An emotion-dripping tale of love, loneliness and yearning against a backdrop of festering societal tension — as shot with swoon-worthy red-hued imagery, too — Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love isn't easily forgotten. And, for the past 20 years, anyone who has seen the 1960s Hong Kong-set romantic drama hasn't wanted to. Based on their new live performance, that includes Rainbow Chan, Eugene Choi and Marcus Whale. With In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong, the trio join forces to pay tribute to this 2000 movie masterpiece — and to take inspiration from it. As streamed live at 9pm AEST on Saturday, September 26 from the Sydney Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre, they're serving up a moody, dreamy new song cycle that ponders and responds to In the Mood for Love's parting words: "that era is past, nothing that belonged to it exists anymore". As well as new music by Chan and Whale, plus narration from Choi, this world-premiere performance will feature a set that'll look like it has been plucked from the movie, 60s-style costumes, a bossa nova dance and new renditions of the film's soundtrack — with plenty of sax. And, it'll also pair all of the above with visuals that are meant to ponder what Wong's feature would look like if it was made today. Basically, viewers are set for an ode and a re-interpretation, with the latter firmly relevant to the lockdown era. If you can't watch along live, In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong will also be available to stream on-demand from Saturday, September 26 . [caption id="attachment_783477" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong streams at 9pm AEST on Saturday, September 26 — and will be available to watch on-demand afterwards. Top image: Daniel Boud.
Top-notch restaurants, bars, cafes and wellbeing facilities live side by side at St Kilda's legendary sea baths. The storied history of the beachfront landmark is as colourful as its home suburb, with the current iteration opening in 2001. It was modelled off the Spanish-Moorish design of the 1931 complex that sat on the same site. The Sea Baths are a hive of activity on just about any day of the year, whether punters are unwinding with a drink by the beach at watering holes like Captain Baxter, or getting in laps at the heated, indoor, 25-metre seawater pool. The on-site health club — these are sea baths, after all — also boasts a hydrotherapy spa pool and steam room, while offering club, group or private swimming lessons for all ages. Feeling adventurous? St Kilda Sea Baths is also home to Kite Republic, which offers lessons and equipment hire for stand-up paddleboarding, kiteboarding, windsurfing and hydrofoiling. Images: Julia Sansone
Mörk has been kicking around since 2012, showing Melburnians just how good a hot chocolate can taste. Taking their cues from Melbourne's coffee culture, owners Josefin Zernell and Kiril Shaginov have grown this drinking chocolate brand to include three stores and a chocolate foundry in North Melbourne. You'll also see its drinking chocolate powders and pastries stocked at some of Melbourne's best cafes. But the owners aren't stopping there. They spent two years creating the two-storey Mörk Looking Glass concept store on Centre Place — one of the graffiti-clad laneways near Degraves Street. Here, you'll find Mörk's classic drinking chocolate blends, cinnamon and cardamom buns, chocolate spreads and morsels, pre-mixed cocktails, and its famous Campfire Hot Chocolate — served with smoke, charcoal salt and a freshly toasted marshmallow that's also made in-house. Coffee from Patricia is also available for those needing a caffeine fix instead of chocolate. Zernell and Shaginov are using this site to showcase just how fun and experimental the humble hot chocolate can be, and have even dreamt up a new drink for Mörk Looking Glass: The Layered Chocolate. For this, a dark hot chocolate base is topped with caramelised banana, saffron custard and freshly grated lime zest. And while some of these experimental creations will make their way into the main storefront, most of them will only be available upstairs in the tasting room. Experimental chocolate bars, elaborate drinking chocolates that never made it onto the menu, chocolate cocktail pairings and creative desserts will all be on show during themed tastings in this space. If you consider yourself a chocoholic, this spot best be on your hit list. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Carlton's John Curtin Hotel — mostly known as simply The Curtin — is a stalwart in Melbourne's live music scene. It hosts gigs all through the week — international bands (Girlpool and The Libertines have recently graced the stage) fill in the schedule along with Melbourne faves and up-and-comers launching EPs. Plus, there's some great pub grub. Sonny's Fried Chicken & Burgers currently has a residency in the pub's kitchen, matching its loaded gig lineup with an offering of American-style chicken. The signature bird is brined for 24 hours, then pressure fried for a perfectly crisp finish. It's a true connoisseur's menu with a fix for any sort of chicken craving, from a two-piece feed of dark or white meat, to a full bird divvied up into "eight pieces of awesome". There are also more sides than you can poke a drumstick at, including Southern-style classics like smokey slow-cooked beans, a zesty bean salad and creamy mash drenched in house gravy.
3D printing technology is a lot to get your head around, especially in regards to the science fiction-esque breakthroughs of the medical world. But in regards to improving your herb garden, 3D printing can lend a hand here as well. Like a family tree for plants, the new 3D Printed Aqueduct Planters have a built in trickle down irrigation system so you only need to soak the top plant in water and the rest will follow. The planter utilizes the connections between each planter as a method of transferring water and saturating the soil from the top planter to the lower plants. This is especially useful for air plants or plants that don’t need a lot of soil. The planter system can be set up in an array of configurations so you can construct your living wall to complement your living space. [via inhabit]
When it comes to shopping in Melbourne, Richmond represents the best of both worlds. It doesn't matter if you prefer the trends of northside or the stylish south, as Richmond has soaked up the influence of its neighbours, offering you an eclectic mix of shops that are tough to beat. The area showcases a collection of cafes and restaurants that highlight just about every conceivable cuisine, and a wide array of fashion boutiques, design studios and fine food suppliers. To help make your next visit to the lively streets of Richmond even more rewarding, we've teamed up with American Express to present you with a few of the suburb's top independent shopping destinations for you to shop small at. These ten spots keep Richmond buzzing and all of them will accept your American Express Card.
Normally a fire that burns out a warehouse doesn't exactly spell good fortune, but for the creators of new events space The Third Day things turned out pretty well. Originally a costume warehouse in the 1920s, the space in North Melbourne was struck by a fire seven years ago and has laid dormant ever since — that is, until about a year ago, when The Third Day team took ownership and started work. Venue manager Rob Anthony says it's been a work in progress since then, at times slow thanks to the council, but is gaining momentum now in the new year. "We've had the venue for a year, and feel like we've been sitting on it since then and nobody knows," he says. "There's a big social media roll-out happening now and we're looking at lots of events too." The venue's first party was on Boxing Day last year, and since then they've played host to a number of other parties, mostly house music-centric and with the distinctive flavour of the Berlin club scene. "Being in Melbourne is a bit like the Berlin way too," says Rob. "You've got to seek out your parties. It might not look like much from outside, but inside it's huge — people are saying they've never seen anything like it here." The warehouse block is large, and the venue sprawling: think more openair art bar than cramped club, with space enough to expand themselves — and plans to do so soon. "Our plan in the future is to open five or six nights a week with food offerings too, and perhaps a couple of different music options and sounds. For now, we'll just do these events until we get into the groove of things. But we've got a little kitchen next to the bar and plan on moving a guy who does woodfire pizzas in by next summer." After a year ofbuild-upp, The Third Day seems to be easily in the swing of summer parties; keep an eye on their social media pages as it seems like there are hotter things still to come (no more fires though). Find The Third Day at 290 Macaulay Road, North Melbourne and www.thethirdday.com.au. Check their Facebook page for events.
Need to cater for vegetarians? No worries, the banquets at Moroccan Soup Bar ($35-$55 per head) will have even the most stubborn carnivore professing their love for vegetarian food. This homely dining space is popular among locals, and they do not take reservations. If you don't arrive at their 6pm opening time, a busy waitress will give you a time to come back, or you can wait outside. Go straight for the banquet and spend your time relaxing with a cup of warm mint tea. The dishes are filled with traditional North African herbs and spices — their legendary chickpea bake is the sacred dish here, so try to get that placed down your end of the table. Image: Nick Allchin.
Chris Lucas first announced his plans to open Maison Bâtard back in 2018. This was before he opened Society, Grill Americano and Yakimono, which are now considered CBD mainstays. But finally, after spending nearly a decade renovating the landmark heritage site at 23 Bourke Street, we have an opening date for Maison Bâtard: Tuesday, November 26. Contemporary French cuisine will be championed at the venue's restaurant — which sits across two floors — as well as its late-night basement supper club and rooftop terrace. And while each of these spaces will have French influences, they're said to also have their own unique look and feel — being distinct destinations in their own right. Chris Lucas, Executive Chef Adam Sanderson and Culinary Director Damian Snell have worked together on creating the culinary offerings across the Maison Batard spaces — planing to deliver their own Melbourne interpretation of simple, regional French cuisine. They've also enlisted Grill Americano's Head Pastry Chef Michaela Kang to run the sweet offerings and Lucas Restaurants' Director of Wine Loïc Avril to curate the wine menu. Now that his restaurant empire has grown so much, Lucas has an exhaustive pool of talent to choose from, and he feels very comfortable having team members work across several venues. "There's an etiquette and culture surrounding French passions for food and dining that has always resonated with me, and I hope to capture some of this joie de vivre in a very Melbourne way with Maison Bâtard," shares Lucas. [caption id="attachment_883543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yakimono[/caption] Maison Bâtard is slated to open on Tuesday, November 26, and will be found at 23 Bourke Street, Melbourne. For more information, you can check out the venue's website.
Centre Place really is the most ideal Melbourne laneway for people watching, and at Hell's Kitchen you get a birds eye view above the crowds. Plenty of local beers on tap and an intriguing wine list is topped off with house-infused vodka — flavours including chilli, lychee and ginger and honey. We'd recommend popping in here for an afternoon drink and a catch up, and, if you're peckish, they serve food until 10pm. To see more of our top ten laneway bars in Melbourne, look here.
