catch an advanced screening of Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX with Laser on Thursday, December 18. Trust James Cameron to push this seriously absorbing system to its limits. IMAX with Laser is now available at Hoyts Chadstone. Head to the website for more information.
It feels so long ago that we were all asking each other, "what's your Roman Empire?" We had all sorts of answers, but for a lot of people, the answer was right there: the Roman Empire. For a civilisation that ended over 1500 years ago, it has a lot of staying power. The latest retrospective into the root of Western civilisation is coming to Melbourne Museum in April 2026. ROME: Empire, Power, People is a Melbourne-exclusive exploration of the rise, rule and legacy of the empire that, at its peak, stretched from the British Isles all the way to Africa and West Asia. At the centre of the experience is 150 objects dated from the Imperial period of 1st Century CE to the 3rd Century CE, each offering glimpses into the politics, culture and social lives of Rome's rulers and citizens. Each object has never been in Melbourne before, and the collection includes statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects. With these artefacts, visitors will be able to chart the history of Rome from the death of Julius Caesar to the rise, and eventual collapse, of the empire that would span across the continents — exploring everything from the luxury of the imperial court to the spectacle of the gladiator arena and down to the humble markets of Rome's cities. Beyond artefacts, the exhibition will incorporate scenography and multimedia to really bring the images of Rome to life. The experience is designed by Melbourne Museum in collaboration with curators from two of Italy's most prestigious museums — Museo Nazionale Romano and Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, and presented with the support of Ministero della Cultura, Dipartimento per la valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale and Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Toscana. "This exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand before treasures nearly 2000 years old and feel the pulse of a civilisation that shaped the world. Don't miss this extraordinary journey; experience the grandeur and humanity of Rome right here at Melbourne Museum," said Lynley Crosswell, CEO & Director of Museums Victoria. Federica Montani, Head of Exhibitions at Contemporanea Progetti, said: "This exhibition is the result of an exceptional collaboration between Australia and Italy. Our goal was to craft an exhibition that allows visitors to step into the heart of Ancient Rome — to create an experience that reveals not only the Empire's grandeur, but also the humanity of the people who shaped its history." [caption id="attachment_1051393" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Museo Nazionale di Firenze[/caption] Alongside the exhibition, Melbourne Museum will serve a wide variety of regional Italian cuisine at its eateries, the Museums Victoria store will sell exclusive retail items, and IMAX Melbourne will screen a series of classic Italian films throughout the exhibition period. 'ROME: Empire, People, Power' opens at Melbourne Museum on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Images supplied by Museums Victoria.
Pegged as a gem for late-night cocktails since its reveal in November 2024, Mr Mills is ramping up its basement bar offering with the launch of a new DJ-led summer music series. Shaped in partnership with Untitled Group and running every Thursday and Friday from Friday, December 5, the program presents a curated rotation of established and rising talent, paired with inventive cocktails and Iberian-inspired dishes. Opening the series is No Requests Radio, setting the tone with a mix of underground selectors and forward-leaning sounds. Through December, the genre-bending lineup spans Mothafunk and Eva on Thursday, December 11, and a femme-centric Veer East takeover on Friday, December 12. Rounding out the month, catch Sal and Navi on Thursday, December 18, before Ānanda gets behind the decks on Friday, December 19. Yet the biggest party is yet to come, as New Year's Eve sees Baby Oliv serve up a b2b set with Cabu, combining electronic and house with eclectic baile funk and afro beat sounds. "Mr Mills has always been about creating magnetic nights that pull people together — where excellent cocktails, great energy and incredible music collide," says Ross Lusted, co-founder of Mr Mills and its upstairs restaurant Marmelo. "This new series with Untitled Group feels like a natural evolution of that vision, turning our cocktail bar into a true home for Melbourne's nightlife this summer."
You're going to find Melbourne's best bars scattered all over the city — up on sun-drenched rooftops, along graffiti-clad laneways and down in hidden basements. But it's not all about location. There are so many styles of bars to choose from, too. Do you go high-end, ordering martinis, champagne and oysters? Is an old-school neighbourhood wine and cocktail bar more your speed? Or do you want a late-night spot that gets a little rowdy once the tables are pushed aside to make a heaving dance floor? Whatever you're after, this list of the 26 best bars in Melbourne will have you well and truly sorted. Recommended reads: The Best Wine Bars in Melbourne The Best Pubs in Melbourne The Best Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Bars in Melbourne's CBD
It's hard not to be impressed when you visit Laura. Sweeping vistas, thoughtful food and matched wines, and front-row seats to the world-class, 16-acre sculpture park that attracts locals, out-of-towners and art fanatics from even further abroad. When you drive from the city, it's an overland route. Even driving into Pt Leo Estate, you are surrounded by vines, with the view of the sea well kept secret. So the effect of entering the front doors of the cellar door and restaurant, seeing the verdant sculpture park running off down towards Western Port Bay and Phillip Island, is nothing less than breathtaking. "From the moment guests arrive, we want them to feel a sense of calmness and connection to the art and landscape, allowing the food and wine to be the focus," shares General Manager, Roger Lancia. In its founding years, Laura was in the experienced hands of Phil Wood, who then passed the baton to charismatic, widely successful, yet humble, Josep Espuga. Espuga's resume spans Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, including Mugaritz in Spain and Nahm in Thailand. His ethos of cultivating authentic relationships with suppliers and producers aligns seamlessly with Laura's unwavering commitment to heroing local produce and putting premium Peninsula produce on a platform. Here, the dedication to sustainability and bridging the gap between grower and table is evident in a kitchen garden that supplies the kitchen with many of its fresh ingredients. The eight-course seasonal menu, or the four-course signature menu, is peppered with impeccable produce grown on the property, and where possible, supplemented with premium ingredients found along the pristine Mornington Peninsula, or further afield in Victoria. Perennial favourites on Laura's signature menu include the likes of Tuerong farm bread with Cape Schanck Estate olive butter, sea urchin mousse with Carnaroli rice and quince, cod with Mt. Zero chickpeas and Pt. Leo Estate garden rocket, savoury wakame doughnuts with Yarra Valley salmon roe. The second breathtaking moment of the experience is the arrival of the flambéed Southern Rock Lobster, accompanied by white asparagus and sauce Pauline. The matched wines are taken just as seriously, with Director of Beverage, Amy Oliver, at the helm. In 2025, Laura received the highest rating, Three Glasses Status, from the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards, recognising it as "a masterpiece for which Amy Oliver should be congratulated. It covers all bases with value wines spliced alongside regional benchmarks and icons. One of the highlights is the incredible diversity of regions, styles and varieties with many, many cult and rare wines adding panache. The 'by the glass' list is to be applauded as too the thoughtful wine pairings matched to the degustation menu. A strong list of spirits and other drinks rounds out this astonishing list." At any point in your journey, your waiter will happily pour whichever wine you are drinking into a less precious glass so that you can take a digestive stroll around the sculpture park, which is home to sculptures by renowned artists including Yayoi Kusama, KAWS, Reko Rennie, and Deborah Halpern. Make sure to take a 360-degree walk around Laura, the restaurant's namesake and a monumental cast-iron head by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa. Laura has been a prominent member of Relais & Châteaux for seven years, which aptly sums up the experience. "Laura at Point Leo Estate is a bit like paradise for foodies who love art and fine wines. All three are combined here to perfection." Images: Chris McConville.
Bar Romantica's closure after many years serving late-night pizza and pasta was met with more than a few teary goodbyes. However, the good news is that Etta's acclaimed restaurateur, Hannah Green, has taken over the cherished Brunswick East space. And after months of anticipation, the wait is finally over, with Daphne now open. Bringing a similarly communal vibe, Green wants guests to feel like they're stepping into her home. To make everyone feel welcome, expect early-bird sittings, happy meals for the little ones, and weekly events where snacks and drinks flow until the early hours. Green says, "It's a restaurateur's answer to a pub. The mood is fun and easygoing, the food is highly delicious but not too fancy. Our rules are that my dad should be able to read and understand everything on the menu, and it should be as accessible for after-school snacks and casual catch-ups as it is for milestone celebrations and midnight martinis." Stepping inside, guests will encounter a venue divided into two distinct sections, with the front offering a dedicated bar space and casual counter service, primed for a walk-in feed or quick drink. In the back, the mood becomes a little more refined, featuring Green's signature elevated service and tables graced with crisp linen. Meanwhile, a semi-private dining room presents a fancy spot to celebrate a milestone with up to 30 of your closest pals. "This site has meant so much to Brunswick East over the years, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be its next custodian," says Green. "What I hope to create with Daphne is a welcoming space where everyone feels comfortable, and that isn't just for special occasions. Somewhere friends can drop in for an impromptu cocktail a couple of times a week, and parents can take the kids for an early meal before heading home for bathtime." In the kitchen, the main focus is a custom woodfire grill and oven, designed and built by Samuel Frarracio, aka The Brick Chef. This unique bit of kit will help respected Head Chef Diana Desensi — previously behind acclaimed spots like Montalto, Pt Leo Estate and Saint George — make the European-leaning plates shine even brighter, aided further with seasonal produce sourced from a bevy of local farms and friends. "I've admired Diana's food for years," says Green. "There's real heart and generosity in everything she puts on the plate. When I started dreaming up Daphne, she was the first person I thought of. She understands what it means to cook for a community." A concise menu of approachable snacks, such as grilled potato flatbread with mussels, and Bloody Mary tomatoes with pickles and olives, complements one glass after the next. Larger dishes include the likes of ricotta tortellini with artichoke and milk sauce, roast chicken with blistered grapes, pork cotoletta with 'Caesar' leaves, and a fresh Cobb salad. Shaped by childhood memories of family meals centred around what grew in the garden at home, Desensi's ethos is renowned for being nostalgic and highly seasonal. Diners can also expect daily tarts, cakes and crostatas to showcase the best farm-fresh fruit, served simply with a dollop of cream. As for the drinks, Sommelier Ashley Boburka (Etta, Rockpool Bar & Grill) has pulled together on-tap drops from Yarra Valley winemaker Dom Valentine. There's no shortage of choice as you're welcome to delve into Etta's 400-plus bottles — after all, it's just a couple of doors down. Sam Peasnell (Etta, Dom's Social Club) has also developed a curated cocktail program, with light spins on classic drinks. Get down on Monday evenings for Martini Club, complete with Nah-tinis for non-drinkers. Catering to 125 guests across the bar and restaurant, a cosy design led by IF Architecture will mix and match tactile materials, from walnut timber and stainless steel to glass brick and coffee-coloured upholstery. Fans of Bar Romantica will also instantly recognise the terrazzo floors, along with the custom-built sound system. Where Etta was Green's warmly sophisticated original, expect Daphne to bring a little more quirky fun to the local neighbourhood dining scene. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen and Ashley Ludkin.