Fallout day is here. No, this isn't the end of the world as we know it. Rather, the TV adaptation of the hit gaming series starts streaming on Prime Video today, Thursday, April 11, 2024. On-screen across eight episodes, it whisks viewers off to an irradiated wasteland — and also into luxe vaults, which have been part of life for two centuries, including for Lucy (Ella Purnell, Yellowjackets). That's your next streaming binge sorted. But if you're in Sydney today, Thursday, April 11, and you'd like to see what dwelling in a vault is like IRL, you can — only for this one day, and only between 12–5pm. Lucy's vault, aka Vault 33, has been recreated at 1 Martin Place in the Harbour City's CBD. To check it out, you also need to make a free booking online in advance. Prime Video's real-life version of Fallout's underground abode is decked out with the requisite door and decor, all to make you feel like you're stepping into the show. The streaming platform has jokingly pitched it as the future of living in Australia — especially within the current real-estate market — but actually staying there is not on the cards. If you're new to all things Fallout, which follows 2023's The Last of Us from mashed buttons to TV, the series debuts almost three decades since Fallout first arrived computers back in 1997. Since then, it has spawned three released sequels, with a fourth on the way, alongside seven spinoffs. The live-action television take doesn't just star Purnell, but also a swaggering Walton Goggins (I'm a Virgo) as bounty hunter The Ghoul, Aaron Moten (Emancipation) as Brotherhood of Steel soldier Maximus and Kyle MacLachlan (Lucky Hank) as Vault 33's Overseer Hank. Here, it's a post-apocalyptic future, where everything went pear-shaped 200 years back. Hence living in vaults, because a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence awaits outside those cosy confines — as the optimistic Lucy, daughter of Hank, is about to find out. On the surface, Goggins' The Ghoul has a past that the series also dives into. The retrofuturistic dystopian show features Moisés Arias (Samaritan), Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...), Michael Emerson (Evil), Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance) and Johnny Pemberton (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) as well — plus Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O'Hagan (Dear Edward) and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time). For The Last of Us, HBO enlisted a creative force from one of the US premium cable network's past hits in Chernobyl's Craig Mazin. Prime Video has done the same with Fallout, but with Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy — who also executive produced Prime Video's own The Peripheral. As well as executive producing with Joy, Nolan directs the first three episodes. Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) are similarly among Fallout's executive producers, as well as the series' writers, creators and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in finally bringing the games to the screen. Fallout streams via Prime Video from Thursday, April 11, 2024. To visit Vault 33 at 1 Martin Place, Sydney, from 12–5pm AEST on Thursday, April 11, 2024, make a free booking online. Read our Fallout review. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
Your mates grabbed the snags, sauce, bread and all the extra trimmings for a successful Aussie barbecue. There's just one thing missing and it's up to you to supply it: the beer. There's quite a lot of pressure when you're tasked with bringing the booze. Do you go for the safe mainstream beer at the risk of looking painfully boring? Or do you grab the most expensive European craft beer you can find in the hopes you'll seem interesting (and clear out your bank account in the process)? The answer: find something that sits perfectly in the middle. We've teamed up with BWS to showcase a bunch of Aussie craft beers that will have both your VB-loving mates and your spent-two-years-abroad-in-Berlin buddies nodding along in approval. Cheers to being the favourite person at the party. XPA — BALTER Since launching on the Gold Coast in 2016, Balter has cemented itself as one of Australia's most successful craft beer labels. The cans alone will up the aesthetic stakes of any outdoor soiree, but it's what's on the inside that counts. Good thing its flagship brew, XPA, lives up to the hype. Snagging top spot on the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Beers list for two consecutive years (2017–2018), this fruity extra pale ale is as easy-drinking as they come. You can thank the brand's commitment to quality for that, or you can just say the beer is damn good and get on with it. WATERMELON SMASH SOUR BEER — STOMPING GROUND BREWING CO If you've ever enjoyed the Watermelon Smash Sour Beer at the Stomping Grounds Collingwood brewery, you'll already know how well it goes down on a sunny afternoon. So, chuck some in the esky and bring it to your next outdoor gathering. This one is sure to impress the craft beer snobs — but it's also inoffensive enough to give your mum a taste test without her screwing up her nose and saying "that's different". If your guests are new to the world of sours, the Watermelon Smash is a good way to ease them in. It's a gose-style beer, which means it's both a bit tart and salty but, thanks to being packed with real fruit, it's also refreshingly sweet and bright, too. BIG HEAD NO CARB LAGER — BURLEIGH BREWING CO Craft beer often brings with it high levels of carbs and calories, so it's not a terrible idea to have a lighter option in the esky to help minimise the post-barbecue bloat. Well never fear, 'cause Big Head No Carb is here. This lager may have zero carbs — the first in Australia to do so — but it certainly doesn't lack flavour. This light, clean and dry brew is ideal on a hot day and will go well with any feed — and even your Tooheys-loving dad will like it. PALE ALE — COLONIAL BREWING CO It's not an American Pale Ale and it's not an Australian Pale Ale — it's a little from column A and a little from column B. The team at Colonial brewed this bad boy to celebrate both styles, with a blend of American Tomahawk and Simcoe hops with Galaxy and Astra hops from Australia. The result is a smooth and approachable beer that's golden in colour. The tropical fruit aromas are balanced with a slightly drier, piney quality, so it won't completely overpower the palate — a pretty important consideration when you're pairing it with a huge feed. SINGLE FIN SUMMER ALE — GAGE ROADS BREWING CO Single Fin Summer Ale celebrates Australian summer in a bottle (or can). The beer is brewed near Gage Roads in Western Australia, the strip of ocean between Rottnest Island and Fremantle. So it makes sense that Gage Roads Brewing Co team makes beers with this beautiful and relaxing location in mind. Blow the froth off with this slightly bitter, clean and light-bodied brew at your next barbecue. BEECHWORTH PALE ALE — BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS This American style pale ale is crisp and aromatic. Although part of Bridge Road's core range that's brewed all year round, Beechworth Pale Ale is tweaked from season to season with New Zealand and US hops, so there's no chance of getting bored of it. The team recommends enjoying this one with oily foods — we think juicy burgers would be a stellar pairing. It works well with spicy food, too, if you know the chef has a cheeky habit of going hard on the chilli in their marinade sauce. Update: Due to the current situation, we understand that throwing or attending parties may not be a possibility right now. But there's a silver lining — you can still order all of these drinks online to enjoy at home. Head to the BWS website to browse the full range.
If, mid-way through a piece of raw lasagne, you've ever wondered what makes About Life's food so tasty, yet still somehow good for you, you can stop guessing. The wholefoods cafe and supermarket mini-empire — which now has seven stores in Sydney and one in Melbourne — has released a recipe book, titled A Whole New Way to Eat. That's right, nutritionist Vladia Cobrdova — who's responsible for developing About Life's recipes — is throwing a few secrets your way. All in all, there are 135 recipes, covering familiar offerings from the wholefoods institution's cafes and self-serve meal aisles. They're all relatively simple and don't employ heaps of obscure ingredients, meaning they're recipes you're actually likely to make. Coconut turmeric quinoa porridge? That's on page 12. Umeboshi black bean spaghetti salad with sesame toasted broccoli? You'll find that on page 86. A giant lamington with raspberry Kakadu jam? It's in there too (and we've got the recipes for those last two below). There are brekkies, lunches, dinners, salads, soups, sides, drinks and desserts galore. A Whole New Way To Eat will be launched at a series of free events, to be held at various About Life stories during the first couple of weeks of March with Vladia Cobrdova. She'll be chatting, demonstrating and, most importantly, handing out samples. Catch her at in Melbourne on March 7 and at the Crows Nest store in Sydney on March 11. As difficult as it is to believe, About Life started out in Sydney in 1996 as a little juice bar, with just a handful of groceries for sale. Now, with eight stores around the country and somewhat of a cult following, they're expanding into at-home territory, which, as a grocer, makes a lot of sense. A Whole New Way To Eat is published by Murdoch Books and will be available for $39.99. We've managed to nab two of the recipes from the book below to get you started. UMEBOSHI BLACK BEAN SPAGHETTI SALAD WITH SESAME TOASTED BROCCOLI Umeboshi is a paste is made from fermented plums, which gives this recipe a salty yet still plummy taste. It's vegan, gluten- and dairy-free, and will take about 30-40 minutes to prepare. 200 grams broccoli, cut into small florets 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 200g black bean spaghetti (or brown rice noodles) 150g snow peas, trimmed and halved lengthways 250g green beans, trimmed and cut in half Umeboshi dressing 60ml (¼ cup) sesame oil 1½ tablespoons mirin (rice wine) 2 tablespoons umeboshi paste ¼ cup finely grated fresh ginger 75g (½ cup) sesame seeds 1 tablespoon tamari Preheat the oven to 180°C. Spread the broccoli on a baking tray, add the sesame oil and sesame seeds and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly roasted but still crunchy. Meanwhile, bring two litres (eight cups) of water to the boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook for 6-8 minutes until tender. Add the snow peas and green beans for the last minute of cooking to blanch. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. To make the dressing, whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl with 60ml (¼ cup) of water. Transfer the spaghetti, snow peas and green beans to a serving bowl. Pour in the dressing and toss until well coated. Top with the crunchy broccoli florets and serve. GIANT LAMINGTON WITH RASPBERRY KAKADU JAM This cake-like lamington is gluten-free and vego, and is topped with jam made with native Kakadu plum powder. You'll probably have to go to About Life to buy some — but if you can't get any, you can use the zest of an orange. 6 eggs 11 g (⅓ cup) honey 80ml (⅓ cup) melted coconut oil 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 65g (½ cup) coconut flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 100g (1 cup) almond meal 35g (½ cup) shredded coconut Kakadu jam 170g raspberries, fresh or frozen and defrosted 50g (¼ cup) coconut sugar 1 tablespoon Kakadu plum powder, or use the zest of 1 orange 45g (¼ cup) chia seeds 2 tablespoons coconut water Cacao frosting 40g (¼ cup) coconut oil 55g (½ cup) cacao powder 60ml (¼ cup) coconut cream Preheat the oven to 160°C. Lightly grease a 30cm x 12cm x 10cm loaf tin and line it with baking paper, leaving the sides overhanging. Use an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment to whisk the eggs and honey for five minutes or until well combined. Add the coconut oil and vanilla bean paste and whisk for another 2-3 minutes until well combined. Combine the coconut flour, baking powder and almond meal in a separate bowl. Gently fold into the egg mixture until just combined, then spoon into the prepared tin and bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin. Meanwhile, to make the jam, combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set. To make cacao frosting, put the coconut oil in a frying pan with 60ml (¼ cup) of water and cook over low heat until the oil melts. Add the cacao powder and coconut cream and stir for two minutes or until combined. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Transfer the cake to a serving plate. Spread with jam and drizzle with the frosting. Scatter with shredded coconut. Images and recipes from A Whole New Way To Eat by Vladia Cobrdova (Murdoch Books RRP $39.99) photography by Rob Palmer.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." They're words famously spoken by Hippocrates, way back when, and lived diligently by so many foodies, even today. They also sum up the concept at the heart of Prahran café Market on Malvern, which opened its doors in October 2016. The brainchild of Dr Anthony Yeuong, who's also behind adjoining health practice Beingwell Healthcare, MOM was dreamt up in response to a growing number of patients with dietary dramas and allergy issues. Dr Yeuong has long been a champion of food that both tastes good and feels good afterwards, and now he's treating the good folk of Melbourne with a bit of pre-emptive edible 'medicine', Hippocrates-style. With an ex-Nobu chef helming the kitchen, MOM's catering to clean eaters and flavour seekers alike; its thoroughly-researched menu is packed full of paleo, vegan, allergen-free, and FODMAP-friendly goodness. Dishes are categorised according to their specific properties and benefits to the body. You might find yourself boosting those energy levels with the caramelised sweet potato and hemp protein hummus, or you might opt for the red rice and miso eggplant, to help soothe any digestive issues. Backing up all those healing food options, there's a slew of juices and smoothies, coffee by Allpress, and a list of caffeine-free lattes that runs from beetroot right through to mushroom.
A tasty new go-to for the hungry and time poor has arrived on Elizabeth Street. Chunky Town is a hole-in-the-wall serving up a cheesy Korean street food favourite inspired by carnivals and childhood memories. The 'Chunky' (as it's called) is a little like the Australian dagwood dog, but cheesier. It's made using a crisp batter and hunks of gooey cheese — and comes in seven different flavours. In Korea, it's served at one of the 200 Chung Chun stores around the country (the chain opened its OG store in Seoul's Gangnam district). In Australia, you'll find it at Chunky Town in Melbourne's CBD. How it works is simple: you pick your Chunky and your cheese filling, sprinkle it with sugar and load it with sauce at the counter. The bestsellers are the original Sausage Chunky with cheddar ($5.50) and the upgraded OG with stretchy mozzarella ($6.50). Other flavours include the Potato Chunky, the Noodle Chunky (which is dipped in crushed noodles), the black Squid Ink Chunky (all $7.50) and a vegetarian version with no sausage and lots of cheese. We suggest adding a side of crunchy waffle fries to your order for a salty hit, too. [caption id="attachment_737291" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] To drink, pick up one of the Korean bubble teas. The Thai-style milk tea and mango green tea are our top picks, but there are 21 different flavours to choose from. In the future, it's rumoured that Korean doughnuts (called Chunky Balls) will be added to the menu, too. The doughnuts are drizzled with maple syrup, condensed milk and seeds. It was Adam Ong, one of the four owners — alongside Adam Wang, Charles Park and Derek Lo — who wanted to bring the Korean treat to the Australian market. And, according to the group, there are big plans to expand across the city and country. So, keep an eye on this space for future openings. Find Chunky Town at Shop 1B, 26 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. It's open from Monday–Thursday 11am–10pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–11pm and Sunday 11am–9pm. Images: Julia Sansone
Launched by former medic Wade Nicholson-Doyle, Hello Sailor cafe in Hawthorn is a nod not only to Wade's time in the Australian navy, but also his grandfather William "Paddy" Doyle, an Irish sailor in the Royal Navy who jumped ship in 1942 to start a new life in Australia. While the name may evoke whimsy, the cafe space is soft and refined, with organic colours combined with wood accents and plants to create an intimate but relaxing atmosphere. Although, it's not just the aesthetics that are good. Using produce sourced from local Victorian suppliers, the menu has all the delicious breakfast staples you'd expect from Melbourne's best cafes, like french toast with mascarpone or perfectly poached eggs, plus Seven Seeds coffee. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
Few of us have been to Venice. But now Hawthorn has its own Venetian bar and eatery, Vaporetto. And it's basically the same thing. Chef Greg Feck and his business partners Kim Coronica, Stephanie Edgerton and David Wickwar love Venice and they've done an excellent job in recreating its vibrant and enchanting atmosphere on Glenferrie Road. Leave Melbourne behind as you step through an old tobacco store shopfront from Venice, and take in the dark timber, marble, aged brass and hand-blown Murano chandeliers. It's $10 spritz o'clock every day from 5-6pm, but, regardless of the time of day, you might be tempted by David's cocktail creations that pay homage to the Venice and its history. When in Rome — or, at least, when in Venice. Greg has tried to count how many times he has been to the city of bridges and he says it could easily be up to 12, 14 or 15 times. He particularly loves the simplicity of Venetian cooking. It tends to be a fairly light cuisine because they use a lot of seafood from the lagoon and, true to form, Vaporetto's menu is predominantly seafood-focused with a couple of cuts of meat. Greg, like the Venetian chefs he is inspired by, also uses a lot of polenta and radicchio, as well as quite traditional pasta shapes. For example, he's a big fan of the bigoli: extruded long, tube-like pieces of pasta. There is much that appeals from the 'little something to start' entree section, but the special swordfish crudo is a standout. Ceviches can often be dominated by citrus, but here the delicate flavour of the swordfish shines and is complemented by the other ingredients: a veritable garden rainbow of aniseed spiced avocado cream with mandarin and grapefruit segments, fresh baby radish, native blood finger lime pearls, elk leaves and fresh dill. A beautiful way to start the meal and pique the taste buds. The next section of the menu is labeled, 'something comforting'. Never a truer word has been uttered. The ravioli of pumpkin, nutmeg and Montasio cheese, browned butter, pepitas and crispy sage ($25) is like coming home to a cosy room warmed by a log burner, candlelight and an enveloping hug. I can't even begin to describe how good this dish is; every mouthful is so incredibly creamy, savoury and rich that you won't believe you've spent your whole life without this flavour. Pair it with the insalata di treviso — its bitter leaves and chamomile raspberry vinegar cut through the richness of the ravioli perfectly. Dessert continues with the mouthfuls of wow factor. A nice take on a traditional dessert, Vaporetto's tiramisu has espresso, mascarpone, honeycomb, mulberries, cocoa, bee pollen and malted milk crumble ($14). Sounds like a lot of elements (and it is), but it works. If you're looking for a glass of vino, the wine list features a good variety of local and Italian wines and the waitstaff are quick to recommend good pairings. It's an open kitchen so there's no hiding. At peak times there are five chefs all performing a beautifully choreographed dance around the kitchen. There's intensity and a lot of hard work going on — but there's also laughter and appreciation for one another's efforts. This is a team who has worked together for a long time. They know exactly what's going on in each section and it all comes together with ease. Mary Shelley is said to have remarked that "there is something so different in Venice from any other place in the world that you leave at once all accustomed habits and everyday sights to enter an enchanted garden". The same can be said of Vaporetto. They've nailed it. Images: Jo Rittey and Michael Gazzola.
Get ready to play that funky music, Melburnians, because a 70s-themed karaoke bar has rolled into town. Yep, Funlab — the group responsible for Holey Moley and adults-only arcade bars Archie Brothers and B. Lucky & Sons — has opened yet another kidult wonderland, with Juke's Karaoke Bar its latest themed venue. Located inside the Crown Complex, this one trades pinball machines and golf clubs for a psychedelic colour scheme, plenty of mirrors and mirrorballs, and decor that'll make you want to bust out your flares and big hair. Oh, and plenty of 70s bangers as well. It's time to warm up those vocal chords and prepare to belt out the likes of 'My Sharona', 'Stayin' Alive' and 'Hotel California', plus oh-so-much ABBA. In total, ten private karaoke rooms are available, accommodating between two to 25 people. While each suite boasts a different style and varying hues, they all come with velvet ottomans and couches, a stage and a stand-up mic. There's also a prop box, complete with items like tambourines, maracas and feather boas. Juke's also has a bar — for plenty of liquid courage, naturally — and serves snacks. As is only fitting, all food and booze is appropriately 70s-inspired. Drinks-wise, you can choose from orange crush-flavoured punch bowls served in disco balls, grasshoppers (the minty drink) and fruity cocktails adorned with lolly bracelets. Or, opt for a liquid or jelly shot, including the mini espresso martini and toasted marshmallow kind, as well as others in syringes. To eat, you'll find prawn cocktails, onion ring towers and Chiko Rolls, plus giant pretzels, mini hot dogs, sliders, potato gems, Swedish meatballs, and a platter of chocolate, lamingtons and marshmallows. Also on offer: cabanossi and pineapple porcupines, and this frighteningly fluoro cheese fondue.