In 2017, when Warwick Thornton's Sweet Country first reached cinema screens, the blistering Indigenous Australian western won awards in Venice, Toronto, Luxembourg and our own backyard. It's a sublimely shot and performed work of art that powerfully interrogates Australia's past and draws parallels with the country's present, so that's not surprising — and it joined a long list of acclaimed work by Indigenous Australian filmmakers. Thornton himself is no stranger to the spotlight, with his debut Samson & Delilah winning the Camera d'Or at Cannes in 2009. Sixteen years earlier, Australian artist Tracey Moffatt premiered BeDevil at the prestigious international festival, too, with her feature marking the first ever directed by an Australian Aboriginal woman. From Ivan Sen's Mystery Road and Goldstone to Rachel Perkins' Bran Nue Dae and Jasper Jones, the list of exceptional films by Indigenous Aussie directors goes on. Showcasing the breadth and depth of the nation's filmmaking talent — and, crucially, showcasing Indigenous Australian stories — they demonstrate Aussie cinema at its best. And if you're wondering where to start, here are 25 movies that you can stream right now. Mystery Road, Goldstone, Toomelah and Limbo When Ivan Sen and Aaron Pedersen (High Ground) teamed up for 2013 film Mystery Road, they gave Australia the ongoing gift of outback noir. Sen's writing and directing was so finessed, Pedersen's performance as Indigenous Australian police officer Jay Swan so riveting and the movie's entire concept so engaging that it's no wonder everyone wanted more. So, another followed. Across fellow big-screen effort Goldstone, Swan went to a different remote corner of the country, tried to solve a different case and became immersed in a different set of small-town politics. In both films, the franchise lays bare the state of Australia today, especially when it comes to the nation's treatment of its First Nations peoples. And if you're instantly hooked, it has also spawned its own two-season TV series also starring Pedersen — plus an exceptional prequel series as well. Also worth seeking out: Sen's 2011 drama Toomelah, as set in the titular New South Wales town, with ten-year-old Daniel (Daniel Connors, who is also in Mystery Road) at its centre. And, in 2023, Sen brought Limbo to cinemas, this time starring Simon Baker (Boy Swallows Universe) in a black-and-white Coober Pedy-shot tale about another police officer riding into a small Aussie town, and looking into a case that few people have been all that fussed about until now because the victim isn't white. Mystery Road streams via ABC iView, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review. Goldstone streams via ABC iView, Netflix, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Ivan Sen and Aaron Pedersen. Toomelah streams via Netflix. Limbo streams via ABC iView, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Ivan Sen and Simon Baker. Samson & Delilah, Sweet Country and The New Boy Before Warwick Thornton turned his camera on himself in the personal and reflective TV documentary The Beach — which is the best piece of Australian television that hit screens in 2020 — he directed two of the great Aussie films of the 21st century. And, since then, he's also added another, The first: a love story, a tale of fighting to survive and an unflinching look at teenage life in Australia's red centre, aka 2009's equally heartwrenching and stunning Samson & Delilah. Indeed, it's little wonder the multi-award-winning movie firmly put Thornton on the international map. With Sweet Country, he then returned to the Northern Territory with a film that makes a firm statement, as becomes clear when an Indigenous stockman (Hamilton Morris) kills a white station owner in self-defence. He's forced to flee with his wife Lizzie (Natassia Gorey-Furber), but a local posse is soon on their trail. As Sweet Country decisively confronts this all-too-real situation, it also confronts the country's history of racial prejudice. In 2023's The New Boy, Thornton headed to a remote monastery with a mission for Indigenous children, where Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett, Tár) is in charge. Her faith is tested when the titular child (newcomer Aswan Reid), a nine-year-old orphan, arrives and has his own experience with religion, which clashes with the mission's take on Christianity. Samson and Delilah streams via SBS On Demand, Stan, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Sweet Country streams via ABC iView, Netflix, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The New Boy streams via SBS On Demand, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Warwick Thornton. BeDevil One of Australia's most astonishing films — and yet one of the country's lesser-celebrated gems — Tracey Moffatt's BeDevil took the Queensland visual artist, photographer and filmmaker to Cannes and back. That external validation is all well and good; however it's really just the cherry on top of a potent triptych of haunting tales that demands attention on its own merits. In not only her first and only feature, but the first feature by an Australian Aboriginal woman, Moffatt takes inspiration from ghost stories told to her as a child by both her Aboriginal and Irish relatives. A thoroughly distinctive and immersive horror movie is the end result, and one that smartly and engagingly explores Australian race relations in a disarmingly unique way. Surreal, eerie and simmering with intensity, it'll also show you the Aussie landscape in a whole new light. BeDevil streams via SBS On Demand and Vimeo. Sweet As In Sweet As, the red earth of Western Australia's Pilbara region couldn't be more pivotal. For this coming-of-age drama, Jub Clerc (The Heights) deploys the patch of Aussie soil as a place where teenagers find themselves. The first-time feature director and writer draws upon her own adolescent experiences for her full-length debut, while also crafting the first WA flick that's helmed and penned by an Indigenous female filmmaker. Murra (Shantae Barnes-Cowan, Firebite) is one of Sweet As' adolescents learning to be shutterbugs; with her mother (Ngaire Pigram, also a Firebite alum) grappling with addiction, the 16-year-old's police-officer uncle Ian (Mark Coles Smith, Mystery Road: Origin) enrols her on a trip that she doesn't initially want to take — with youth workers Mitch (Tasma Walton, Scrublands) and Fernando (Carlos Sanson Jr, Bump) as guides and chaperones, plus Kylie (newcomer Mikayla Levy), Elvis (Pedrea Jackson, Robbie Hood) and Sean (fellow first-timer Andrew Wallace) as her new friends. Sweet As is available to stream via SBS On Demand, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson A searing and impassioned take on a well-known Australian tale — a First Nations, feminist and anti-colonial version, too — The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson is the film that Leah Purcell (High Country) had to make. See: her lengthy history with Henry Lawson's short story of almost the same name. In 2016, she adapted The Drover's Wife for the stage. In 2019, she moved it back to the page. Now, she's brought it to the screen — and the end result is a must-see. Only minutes in, in what marks the actor-turned-director's feature filmmaking debut, it's easy to see why Purcell keeps being drawn to retell this 19th century-set story. In her hands, it's a story of anger, power, prejudice and revenge, and also a portrait of a history that's treated both women and Indigenous Australians abhorrently. And, ever the powerhouse, she writes, helms and stars. The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson streams via SBS On Demand, Stan, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Moogai First, The Moogai was a SXSW Midnight Shorts Grand Jury Award-winning short. Then, writer/director Jon Bell and his stars Shari Sebbens (The Office) and Meyne Wyatt (Strife) returned to turn this tale of Australia's past haunting its present on- and off-screen into a feature. This is an Aussie horror film born out of the Stolen Generations where the monsters of colonisation, White Australia policies and attitudes since remain inescapable, and where Indigenous children today are also snatched away by a literal monster — and it's a brilliant idea, as well as one that instantly feels as if it needed to have been made decades back. The Moogai begins on the Red River Aborigines Mission in 1969, where two sisters (debutants Aisha Alma May and Precious Ann) attempt to avoid being separated from their family by white men, only for one to be spirited away instead by the picture's namesake. When it jumps to half a century later, the film spends its time with Indigenous couple Sarah (Sebbens) and Fergus (Wyatt) as they prepare for the arrival of their second child, but find themselves dealing with malevolent forces. The Moogai via Netflix and YouTube Movies. Read our interview with Shari Sebbens, Meyne Wyatt and Jon Bell. Bran Nue Dae, Jasper Jones and Radiance When Rachel Perkins brought hit Aussie musical Bran Nue Dae to the big screen in 2010, she turned an already beloved stage musical into one of the country's cinema box office successes. The lively love story takes a road trip through 60s-era Australia, and brings plenty of famous faces along for the ride, with Jessica Mauboy (The Secret Daughter), Ernie Dingo (Squinters) and Deborah Mailman (Total Control) among the cast. Then, in 2017, she adapted another Aussie classic. This time, she set her sights on Craig Silvey's novel Jasper Jones, which examines race relations in a rural Australian town — particularly the treatment of the teenage titular character (Aaron L McGrath, Gold Diggers), who is considered an outcast due to his ethnicity. The book was already intelligent, thoughtful and engaging, and the film proves the same. Similarly worth watching is Perkins' moving 1998 filmmaking debut, Radiance, about three sisters (Wentworth's Rachael Maza, Deborah Mailman again and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart's Trisha Morton-Thomas) working through their baggage after their mother's death. Bran Nue Dae streams via SBS On Demand, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Jasper Jones streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Radiance streams via ACMI Cinema 3. The Sapphires, Top End Wedding and Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra An actor and a filmmaker, Wayne Blair boasts an eclectic resume. You've seen him on-screen in Wish You Were Here, The Turning, Emu Runner, Seriously Red and The New Boy, and he both directed and featured in episodes of Redfern Now and the second season of the Mystery Road TV series. Behind the lens, he's also helmed episodes of Lockie Leonard, and directed the 2017 US TV remake of Dirty Dancing. But, Blair is probably best known for The Sapphires and Top End Wedding. They're both big films — and Blair has a definite feel for feel-good material. One follows a group of four Indigenous Australian female singers (Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Preppers' Shari Sebbens and The Artful Dodger's Miranda Tapsell) sent to Vietnam to entertain the troops. As for the other, it tracks an Indigenous Australian woman's (Tapsell again) whirlwind quest to stage her perfect nuptials in her hometown of Darwin. Also on Blair's resume: documentary Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, about Australia's acclaimed Indigenous dance theatre. Co-directed with Nel Minchin (Matilda & Me, Making Muriel), it's a powerful portrait that also steps through the nation's past and focuses on three siblings — Stephen, David and Russell Page — with dreams as big as their talents. The Sapphires streams via Prime Video. Top End Wedding streams via ABC iView, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra streams via ABC iView, SBS On Demand, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Here I Am Marking not one but two feature debuts — for writer/director Beck Cole (Deadloch) and star Shai Pittman (Around the Block) — Here I Am tells one of the oldest tales there is. It's also a prime of example of taking a familiar narrative and giving it a new voice; viewers have seen this story before in various guises over decades and decades, but never championing Indigenous women. When Karen (Pittman) is released from prison in South Australia, she embarks upon a quest for redemption, including reconnecting with her unimpressed mother Lois (Marcia Langton) and her young daughter Rosie (Quinaiha Scott). Unsurprisingly, that reunion doesn't go smoothly, but both Cole and Pittman are committed to riding the ups and downs. Both hit the big-screen for the first time in a striking fashion, and with a film that proves both intimate and clear-eyed in its multi-generational portrait. Here I Am streams via iTunes and Prime Video. We Are Still Here It begins with stunning animation, shimmering with the rich blue hues of the sea. From there, everything from lush greenery to dusty outback appears in its frames. The past returns to the screen, and a vision of the present finds a place as well — and crossing the ditch between Australia and New Zealand, and venturing further into the South Pacific, is baked into the movie's very concept. That film is We Are Still Here, which makes an enormous statement with its title, responding to 250 years of colonialism. Of course, filmmakers in the region have been surveying this history since the birth of the medium, because the topic is inescapable. Combining eight different takes from ten Indigenous filmmakers (including Here I Am's Beck Cole, A Chance Affair's Tracey Rigney, Carry the Flag's Danielle MacLean and A League of Her Own's Dena Curtis from Australia) instantly makes We Are Still Here stand out, however — and this Pacific First Nations collaboration isn't short on talent, or impact. We Are Still Here streams via SBS On Demand, Netflix, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Spear An Australian dance movie that uses its fancy footwork to step through the plight of the country's First Nations peoples, Spear is a striking cinematic achievement. First-time feature helmer, Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires choreographer, and Bangarra Dance Theatre artistic director Stephen Page turns the company's performance work of the same name into a big-screen spectacle unlike anything crafted locally, or anywhere else for that matter. Mood, music and movement are pivotal, as a teenage boy wanders from the outback to the city to try to reconcile his ancient culture in a modern world. His journey is just as transporting for those watching as it is for everyone within the movie, as well as anchoring one of the most expressive pieces of Australian film perhaps ever made. Watch his with the aforementioned Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra for a fantastic double feature. Spear streams via ABC iView and Beamafilm. Read our full review. Satellite Boy On paper, it might seem easy to spot exactly why Satellite Boy proves so charming. Writer/director Catriona McKenzie smartly enlisted the now-late David Gulpilil (Storm Boy) as Indigenous elder Jagamarra, one of ten-year-old Pete's (first-timer Cameron Wallaby) guardians and the person teaching him about life on the land. It's a stroke of casting genius, clearly — and crucial to the film. That said, this dreamlike 2012 movie has several impressive casting touches as it traverses the Western Australian landscape, including unearthing young Wallaby as its lead and similarly finding fellow debutant Joseph Pedley to play Pete's pal Kalmain. McKenzie's feature also boasts a delightful narrative, which sees the two boys take to the bush en route to the city to save the home that Pete adores: a rundown drive-in cinema that this big-dreaming kid simply wants to get back into action. Satellite Boy streams via iTunes and Prime Video. Buckskin and Finke: There and Back The past few years have been memorable for Dylan River. The Alice Springs filmmaker directed delightful SBS web series Robbie Hood, was the cinematographer on rousing Adam Goodes documentary The Australian Dream, worked as the second unit director on the aforementioned Sweet Country, lensed The Beach (with the latter two both helmed by his father, Warwick Thornton), co-directed Mystery Road: Origin and was behind the wonderful Thou Shalt Not Steal. He also wrote, directed and shot two impressive documentaries of his own: Buckskin and Finke: There and Back. The first tells the tale of Jack Buckskin, Australia's only teacher of the near-extinct Kaurna language, while the second covers the rough, tough, two-day off-terrain trek that gives the doco its name. Both prove insightful, and showcase the astute skills of one of Australia's emerging filmmaking talents. Buckskin streams via SBS On Demand and Vimeo. Finke: There and Back streams via SBS On Demand, Netflix, DocPlay, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. It's also one of our ten best movies of 2019 that hardly anyone saw. Servant or Slave and Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky Watching a documentary directed by Steven McGregor involves exploring Australia's complicated history. There's much for the director of Black Comedy and co-writer of Mystery Road, Redfern Now and Sweet Country to cover, of course. In 2016's Servant or Slave, he turned his attention not only to the nation's Stolen Generation, but to the Indigenous girls who were forced to work as domestic servants. The powerful film features five women recalling their experiences — and it's impossible not to be moved and horrified by their accounts. With 2020's Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky, the filmmaker takes a more irreverent approach to Australia's past, while still remaining just as probing. The charismatic Steven Oliver leads the show on-screen, as this clever and engaging movie revisits the story of Captain Cook from a First Nations perspective, including via songlines with the assistance of Indigenous performers. Servant or Slave streams via SBS On Demand, DocPlay, Brollie, Prime Video, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky streams via SBS On Demand.
The turn of the century was a helluva time. Excitement and a nervous anticipation of a potential apocalypse filled the air. If you, like me, weren't around to see it firsthand, there was concern that computing systems worldwide would flatline at the turn of the century as the dates became impossible to compute. Obviously, that didn't happen. We're still here and, for better or worse, so are the computers. The entire situation left quite a mark on our culture. Now, 23 years later, the notion of Y2K is on the rise once more. As our world once again gets a little bit scary, we need to make every day count and just be ourselves. These are the brands that are bringing Y2K back for... Y23K? We'll workshop the name. PIT VIPER If Y2K is about being unapologetically yourself, Pit Viper gets top marks. There's no piece of eyewear on the market quite as flashy as these beauties. In Pit Viper's own words: "Sunrise to sunset, reef breaks to ridgelines, holeshots to holy sh*t, we build the functional, fun-loving gear that is serious about taking things less seriously". It's hard for an Aussie not to recognise these flashy fluorescent designs, and when you take a spin on the website, you'll be teleported straight back to the 2000s. Once you've adjusted, take a tour through the product range; from the iconic polarised range of 'The Originals' (The 1993 or The Miami Nights) sunnies to the rounded, heavier-duty range of 'The Slammers', there's eyewear of every shape and colour on offer. Pit Viper extends its identity through goggles suitable for dirt and snow, clothes for your head, top and 'power bottom', and even rigs to help keep the glasses on your face. [caption id="attachment_924540" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Oleg Shatilov via Unsplash[/caption] CHAOTIC THREADS While the cultural concept of Gen Z has really only grown in recent years, the generation was quite literally born in the Y2K era, between 1997 and 2012. We might not be able to remember it all physically, but thanks to the internet, its memory is well preserved. The style of Y2K is growing in popularity among Gen Z, and that harmony is plain to see with brands like Chaotic Threads. Chaotic Threads was founded in Melbourne and prides itself on sustainability and style in equal parts. Each piece is created from a single inspiration, meaning every design is limited-run. The upside is every bit of scrap fabric will be reused to create more accessorie. The product range is always shifting, so check the website or Instagram to see what's currently available. [caption id="attachment_924503" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lilli via iStock[/caption] ACTUAL ANGEL A similarly Gen Z-charged brand (which also happens to be based in Melbourne) is Actual Angel. You might take a shine to these pieces if you have ever had a goth phase. Every design is handmade, ranging from heavy gothic designs to mystical pieces that tread closer to the modern fairy core. Actual Angel's range spans gorgeous stellar earring designs, chokers of all textures and colours and even tote bags made from the likes of velour satin and lace designs. It's all whimsical, comfortable and, most importantly, it's handmade independently. Actual Angel can be found on Instagram, but you can find the entire product range on Depop. [caption id="attachment_924511" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ivan Martynov via iStock[/caption] THREADHEADS A marker of Y2K fashion is graphic design — as technology and pop culture evolved, the option to print customised designs onto clothing became more accessible. One of the most popular graphic tee brands right now is Threadheads. Quickly achieving viral status thanks to a satirical but stylish approach to designs, this is the ideal brand for anyone with a sense of humour. Design themes cover pop culture, gaming, 80s and 90s, parody, retro, anime and more. Threadheads also loves a collab, with official collections made with Rick and Morty, DC Comics, NASA, Seinfeld, Cobra Kai and others. A new addition to the catalogue is custom tees, a great gift for any lovers of bootleg designs. [caption id="attachment_924502" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] IC Productions via iStock[/caption] DIESEL Diesel predates Y2K, going back to the vintage days of 1978. But as many fashion labels move to the next new and exciting thing, Diesel reflects on all the wonder of the Y2K era with a product range that will take you back to the finest pop videos of the noughties. How so? Diesel's specialty denim line still reigns supreme, but a closer look through the catalogue will reveal the likes of tie-dyed belt bags, futuristic metallic tops, baby tees, frayed high tops and other icons of the era. Ranging across men and women, clothes, accessories, homewares and more, there has to be something for everyone in there. [caption id="attachment_922788" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Millie Savage[/caption] MILLIE SAVAGE The final cornerstone of Y2K fashion for us to discuss is the statement jewellery pieces. Big and bright — there was nothing minimalist about these pieces. A brand that keeps that trend alive is Millie Savage. Yet another fashion label based in Melbourne (though now also boasting a Bali studio), Millie Savage is run by an all-female team of designers that specialises in precious gems, all ethically sourced. Millie Savage has a particular love of opals, mainly sourced from South Australia. Every product has the Millie Savage touch: namely, a lack of playing by the rules. It's especially visible in the one-off beauties collection, where no two pieces are alike in the slightest. Check out the designs across rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more. For more information on Pit Viper or its products, visit the website.