Back in January, you should've already marked your diary for one of the dance-music highlights of 2025: The Warehouse Project making its second trip to Australia. Now, it's time to discover who'll be spinning tunes while you make shapes. Partiboi69, Hector Oaks, X-Coast, Miss Bashful, Carla Martinez: they're all on the just-dropped lineup. If you went to The Warehouse Project's first-ever Australian dates in 2024, then you experienced a slice of history, as this Manchester-born rave-scene mainstay finally made the leap Down Under. The event's Aussie debut clearly went well, hence the return for a second year running. The Warehouse Project is again hitting up Sydney and Melbourne, this time across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25. The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Fred again.., Skrillex and Happy Mondays have played it overseas. De La Soul, Aphex Twin, Carl Cox and deadmau5, too. For fans of dance music, and just music fans in general, The Warehouse Project's fame extends far past its UK home. For its second Australian trip, Melbourne's PICA will welcome The Warehouse Project for the second time; however, Sydney's event is taking place at Hordern Pavilion in 2025, after setting up shop at Munro Warehouse in Sydney Olympic Park in 2024. This year's events are one-day affairs in each city, too, rather than two nights apiece as happened last year. This remains a two-city tour, though, so if you're keen on hitting up The Warehouse Project in Australia and you live somewhere other than Sydney or Melbourne, you'll need to plan an interstate trip. The Manchester institution's Aussie debut in 2024 came after initially going international in 2023 in Rotterdam and Antwerp. It was back in 2006 that The Warehouse Project first unleashed its club nights on its birthplace, kicking off in a disused brewery and then moving underneath Manchester's Piccadilly station, in a space that's also been an air-raid shelter — and also to a warehouse that dates back to the 1920s. Now, it calls former railway station Depot Mayfield home when it's on in its home city. "After the incredible success of last year's debut, we're excited to revisit Sydney and Melbourne to build on the magic we created. Once again, we'll be pulling out all the stops in production and bringing a mix of both international and domestic artists to two special venues," said The Warehouse Project Co-Founder Sam Kandel about the event's Aussie comeback. "With the special atmosphere the Australian crowd creates, we know this will be an experience that resonates long after the music stops." The Warehouse Project Australia 2025 Dates Thursday, April 24 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Friday, April 25 — PICA, Melbourne The Warehouse Project Australia 2025 Lineup Partiboi69 Hector Oaks X-Coast Miss Bashful Carla Martinez The Warehouse Project returns to Australia across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25, 2025, with general ticket sales from 11am AEDT on Wednesday, February 5. Head to the event's website for further details. Images: Duncographic / Jordan Munns.
Wine lovers visiting New Zealand's biggest city are truly spoilt for choice. A cluster of award-winning and family-owned vineyards sit less than an hour's drive from the CBD, making it the perfect destination for your next short break. Dotted among the hillsides and bays of northern Auckland, Matakana has a warm climate that produces elegant reds — there are 28 varieties planted in the region, which makes it one of the most diverse wine growing areas in New Zealand. Here you'll find the only vineyard in the country to specialise solely in Italian grapes, French-inspired drops and an elaborate 'if you build it, they will come' sculpture park. Flights to Auckland from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are super short — around three-and-a-half hours on average — and Air New Zealand flies direct from all three cities and offers great everyday fares. SCULPTUREUM A Nike-wearing alligator, inspirational quotes from Steve Jobs, an exotic bird aviary and an 80-seat restaurant — Sculptureum isn't your average vineyard. After 12 years of design and development, Auckland-based lawyers Anthony and Sandra Grant opened the doors to their elaborate 'if you build it, they will come' space. The 25-acre site is located less than five minutes' drive from the Matakana village en route to Omaha (north of Auckland). After strolling through art-filled gardens, seeing a massive chandelier created by American glass artist Dale Chihuly and spotting large rabbits in a grassy arena named Rabbiton, it'll finally be time to sit down for a wine. On a sun-soaked hill beyond the gardens is the vineyard that produces Sculptureum's award-winning wines. Current varietals available include chardonnay, Bordeaux blend, syrah and rosé. They're best enjoyed by the glass with a meal at on-site restaurant Rothko — though you can always grab a bottle for later, too. BRICK BAY WINERY Brick Bay is another spot that incorporates boutique wines, a sculpture trail and a top-notch restaurant. Nestled amidst a patchwork of native bush and farmland, the winery is a magical setting for a short break out of the city. For a little over 32 years, the brand has made a name for itself crafting sustainable wines, notably the classic pinot gris and berry-driven rosé. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, tastings are held any time at on-site restaurant The Glasshouse for $8. Designed by respected architect Noel Lane, the building is exactly as the name suggests — a light-filled glass box, which sits over a lily-filled pond. For an additional fee, you'll also be given the opportunity to stroll around the sculpture trail and see work by some of New Zealand's top contemporary sculptors, including Paul Dibble, Terry Stringer and Judy Darraugh. The full trail takes around an hour to complete. HERON'S FLIGHT Heron's Flight is the only vineyard in New Zealand to specialise solely in Italian grapes. The winery was established 31 years ago by David Hoskins, whose work as a chemist, philosopher and winemaker makes him quite the renaissance man. Heron's Flight has been consistently committed to sustainable winemaking and can be found in the wine lists of top restaurants up and down New Zealand. Heron's Flight works with two grape varieties: sangiovese, which translates to 'the blood of Jupiter', and dolcetto, a variety which is often both dry and full-bodied. Tastings are available seven days a week, excluding public holidays. MATAKANA ESTATE Matakana Estate has been around since the boutique wine region first sprung to light more than 30 years ago. Under the care of Australian winemaker Richard Robson, the estate produces stylish, full-bodied chardonnay, syrah and pinot gris. With expansive views over the vineyard — the largest in the region — the tasting room is one of the most popular to visit for an afternoon of sniffing and swirling. That said, it's recommended to call ahead if you're looking to try a specific varietal. If you haven't sorted transportation for your return journey, the estate boasts a luxury lodge, which stands proudly on a ridge overlooking the Matakana valley and hills. It has room for up to eight merry guests. RUNNER DUCK ESTATE Runner Duck Estate is a boutique vineyard nestled in the Matakana valley, specialising in small quantities of French-inspired syrah, Bordeaux blends, pinot gris, sangiovese and rosé. After leaving behind a successful business in Mumbai and purchasing the estate, it was the objective of owners Clyde and Farida to produce a small amount of iconic red wine that would impress the world's most discerning wine drinkers. Staying true to their word, the pair will not produce wine under the label unless the year been outstanding. The estate's cellar door can be found at celebrated vineyard restaurant, Plume, which offers tastings of any five wines for $7 per person. Alternatively, tastings are free with any bottled purchased. Book your flights to Auckland with Air New Zealand and start planning your next long weekend away. Plus, Vinomofo has released a case of wine featuring six delicious wines representing the diverse and unique sub-regions of Waiheke, Kumeu and Matakana. Every case has a one in 50 chance of winning return flights to Auckland (from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). T&Cs apply.
In the US, The Bear releases each summer. When winter comes Down Under, however, so does another chance to feast on one of TV's best current series. The above was true in 2022, when the Jeremy Allen White (The Iron Claw)-, Ayo Edebiri (Inside Out 2)- and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Hold Your Breath)-led show premiered. It remained the case in 2023 and 2024 as well. 2025 is continuing the trend, with The Bear locked in for a June release. The date in America: Wednesday, June 25, 2025, which makes it Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Australia and New Zealand. As in past years, The Bear will be available for binge-viewing ASAP, dropping its entire season — ten episodes this time — in one hefty helping to continue streaming's tastiest southern-hemisphere winter tradition. Season four of the series has been in locked in since before season three even aired, and will continue to chart what happens when a sandwich diner levels up in a big way, becoming a fine-diner that's angling for a spot among Chicago's very best restaurants. So far in the show's narrative, White's Carmy, Edebiri's Sydney, Moss-Bachrach's Richie and their friends and colleagues initially focused on getting their beef-slinging eatery (where season one's action took place) running smoothly, then switched their attention to transforming the site into an upscale fine-diner (with that process fuelling season two) and ensuring that, too, worked as it should (as seen in season three). If you need more details about The Bear to date, its debut season jumped into the mayhem when Carmy took over the diner after his brother's (Jon Bernthal, The Accountant 2) death. Before returning home, the chef's resume featured Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. Then, in season two and three, Carmy worked to turn the space into an upmarket addition to his hometown's dining scene, with help from the restaurant's trusty team — including a roster of talent also spans Abby Elliott (Cheaper by the Dozen) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar, plus Lionel Boyce (Shell), Liza Colón-Zayas (Cat Person), Edwin Lee Gibson (Unprisoned) and IRL chef Matty Matheson among the other staff. Season four will throw new challenges at The Bear crew, continuing to raise that perennial question along the way: what should you cling to when you're chasing greatness, and in life in general? Also popping up in the series so far: everyone from Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl), Molly Gordon (Theatre Camp), Will Poulter (Warfare), Olivia Colman (Paddington in Peru) and Bob Odenkirk (Lucky Hank) to John Mulaney (Poker Face), Joel McHale (Yellowjackets), John Cena (Jackpot!), Josh Hartnett (Trap) and Noma's René Redzepi. There's no trailer yet for The Bear season four, but check out the trailers for seasons one, two and three below: The Bear season four will stream via Disney+ in Australia from Thursday, June 26, 2025. Read our reviews of seasons one, two and three. Via Variety. Images: FX / Disney+.
When was the last time you paused to marvel at the tower of good times that is Curtin House? This multi-level beauty is brimming with history filled with activities you've probably forgotten about. Built back in 1923, and once acting as the headquarters of the Communist Party, it's now home to the much more light-hearted business of eating, drinking and shopping. In lieu of your usual Saturday night local, take time to explore one of our city's historic gems from bottom to top — from drinking craft beers at Cookie and cocktails in a train carriage booth at The Toff, to browsing the shelves at independent bookshop Metropolis, getting into punchy Mexican eats and top-notch tequila at Mesa Verde and brews with a view up at Rooftop Bar.
Returning for its fifth edition in 2026, Rising's enormous amalgamation of music, art, culture and architecture just keeps getting bigger and bigger with each instalment. Taking place from Wednesday, May 27–Monday, June 8, Melbourne's formal and unexpected venues will host nearly 400 artists, from headline-grabbing stars to underground legends, across a huge variety of immersive and ephemeral experiences. Leading the latest lineup is Brooklyn rap royalty Lil' Kim, whose landmark appearance is set to celebrate her pair of millennium-defining records, Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M. Bringing her sexually charged and braggadocious lyrics to Festival Hall, the Queen of Rap will show why she claims the crown. At Hamer Hall, Seun Kuti — son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti — will lead his father's legendary ensemble, Egypt 80, combining political fire with syncopated grooves. Also on the music front, Welsh songwriter Cate Le Bon transforms Melbourne Town Hall with her surrealist pop mastery, while Dry Cleaning's off-kilter London art-rock will light up The Forum. Here, frontwoman Florence Shaw will talk-sing through wry observations on the banalities of modern life, loneliness and the struggle to stay positive. Heading underground at Max Watts, influential dub producer Adrian Sherwood serves up low-end experimentation. Austrian choreographer takes over Arts Centre Melbourne with her incendiary new epic A Year Without Summer. Following a recent head-turning runway show for Miu Miu and representing her country at the 61st Venice Biennale, this dark, dark musical comedy places climate change, medical science, mortality and the pursuit of progress under the knife. Meanwhile, Parris Goebel will direct Auckland's all-female Royal Family Dance Crew, showcasing Polyswagg routines at both Hamer Hall and a huge free public dance event at Fed Square. In fact, the world of dance is a major focus of Rising 2026, with the Flinders Street Ballroom reopening as a participatory dance academy. Built in 1910, this space returns to its original purpose and invites everyone onto the floor. Think multi-room music marathons, and classes led by Victorian dance legends and world champions, where you're just as likely to step through Bollywood or ballet movements as jazz and jive. There's also the Australian premiere of The Vinyl Factory: Reverb — a multi-sensory journey into sound at ACMI. Plus, Raven Chacon's Voiceless Mass resonates through St Paul's Cathedral, a Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble piece that reflects on the history and access to gathering spaces and the role that sites of colonial power play in suppressing Indigenous voices. With over 100 events in all to see, Rising 2026 will once again alter the creative fabric of Melbourne. Rising 2026 takes place at various locations across Melbourne from Wednesday, May 27–Monday, June 8. Head to the website for more information.
The first phase of the ambitious hot springs-based Gippsland getaway, Metung Hot Springs, officially opened to the public late last year. The $100 million development from the minds behind Mornington Peninsula favourite, Peninsula Hot Springs, is a cool four-hour drive away from Melbourne and well-worth the journey. The 25-acre site is a haven of wellness and indulgence, surrounded by coastal bushland and located within strolling distance of the quaint lakeside village of Metung. It currently boasts two bathing areas with multiple mineral-rich hot springs, a sauna, cold plunge pool, reflexology walk and day spa. For phase one, geothermal springs are open in the Bathing Valley, as well as the Hilltop Escarpment which overlooks the gorgeous Lake King. But the crowning jewel here are the luxurious glamping tents, which come equipped with duo, geothermal bathing barrels. Overnight guests can enjoy private, 24/7 bathing barrels in luxurious glamping tents positioned by the lagoon or along the hillside. If you're keen to explore more of regional Victoria this year, head this Gippsland newcomer for an indulgent weekend of bathing, pampering and glamping. Images: Sharyn Cairn
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 brisk April morning, the busiest destinations in countryside New South Wales aren't the pubs, local cafes or anything in the main stretches of these quaint towns — crowds are flocking to the various state forests. To the untrained eye, these forests have nothing of value but pine trees, but in the right conditions, the soil comes alive with carpets of glorious pine mushrooms. These crown-protected woodlands are the last bastion of mushroom foraging in NSW — a practice of times gone by that's now making a comeback in the modern world. Helping to stage that comeback is the jovial wizard of foraging: the self-proclaimed 'weedy one', Diego Bonetto. With a lifetime of foraging practice that began as a child in Northern Italy, Bonetto has made it his life's mission to share everything he can about the lost art of foraging, not only mushrooms but native plants, seaweed and weeds. But it was a brisk April morning in the Lidsdale State Forest when he led Concrete Playground on an expedition into the trees, specifically in search of juicy mushrooms and knowledge. [caption id="attachment_1007875" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Alec Jones[/caption] The Good, the Bad and the Deadly It's no secret that mushroom foraging should not be undertaken lightly. With over 5,000 species of mushrooms that grow across NSW, an inexperienced, unguided amateur forager is at immense risk of misidentifying their harvest, which can have painful and life-threatening consequences. That's why you should never forage without expert advice. As an expert himself, Diego Bonetto cannot stress that enough — for your sake and the forest's: " The biggest mistake people make is trying to go mushroom foraging just by reading an article on the internet and downloading some pictures. There are lookalikes, there are similarities [between mushrooms]. There are ethical steps that you need to understand to protect the ecology. Harvesting wild produce is not walking into a supermarket". That's because the mushrooms you can safely eat, and even those that should be left alone, are vital to the ecosystem. Fungi decompose dead organic matter into raw nutrients to be reabsorbed into the soil. How would you feel if a giant walked into your home and ripped your compost bin off the ground? "Be nice to nature", Bonetto adds. "Nature has got plenty to worry about already". [caption id="attachment_1007974" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Helen Algie[/caption] You may be wondering: why pine forests? Legalities and complexities of fungi ecology aside, pine forests are home to two edible and easily recognisable – to the trained eye – mushroom species: Saffron Milk Caps and Slippery Jacks. The former boasts a reddish-orange cap, typically four to 30+ centimetres across, with gills and an orange, milky sap that leaks from cuts in the flesh. They're meaty and have a mild bitter taste, and work great pan-fried, pickled, as schnitzels, or to bolster pies and casseroles. The latter has a brown, slimy cap and a spongy yellow underside free of gills, which grow up to 25+ centimetres across. With the slimy layer peeled off, it can be chopped and used in Asian-style soups, fried with butter or worked into an omelette. Any other species in a pine forest, even the iconic red-and-white-spotted fly agaric (aka fairy toadstool), is either too risky to prepare safely or outright dangerous to consume, so don't be greedy. [caption id="attachment_1007873" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Alec Jones[/caption] Listen to the Experts Only an experienced forager can tell the edible from the deadly, so you should never claim to know how to mushroom forage until you have the qualifications, not just a weekend of research online. Booking a foraging session with someone like Diego is non-negotiable. You don't want to take home something poisonous — or break a law you didn't know existed. " It doesn't need to be me, but someone who can take you there, who's done it before, done it for a few years, and can take you through the steps of what it is you're looking for and why all those others are not [edible]." No matter what, there are three things Bonetto believes every forager should remember in the forest. "First, the assumption of knowledge is very problematic. Second, people always want to be right — be humble, it's not about you being right, it's about you being safe. Third, only harvest what you can eat that night, mushroom frenzy can make you fill six boxes, but then you don't want to process it and end up wasting it." [caption id="attachment_1007972" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Helen Algie[/caption] Find Your Nearest Legal Foraging Ground A little-known fact: NSW is the only Australian state where mushroom foraging is legal, as long as it's done inside a State forest. While permits are required for commercial foraging, foraging for personal consumption is legal and open to all. That means you'll need to make a drive out of it. Bonetto explains it best. "I teach mushroom foraging in pine plantation State forests for a very specific reason. And as such, there are no pine plantations in Greater Sydney. The closest pine plantation you will find [to Sydney] would be in the Southern Highlands or the western slopes of the Blue Mountains". "And that's where I teach. So if you would like to harvest mushrooms legally, you need to come to a pine State forest. Unless you do it on your own property, if you have a property big enough to have pine trees and big enough to support a mushroom ecology, then you can do it on your own property. But most people do not have the kind of land in greater Sydney, am I right?". [caption id="attachment_1007973" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Helen Algie[/caption] Plan Ahead — Far Ahead The other key consideration for a foraging booking is that the mushroom season in NSW is only eight to ten weeks long, typically from March to May. You're waiting for Goldilocks conditions, since fruiting bodies of pine mushrooms grow only after heavy rain and overnight temperatures in the single digits. Any colder, though, and the season will grind to a halt. An easy way to remember: the best time for mushroom foraging (and also the busiest) is the Easter long weekend. Bonetto preaches foresight. "Your readers might just be a bit disappointed to know the season is already over [for 2025]. So join the mailing list. If you're into mushroom foraging, join our mailing list and we'll let you know when we've released the workshop dates for 2026. Or just check all of the other workshops available on the website, or just go and talk to your neighbour. You don't need to come to Diego. There's also plenty of foraging knowledge in ethnic communities, they'll offer you tea and sit you down in the garden. People love to talk about plants. Lemme tell you." To book a foraging experience with Diego Bonetto or join the mushroom foraging waitlist, visit his website. Concrete Playground joined a foraging workshop as a guest of Destination NSW. Foraging for wild mushrooms is not without risk — some mushrooms are toxic and will cause bodily harm and even death if consumed. If in doubt, throw it out, and if you become unwell after eating wild mushrooms, call the Poisons Centre on 13 11 26. Header image courtesy of Destination NSW