If clothes make the man, the beard defines the attitude. Whether it's a sharp stubble, a neat fade or a bold statement moustache, the right grooming routine can elevate your whole look. That's where the Philips OneBlade 360 comes in. This all-in-one tool is built to trim, edge and shave any length of hair with precision and ease, thanks to a flexible 360-degree blade that follows the contours of your face, a five-in-one adjustable comb and a fast-moving cutter that can deal with hair of any length. To show what it can do, we've teamed up with Joe Kurdyla from Melbourne barbershop Kings Domain to walk us through four trending facial hair styles that you can nail at home with the Philips OneBlade 360. Short stubble Effortless and universally flattering, a tidy five o'clock shadow is an easy way to look put-together without appearing as though you've tried too hard. Keep it sharp by using the adjustable guard to maintain your preferred length, and let the 360-degree blade do the heavy lifting. Neat beard A short-to-medium beard with faded sides and defined edges is a low-maintenance way to enhance your face shape and jawline while still looking professional. No fuzz, no fuss. The OneBlade's precision trimmer lets you clean up the neckline and cheeks in seconds, keeping things fresh between barber visits. Full beard Bold, rugged and full of character, a full-length beard is a surefire way to make a statement. Use the OneBlade to shape and edge around the beard, especially around the cheeks and neckline, so it stays strong rather than scruffy. Retro moustache Throwback alert: whether you're going for the retro Tom Selleck look or prefer a neater, cleaner look (think: Nathan Cleary), the OneBlade's dual-sided blade helps you define edges with total control. Ditch the guard, tidy the stubble around your mo and let the whiskers take centre stage. For more information on the Philips OneBlade 360, head to the brand's website.
It's been 25 years since the first episode, but people are still obsessed with Grand Designs. Sure, the futuristic and downright ridiculous homes are captivating. Yet many of us are tuning in to see how the insanely optimistic budgets, disappearing timelines and inevitable pregnancy announcement resolve themselves. Through it all, host Kevin McCloud is on hand to deliver a supportive quip or dire prophecy. Now you can hear McCloud's infectious energy in person with his old mate and self-confessed architecture nerd, Tim Ross, as the pair tour the country for Live in Interesting Places. On the back of a new podcast series, Tim and Kev's Big Design Adventure, they'll regale audiences with tales of modernist marvels, utopian visions and design-fuelled banter. And, as the name suggests, McCloud and Ross will come together in five architecturally significant venues throughout Australia. [caption id="attachment_1050527" align="alignnone" width="1920"] St George's Performing Arts Centre. Credit: Scott Burrows.[/caption] Presented across multiple dates from Thursday, February 5–Sunday, February 15, 2026, the tour kicks off in Perth at the University of Western Australia's Octagon Theatre. Onwards to Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra, audiences will gather in Brutalist theatres, heritage-listed churches and much-loved public buildings, from St George's Performing Arts Centre to the Lindfield Learning Village, fascinated by the duo's big design ideas. Several years in the making — the pair haven't appeared together since two sold-out Sydney Opera House shows in 2019 — get insight from these great thinkers and perhaps reconsider that intricate building project you had in mind. "These shows are going to be entertaining and edifying," says Kevin. "And full of surprises — you won't believe where our nerdy curiosity will take you," adds Tim. [caption id="attachment_1050526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lindfield Learning Village. Credit: Alex Mayes.[/caption]
Like bulk-billing GPs, Melbourne has lost a lot of its BYO restaurants over the years. Many of the old favourites we used to rock up to with bottles of wine and six-packs of beer in hand have either shut down or started serving their own booze. But we still have a handful of excellent Melbourne BYO restaurants floating about. Sure, some only let you bring your own booze on particular days, but that just means you have to plan ahead a little. To help you with said planning, check out our guide here to 21 of Melbourne's best BYO restaurants. Recommended reads: The Best Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Bottle Shops in Melbourne The Best Bars in Melbourne The Best Pubs in Melbourne
It's the first film from Andrea Arnold in almost a decade, since 2016's Cannes Jury Prize-winning American Honey. It boasts Barry Keoghan in his first big-screen role since Saltburn made him a megastar. ("He could pretty much have done anything he wanted and he stuck with my small, low-budget film, so that's pretty spectacular," Arnold tells Concrete Playground.) It gives Franz Rogowski another exceptional part for his ever-growing resume (see also: Victoria, Happy End, Transit, A Hidden Life, Undine, Great Freedom and Passages). It unearths a stellar new talent in British Independent Film Award Breakthrough Performance-nominee and first-time actor Nykiya Adams. It sports a soundtrack filled with British sing-alongs, complete with a nod to its most-famous face's film past worked in among Blur's 'The Universal', The Verve's 'Lucky Man' and Coldplay's 'Yellow'. Bird is worth watching for each of these reasons alone — as well as for Arnold's blazing empathy, a hallmark of her work since her Oscar-winning short film days, and also the brilliant naturalism that always beams through in the cinematography by her regular collaborator Robbie Ryan (a two-time Academy Award-nominee for The Favourite and Poor Things). It's also a must-see for letting audiences discover how Arnold has spun a tender and moving coming-of-age fable that blends social realism with magical realism from a unique starting point: "it was an image of a naked tall man with a long penis standing on a tall building at night in the mist," she advises. "I think it's a metaphor." Bird began the same way that Andrea Arnold's work always does: with a distinctive picture. While every film, be it a short, feature or documentary, trades in visuals, of course, the writer/director's creative process for each of her projects commences with an image that comes to her, and that she's then driven to unlock. Such was her kick-off point when she started penning a movie that now sits beside Red Road, Fish Tank and Wuthering Heights on her resume as well — plus episodes of Transparent and I Love Dick, the entire second season of Big Little Lies and heartbreaking doco Cow. Rogowski portrays the titular character, who is indeed sighted on a rooftop. Adams is Bailey, the movie's 12-year-old protagonist. Keoghan plays Bug, her single dad, who she resides with in a north Kent squat — also with her brother Hunter (fellow first-timer Jason Buda) — and whose new engagement shatters Bailey's status quo. Arnold layers Bird with journeys and searches to belong. It's true for the girl at the feature's centre, who feels like the already-chaotic existence that she's living with Bug and Hunter is crumbling. It's accurate of Bird, the mysterious stranger on a quest that's tied to his past, too. Bug's impending nuptials, Hunter's own romantic situation: it applies to them also, as it frequently has to other characters across the helmer's filmography. Chatting with us in 2016, American Honey star Riley Keough described that picture as "like an experience, rather than like a film" and "really getting to that sort of place in people's souls"; again, that applies across every Arnold project. In her Oscar-awarded short Wasp, Arnold's focus is a single mother trying to start a new relationship. Red Road follows a CCTV operator who spots someone that she knows on surveillance footage, Fish Tank charts the change in a 15-year-old's life when her mum begins seeing a new boyfriend, Wuthering Heights obviously adapts Emily Brontë's gothic great about Catherine and Heathcliff, and American Honey heads on a US road trip. A female dairy cow earns the filmmaker's attention in Cow. Each unfurls a different narrative, even if dysfunctional families and growing up are familiar themes. "None of the stories are directly connected, but I'm quite interested in those kind of families, I guess," Arnold notes. "Maybe because my own family was quite sort of chaotic as a child." Her work is linked by a sentiment that's summed up wonderfully in an unforgettable line in Bird, too: "no one's no one". That piece of dialogue was pivotal for the director. Arnold is adamant about that fact, as she was about ensuring that the line made it into Bird. As she keeps demonstrating a devastatingly evocative and effective knack for seeing working-class reality with clear eyes while equally spying the world's beauty wherever her characters can snatch it, Arnold likes to let her films speak for themselves rather than unpacking their meaning — "I really believe in cinema being something that you give to the audience to have their own experience with," she says; "you want the audience to go to the bar afterwards and argue about what they think it meant, 'I think it meant this' or 'I think it meant that', 'no, no, what about that scene, because that scene means that'" — but she's aware of how crucial those four words are. Bird's evolution from that first image of a man on a building, delving into magical realism, casting Keoghan, discovering Adams, guiding naturalistic performances out of her actors, her approach to the film's soundtrack, making three-dimensional movies about the working class: we also spoke with Arnold about all of the above. On How Bird Evolved From Arnold's First Vision of a Man on a Rooftop in the Mist "Every time I write, I have an image that I then treat like a puzzle. It's like a mystery. The image is a mystery. Who's the man? Why is he naked? Why is he in mist? Why is he standing on a building? Is someone looking at him? Is he an alien? How old is he? The image encourages me to ask lots of questions, so it becomes a puzzle that I then have to solve. And usually what happens is, I know that if the image really keeps annoying me, like it keeps coming into my head, that it's something I need to explore. So I go off and I start making notes, and I start thinking about what are the answers to some of the questions, and that starts me thinking about scenes and possible other images and characters. And then I just build it from there, really. Which takes years sometimes. Not like every day, but it doesn't always make sense straight away, and I start digging around and 'yeah, that makes sense' and 'that doesn't make sense'. I keep — I think I started Bird years ago, five years ago or something, but then I did Cow and did other things, and so I came back to it. If I'd made it straight away five years ago, I think it would be a completely film to the one I made just now, actually. I think it would have been an interesting, different film. Because in five years, you change and you grow, and you do other things and your ideas change. So it depends on the kind of person I am at the time — and actually, interestingly I wasn't sure I should do it. Because I felt like somehow, the image, although I started with the image, that maybe I didn't need to really go there. But then I just kept going and did. And then I think some of the magical realism came out of that because I was pushing the idea more than I perhaps would have done. Maybe five years ago, there would have been no magical realism, but now there is." On Bird's Flight Into Magical Realism "It came naturally out of the process of writing. I didn't have any other films in mind. I love films like Pan's Labyrinth, for example. I think that's an amazing film, but it's not a film that I ever thought was anything like my films or anything to with me. When I saw that film, which I loved, I never thought 'oh, yeah, that I'm going to do that' or 'that's something to do with me' — I loved it for what it was, for its own creation. I never even thought about it. When I started writing, it just started coming naturally — the storytelling, my imagination just went there. So I just let it. It was liberating. I thought 'well, it's a film, I can make anything happen'. It's like magic, isn't it? You can do what you like. To me, it would seem like a natural progression from what I already do. Because I think, all the nature things I film, to me they're magical anyway. If you put a camera on something like a dragonfly, for example, that's about as alien and as magical as you can get. If you look at anything that we, all these things we have naturally in our lives, that are around — look at a worm. What an amazing thing a worm is, right. If you want look at a worm, film a worm and study it, you'd be thinking 'wow, that's like an alien. That's a strange thing. Does it move? How does it work? How does it live?'. I find all the things around us magical anyway. I literally find them fascinating. I find a snail, for example — you just have to look at those things and it's magical anyway. So to me, what I did just didn't seem so weird. It didn't seem so strange to me. It felt normal. It felt like an extension and natural progression of what I'd already done." On the Importance of the "No One's No One" Line — and How It Also Echoes Across Arnold's Other Work "That line just came while I was writing and I just thought 'oh god, that just sums up everything I care about. That just sums up absolutely everything'. And I was absolutely adamant. Because sometimes when you're filming scenes — my scripts end up being quite layered, I think, and I lose so much from my scripts when we film, because filming is so clunky compared with when you do layers in a scene. I might layer a scene with all sorts of things, and of course you film it and sometimes it's like driving a tank across your scenes. It's hard to achieve some of the subtleties that I put in my in my script. Sometimes I think 'maybe I should just write, because then I can have all the things that I want in there'. So often I'm improvising — or not, no I'm not improvising, I'm allowing things from the script, I let them go because I just have to, because the situation, the timing. Sometimes they have lots of non-actors, they don't remember a line or they don't always say it like it is. So often, the scene becomes sort of an echo of what I wrote, but not totally what I wrote. But that line, I was absolutely adamant that we didn't lose it. I was like 'it doesn't matter what'. And we had to hurry in that situation, because we didn't have much time to film in the station and we had some other issues that day. So we ended up with very little time to film on the station and outside the station, but I was absolutely like 'we're putting the camera there and we're going to get that line, that's got to be there'. It's my favourite line. And I think you're right, thank you for spotting that — it is something that I really care about and I think probably is across my work, and that is something I believe." On Casting Barry Keoghan as Bug "My casting comrade Lucy Pardee, who I work with — who's an amazing woman and who I've worked with for years — she knows me really well. She knows my worlds really well. She completely understands them. I've known her for many years. And she thinks about people she thinks will fit in my world. She mentioned him very early on, like ages before Banshees came out. And I met him just before The Banshees of Inisherin came out. And I hadn't seen him very much, actually, but she sent me a picture of him and I was like 'wow, I love the way he looks' — and he looked like he could fit straight in. Then I saw him in a couple of things, just small roles in things, and then I went to meet him. I don't always need to see them in another film necessarily. I like meeting people. And I'll always go on meeting. I feel like that's the genuine feeling that you get, from meeting a person. And I met him — he came down from Scotland when I was in London, and we had a meeting, and I just loved him the minute I met him. I think I offered it, we offered it, to him the next day. But that was quite a long time before we started — but I never ever faltered. I don't think I met anyone else for Bug, actually. I think I just met him and I was like 'yeah, totally'. But that's thanks to Lucy because she just knows me so well, so she picks people that she knows what I'm going to respond to and who feel like they go in my world. And then Banshees came out, of course, and I went to see it, and I just loved him in that. He was so fantastic in that. I was like 'yeah, we definitely made the right choice, without a doubt'. But I'd cast him before that came out so. And then, of course, he was in Saltburn. And then he went stratospheric. I actually thought 'he's never going to stay with our film', because he could do anything he wants now. But he did. So that was beautiful. He stuck with us." On Knowing That Adams, Who Only Auditioned to Get Out of a Class at School, Was the Film's Bailey "The first audition was with Lucy, the casting director, and then Lucy took her along to another — when she saw her, she brought her along to meet me after. So when I met her, she just came on a Saturday. We do the auditions up near where everybody lives, so they don't have to travel very far. So we were up in the area, and she came on that Saturday. I think she'd been playing football that day. She does football and stuff. She's very physical, very sporty. I think she did it to get out of a design and technology class, didn't she? I think that's the story. I think I heard her say that the other day — I didn't know that until I heard her say that. She did the audition more to get out of a lesson than she did because she wanted to be an actor. She just did it to get out of something. So I think even, I don't know when she came to see me, I'm not sure that she was still that not sure about this thing. I think I remember her walking in like 'yeah, what is, what is this thing?'. But I remember waking up when I saw her. I felt like she had a presence. And that I really took note of, I kind of thought 'oh, this this kid has got a presence'. It wasn't quite the sort of the kid that I'd written or been looking for, exactly. She was different. But I noted her and she woke me up, and I think you've got to pay attention to those feelings. That never left me, so she ended being the Bailey." On Guiding Naturalistic Performances Out of Bird's Cast "I shoot chronologically, which I think is a huge thing, and I particularly love it. I do that mostly for the people who haven't acted before, because I think it gives them some sense of where they are, and then they don't have to jump in and out of the chronology — they're not having to do a scene from the end and then a scene from the beginning. It gives them some sense of their journey. Then, because I do that, I do that with all the actors as well, of course — and then I don't show them the whole script. I give them scenes bit by bit. And then I think the actual day-to-day directing is, for me, every person I'm working with is an individual and your relationship then is an individual relationship — and different actors, different people who haven't acted before, need you or there's different ways in which you work with each of them. So there's not one way, I don't think, that I work with anybody. But I try to have relationships with everybody with, and for that to be like a living, growing, evolving thing that is something that we do as we go along." On the Use of British Anthems in the Soundtrack "Every character, I make a playlist for. So that was on Bug's playlist, these sort of very blokey anthems. I mean, 'Yellow' is a song that I absolutely love anyway. I try, all the songs I use, I try, even though the character's songs, I still want them to be songs I love — and I usually don't pick any song that I don't love. Most songs in my films, I love. And even if they're particular character songs, I still want to love them. So I try to find songs that I love for every character. So 'Yellow' is, I think, a fantastic song and. And 'The Universal' is a fantastic song. And 'Lucky Man'. They're all on Bug's playlist. Bug had that kind of playlist, sort of anthems, because I think he likes to sing and he likes to be loud, and he likes to sing these songs. He knows all the words. Then I made playlists for everyone else. I made a playlist for Bailey, but her music got drowned out by Bug's — every time I tried to have a song that was Bailey's song, it didn't happen because she's in the house and Bug takes over. So that happened naturally, actually. That wasn't an intention. I didn't mean for that to happen, but it did happen. And actually now, I realise it happened naturally because of the character and because of the way the world was. So that was something that was sort of a truth that happened, even though I planned something different — the truth came out. And then what happened is because we had Burial do some of the soundtrack, and I've never worked with someone doing a soundtrack before, so this was a new experience for me — but his music became more like Bailey's internal world. So she had her own music, but it wasn't songs. It wasn't songs that she would have on a playlist. It was more her internal world." On Making Three-Dimensional Films About the Working Class "I grew up in a working-class family and in that kind of area, so I very much feel that's something I very much understand and feel deeply connected to. So I don't have any judgment of anybody. I don't have that in my bones. So I think that's just going to come out in what I do. I don't have any sort of — I don't need to do anything because that's just how I feel. But I think like that about everybody. I think we should all respect and be kind and caring towards each other. I feel the world doesn't — I feel like that about everybody. I try not to judge anyone when I first meet anyone, or to judge anything or anybody. I try not to. I guess, of course, we probably all do on some level, but I try not to. And I just don't have that in my bones, so it's not going to be there in the film, I don't think. I don't think I'm making political — it's not a political gesture, not really. It's more about the people, I think. And it's more about trying to show people in three-dimensional ways. It's a privilege for someone like me who comes from that working-class background to be a filmmaker. What a privilege. What an amazing place I'm in that I've come from a working-class background, but here I am making films — what an amazing thing that is. And to me, I see that as quite a responsibility. And it's almost I feel like I need to really try to present it — I mean, obviously I'm making a film from my point of view, and that I'm not trying to make a wide political gesture, I'm just trying to make one from my point of view, in a way I understand, and that's all I try to do. I don't try to pretend I know everything, or I have great, sweeping view — obviously I wish the world was a more equal, fairer place for people. And there's plenty of wealth in the world to go around, isn't there? I'd like it that people weren't struggling to eat or to have somewhere to live. Originally in the film, I put the family — because of lockdown here and COVID, nobody went to work, and London at the moment has masses and masses of buildings, it has sprouted up like some sort of Blade Runner futuristic thing. And all the people that didn't go to their offices every day didn't want to go back into the offices. And I thought 'oh, there's all of these empty buildings now, all of these big office blocks, empty — why don't put all of the people that don't have homes there? There's so many people without homes. The homeless situation, it seems to be getting worse in every single country. When I go to America, they say the homeless thing is incredibly awful there. There are tent cities, and there are avenues and streets full of people living in tents and cars. I'm thinking 'but you've got all these empty buildings. You've got all of these office blocks that no one's working in. Why don't we just put everybody in there?'. So originally in the film, I put the family them in there. But we couldn't find a building like that to film in, so we didn't end up filming there. But the intention was there. My heart was there. So there's all these little things that I do care about that I put in the film, but I wouldn't say it's a big, sweeping political gesture. It's more about the people, more about trying to tell a small world in a way that I see as being true, as true to me. It's my truth — I'm not saying it's everyone's truth or a universal truth, it's just a truthful thing for me. There's things I care about in the film always. Everything I care about. But I would say I'm not trying to make a massive statement." Bird opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Images: Robbie Ryan / Atsushi Nishijima.