Melbourne might be one of Australia's most exciting cities, but it's what lies outside of its limits that'll really knock your socks off. No more than a few hours drive from the hulking glass towers of the CBD, you'll find that the Garden State is home to an incredibly diverse landscape of pristine coastlines, rugged mountain ranges, sprawling hillsides and hidden valleys — all of which offer some truly fantastic hikes. Once you've mastered the walks in and around Melbourne and some local one-day hikes, you should consider taking your trekking to the next level and plan an overnight hike. In partnership with Macpac, whose main goal since 1973 has been to ensure both new and experienced hikers are prepped and ready for any type of adventure, we've not only created a full guide of essentials to consider for an overnight hike, but we've also tracked down where to take said hikes. Most of these treks are achievable with an average level of fitness, but to ensure your hike goes smoothly consider investing in some proper camping and hiking equipment (thanks Macpac) — and a cosy jumper wouldn't hurt either. Here, we give you five overnight hikes to try this autumn where you'll also get some pretty stellar sights. FALLS TO HOTHAM ALPINE CROSSING — THREE TO FOUR DAYS This 37-kilometre hike set 2000 metres above sea level provides every opportunity to completely unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life. From lush native wildlife to tranquil valleys and riverside wetlands, the high planes are a treasure trove of scenic beauty and crisp mountain air. It's not the toughest walk in the state, but you'll need a moderate level of fitness for some of the steeper parts — but don't worry, there are also plenty of easy sections to balance it all out. It's a point-to-point track, so it can be started from either end, but we recommend setting out from Falls Creek and walking towards Mt Hotham. From the trailhead, it's roughly 14 kilometres to the Cope Hut Campsite, which just happens to be surrounded by lovely snow gums, and then another 20 kilometres to the Dibbins Hut Campsite. You'll need a permit to camp, so make sure to book one through Parks Victoria before you go. Pack this: Doulight Tramping Tent ($799.99) WILSONS PROM EASTERN CIRCUIT – TWO TO THREE DAYS Every person and their dog has heard of the Wilsons Promontory eastern circuit, and that's because it's an absolute ripper of a walk. As part of the southern circuit and beginning at the Telegraph Saddle carpark, the 36.5-kilometre hike features a stunning and unmistakably Australian combination of rolling green hills, curious wildlife and secluded beaches with clear turquoise waters. You also have two options for this hike; you can head from Telegraph Saddle to Sealers Cove or Refuge Cove. From either cove, you'll then head to Little Waterloo Bay and then back to Telegraph Saddle. Although the walk is often nominated as one of the best walks in the state, it's still one of the quieter sections of the Prom — which makes it the perfect choice for the peaceful city escape you've been dying to have ever since Christmas break ended. Take note, you'll need an overnight hiking permit before you head out and you'll need to book your campsite in advance. Pack this: Latitude XP Down 500 Sleeping Bag ($599.99) [caption id="attachment_712104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brian Doecke/Wikimedia.[/caption] LAKE TALI KARNG HIDDEN LAKE CIRCUIT – TWO DAYS Part of the Alpine National Park near Licola, the Lake Tali Karng Hidden Lake Circuit looks just like a landscape painting, only it's better because this is real life. Set in the Victorian Alps and fed the snowmelt waters of the Wellington Plains, the lake is approximately 14 kilometres from your starting point at McFarlane's Saddle on Moroka Road. Along the way, you'll enjoy an awe-inspiring combination of snow gum forests, towering trees and grassy plateaus before camping overnight at the serene Nyimba Camp or Millers Hut. Don't forget that the land your on is sacred to the Gunaikurnai people of Gippsland, so please be respectful of their rules and refrain from camping right next to the lake itself. Pack this: Fiord 1.1 40L Hiking Pack ($299.99) [caption id="attachment_712106" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] THE BEERIPMO WALK IN MOUNT COLE STATE FOREST – TWO DAYS Offering mesmerising views from Mount Langi Ghiran, all the way across to the Grampians and to the Western Plains, the Beeripmo Walk is a winding 21-kilometre hike through impressively tall forests, trickling waterfalls and vibrant fern gullies. An hour from Ballarat and completed over two days, this trek is a perfect starting point for experienced bushwalkers looking to graduate into something a little tougher. And, if you're really lucky, you might be treated to a few wildlife sightings of monarch butterflies, wallabies and even wild echidnas. There are no fees to stay at the Beeripmo Campground (which makes it a popular spot), so you might need to go a little further to the Mugwamp Campground — but either way you'll still be getting a great view of some of the brightest stars you'll ever see. Pack this: Pisa Polartec Hooded Jacket in women's and men's styles ($299.99) THE BURCHELL TRAIL IN THE BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK – THREE DAYS Just over one hour's drive from Melbourne, the Burchell Trail is a 40-kilometre hike that takes you from the north end to the south of the Brisbane Ranges National Park. The historic ghost town of Steiglitz (which at its gold mining peak in the 1860s was home to almost 1500 people) and a vast array of native critters and flora are just a few of the sights you can expect as you traverse the rugged landscape. The trail is linear, so you'll either need to complete it as a circuit by doubling back the way you came, or arrange for alternative transport to ferry your very tired butt back to you car. Campsites are found at the Old Mill and Little River Bush Camping and advance bookings are required. Pack this: Traverse Shield Rain Jacket in women's and men's styles ($529.99) Top image: Wilsons Promontory, Visit Victoria.
Even Fitzroy locals would be forgiven for not knowing this place exists. Strategically tucked away on a one-way road off Brunswick Street, The Standard Hotel seems to punch well above its weight. Outside, an outdated Carlton Draught sign hangs from the awnings coated in flecking old paint, but inside lies a labyrinthine and tree-shrouded beer garden that's up there with the best of them in Melbourne. Similar to The Brunswick Green, the bar offers a comforting retro vibe with accumulated clutter covering the walls and faithful friendly (be it busy) bar staff. But unlike the Brunswick Green, these guys still serve food. Get around the parma, steak sanga, chilli enchiladas or the ploughman's lunch that's made up of cured meats, toasted focaccia, cheeses, pickles and a big dollop of chutney. Pair this with a spritz or cider and some sunshine and you're lazy summer afternoon is sorted. While the large dining room at the front of the pub is great for big groups, outside is where you'll be spending most of your time — in the huge beer garden that just goes on and on. And while this pub might be hard to find, the space is roaring on hot summer days. You'll hear it before you see it. To make sure you don't miss out, we highly recommend you book a table in the beer garden ahead of time — it's better than fighting over some of those left for walk-ins. Images: Bobby Dazzler Photography Appears in: The Best Pubs in Melbourne for 2023
Almost synonymous with the proud Aussie spirit, R.M.Williams boots are representative of far more than sturdy footwear. Made on demand in the Adelaide workshop, a pair of RMs delivers quality craftsmanship, trend-surpassing style and excellence in both form and function — all from an Australian owned and operated business. In celebration of R.M.Williams' 90th birthday — a milestone indicative of its long-held icon status — the brand released a limited-edition capsule collection. The release features an exclusive range of boots in the iconic Craftsman and Lady Yearling styles — both renowned for being made from a singular piece of leather and passing through over 80 pairs of hands in their making — which come adorned with commemorative 90th anniversary tugs. Also in the collection is the Jerrawa belt complete with a celebratory plaque (a detail that graces the boots, too). Although the boots and belts are the hero pieces of the range, the exclusive apparel and lifestyle offering from the outback originals are just as worth coveting. Joining the leatherwear is an assortment of tees, made in collaboration with the world's first climate-positive cotton company Good Earth Cotton, and sweatshirts — all of which are emblazoned with the 90th anniversary branding. Plus, if you're keen to try your hand at leatherwork, you can buy the all-new Makers Kit, which is stocked with supplies to handcraft a durable leather cover for The Bushman's Handcrafts, the book authored by RM himself. If you're a legacy fan of the company or you're simply looking to get your first piece, the brand reaching nonagenarian status offers a momentous occasion for your purchase. As the legendary bootmaker Reginald Murray Williams explained, "If you make something good, people will make a track to your door. We made simple things that people wanted and kept them simple." And come the people did. To secure your slice of Australian history, shop online or in store.