In case you don't already have enough reasons to attend SXSW Sydney in 2025, here's more: the event's Music Festival keeps adding to its lineup, with over 50 new performers joining the bill, plus a heap of presenters as well. The latest round of names follows past announcements across all things SXSW Sydney for this year, spanning speakers, an initial batch of local and international acts, high-profile guests, more bands and folks getting chatting, Paul Feig and a 14-hour Freaks and Geeks marathon, and Tumbalong Park's free programming. Even beyond all of the above so far, there's also still lineup drops to come. Ninajirachi, 2charm, Drifting Clouds, Whitney, Picture This, Le Boom, Sonic Reducer, xiao xiao, Angela Ken, Maki, Modern Cinema Master, Lex Amor, Amy Gadiaga: they're now on the Music Festival bill, taking to the stage across Monday, October 13–Sunday, October 19. As for where you'll be catching them, SXSW Sydney's already-hefty range of venues is expanding, too, with The Eveleigh Hotel, Embassy Conference Centre, and outdoor stages at the Seymour Centre and on Kensington Street among the new places to hit up. Laneway Festival Co-Founder Danny Rogers, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, Support Act Wellbeing Content & Programs Lead Ash King, Skillbox Founder and CEO Anmol Kukreja, Backlash Productions's Tour and Production Manager Jamal Chalabi, UNIFIED's CEO Jaddan Comerford are just some of the speakers adding a little more conversation to the bill — and so are Tickets for Good Founder and CEO Steve Rimmer, Strawberry Fields Director Tara Medina and others. SXSW Sydney has also confirmed that a lengthy list of organisations will be putting on events, including American Apparel, APRA AMCOS, British Music Embassy, College of Hip Hop Knowledge, GYROstream, Impressed Recordings, Laneway Festival x Outside Lands, Moshtix, NPCC presents Taiwan Now, Rolling Stone, Virgin Music and more. The last dedicated Music Festival reveal came in June, and featured the likes of Rashmeet Kaur, Vandelux, The Thing and August Wahh, plus Tenxi & Jemsii, Holly Hebe, Munan and Yasmina Sadiki. In total, this year's fest is due to feature more than 300 music performances. Before that, the festival had already announced Jasmine 4.t, Freak Slug and Ristband + Pivots from the UK; Slowwves from Thailand; Japan's Suichu Spica 水中スピカ; New Zealand's Serebii and Tusekah; and Cardinals from Ireland; and Autralia's Jamaica Moana, JJ4K, RICEWINE, Sacred Hearts, Swapmeet and BADASSMUTHA. SXSW Sydney 2025 runs from Monday, October 13–Sunday, October 19 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Select SXSW Sydney images: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney // Jess Gleeson.
If you enjoy getaways of the pampering, wellness-oriented and soaking kind — you're in luck. Victoria is quickly becoming a hot spring haven, with future plans including a 900-kilometre trail of bathing spots dubbed The Great Bathing Trail to span along the Victorian coast. In the meantime, there are plenty of newly-opened and established favourites to explore. Regional Victoria boasts some of the best hot springs in the country, from geothermal pools overlooking stunning views to majestic spa precincts complete with restaurants. If you're looking to escape the city for some well-earned self-care, here are the natural hot springs and wellness destinations to put on your must-visit list. Recommended reads: The Best Spas in Melbourne The Best Heated Pools in Melbourne A Weekender's Guide to the Mornington Peninsula The Best Winter Day Trips From Melbourne
For the cinephiles, TV addicts and all-around lovers of entertainment, the gifting season can sometimes be a little challenging. After all, everything they want, they can just watch…right? Wrong. It's 2025, physical media is making a comeback, and home cinema technology is better than ever. The only thing stopping you from getting your favourite movie lover a quality present is your attitude. Here's a list curated by our own film-addicted writers for all the blockbuster fans, Letterboxd diehards, nerds and tech heads who know how to make screentime into quality time. Shopping for someone who's never home? Check out our guide to the best gifts for frequent travellers. Two-Room Speaker Set, Sonos Anyone who knows their Hollywood blockbuster from their independent arthouse flick probably dreams of replicating theatre audio at home. With this speaker duo, they'll be able to precisely shape an immersive soundscape for all kinds of movies at home. Shop now. Popcorn Maker, Heller No true movie experience is complete without a bowl or box of hot, buttery popcorn. Sure, you could get a microwaveable packet from the shops, but this adds a novelty feeling to the in-home popcorn experience. Shop now. Freestyle Portable Projector, Samsung With some creative thinking and a smooth, vertical (and preferably white) background, this portable projector can upgrade any space into a theatre with pictures up to 100 inches across, 360º sound and inbuilt Samsung Smart TV tech. Shop now. TV Backlight Kit, Govee The dream of any at-home cinema curator, a tv backlight can synchronise the colour display of its lights to the colours on-screen, blending the picture into the room and making for a seriously immersive viewing experience. Compared to other brands, this kit gives you all the gear you need for a very reasonable price. Shop now. 120" Portable Projector Screen, AIWA Perfectly matched with the Samsung portable projector, this lightweight and reliable screen means you can set up a movie night anywhere with a power supply. If that's not a cinephiles dream, we don't know what is. Shop now. 4K DVD Player, Panasonic You heard it here first: physical media is making a comeback, at least among film lovers. If your loved one has a long-forgotten collection of ancient DVDs or a burgeoning collection of new ones, this player will give them the best quality possible for every sweet, ad-free, unbuffered moment. Shop now. One Year of Pro or Patron, Letterboxd Any movie diehard has either already downloaded or desperately wants to get into Letterboxd. A social media platform designed for film lovers, by film lovers, you can gift the Letterboxd user in your life a year of paywalled goodies and bonus features for their account. You just need an account of your own. Shop now. 'Star Wars' The Skywalker Saga DVD Box Set, Lucasfilm If a special someone in your life has a soft spot for the stories set in a galaxy far, far away — and has a compatible disc drive (any DVD player, external disc drive or disc-compatible gaming console will do) — you can gift them all nine feature films that come free of streaming hassle for the rest of their life. Shop now. Movie Log, A24 If Letterboxd, or social media as a whole, isn't the style of your giftee, maybe they'll prefer something more tactile? Available on a waitlist via independent production company A24, this paper logbook is a great print method for someone to track their movie-watching activities. Shop now. 2026 Daily Tear-Off Calendar, A24 Part calendar, part shopping list for some of the best films in the game, this desktop-compatible gift offers up 365 days of A24's award-winning movies in seasonal order. It's a great accessory, and an even better guide to going from general audience member to certified cinephile. Shop now. Gift Card, IMAX At long last, IMAX screens in Australia are on the rise. These massive theatre screens are the biggest and indisputably best way to watch a blockbuster, but tickets don't come cheap. Save your resident film nerd some precious movie snack money and cover their tickets with these gift cards. Shop now. Gold Class Ultimate ePackage, Event Cinemas If movies mean date nights for you and your special someone, you can save this for the next romantic release to get admission, a welcome drink, three small plates of food, nachos and popcorn for two. Yes, the food comes into the theatre with you. Shop now. Cinephile: A Card Game, Cinephile If you want to test the knowledge of a film lover, this party game is the best way to do it. With 150 cards covering difficulties from beginner blockbusters to diehard cinephiles, it can bring a bit of friendly competition to your next cinematic trivia sesh. Shop now. 100 Movies Scratch Off Poster, Uncommon Goods Do you feel like your special someone doesn't have enough experience with Hollywood's undeniable classics? This scratch off poster makes for a decorative and motivating reason to watch 100 one of the most classic films in human history. Shop now. Movie Night Bingo Cards, Uncommon Goods Admittedly, not all movies are classics, and some are classics for the wrong reasons. If you're the sort of person who hate watches a bad film, gamify your next predictable, cliche or uninspired watch with these genre-specific movie bingo cards. Prizes not included. Shop now. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Scott Pickett, one of Australia's leading chefs and most well-known restaurateurs, has appointed administrators for two companies associated with his hospitality empire. However, Pickett has insisted that the appointment does not impact his restaurants and that they will continue trading as usual. The Scott Pickett Group operates a diverse range of award-winning restaurants across Melbourne. Pickett set up Estelle in 2011 and went on to establish a string of restaurants, including Matilda in 2018, Chancery Lane in 2020, and Smith St Bistro and Audrey's at The Continental Sorrento in 2022. Just days before news of the administration broke, the group announced that Audrey's was set to close, to be replaced with Ember, a new fire-driven coastal diner. While Pickett will continue to oversee the food and beverage direction across The Continental, Jake Furst, the Chief Officer of Kickon Group, was announced to be taking the reins in the kitchen. As reported by The Age, Pickett released a statement saying that while he needed to find an investor or strategic buyer, he wanted "to make it clear to everyone that the remaining companies in the group, which include my restaurants, are not affected. Our restaurants will continue to trade as usual and all bookings and vouchers will be honoured. All staff remain employed. Their wages, superannuation contributions and entitlements are fully up-to-date and will continue to be paid on time." Images: Tim Grey, feature image, Simon Shiff. The Scott Pickett Group Restaurants continue to trade as usual at the time of writing. Book a table now at Matilda for contemporary Australian food cooked over flames, or at Smith St Bistro for classic French fare.
You won't have to hack together IKEA's latest collection, as the iconic furnisher of homes everywhere has just released its collaboration with Stockholm-based architect-turned-designer Gustaf Westman. Renowned for his bubbly, curvaceous pieces, it's Westman's first-ever product design collaboration, though he's far from an unknown quantity. He counts design-conscious celebs like Tyler, the Creator and Olivia Rodrigo among his fans. While we usually associate the Swedish giant with ready-to-assemble furniture made for functionality, this collaboration brings a little more personality to the fore. Created with joyful informality, Westman's 12-piece collection is inspired by seasonal celebrations, challenging tradition through his trademark sculptural shapes and bold colour combinations. "For me, this was an opportunity to take traditional holiday decor aesthetics and turn it on its head, instead, introducing a sense of playfulness and boldness," says Westman. "This is my interpretation of the holidays; it's a new design for a new generation." So, what's in store for IKEA and Westman fans? As you might expect, there's no shortage of pieces celebrating food and togetherness. The most attention-grabbing is a dedicated meatball plate — especially appropriate considering IKEA's iconic dish turns 40 this year. Meanwhile, Westman has designed an offbeat porcelain cup and saucer set for glögg, aka mulled wine, shaped by memories of his grandma's holiday baking. Westman's collection is also here to level up your lighting. There are matching candlesticks and holders in two candied colours — red and blue — and a portable, rechargeable lantern that twists from a round shape into an orbital one. Those familiar with Swedish Christmas traditions will also recognise a reimagined candelabra-style lamp, traditionally placed in windows during the holiday season. "Celebration often comes with established traditions, and we were curious to explore a more fun and inclusive take," says Maria O'Brian, IKEA Range Identity Leader. "Teaming up with Gustaf Westman felt like a natural match to help us reimagine the holidays with a twist." The limited-edition IKEA x Gustaf Westman collection will be available for purchase from Monday, September 29. Head to the website for more information.
Run by Ross and Sunny Lusted (Sydney's Woodcut and Aman Resorts), Portuguese-inspired restaurant Marmelo, along with late-night basement bar Mr Mills, are the beating heart of ultra-cool, HYDE Melbourne Place hotel. Known for cooking with wood and charcoal, Ross has centred Marmelo's open kitchen around a custom-built charcoal grill and woodfired oven. His menu is inspired by the kind of Portuguese food he grew up with in South Africa, as well as dishes that were built on spices and flavours, from as far as the South China Sea, India, Africa and the Americas, that were introduced into Portuguese cooking. All of this results in mains such as wood-roasted cockerel with African spices, chilli and fried potatoes; Otway pork with rhubarb, red elk and burnt orange; and arroz de marisco (similar to a paella) with grilled, poached, and cured seafood. The menu also features snacks such as cod and potato croquettes with hot mustard sauce, oysters warmed over fire with charcuterie dressing, tuna with botarga cream and vegetable escabeche, and a savoury take on the much-loved pastel de nata, with celeriac and pickled crab. The dessert menu is refreshingly interesting, think a 19th century steamed pork and egg pudding, a woodfired olive oil cheesecake, and perfumed fruits with feijoa skin syrup, guava sorbet and coconut milk clouds. Sunny Lusted says, "Ross and I feel a real synergy with the vibrancy of Melbourne and all of its culinary offerings, so it is an honour to be welcomed so warmly into the local dining community; Ross and I can't wait to share our take on the food and hospitality of the Iberian peninsula, here in this beautiful city." You can also head down a grand chartreuse-hued staircase to find the duo's Mr Mills, a late-night basement bar. It's an altogether moodier space, with intimate booths as well as the option to dine at the bar or overlooking the open kitchen. Snack on Iberian-inspired small plates such as cold meats with guindillas and manchego, Portuguese prawn rolls with watercress, smoked eel doughnuts with ocean trout caviar, and always finish sweet with a pastel de nata. An extensive cocktail menu also features adorable 'Tiny Tinis' (available between 5 and 7 pm). Try a mini dirty martini with saltbush and lemon geranium brine, a Vesper martini with olive leaf gin and tangerine bitters, or a dry martini with Vetiver, pine and peppermint gum gin. Images: Supplied.
The stars on The Real Housewives of New York City are all more than a little extra — it comes with the territory. Yet, Countess Luann's larger-than-life personality rises above even the most eccentric characters that capture the imaginations of audiences around the globe. Now, Luann de Lesseps is giving the inside scoop on RHONY, as she offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the show's most iconic moments. Messy, over-the-top, entertaining and endearing, this tea-spilling experience will deliver unparalleled goss from multiple angles. With Lu-Niverse taking over the Melbourne Recital Centre from 7.30pm on Monday, February 23, 2026, the show kicks off with a moderated visual walk down RHONY memory lane. Then, it's time for housewives trivia and an unfiltered audience Q&A, where no question is too outrageous to ask. There's no shortage of tales to cover, with Countess Luann's expansive career spanning life as a television icon, recording artist and celebrated cabaret entertainer. Plus, this one-night affair is bound to have you leaving with even more of Luann's unforgettable one-liners stuck in your head.
Known for its pristine white sand beaches, Jervis Bay is a well-known escape for Sydneysiders come summertime — and yet during off-peak seasons parts of its 20 kilometres of shoreline will be completely deserted. If you're heading from Sydney, prepare for a three-hour drive south before you hit a vast oceanic bay fringed by national parks. Jervis Bay is one of the deepest bays in Australia, and all its underwater creatures live in a protected marine park. Whether you're paddling, snorkelling or lazing on the beach, you're bound to meet dolphins, rays, weedy sea dragons, Port Jackson sharks, fish and, from late autumn, whales, too. [caption id="attachment_770529" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gunyah by Hutchings Camps Pty Ltd[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Before you travel to Jervis Bay, make a reservation at Gunyah at Paperbark Camp, which you'll find just east of Huskisson in the pint-sized village of Woollamia on the banks of Currambene Creek. Designed by Sydney-based architects Nettleton Tribe, this warmly lit, timber-filled restaurant feels like a treehouse for grown-ups. It's built on stilts and positioned just under the canopy — perfect for spotting possums and stars. Paperbark Camp is also one of the best glamping sites in Australia, so consider spending the night. For lunch, drop into Hyams Beach Cafe and General Store, where you'll not only meet the bay's cutest dog, Albert, but you'll also find a delicious midday meal. Owners Sue and Chris Alison, who run the cafe with their daughter Phoebe, grow much of the produce on their farm. Order a burger and you'll be rewarded with a stack of lamb (or chicken), salad and vegetables, lathered in house-made sauce and framed in soft turkish bread. Hanging out for a late afternoon tipple? The Huskisson Hotel, right on the water, is the spot for it. The pub's got a massive, well-shaded deck and floor-to-ceiling windows, so the views are panoramic. Or, for craft brews at a dog- and family-friendly beer garden, head to Jervis Bay Brewing Co. The brewery is open Wednesday to Sunday for when you want to sample pale ales and XPAs with food truck snacks, or swing by to take a growler home for a barbecue on the deck. [caption id="attachment_770531" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hyams Beach by Tourism Australia[/caption] DO For the big picture, grab your hat and start with a 90-minute dolphin cruise that takes travellers into the middle of Jervis Bay — searching for its 100 resident bottlenose dolphins, and when you return you'll have a good idea of just how epic the bay's proportions are. Jervis Bay's still, clear, safe waters are an excellent place to paddleboard. Book a lesson with Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle and, after learning the basics, you'll take a mini-tour, watching out for eagle rays and blue gropers diving beneath your board. To go further afield, take a half-day or full-day tour with Sea Kayak Jervis Bay. You'll learn paddling techniques, trivia-comp-winning facts about the bay and, between paddling sessions, you'll stop for coffee, cake, fruit and a dip at a stunning beach. If you're feeling intrepid, venture away from the shoreline to Bowen Island. It's illegal to disembark, but there's stacks to see from your boat, including fairy penguins — approximately 5000 breeding pairs live there. For a gentle stroll, take the White Sands Walk and Scribbly Gum Track — a 2.5-kilometre loop, taking in Hyams, Greenfields and Seamans Beaches. Make sure you check the National Parks website for any alerts before you venture out. In Booderee National Park, which stretches across Jervis Bay's southern headland, head to Cape St George Lighthouse for dizzying cliffs, diving sea eagles and tragic sailors' tales. Go to Green Patch for more white sand, possums, kangaroos and camping. And, for surf, make tracks to Cave Beach or Steamers Beach, both outside the bay. [caption id="attachment_770505" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hyams Beach Seaside Cottages[/caption] STAY For proximity to restaurants and shops, stay in Huskisson. And Hukisson Hotel, located right by the water is one of our favourite places to stay by Jervis Bay. Alternatively, the Huskisson Holiday Motel Cabins is great for those who don't want to be right in the town centre. And if it's bushland and bird songs are more your jam, head to Hyams Beach. Back in the 1920s, a bunch of fishermen built a group of pocket-sized dwellings there, just 60 metres from the water. Now, they've been transformed into the Hyams Beach Seaside Cottages. Painted dusky pink, baby blue and canary yellow, each one has a little porch and ocean views, plus polished wooden floors and an ultra-comfortable, queen-sized bed inside. Travelling with mates? JB Beach Houses gives you a choice of six holiday homes. You'll find the properties metres from the beach and right on the edge of the national park. At Scarborough, you're greeted by a spacious deck overlooking Hyams Beach — a dreamy place to watch birds, read and do absolutely nothing. There's space for up to eight sleepers and it has direct beach access for when you fancy a cheeky midnight dip. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Jervis Bay by Hutchings Camps via Tourism Australia
When April 1 rolls around, it's always best to approach the day's news with a sense of humour, but one of this year's best gags isn't just a joke. For April Fool's Day, Google Maps transformed into a giant online game of Where's Waldo? — and it's available to play all week. After the company's Mario Kart caper a few weeks back, and their Pac-Man April Fool's Day update a few years back as well, it's now another iconic character's turn to roam through Maps. As anyone who has leafed through the books will know — aka everyone — good ol' red-and-white jumper-wearing Waldo likes to hide in plain sight, which means that it's up to you to find him. https://twitter.com/googlemaps/status/980203086512869376 Anyone keen to play along simply needs to update their Maps app or visit the desktop version, where Waldo is waiting to be spotted. You'll first find him waving to you from the side of the screen, and then you'll work your way through the game's five levels to find him in various places around the world. If that's not enough addictive fun, you can also try to locate his friends Wenda, Woof, Wizard Whitebeard and Odlaw. Chilean snowfields, the beach at Australia's own Surfers Paradise and South Korea's Olympic Stadium are just a few of the stops on Waldo's world tour. And yes, even when he's in countries other than the US and Canada, the game still refers to him as Waldo, rather than Wally. It'll always be Where's Wally? to us, though. Via Google Maps.
One day, the Yarra might be swimmable. But, until then, you need other swimming spots to explore. So far, we've brought you unusual swimming holes, waterfalls and beaches. Now, we're looking at rivers. Here are five near Melbourne where you can cool off — be it in a dramatic gorge on the Werribee River or in a rock pool carved into a creek bed. Just always remember to take care when swimming: currents are often stronger than they appear, and obstacles might be hidden beneath the water. Other than that, just remember your towel, some snacks and to take all your rubbish with you when you leave. Recommended reads: The Best Outdoor Swimming Pools in Melbourne The Best Day Trips From Melbourne to Take in Summer The Best Natural Hot Springs in Victoria The Best One-Day Hikes Near Melbourne [caption id="attachment_703509" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steve Collis via Flickr[/caption] Werribee River, Werribee Gorge State Park If you're keen to immerse yourself in the wilderness — and go for a dip — without going more than an hour out of the city, Werribee Gorge should be top of your list. To reach the water, you'll need to follow the Werribee Gorge Circuit Track — it's a steep, rocky 8.5-kilometre walk, which is challenging and dangerous at times, but comes with rather breathtaking scenery. Have a dip at Needles Beach or keep going until you reach the biggest rock pool, Blackwood. You could find yourself swimming with platypuses — if you do, grab a snap and let Parks Victoria know. The platypus is a threatened species, so Parks keeps a record of all sightings. If you'd like to go canoeing or kayaking, there are designated launch facilities at the Werribee South Boat Ramp and Riverbend Historical Park. How far? Werribee Gorge is an hour northwest of Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_703507" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Strathbogie City Council[/caption] Polly McQuinns, Strathbogie Polly McQuinns — a deep pool on the Seven Creeks just east of Euroa — isn't just a swimming hole. It's a part of Australian folklore. The legend goes that a local man, nicknamed Polly because of his inability to grow facial hair, drowned one night while crossing the river on horseback. His body was never found because, some say, the pool is bottomless, and so, today, Polly continues to haunt its watery depths. As long as you don't spook yourself out with ghost stories, hang about for a dip and a picnic. How far? Polly McQuinns is two hours northeast of Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_703439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Carson via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Pound Bend Reserve, Warrandyte State Park Even though the Yarra River isn't swimmable in the city, there are cleaner spots upstream. Among them is Pound Bend Reserve in Warrandyte State Park, which is only around 30 kilometres northeast of the CBD — making it the closest swimming spot to the city. It's also a great spot to go canoeing or kayaking. Here, you spread out on the rocks with a picnic and wade in the swimming hole encircled by bushland. Then, wander along Pound Bend River Walk, a 1.5-kilometre saunter upstream into koala territory. Just be sure to check the water quality before you go — it's not recommended you swim after rain. And be aware that the currents can get quite strong here. While it's one of our favourite swim spots in Melbourne, there have been quite a few water rescues and drowning incidents here. Never swim alone, and always keep an eye out for your mates who aren't strong swimmers. How far? Pound Bend Reserve is 40 minutes northeast of Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_755716" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brianna Laugher via Flickr[/caption] Mackenzie's Flat, Lerderberg State Park The 40-kilometre-long Lerderderg River begins in the Great Dividing Range, before winding its way southeast to join the Werribee River. Its most spectacular feature is the Lerderderg Gorge, a 300-metre-deep gorge, whose sandstone and slate reveal 500 million years of geological history. There are several swimming holes along it, one of the nicest being MacKenzie's Flat, where the gorge flows into a gentle creek. You'll find barbecues, toilets and grassy picnic spots. How far? Mackenzie's Flat is near Melton, just an hour northwest of Melbourne. Laughing Waters, Eltham Only 45 minutes out of the city, hidden by rambling native bushland, this section of the Yarra River is perfect for lilo-drifting – where one lies on an inflatable and lets the gentle current move you along the deep river banks — and kayaking or canoeing. The small rapids and rock pools are also worth exploring – just watch out for the yabbies! There are no facilities at Laughing Waters (including loos), so make sure you bring everything you need: food, water and the faithful shovel. How far? Laughing Waters is just outside Eltham, about 45 minutes' drive northwest of Melbourne.