Concrete Playground talks to Melbourne street artist Baby Guerilla about her catchy alias, latest work and what art means to her. At the unveiling of her newest commission at Union Dining, Baby Guerilla summed up her take on art in one sentence, "I want more art everywhere". Baby Guerilla works purely for the love of art and the hope that she can inspire others in what she does. Why the name Baby Guerilla? It's the name my dad used to call me, my nickname. It was his running joke that I couldn't be domesticated; couldn't be tamed. It was his way of showing affection. It is exactly who I am. I changed the spelling to reflect the political component of street art. It also keeps my identity hidden. Tell me about how you have come to be the artist you are today. I guess I always wanted to be an artist ever since I was young. I went to the Victorian Collage of the Arts and studied fine arts with a major in painting. I've exhibited pretty widely, had pieces in the National Gallery of NSW had solo shows. Street art started out as a hobby for me, kind of my second life. Then I started to become more experienced, I got bolder. I love art in whatever form. But at the moment I'm obsessed with street art and doing large-scale murals. I still love galleries and I know at some point in my career I'll go back. But for the moment there is still a lot I'd like to do outside. What is your creative process and who's your audience? Ideas often come to me when I'm listening to music, out walking the dog. It feels like the scene in Billy Elliot, when he is jumping on the bed? That's how I feel. I like street art, as it's a great leveler. It comments on the type of society we live in. We are often powerless as we are surrounded by billboards and advertising. I love that you don't need to have money to have a voice with street art. How would you describe your work to someone who had never seen it before? I think it's detailed and probably a bit surreal. I've been told its feminine; which I would probably agree with. What motivates and inspires you? I'm motivated to always try to be better. I want to inspire people. Put something out there in the world to share with other people. I'm always inspired by others and at the moment it's instillation artist Anish Kapoor. The internet has also made it easier to connect with other artists and inspire each other across the world. How does your work fit into the broader context of Melbourne's street art scene? I think there is a renaissance in street art at the moment. It's such a diverse scene. So many different motivations and sub cultures. Anything you say; the opposite is also true. Lots of people love it and follow it and that's exactly what artists want. It's incredible and exciting and encouraging. I don't know exactly how I fit into it. I just do. I think street art is a brilliant way of testing an idea. You do something a couple of times on the street you get better at it. It's a great way to practice. A lot of people say what can you do to help street artists? I think you just have to go out and do it. Your latest work was a site-specific piece commissioned by Union Dining for a space on their terrace wall. What's this work about? It is somewhat of a self-portrait. The eagle represents life and the journey that we go on. The force of nature. It can fuel the best and the worst of life. It can be so beautiful, and cruel at the same time. Where to now for Baby Guerilla? I want to continue doing large-scale public art work and I want to incorporate more colour so I'm working out the logistics for that. My focus has changed a little bit from street art to commissioned large-scale pieces. You can do a better job if it's commissioned. They take time and machinery. Images courtesy of and all rights reserved by artist.
Melbourne city slickers, rejoice — summer is here. It's time to put your laptop away (momentarily, at least) and bid farewell to your couch because the season of summer day trips from Melbourne is upon us. From gin tastings to dips in the ocean and from leisurely hikes to adventures by bike, there's loads of good stuff awaiting you beyond the city limits — and we've put together a list of ten top-notch day trip destinations to put you in the heart of the action. And, of course, it wouldn't be an Aussie adventure without stumbling upon some interesting wildlife along the way, so gear up to gawk at koalas, dolphins, seals and parades of penguins. Get ready to jump in the car — these are the best day trips out of Melbourne to get out of the grid while the rain's away and the sun's out to play. Recommended reads: The Best Swimming Holes in and Around Melbourne The Best Coastal Walks Near Melbourne The Best Glamping Sites in Victoria The Best Day Trips from Melbourne to Take in Winter [caption id="attachment_923802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Watson for Visit Victoria[/caption] For Scenic Drives, Surfing and Quaint Coastal Towns: Great Ocean Road Between the limitless beaches, nature walks and infinite Instagram opportunities, the Great Ocean Road offers a whole lot to discover as you travel along its picturesque strip. It's never too early to fuel up with breakfast and sweet treats from the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, before a drive down to the iconic 12 Apostles. Beyond that sits the stunning Loch Ard Gorge — while it's too rough for swimming, you can dip your feet in its crystal clear waters and marvel at its sharp golden cliffs. On your way home, stop for an Italian feast at the Lorne outpost of Totti's, a pub feed and brews with a view at the Wye Beach Hotel or craft pints and pizza courtesy of Blackman's Brewery in Torquay. Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the trees lining the roads along the way. And if you want to stay a little longer, check out our guide to the best accommodations scattered along the Great Ocean Road. [caption id="attachment_850986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hubert Estate[/caption] For Wine and Waterfalls: The Yarra Valley A hop, skip and a jump from the bustling city, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges feature farmlands, vineyards, art and culinary delights that'll make you feel like you're a world away from the grid. Get into the heart of the region by walking upstream along the Keppel Falls Walk, which envelops you in nature and lands you at a stunning waterfall. You can follow this with a trip through the renowned TarraWarra Museum of Art. Then, end the day with some gourmet local eats — perhaps chic picnic platters and chardonnay at TarraWarra Estate, handmade pasta and heavenly views courtesy of Hubert Estate, or pinot grigio and pizza at Rochford Wines. [caption id="attachment_754135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Portsea Hotel by Samantha Schultz[/caption] For Beaches, Brunch and Booze: Mornington Peninsula Beginning just an hour out of the city, the Mornington Peninsula is a favourite day trip destination from Melbourne for many. And with countless brunch venues, breweries, wineries and swimming spots to be found here, it's not hard to see why. Start with a coffee and some chilli scrambled eggs at Merchant & Maker (or one of the region's other stellar cafes) before heading for a swim in the rockpools at Bushrangers Bay. Then, take your pick of drinking spots for the afternoon — perhaps at Montalto's sprawling restaurant and winery, the Portsea Hotel with its sweeping bay views or Dromana's entirely gluten-free brewery Two Bays. And if you really want to spend the night, seriously consider the ultra-luxe Jackalope Hotel. [caption id="attachment_694246" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] For Secluded Beaches and Seafood Feasts: Lakes Entrance Okay, so this day trip from Melbourne might require an overnight stay, but we thought it was still worth a spot on this list. With sand dunes on one side and crashing waves on the other, Lakes Entrance will instantly have you feeling like you're a long, long way away from Melbourne. Along Ninety Mile Beach, the fourth longest beach in the world, you can go for a swim (stick to the safer patrolled areas) or explore the many charming coastal towns nearby. There's also picturesque spots for kayaking and paddle-boarding, national parks brimming with great hikes and plenty of top-notch fishing. When you're done, refuel with a seafood feast at renowned overwater eatery Sodafish — or head for tacos, burgers and crafty drops at Lakes' first brewery Red Bluff Brewers. [caption id="attachment_831953" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] For Relaxing in Nature: Daylesford and The Macedon Ranges When it's hot, sometimes you just want to stay inside. But rather than ensconcing yourself in your house in front of the air-con, why not make your way to the lush, bathhouse-filled region of Daylesford? First, a climb up Mount Macedon to Camels Hump offers a good excuse to reward yourself with a post-hike brunch and coffee at Mr Macedon. Then, venture on over for a soak in the famed mineral baths of Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa — they are set at varying temperatures so you can warm up and cool off as you need, and there's a bumper menu of other spa experiences also on offer. Of course, no trip back home is complete without a stop off at Holgate Brewery in Woodend for a cold pint and classic pub feed. For Penguins, Seals and Untamed Coastline: Phillip Island A couple hours southeast of Melbourne, Phillip Island is the ideal spot to surround yourself with nature and wildlife for the day. Start with some furry fun at the Koala Conservation Reserve and clear out any remaining hay fever among the eucalyptus woodlands. Then, you absolutely need to pay a sunset visit to the refurbished Penguin Parade to catch the island's resident little penguins returning to their terrestrial homes, having spent the day out and about fishing. Beyond wildlife watching, you can settle in to sample some local booze — the Phillip Island Winery is a popular choice — then bliss out with a massage or spa treatment, or conquer a hiking trail like the Cape Woolamai Walk, which traverses dramatic clifftops along Phillip's southernmost point. [caption id="attachment_669921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bendigo Art Gallery[/caption] For Heritage and Art: Bendigo The old mining town of Bendigo offers buckets of history and heritage, while also boasting extensive contemporary art and pub lunches galore. Go underground (it's cooler) and walk in the footsteps of prior gold miners at Central Deborah Gold Mine or, if you prefer to stay above ground, take a wander through the impressive Bendigo Art Gallery to eyeball its extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and photography. Then, top off your summer day trip with bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches), tostadas and other tapas at buzzing laneway bar El Gordo, or stop by Masons of Bendigo for a feast starring plenty of top Central Victorian produce. [caption id="attachment_887554" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sailor's Rest[/caption] For Dolphins, Vintage Markets and Culinary Delights: Geelong Geelong is fast becoming the base of choice for young professionals who've decided to swap city life for a more affordable low-key option. It offers native wildlife, relaxing ocean views and more local producers than you could possibly sink your teeth into. And it's way less busy than St Kilda. Head just off the coast of nearby Queenscliff and dive straight into the ocean to swim with dolphins and seals. Then, regain your strength by eating and drinking your way along the Bellarine Taste Trail. You can then shop for hidden gems at the Geelong Vintage Market, sip on spritzes at the Sailor's Rest rooftop bar, relax into the pastel-hued interior of Frankie or book in for a fine-dining affair at the much-lauded Igni. If you don't have a car, you can easily travel from Docklands to Geelong via train. [caption id="attachment_812642" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ain Raadik for Visit Victoria[/caption] For Mountains, Hikes and Bikes: Mount Buller Although Mount Buller traditionally conjures images of never-ending snowballs and big puffer jackets, there are also lots of reasons to make the trip up during summer. Stretch those legs after the three-hour drive and get them ready for your choice of mountain biking, hiking, trail running and horse riding. Your peepers are in for a workout, too, as you soak up the majestic vistas and explore the Gnome Roam, searching for a glimpse of the mountain's resident gnomes. After all the sunshine and activity, kick back with a session on the sprawling deck at Spurs Smokehouse. [caption id="attachment_851611" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Four Pillars[/caption] For Gin and Cute Animals: Healesville Although it can be easily bundled into a broader Yarra Valley day trip, Healesville has plenty of charms worth carving out a whole day for. For animal lovers, Healesville Sanctuary should top the list, as the bushland haven lets you get up close and personal with native wildlife like dingos, kangaroos and koalas. A very close second is Four Pillars' gin distillery, where you can indulge in a guided gin tasting or leisurely sip your way through a G&T paddle. Then, line your stomach with some grazing boards and wood-fired pizza at Innocent Bystander, perhaps matched with a glass of its famed moscato, before heading back to the big smoke. Top images: Great Ocean Road by Cameron Murray for Visit Victoria.