Whichever miniatures are stuffed inside a snow globe, a simple shake surrenders them all to the same fate: flakes falling in their tiny dome. Pop culture's enduring murder-mystery obsession can feel much the same way. When the pieces start raining down in Disney+'s seven-part miniseries A Murder at the End of the World, there's much that instantly feels familiar from a heavily populated field of recent and classics whodunnits. That checklist includes a confined single setting, potential victims cooped up with an unknown killer, rampant secrets and lies, fingers pointed everywhere, Nordic noir's frosty climes, an eerie butler, a wealthy host who might just have the most to lose and, of course, a gifted gumshoe sleuthing through the group. A Murder at the End of the World radiates its own Gen Z Sherlock Holmes vibe, though. That's even how its sharp protagonist is described, and early. In the role of 24-year-old hacker-turned-author Darby Hart, Emma Corrin (Lady Chatterley's Lover) also turns Agatha Christie. The OA creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij have put their own intriguing, involving, can't-stop-watching spin on their addition to the genre, as they make clear early. As the duo share writing duties and split time in the director's chair — with Marling also co-starring — they take cues from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Stieg Larsson's sequels as well, all while also sliding their series in alongside Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery; however, the mood, ambition, pursuit of weighty themes, shadowy conspiracies, earnestness and love of telling puzzle-box tales match perfectly with their last show, plus their film collaborations Sound of My Voice and The East. A Murder at the End of the World is a murder-mystery that's as much as twisty, chilly game as it is a musing. Its name nods to its remote Iceland setting, where untimely death does indeed stalk, and also to humanity's possible demise if the warming earth becomes uninhabitable. Among the assembled guests beckoned to a yet-to-open Scandi minimalist-style hotel, topics of conversation include the climate apocalypse, technological possibilities, space's potential, robotics, ever-present surveillance and AI — which the handpicked group's billionaire recluse host Andy Ronson (Clive Owen, American Crime Story) prefers to call "alternative intelligence". Whether the money and power that's splashed around by rich innovators is a lifeline or catastrophic also lingers, even when it isn't specifically addressed. (Yes, A Murder at the End of the World slips into the affluence-savaging terrain that everything from Succession to The Fall of the House of Usher has trodden upon of late.) Introduced walking to a bookstore listening to 'The End' by The Doors and therefore bringing Apocalypse Now to mind, then reading aloud from her true-crime tome The Silver Doe, Darby's existence has been entwined with death since her childhood. The daughter of a coroner, she grew up around crime scenes and in the morgue, and can recite crime statistics about unidentified murder victims. When she was a teenager, she also started investigating a Jane Doe who was found in her town, putting her own detective skills to the test after apathetic law enforcement decided there wasn't enough information to go on. Darby's debut novel steps into that case, particularly the road trip she took with fellow Reddit-aided citizen detective Bill Farrah (Harris Dickinson, Scrapper) to solve it. Flashbacks to the journey flicker through A Murder at the End of the World, twinning the show's two quests to find killers. In the present-day storyline, an unexpected invite follows Darby's reading, with Ronson selecting her to attend an exclusive ideas salon where the future fuels the discourse. From the moment that she steps onto a private jet that looks like a library, she stands out — and long before freshening up the pink in her cropped hair, too. Also en route to the Iceland chatfest: smart-city designer Lu Mei (Joan Chen, The Heart), astronaut Sian (Alice Braga, Hypnotic), filmmaker Martin (Jermaine Fowler, The Drop) and businessman David (Raúl Esparzam, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). Upon arrival, not only Ronson, his famed coder wife (and Darby's idol) Lee (Marling) and their five-year-old son Zoomer (Kellan Tetlow, This Is Us) await, but also climatologist Rohan (Javed Khan, Blind), activist Ziba (Pegah Ferydoni, Almania) and robotics whiz Oliver (Ryan J Haddad, The Politician) — plus security head Todd (Louis Cancelmi, Killers of the Flower Moon) and his doctor partner Eva (Britian Seibert, The Knick), all-knowing AI butler Ray (Edoardo Ballerini, Quarry) and Bill, who is now a Banksy-esque artist known as Fangs, and that she hasn't seen for six years. For the innately cautious Darby and for A Murder at the End of the World's viewers alike, there's zero doubting that everything at this symposium isn't what it seems — and everyone for that matter. Then there's a body in the hotel's frozen midst, with more questions showering down, Darby the chief person doing the asking and the reception mostly biting. Interpretative dance doesn't play a part, but The OA's commitment to fleshing out its own engrossing realm and reverberating on its own frequency remains alive and well in Marling and Batmanglij's latest project. They're masters of atmosphere. They adore dwelling in complexity. They know how to make compulsive viewing, too, and to think and feel big while doing so. (Another function of the parallel timelines: swelling, sweltering emotions, as a new couple on the road chasing a serial killer are bound to feel, then carry with them for life.) Marling and Batmanglii also push Corrin to the fore, as well as far away from stepping into Princess Diana's shoes in The Crown's fourth season. The resulting performance is magnificent. Casting is as crucial to any whodunnit as a case to solve — or two here — with A Murder at the End of the World's lead proving an impeccable choice. Their task is considerable, both as their Nancy Drew surrogate embarks upon a chase with American Honey's warm aesthetic and as the character gets so immersed in iciness that they could use The Killing's jumpers. While flitting between those sultry and glacial surroundings, and from the eagerness of a shy but razor-smart teen pursuing a passion and discovering more of the world to a warier twentysomething grappling with loss and survival, their face conveys a blizzard of thoughts and feelings. Cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen (Sharper) patiently and probingly stays close, usually. A Murder at the End of the World's penetrating frames also revel in Corrin's chemistry with Dickinson, a pair to run away to the end of the world with. This is a stylishly shot and seductive series, but it's all the more alluring when Corrin and Dickinson are together at its centre; empathy beats at the core of Darby and Bill's approach to righting the world's wrongs and finding justice for victims that time has forgotten, as it does in the portrayals behind them, plus the series around that. Owen and Marling make another entrancing pair, embodying the trait that Marling and Batmanglii love as much as sincerity: slipperiness. Craftiness abounds in the plot, in its hack-or-be-killed tech-driven sleuthing and in weaving together the show's many potent fixations — misogyny, capitalism and economic inequality among them. Shake this snow globe for more and you won't want to stop. Check out the trailer for A Murder at the End of the World below: A Murder at the End of the World streams via Disney+ from Tuesday, November 14.
Carnegie has landed a vibey new venue that is set to be a game-changer for the usual, casual fare found on the always busy Koornang Road. The bustling dining strip is filled with decades-old dumpling institutions, quiet cafes, family-favourite unassuming take-away spots, and a vibrant mix of shopfronts. Now, Tyga has arrived to bring a new energy, modern design, and refined menu to what is otherwise a mostly modest selection of venues. Restaurateur Tommy Tong is conveniently familiar with the area, having run the always-busy Saigon Mama Vietnamese joint just down the road for many years. While he could have chosen a more expected location for a venue like TYGA, perhaps the CBD or Windsor, Tong decided to take a calculated risk and bring something new, something fresh, and something enticing to Melbourne's South East. The neo-Southeast Asian restaurant channels the energy, rhythm and flavour of 1970s Bangkok with a nostalgic retro fit-out, non-stop spinning vinyls, and bold and fresh ingredients. Design agency Brandworks has done a stellar job at bringing their vision of a 'stylo milo' design (a Singaporean slang term for something that is effortlessly stylish, fashionable and cool) to life. Glass bricks at the entrance filter the streetlight into a soft glow, vibrant and colourful canvases are eye-catching and alluring, and the olive leather banquettes are comfortable and inviting. Vinyl DJ decks have a prime position on the bar, from which inventive cocktails such as the Wild Tyga with tom-yum mezcal, rhum agridolce, mandarin cucacao and agave, and the Ceylon Alexander with coconut rum, Licor 43, Ceylon Tea and cream, are served. While the music might be loud, and the fitout a standout, the food holds its own with a menu that is both comforting and familiar, and challenging and creative. Burrata is served atop a thick tom yum sauce with King prawns and yaowarat doughnuts. Nasi Lemak is reimagined into a tartare with smoked sambal, puffed rice and egg puree. Woodfired bone barrow is accompanied by crab sambal and a show-stopping coconut roti that makes you want to order many more. There's also the likes of Kingfish larb, Borneo Hinava, beef cheek bò kho, pork chop de Saigon, mushroom and eggplant kra pao, and Chinatown crab noodles. Tyga is fun and loud, nostalgic yet modern, cheeky and charming. It captures the essence of the soulful spirit of Southeast Asia and transports it all the way to Koornang Road, Carnegie. Images: Flat Pack Studio.
Omakase is hot right now. And it only seems to be getting more and more popular. Melburnians can't get enough of this high-end Japanese dining experience where guests are served multiple courses of artful, meticulously crafted seafood-centric eats from what is basically their personal chef for an evening. Sit back and chat with your chef as they plate up 20 or so small dishes (sushi, nigiri, sashimi — and more). And these are chefs who are the elite and total masters of their trade. Yes, the highly fought-over chefs and the quality of ingredients will make this an expensive dining experience, but it is worth it if you can afford it — and if you you know where to find the best omakase in Melbourne. We've lined up a few of the greatest below, so read through and see which will best suit your next extra luxurious date night or birthday celebration. Recommended reads: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Sushi in Melbourne The Best Ramen in Melbourne The Best Restaurants in Melbourne
Global street-dance ambassadors The Royal Family Dance Crew are officially headed to Melbourne. RISING will announce the first major instalment of its 2026 program, a blockbuster all-ages showcase titled Defend the Throne, set to ignite Hamer Hall on Sunday June 7. Led by visionary choreographer Parris Goebel, the New Zealand powerhouse has spent more than a decade shaping the visual language of modern pop culture. Their footprints are everywhere: from Justin Bieber's viral "Sorry" video, now sitting at over 4 billion views, to Rihanna's explosive Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, and the unforgettable J. Lo and Shakira Super Bowl LIV performance. In short, if you've watched any major pop moment in the last 10 years, you've seen Royal Family's influence. Now, Melbourne audiences will get a rare chance to witness that legacy live. Defend the Throne brings together the crew's most iconic sets from the past 14 years, blending high-precision choreography, jaw-dropping synchronicity, and their signature fusion of hip hop, street dance, and storytelling. The production will also debut brand-new choreography created exclusively for its Melbourne premiere. This announcement is not just a standalone highlight, it marks the first international reveal of the upcoming Australian Dance Biennial, a new platform that RISING will launch in 2026 to spotlight Australian dance alongside groundbreaking international work. High-energy, all-ages, and undeniably iconic, Defend the Throne is expected to be one of the most anticipated dance events of the year.
Soak Bathhouse has become a go-to spot to unplug in New South Wales and Queensland, combining an urban oasis with more than a little restorative magic. Now it's finally time for Victorian spa-seekers to dive in, as the brand has just opened its first bathhouse in the state. Best of all, you won't have to leave town to reach it — it's situated smack-bang in the heart of South Yarra. Located within a $100 million precinct designed by the award-winning Carr Architects, this luxe destination offers abundant conscious connection and moments of bliss. Featuring the full spectrum of relaxation experiences across 700 square metres, this sprawling site is one of Soak's largest bathhouses, making it a truly special encounter for those looking to maximise their rejuvenation. "The expansion to Melbourne marks an exciting chapter for Soak Bathhouse, as we continue to grow and bring our distinctive concept of micro-doses of wellness to more cities," say Soak Bathhouse owners Alexis and Niki Dean. "Our mission has always been to create an oasis of relaxation in urban settings, and the new South Yarra location will be no exception." Pairing city-centric convenience with natural serenity, Soak Bathhouse South Yarra boasts an array of peace-inducing amenities adorned with leafy greenery. Slide into temperate magnesium pools, let go of any stress in hot spas, or sweat it out in a dry cedarwood sauna and steam room. Then, sharpen the mind with a cold plunge before kicking back in a cosy lounge. Whatever encounter you're looking for, this urban retreat abides. Beyond the pools and saunas, Soak Bathhouse South Yarra also offers a full complement of private wellness experiences. Indulge in a 45-minute infrared sauna session, set to soothe sore muscles and relieve stress. Plus, 20-minute LED facials offer a quick-fire glow-up, while various 50-minute massage bookings will make for a glorious unwind that leaves you feeling born again. Just know, Soak Bathhouse isn't your traditional spa. Think of it as a more social alternative, where enthusiastic conversation and, yes, even loud laughter, are encouraged. Featuring communal unisex amenities, expect upbeat energy, where self-care without the stuffiness of a silent bathhouse is part of the appeal. Alexis explains: "Whether it's a solo visit to unwind after a long day or a social outing with friends, Soak Bathhouse offers a versatile environment that caters to various wellness needs."
Every year, no matter which movies earn Oscars — regardless of what and who is nominated, the titles and talents that miss out, the fun of the ceremony and the scandals that pop up beforehand — the best way to celebrate a great 12 months in cinema is also the easiest. Films are made to be watched, be they blockbuster musicals, deeply personal documentaries, gorgeous animation, sci-fi spectacles, top-notch dramas or anything and everything in-between. If you hadn't seen 2025's newly anointed Academy Award-winners in advance, now's the time to change that. Almost every feature that picked up a gong on Monday, March 3, Down Under time is available to watch this second. Put Flow on your list for later, when it releases mid-March — but check out these other ten winners now. Need the full list of 2025's Oscar recipients? The nominees? Our pre-ceremony predictions regarding what would and should win? A rundown of where the rest of 2025's contenders are screening in Australia? Consider that pre-movie reading, then get comfy at your favourite picture palace or on your couch. Anora Along with playfulness, empathy, and an eagerness to look beyond the usual characters and pockets of America that tend to grace narrative cinema, tenderness is one Sean Baker's special skills, as splashed across the New Jersey-born talent's filmography for more than two decades now. It's in Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket, for instance, all three of which are stunning feats. It also couldn't be more evident in his Cannes Palme d'Or-recipient and now five-time Oscar-winner Anora. The writer/director's work has always been as clear-eyed as movies get, unflinchingly seeing the struggles that his protagonists go through, though — but their troubles are never the be-all and end-all for anyone in front of his lens. No one should be defined by their circumstances, their misfortunes, their unlucky lots in life, their woes, their mistakes, their missed chances, or how their existence does or doesn't measure up to anyone else's, and no one is in Baker's features. He pens, helms and edits with a wholehearted commitment to seeing people who they are. The fact that he undertakes all three roles on his films, each of which earned him an Academy Award here, means that the credit is almost all his, too; it isn't just the use of his beloved Aguafina Script Pro font that signifies a Baker flick. Spotting Cinderella elements and riffs on Pretty Woman isn't hard in Anora, as the picture's eponymous Brooklyn erotic dancer (Mikey Madison, Lady in the Lake) meets, dances for, hangs out with and is soon wed to Vanya, the son (Mark Eydelshteyn, Zhar-ptitsa) of a wealthy Russian oligarch (Aleksey Serebryakov, Lotereya). But just as Ani is always her own person, the magnificent Anora is always a Baker film. Fairytale experiences in life don't always come with a happy ending. Failures aren't always the worst options. Following your heart or whims is rarely either solely sublime or awful. Baker knows this, and so does this feature. Assured yet vulnerable, playing a woman capable of holding her own against mobsters — and standing up to almost anything else that comes her way — but not immune to sadness and disappointment, Madison is hypnotic as Ani. Eydelshteyn, Compartment No 6's Yura Borisov as one of the henchmen tasked with babysitting Vanya: they're mesmerising as well. The spirt of Anora — the vivid and audacious way that it bounds from start to finish, the grit and heart that it sports — is equally as pitch-perfect. Oscars: Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing Other nominations: Best Supporting Actor (Yura Borisov) Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and via Apple TV and Prime Video. A Real Pain He didn't feature on-screen in his first film as a writer/director, but 2022's When You Finish Saving the World couldn't have sprung from anyone but Jesse Eisenberg. Neither could've 2024's A Real Pain. In the latter, the Fleishman Is in Trouble actor plays the anxious part, and literally. He's David Kaplan, with his character a bundle of nerves about and during his trip to Poland with his cousin Benji (Kieran Culkin, Succession) — a pilgrimage that they're making in honour of their grandmother, who survived the Second World War, started a new life for their family in the US in the process and has recently passed away. David is highly strung anyway, though. One source of his woes: the ease with which Benji seems to move through his days, whether he's making new friends in their tour group within seconds of being introduced or securing a stash of weed for the journey. With A Real Pain as with When You Finish Saving the World, Eisenberg is shrewdly and committedly examining an inescapable question: what is real pain, and who feels it? Are David's always-evident neuroses more worthy of worry than the despondency that Benji shuttles behind his carefree facade, and is it okay for either to feel the way they do, with their comfortable lives otherwise, in the shadow of such horrors such as the Holocaust? As a filmmaker, Eisenberg keeps interrogating what he knows: A Real Pain's main train of thought, which was When You Finish Saving the World's as well, is one that he ponders himself. Although he's not penning and helming strictly autobiographical movies, his latest does crib some details from reality, swapping out an IRL aunt for a fictional grandmother, as well as a trip that Eisenberg took with his wife for a cousins' act of tribute. It's no wonder, then, that he keeps crafting deeply felt features that resound with raw emotion, and that leave viewers feeling like they could walk right into them. With A Real Pain, he also turns in a stellar performance of his own and directs another from Culkin, who steps into Benji's shoes like he wears them himself everyday (and takes on a part that his director originally had earmarked for himself). Thrumming at the heart of the dramedy, and in its two main players, is a notion that demands facing head-on, too: that experiencing our own pain, whether big or small, world-shattering or seemingly trivial, or personal or existential, is never a minor matter. Oscars: Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Kieran Culkin) Other nominations: Best Original Screenplay Where to watch: in Australian cinemas, and via Disney+, Apple TV and Prime Video. Read our full review and our interview with Jesse Eisenberg. The Brutalist Since switching from acting to writing and directing — in his on-screen days, Thirteen, Mysterious Skin, Funny Games, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Melancholia, Force Majeure, Clouds of Sils Maria, Eden and While We're Young were among his credits, spanning works by quite the array of excellent fellow filmmakers — Brady Corbet hasn't lacked in ambition for a second. Still, as excellent as both Childhood of a Leader and Vox Lux are, and they are, his third feature towers above them. With Adrien Brody (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) as Hungarian Jewish architect László Toth, The Brutalist is as epic as a three-and-a-half-hour drama about trying to escape life's horrors, including those of the Holocaust, by chasing the American dream can be. The buildings designed by its protagonist aren't the only things that are monumental here, career-best turns by Guy Pearce (Inside) and Felicity Jones (Dead Shot) among them. The Brutalist is a vision, too, with Corbet's ambition apparent in ever millimetre of every frame. (Shooting in VistaVision, a format used for Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest and Vertigo, but last deployed in the US for an entire movie with 1961's One-Eyed Jacks: yes, that's bold as well). Crossing the world is meant to bring the Toth family a new beginning. Waiting for his wife Erzsébet (Jones) to follow, and their young niece (Raffey Cassidy, a Vox Lux alum) with her, László arrives in New York and then Philadelphia solo, however — and etching out a fresh start with help from his cousin Attila (Alessandro Nivola, The Room Next Door) doesn't pan out the way he hopes. Neither does scoring a job revamping the personal library of the wealthy Harrison Lee Van Buren (Pearce), even when it seems to, then doesn't, then sparks the opportunity of László's dreams. Given everything that its protagonist needs to wade through, as does Corbet thematically, it's no wonder that The Brutalist clocks in at three-and-a-half hours with its intermission. Not a moment is wasted, that mid-movie pause included. As it muses on what it means to leave a legacy, this is a film to sit with. It's filled with performances that demand the same. Brody, Pearce, Jones: what a haunting trio. Oscars: Won: Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Other nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Supporting Actor (Guy Pearce), Best Supporting Actress (Felicity Jones), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our interview with Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones and Brady Corbet. Conclave Who knew that papal succession would become a film and TV trend? Fights for supremacy have driven three of the biggest television shows of the past 15 years, of course — Game of Thrones, Succession and Shogun — so repeatedly bringing the battle for the head Catholic Church job to the screen shouldn't come as a surprise. The Young Pope, The New Pope, The Two Popes, Conclave: they've all headed to the Vatican. The latter is quite the entertaining thriller, too. The idea behind this page-to-screen delight, as based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris: cardinals, they're just like everyone else seeking power, aka bickering, gossiping, scheming, feuding and trying to find their way to the top by any means possible. Here, when the pope passes, Canadian cardinal Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow, The Old Man), American cardinal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci, Citadel), Nigerian cardinal Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati, A Gentleman in Moscow) and Mexican cardinal Vincent Benitez (feature first-timer Carlos Diehz) are among the contenders vying to step into their religion's ultimate position — all with differing views on social issues, ranging from liberal to conservative leanings. Voting for a new pope is a ceremony that lends itself to theatricality on-screen, which Conclave eagerly captures. The manoeuvring guiding the College of Cardinals' various rounds of choices is the movie's focus; trying to win support is an election campaign, and a heated one. At the heart of the drama is Britain's cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes, The Return), Dean of the College, and also responsible for ascertaining the complete circumstances surrounding the last pope's death. Aided by a stellar cast that's answering viewers' prayers (also outstanding: Spaceman's Isabella Rossellini as Head Caterer Sister Agnes), filmmaker Edward Berger swaps World War I's horrors in fellow Oscar-winner All Quiet on the Western Front for a pulpy and twisty but smart affair. He hasn't completely switched thematically, though: how tradition and modernity butt against each other also remains in the director's view amid Conclave's many secrets and scandals. Oscars: Won: Best Adapted Screenplay Other nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Best Supporting Actress (Isabella Rossellini), Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Production Design Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and via Apple TV and Prime Video. Dune: Part Two Revenge is a dish best served sandy in Dune: Part Two. On the desert planet of Arrakis, where golden hills as far as the eye can see are shaped from the most-coveted and -psychedelic substance in author Frank Herbert's estimation, there's no other way. Vengeance is just one course on Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet, Wonka) menu, however. Pop culture's supreme spice boy, heir to the stewardship of his adopted realm, has a prophecy to fulfil whether he likes it or not; propaganda to navigate, especially about him being the messiah; and an Indigenous population, the Fremen, to prove himself to. So mines Denis Villeneuve's soaring sequel to 2021's Dune, which continues exploring the costs and consequences of relentless quests for power — plus the justifications, compromises, tragedies and narratives that are inescapable in such pursuits. The filmmaker crafts his fourth contemplative and breathtaking sci-fi movie in a row, then, after Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 as well. The vast arid expanse that constantly pervades the frames in Dune: Part Two isn't solely a stunning sight. It looks spectacular, as the entire feature does, with Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser (The Creator) back after winning an Oscar for the first Dune; but as Paul, his widowed mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo), and Fremen Stilgar (Javier Bardem, The Little Mermaid) and Chani (Zendaya, Euphoria) traverse it, it helps carve in some of this page-to-screen saga's fundamental ideas. So does the stark monochrome when the film jumps to Giedi Prime, home world to House Harkonnen, House Atreides' enemy, plus Arrakis' ruler both before and after Paul's dad Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) got the gig in Villeneuve's initial Dune. People here are dwarfed not only by their mammoth surroundings, but by the bigger, broader, non-stop push for supremacy. While there's no shortage of detail in both Part One and Part Two — emotional, thematic and visual alike — there's also no avoiding that battling against being mere pawns in an intergalactic game of chess is another of its characters' complicated fights. Oscars: Won: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Other nominations: Best Picture, Best, Cinematography, Best Production Design, Where to watch: Via Netflix, Binge, Apple TV and Prime Video. Read our full review and our interview with Greig Fraser. Emilia Pérez As it follows its namesake character's (Karla Sofía Gascón, Harina) identity-swapping journey from cartel leader to trying to live her authentic life, Emilia Pérez isn't just a musical and a crime drama rolled into one. It's also happily and devotedly a melodrama — and French filmmaker Jacques Audiard (Paris, 13th District) goes bold in leaning in, and in embracing the juxtapositions of the movie's three main genres as they jostle against each other. That audacity; that willingness to be both spectacular and messy again and again; the feature's three key performances, including from Zoe Saldaña (Special Ops: Lioness) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building): they all assist in making this vivid viewing. Also pivotal: the clear cues that A Prophet and Rust and Bone writer and helmer Audiard has taken from the work of Spanish great Pedro Almodóvar. The Room Next Door, the latter's latest, was completely overlooked by this year's Oscars, but it's easy to connect the dots between Almodóvar's immense filmography over four decades now and the look, feel and themes of Emilia Pérez. In Mexico City, defence attorney Rita Mora Castro (Saldaña) begins the film languishing in her job and its grey areas. She wins a high-profile case, but knows that she shouldn't have. Then comes a proposition delivered via an unexpected phone call, plus a secret meeting that she's whisked off to blindfolded: a job to assist a drug kingpin with transitioning from Juan 'Manitas' Del Monte to Emilia Pérez. Making that mission happen isn't simple. Everyone connected to Manitas' old life, wife (Gomez), children and colleagues alike: none of them can know. As it unfurls its story largely through exuberantly staged songs, the film is still really just kicking off when it then hops forward in time, diving into what comes next when Emilia is living her new life and Rita has been well-compensated for her efforts — and, in the process, exploring the consequences of getting what you want, or seeming to. The entire female cast won Cannes Best Actress prize but, after years spent on-screen tinted green (in the Guardians of the Galaxy films) and blue (in the Avatar flicks) in big-budget fare, this is Saldaña's moment to shine. Oscars: Won: Best Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldaña), Best Original Song — 'El Mal' by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard Other nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Best Actress (Karla Sofía Gascón), Best International Feature Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Original Song — 'Mi Camino' by Camille and Clément Ducol Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. I'm Still Here It came as no surprise when Fernanda Torres (Fim) won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Eunice Paiva in Walter Salles' (On the Road) deeply moving political and personal drama. Her understated yet also expressive performance as the real-life wife of Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello, Bury Your Dead), who was taken away by Brazil's military dictatorship in 1971 and never seen again, is that powerful. I'm Still Here poignantly charts the task of endeavouring to endure under such heartbreaking circumstances — under oppressive rule, when your existence crumbles, when your family is fraying courtesy of the trauma and when fighting back is the only choice, too. The film sees the early happy times for the Paivas, even as uncertainty lingers. It watches their lives by the beach, where Eunice, Rubens and their five children fill busy days. It then looks on as the military raids their home, as more than one Paiva is imprisoned and interrogated, and as the husband and father who was previously a congressman doesn't return. Also, it stares solidly as the quest for answers and justice never fades among Rubens' loved ones. Conveying the pain, the fortitude, the grief and the despair of someone in Eunice's situation might seem easy, not that relaying those emotions ever is; who wouldn't feel that way in these circumstances, or understand how someone would? It isn't a straightforward ask, though, giving a part the complexity that every role should demand when much about a character's inner life appears obvious — because the job is to dig far deeper than that, and to unpack what that natural reaction means for this person and this person only. Torres perfects the task. As a director, working with a screenplay that Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega (also collaborators on Mariner of the Mountains) based on Eunice and Rubens' son Marcelo's memoir, Salles is in superb form as well. Teaming up with the filmmaker keeps turning out exceptionally for Torres and her IRL family, with her mother Fernanda Montenegro also Oscar-nominated for Salles' Central Station back in 1999, long before featuring here as the elder Eunice. Oscars: Won: Best International Feature Film Other nominations: Picture, Best Actress (Fernanda Torres) Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. No Other Land In No Other Land, Basel Adra films what he knows but wishes that he doesn't — and what he knows that the world needs to see. Co-directing with Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham, plus farmer and photographer Hamdan Ballal and cinematographer Rachel Szor, the Palestinian activist chronicles the takeover of the West Bank region of Masafer Yatta, purportedly for an Israeli military base. As a result of the latter, families with generations and centuries of ties to the land are forced to dwell in caves, battle soldiers and fight to survive. Their possessions, their homes, their lives: none seem to mean anything to those displacing the area's villagers. The suffering, the deaths, the grief, the children growing up knowing nothing but a literally underground existence: that doesn't resonate with the occupation, either, or with the trigger-happy soldiers patrolling in its name. Also falling on deaf ears: the please that gives this documentary its title, from a woman understandably asking where else these communities are meant to go. The apathy and worse that's directed towards Adra's family and other Palestinians in No Other Land, as captured in footage spanning from 2019–2023, could never be shared by this film's audience. As is plain to see by everyone watching, making this doco is an act of bravery of the highest order. It's also a downright daring feat — not only to record its contents in the most difficult of circumstances, at a potentially fatal cost, but with two Palestinians and two Israelis coming together to make the movie happen. Viewing No Other Land, and bearing witness as Adra demands, couldn't be more essential. It's as distressing as cinema gets, too, especially as the campaign of destruction against Masafer Yatta's residents just keeps repeating within its frames. While the urgency of Adra, Abraham, Ballal and Szor's film is inherent, thrumming from start to finish, so too is the thought and care that's gone into its construction. As with 2024 Oscar-winner 20 Days in Mariupol , this is truly unforgettable cinema. Oscars: Won: Best Documentary Feature Other nominations: NA Where to watch: Via DocPlay. ano The Substance If you suddenly looked like society's ideal, how would it change your life? The Substance asks this. In a completely different way, so does fellow Golden Globe-winner A Different Man (see: below), too — but when Revenge's Coralie Fargeat is leading the charge on her long-awaited sophomore feature and earning Cannes' Best Screenplay Award for her troubles, the result is a new body-horror masterpiece. Pump it up: the sci-fi concept; the stunning command of sound, vision and tone; the savagery and smarts; the gonzo willingness to keep pushing and parodying; the gore (and there's gore); and the career-reviving performance from Demi Moore (Landman). The Substance's star has popped up in Feud, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Please Baby Please and Brave New World in recent years, but her work as Elisabeth Sparkle not only defines this period of her life as an actor; even with an on-screen resume dating back to 1981, and with the 80s- and 90s-era likes of St Elmo's Fire, Ghost, A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal and Disclosure to her name, she'll always be known for this from this point onwards, regardless of whether awards keep rolling in. Turning 50 isn't cause for celebration for Elisabeth. She's already seen film roles pass her by over the years; on her birthday, she's now pushed out of her long-running gig hosting an aerobics show. Enter a solution, as well as another 'what if?' question: if you could reclaim your youth by injecting yourself with a mysterious liquid, would you? Here, The Substance's protagonist takes the curious serum. Enter Sue (Margaret Qualley, Drive-Away Dolls), who helps Elisabeth wind back time — and soon wants Elisabeth's time as her own. Just like someone seeking the glory days that she thinks are behind her via any means possible, Fargeat isn't being subtle with The Substance, not for a second. She goes big and brutal instead, and audacious and morbid as well, and this is the unforgettable picture it is because of it. No one holds back — not Elisabeth, not Sue, not Moore, not the also-fantastic Qualley, not Dennis Quaid (Lawman: Bass Reeves) eating shrimp, not Fargeat, and definitely not cinematographer Benjamin Kracun (Promising Young Woman) or composer Raffertie (99). Oscars: Won: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Other nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Coralie Fargeat), Best Actress (Demi Moore), Best Original Screenplay, Where to watch: Via Stan, Apple TV and Prime Video. Read our full review. Wicked The colour scheme was always a given. "Pink goes good with green," Galinda (Ariana Grande, Don't Look Up) tells Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo, Luther: The Fallen Sun). "It goes well with green," the grammar-correcting reply bounces back. The songs, beloved echoing from the stage since 2003, were never in doubt, either, as both centrepieces and a soundtrack. As a theatre-kid obsession for decades, it was also long likely that the big-screen adaptation of Wicked — a movie based on an immensely popular and successful musical springing from a book that offered a prequel to a film that walked the celluloid road 85 years ago, itself jumping from the page to the screen — would have big theatre-kid energy as it attempted to ensure that its magic enchants across mediums. Enough such buzz and verve to fill every theatre on Broadway radiates from Grande alone in the two-part franchise's first instalment, beaming from someone who, as a kid, won an auction to meet the OG Wicked good witch Kristin Chenoweth (Our Little Secret) backstage. For audiences watching on, that enthusiasm is impossible not to feel. No one would ever want a muted Wicked, where the hues, in yellow bricks and emerald cities and more (rainbows of tulips and sprawling university campuses, too) weren't trying to compete with Technicolor — and where the tunes, with Chenoweth and Idina Menzel's (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) voices previously behind them in such full force, weren't belted to the rafters. Jon M Chu has a knack as a filmmaker of stage hits reaching cinemas: matching the vibe of the show that he's taking on expertly. It was true of his version of In the Heights, which is no small matter given that it's a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical. It now proves the case in its own different way with Wicked. Achieving such a feat isn't always a given; sometimes, even when it does happen, and blatantly, any stage spark can be lost in translation (see: Cats). Again, movie viewers can feel that synergy with Wicked's first part, and also feel how much it means to everyone involved. Oscars: Won: Best Costume Design, Best Production Design Other nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and via Apple TV and Prime Video. Read our full review and our interview with Nathan Crowley. Looking for more Oscar-nominees to watch? You can also check out our full rundown of where almost all of this year's contenders are screening or streaming in Australia.
If the name Zoncello sounds familiar, it's likely because you enjoyed a glass (or two, or three) of the bubbly, yellow-tinted, too-easy-to-drink Limoncello spritz over the summer. The famed Italian sparkling fizz is so popular that it has now found its own home in Healesville, with Zoncello Yarra Valley opening its doors. The new Yarra Valley drinking and dining destination is the second outpost from the group behind Zonzo Estate, which has been in the works for over ten years. Zonzo Estate Director Rod Micallef says of Zonzo's playful little sibling, "Zoncello is a natural extension of the brand. It's about energy, connection and indulgence. Just like our spritzes, the venue is designed to be fun, vibrant, and a little bit brazen, while still deeply rooted in Italian tradition." Zoncello has taken over the large industrial-style venue that housed Innocent Bystander for many years, which has been reimagined by interior designer Claire Larrit Evans. The brief — to create a space as "effervescent as the drinks themselves" — was met with a layered colour palette of vibrant, summery tones, and surprising textures and finishes. There are inviting booths that lend themselves to boozy long lunches, extended communal tables perfect for large groups and private dining rooms suited to host lively celebrations. Larrit Evans says she wanted the space to be "vibrant, warm and deeply considered. Zoncello had to be a destination in every sense, rewarding the journey to the Yarra Valley with an experience that feels immersive and memorable." The menu, designed by Executive Chef David Petrilli, was created to be savoured alongside a fresh spritz in hand. The approachable and easy-to-share Italian menu features an impressive selection of cold cuts, as well as cheesy things and pickled goodies from the in-house salumeria. There is everything from wagyu bresaola to truffle and squid ink salami, to local buffalo mozzarella, dry-cured black olives and Roman artichokes. While picking at these snacks, alongside a few share plates — we'd go for the charred rye toast with confit tomato and anchovies, the Sicilian fried chicken with chilli and pickled zucchini, and the eggplant croquettes — you could easily down a bottle or two of Zoncello. While you're at it, try the green-hued, world-first Cicchio Pistachio Spritz. If you're after something more substantial, there is woodfired pizza, handmade pasta, mains and sides, and Zoncello's signature dish, arrosticini. These skewers of lamb or chicken are cooked over white eucalyptus charcoal, a specialty originating in Italy's Abruzzo region. There is also an 'Italian Party' sharing menu, if you want to sample the best the kitchen has to offer, which is definitely the easy option for large groups. Images: Andersen Studios.
Death & Co, founded in New York City in 2006, is a modern craft cocktail bar that has been instrumental in shaping the industry. Now, the brand has chosen Australia for its first major move outside the United States. Death & Co has opened its doors in Melbourne at 87 Flinders Lane. The brand will also establish a venue in Brisbane beneath the Regatta Hotel, with a launch date to be announced soon. When Death & Co emerged in the New York bar scene two decades ago, it quickly became a major player in reviving interest in the art of cocktail making. With growing popularity, outposts were established in Los Angeles, Denver and Washington DC. The bars are a must-visit destination for those who take their drinks seriously, and have won many industry awards, including America's Best Cocktail Bar and World's Best Cocktail Menu at the Tales of the Cocktail Convention. Perhaps they heard Aussies take their drinks rather seriously, too, because they chose Melbourne as the brand's first international location. However, because they are so committed to their craft and ensuring the proper Death & Co experience is translated across borders, the Australian venue and bar managers underwent extensive training in the United States. Cara Devine, Venue Manager, says, "Only a handful of hospitality venues globally have as much of a claim to a legacy as Death & Co. It's undeniable that today's cocktail landscape has been moulded, in part, by a small but impactful bar in the East Village of New York. Melbourne, with its thriving food and drink scene and little laneway spots, is a natural fit. But it goes beyond the food and drinks, curiosity and connection are at the core of what Death & Co does – we're thrilled to bring that spirit to Australia with an unmistakable local accent." Death & Co has launched in Melbourne with several of its classic cocktails, including the Naked and Famous, with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Chartreuse, Aperol and lime, and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, which blends El Jimador Reposado, mezcal, agave syrup, and bitters. Signature cocktails available in Melbourne include the likes of the Buko Gimlet with gin, cachaca, coconut, lime and pandan, and the Sound & Fury with El Jimador Blanco, Ancho Reyes, raspberry, red pepper and lime. Otherwise, go for a specialty bespoke experience with the Dealer's Choice, where you engage with the bartender about your preferences, and they will select a drink catered to your liking. A substantial food offering means you can park yourself comfortably on a plush banquette for a full evening out. Snack on gildas, cured kingfish and 'chip & dip' with finely sliced tempura vegetables and whipped taramasalata. You can fill up on a cheeseburger with smoked cheddar, provolone, and burger sauce on a potato bun, before finishing off with a cheesy treat such as a Brillat-Savarin triple cream cheese paired with a mini apple tarte tatin. "This is our first time bringing Death & Co beyond the U.S., so it's a real 'pinch me' moment," says David Kaplan, Founder and Co-Owner of Death & Co. "I first visited Australia when I was six, and have fallen more in love with it every trip, so opening in Melbourne and Brisbane — cities with such inspiring food, beverage, and cocktail cultures — is incredibly special. We can't wait to share what we do, and to learn from a country that's become a global leader in cocktail culture." Images: Zennieshia Butts.
Need some perspective? Grab your hiking boots. There's no better way to get yourself out of your head (and your altitude) than a good old mountain climb. Australia's ranges might not have the height and ruggedness of the Himalayas, but they do have snow gums, wildflowers, seemingly infinite space and wallabies. Autumn is a great season for conquering a peak or two. Depending on where you live, you can knock them out on a day trip, conquer one on a weekend away or plan a whole holiday around a climb. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. [caption id="attachment_750964" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Snowy Mountains[/caption] MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO, NSW Start at the top. Mighty Mount Kosciuszko is the highest peak in Australia. You'll find its towering 2228 metres in the Kosciuszko National Park, around 500 kilometres southwest of Sydney. The most popular route follows the Old Summit Road for 18 kilometres, beginning at Charlotte's Pass. For a longer adventure, take the Main Range Walk, a 22-kilometre loop that takes in several impossibly blue glacial lakes. Either way, you'll find yourself surrounded by spectacular wilderness — and you'll end your journey looking down on Australia. [caption id="attachment_688566" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trevor King/Destination NSW[/caption] MOUNT GOWER ON LORD HOWE ISLAND, NSW Perched 875 metres above the Tasman Sea on Lord Howe Island, the Mount Gower summit walk isn't just a mountain climb — it's a serious adrenalin rush. You'll need a guide in order to tackle this 14-kilometre trail through the island's most inaccessible — and most beautiful — terrain, where you can expect to meet endangered creatures and unusual plants. The peak is covered in a seemingly enchanted forest, filled with mosses and ferns, soundtracked by the sounds of waves crashing nearly a kilometre below. Lord Howe Island is just under two hours' flight east of Sydney and is one of Australia's best islands for a holiday. [caption id="attachment_690974" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Charles Hill/Tourism Tasmania[/caption] CRADLE MOUNTAIN, TASMANIA From a distance, Cradle Mountain, which is perched on the shores of Dove Lake, looks like a challenge fit for Frodo Baggins. And it pretty much is. The 13-kilometre circuit includes quite a bit of rock scrambling and boulder hopping among ancient rainforest, rushing streams and wild creatures. Get to the summit and your efforts will be well rewarded with absolutely magical vistas of Cradle Mountain-Lake Saint Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Finish off your holiday with a food-centric road trip or continue hiking along the iconic Overland Track, a 65-kilometre, six-day adventure. [caption id="attachment_690956" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Rains/Tourism WA[/caption] BURRINGURRAH (MOUNT AUGUSTUS), WESTERN AUSTRALIA Burringurrah (also known as Mount Augustus) isn't just a mountain, but an island too. Like Uluru, it's an inselberg — that is, an island mountain, a single rock formation that rises dramatically from surrounding plains. But you can climb it. The tough 12-kilometre return trail spends most of its time among native shrubs and flowers, including wattle, cassias and figworts, and the views are panoramic. As the day passes, you'll notice the changing light bringing various colours out of the landscape. If this walk sounds too difficult, there are plenty of shorter trails to choose from. However, you can only climb during the day, as the Wajarri community — Burringurrah's traditional custodians — request that no one climb the inselberg after dark. [caption id="attachment_690946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] World Expeditions/Tourism Australia[/caption] MOUNT SONDER, NORTHERN TERRITORY There are two ways to master Mount Sonder: as the finale of the 223-kilometre Larapinta Trail, or as a day trip. Its rich red peak, at 1380 metres, is the highest point in the West MacDonnell Ranges and the fourth highest mountain in the Northern Territory. The trail is a steady climb, leading eventually to high slopes dotted with round-leafed mallee and native pines. Keep your eyes down for grey-headed honeyeaters and desert mice and up for wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons. [caption id="attachment_724172" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn courtesy of Visit Victoria[/caption] MOUNT DUWUL (WILLIAM), VICTORIA Another peak that's good for newbie mountain goats is Mount Duwul, also called Mount William. At 1167 metres, it's the highest peak in the Grampians, which lie around 270 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. You can drive much of the way to the base, so the walk is just 45 minutes. For minimum effort, the rewards are major: the summit affords mind blowing views of the Grampians' many plateaus, rocks formations and swathes of wilderness. [caption id="attachment_690954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rawnsley Park Station/South Australia Tourism Commission[/caption] RAWNSLEY BLUFF, SOUTH AUSTRALIA There are numerous peaks to conquer in the Flinders Ranges, a mountain range 200 kilometres north of Adelaide. St Mary's Peak is the highest, but since the Adnyamathanha People have requested that walkers keep away from the summit, considerate hikers have been pursuing other possibilities. One of these is Rawnsley Bluff. The 11-kilometre return trail immerses you in a spectacular arid landscape, dotted with wildflowers, roos and emus. At the top, prepare for breathtaking panoramas of Wilpena Pound (Ikara), the Elder Range and the Flinders Ranges. [caption id="attachment_614775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tamyka Bell/Flickr[/caption] MOUNT BOGONG, VICTORIA Mount Bogong, at 1986 metres high, is the highest mountain in Victoria. It's in the Alpine National Park, around four hours' drive northeast of Melbourne. The one of the more challenging routes is the Staircase Spur: a steep, 16-kilometre climb to the summit. You'll pass through a forest of peppermint gums before reaching Bivouac Hut, which marks the halfway point. Beyond, snow gums line the way, opening onto a rocky ridge and then Bogong's summit: an open plateau that affords 360-degree views of the High Country. If you're looking for a cosy campsite, head to Cleve Cole Hut. [caption id="attachment_690972" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Gray/Wikimedia Commons[/caption] DIDTHUL (PIGEON HOUSE MOUNTAIN), NSW If you're keen to climb, but don't have the skills and fitness of a pro mountaineer, make tracks to Didthul (Pigeon House Mountain), which lies around four hours south of Sydney in the Budawang National Park. Unlike many of the other peaks on this list, it's a relatively easy trail. The five-kilometre return walk is clearly marked and ends in awe-inspiring views of wilderness plus coast: on a good day, you'll see as far north as Jervis Bay and as far south as Bermagui. [caption id="attachment_690952" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] MOUNT BARNEY, QUEENSLAND Twenty-four million years ago, the Focal Peak Shield Volcano erupted leaving behind a collection of craggy peaks, including Mount Barney, which, at 1359 metres, is the second highest mountain in South East Queensland. You'll find it within the Scenic Rim, a land of ancient rainforest, rugged scenery and little villages in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Fair warning: the trail is challenging and tricky to navigate at times, so you'll want some bush walking experience under your belt. Should you make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with uninterrupted views of nearby volcanic peaks Mount Maroon, Mount Ernest and Mount Lindesay. Top image: Cradle Mountain by Jason Charles Hill/Tourism Tasmania.
Stiff drinks have flowed freely on the corner of Russell and Little Collins Streets for almost 160 years, most recently as The Crafty Squire. Now, this enduring cornerstone watering hole has been reborn as the Hickens Hotel, following an extensive $12-million renovation. Transformed from top to bottom, this four-level CBD pub has two new floors to explore, including a fresh rooftop primed for sunny days and warm nights. On the ground floor, the Hickens Front Bar resonates with everything special about the Melbourne pub scene. Cosy and casual, this spot will become a go-to for post-work knock-offs and low-key meals. This level is also home to an Australian first — the Carlton Lounge. Themed around an undying love for Carlton Draught, this bar goes beyond a simple tribute, decked out with 70s-inspired decor, a pool table and the freshest pints poured from copper tanks. Upstairs, Level One is where dining takes centre stage. Featuring a menu stacked with Aussie pub classics — some playfully elevated — options include cheese and Vegemite garlic bread, a pork and duck sausage roll with HP sauce, and roasted chook rolls slathered with Melbourne Bitter gravy. For something heartier, check out the spiced goat and pale ale pie or the 300-gram scotch fillet, served with chips, salad, Diane sauce and XPA beer mustard. While there are screens on every level, Abe's Athletic Hall is the top spot to catch the game. Featuring massive wall-to-wall screens where you won't miss a moment, there's also the option of booking a booth with a private screen to keep a closer eye on the action. The level is also jam-packed with arcade games and foosball tables, so challenge your pals to NBA Jam or head to the karaoke room when your game-day sesh evolves into all-night fun. Topping off the Hickens Hotel is The Rooftop — a newly launched openair haven taken up a notch by inner-city views and an upbeat atmosphere. From here, expect cocktails in the sun, late-night debauchery and social celebrations made even better by the constant hum of the CBD in the background. "Hickens is now the spot to go to in the city! We've dialled in on what makes a pub great, leaning into a nostalgic and playful personality," says Hickens Hotel Venue Manager, Giuseppe Lacava. Despite its comprehensive makeover, the pub hasn't forgotten to acknowledge its colourful past. Previously called the Hickens Hotel in the 1870s — named so by infamous British boxer and publican Ebenezer "Abe" Hicken — the modern-day hotel won't feature the same dubious boxing bouts once organised by the namesake rebel rouser. But it might attract a similarly boisterous crowd keen to make the most of its multi-level experience, brimming with good food, high-energy sports and lively entertainment.