Tzaki is Alex Xinis' ode to Athens, which brings woodfired food, Mediterranean drinks, and the essence of lively Greek dining to Yarraville. This walk-in-only hotspot is open seven days a week and serves Greek coffee, mezze and contemporary Athenian dishes. From living and working in Athens to being instrumental to some of Melbourne's most well-known Greek restaurants of the past (Hellenic Republic, The Press Club), Alex Xinis knows a thing or two about modern Greek hospitality. For his first independent venture, Xinis set his sights on Yarraville, envisioning "the suburban bustle of Yarraville [to] fit the mould perfectly for Tzaki; an all-day hangout, evoking nostalgia from my lengthy stints living and working in Athens." Part of its attraction is its size, or lack thereof. With only 16 seats indoors and 15 outside, landing a table is an accomplishment you'll feel proud of. Once you're in, celebrate with wines sourced from Greece, Mediterranean beers, or a glass of Ouzo. About the menu, Xinis says Tzaki "showcases Grecian specialities presented in a Melbourne way." With a name meaning fireplace in Greek, it's no surprise the menu relies heavily on the smoky, charry goodness of the woodfired oven. The seasonal Grecian plates change often, but may include the likes of smoked cheese with honey peppered figs, tiger prawns with horseradish dressing, sand crab mousaka and lamb shoulder with lemon thyme potatoes. The allure of the blistered flatbread, served with whatever creation the kitchen has come up with that week (could be whipped cheesy butter, kalamata olive and feta butter, or even kumquat and fennel butter), is enough to draw visitors from all corners of Melbourne to the inner West. And even if you don't snag a table, you can still get a taste of Xinis' Greek fare, with his new takeout chicken shop, Kokoras, just next door to Tzaki, now open. Images: Supplied.
Bringing a touch of 1920s glam to East Melbourne, Hemingway's Wine Room has made its post-lockdown return, following a short-lived launch of less than two weeks back when the doors first opened in June. After cementing itself in the hearts of local residents with its elegant delivery offering — Maisonette by Hemingway's — the venue's now getting to make a proper debut. A double shopfront on Wellington Parade has been transformed into a chic, vintage-inspired wine bar and brasserie that nods to the classic 20s-era haunts of New York and Paris. Art deco features abound, while a bold colour palette of black and red rounds it out in unmistakably French style. In the kitchen, Head Chef Patrick Dang (Sydney's Salt, Kyneton's Royal George and his own much-hyped Hong Kong venue Saam) has drawn on wide-roaming experience to create a sophisticated, Euro-accented menu, with two-to-five course prix fixe options also available. Aussie produce is celebrated throughout, across dishes like the scallop tartare starring foie gras rillette, roast Aylesbury duck teamed with charred turnip and caramelised pineapple, and a sweet corn agnolotti with cheddar fondue. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, a $109 per person long lunch offering will see you unwinding over a two-course feed matched with free-flowing wine poured from magnums. Assembled by Co-Owner and Sommelier Glen Bagnara, the rest of the wine list celebrates both the old world and the new, with a thoughtful range of bottles alongside an oft-changing rotation of premium pours by the glass. Meanwhile, a cocktail lineup showcases five favourite sips of Ernest Hemingway himself, reimagined with modern, high-end ingredients. Settle into a banquette and tumble back in time with help from the rye- and mezcal-based Spice Racket, or perhaps the Dame Blanche — a decadent sour blending Four Pillars Rare Gin, apricot brandy and lemon myrtle syrup.
New Quarter is part of Commune Group's stable of bustling and busy restaurants, including Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina, Moonhouse, Studio Amaro and Firebird. With a sleek fit-out and a fresh, vibrant menu, New Quarter is a spot that suits just as well for a midweek casual lunch as it is for kicking off festivities on a Saturday evening. Self-described as a neo-Vietnamese restaurant, the menu presents refined takes on classic dishes, which maintain the fragrant and spicy flavours of Southeast Asia. While you sip on an NQ Spritz, a combination of Okar Orange Tropic, mandarin shrub, prosecco and soda, snack on the likes of moreish bahn mi fingers with whipped chicken liver pâté, rockling sliders with Vietnamese mint tartare, and fried chicken sandos with cabbage slaw and hot sauce. Up next, sample kaffir lime-cured snapper with sesame crackers or beef tartare with pho jelly, and a crunchy and fresh crisp tofu salad with kohlrabi and tamarind. For the main event, the duck floss egg noodles are a must, as is the roast chicken with pickled chilli sambal, and the delightfully delicate barramundi fillet accompanied by an umami-rich burnt butter nuoc mam. If you're dining with a group, and easy option is the $78 or $89 per person set menus, which allow you to sample many menu favourites. The Swan Street hotspot has now introduced their Tuesday night special, which includes a glass of wine or beer and a shared-style set menu for just $50 per person. Available from 5pm, the three-course menu features rotating proteins, starting with a 250g MB2 porterhouse steak served alongside bun bo heu jus, Thai basil and jasmine rice, and two sides such as wok-tossed greens or egg noodles. Finish off with a Vietnamese coffee crème caramel, and make your Tuesdays a little more exciting. Images: Ashley Ludkin.
Vietnam is a traveller's absolute dream. From bustling and sensory-captivating city life to beautiful beaches, rivers and expanses of rice fields. It's a country rich in experiences for every type of traveller – including those on a budget. Knowing that the must-do and "eh, you can skip it" experiences are key to planning any vacay, so to save your precious time, we've collated five must-do experiences to help you make the most of your time in this Southeast Asian gem. It's a special country with a rich culture and warm people — so get out your map and start planning. Or, if you want the plans made for you, check out this amazing eight-day experience that'll give you a taste of some of the best sights of Vietnam as you unlock your love for the country. STARTING FROM THE TOP… THE ANCIENT TEMPLES OF HANOI Let's start with a little geography, shall we? Vietnam is located on the easternmost side of Southeast Asia, which means it has a long and lovely coastline. At the top of this coastline (well, it's a little in from the coastline) sits its capital city, Hanoi. Hanoi is more of a 'river city', sitting in the Red River Delta, and you may recognise its beauty and cityscape from films like The Quiet American. With colonial footprints of China and France, the city's architecture, food and religious sites are influenced by multiple cultures. However, the country's dominant religion is Buddhism, with ancient temples like the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049, and Trấn Quốc Pagoda — Hanoi's oldest temple, which is over 1500 years old. Both spiritual attractions represent a rich part of Vietnamese culture. At both temples, you can learn about cultural practices, including the significance of incense and monks. OVERNIGHT CRUISE ON HALONG BAY When it's time to make your way south from Hanoi, there is no better way to travel than cruising along Halong Bay. A drive-thru to the Red River Delta and out to the coastline will take you by the beautiful layered rice paddy fields, where you can see farmers taking part in the ancient farming tradition. Then, hop aboard a Junk Boat, the name anglicised from the Malay adjong, which means ship or vessel. As these boats glide across the water, you can witness Vietnam's exquisite coastline and rock formations, enjoying the mod cons of contemporary holiday luxury alongside the experience of centuries-old aquatic travel. HOI AN, AN ANCIENT TOWN If ancient towns and canals are your thing, look no further than Hoi An. Along the central coast of Vietnam, this beautiful city enjoys the best of coast and canal life. Its architecture is splendid to the eye, with a colourful mix of French colonial style blended with Chinese shophouses and Vietnamese tube houses. Get lost in the history of the place as you explore on foot or by bike, and learn why it's a UNESCO World Heritage-protected site. BẾN THÀNH MARKET IN HO CHI MINH CITY Known as "the soul and symbol of Saigon", Bến Thành Market operates from early morning into the evening. With over 1500 stalls, there are endless selections of artisanal edible goods to take with you, as well as beautiful art and ceramic products. Taste the best of local cuisine at stalls selling traditional Vietnamese meals like pho and banh mi. It's a must to rub shoulders with the locals as they go about their day and to experience an institution that's stood the test of time for over a century. MEKONG DELTA BOAT RIDE In Southern Vietnam, you'll experience part of the Mekong Delta, which is a network of rivers that flow through Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and the Himalayas. Bến Tre boat rides are a wonderful educational adventure. You can travel down the coconut canal and learn about the many creative ways coconuts are used, as well as experience local hand-made mat weaving and more. Immerse yourself in cultural traditions and beautiful scenery and get to truly understand the unique crafts of the Mekong locals. There are so many incredible experiences you can have in Vietnam, and these five are just the beginning. Find out more in this curated eight-day experience that'll show you the best the country has to offer. 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 to destinations all over the world.
We're going to take a shot in the dark and say that this news will probably be relevant to your interests: the Westin Melbourne and cheesemonger Maker & Monger are once again pairing up to offer a tiered cheese experience this winter. A more dairy-filled version of a high tea, the High Cheese feature both sweet and savoury cheese dishes, created and sourced by the Westin chef Michael Greenlaw and Anthony Femia of Maker & Monger. The whole shebang will set you back $70, which includes all the food as well as unlimited cups of coffee and tea. Wine and bubbles also available, but you'll need to pay for that by the glass. There will still be scones, but they'll be infused with gouda and served with whipped butter — and there will also be a cheesy (and salted white chocolate) tiramisu, cannoli filled with ricotta and gruyère-filled gougères, too. The possible pièce de résistance, however, is an entire baked Normandy camembert served with lavosh to dip in it (if you don't resort to your fingers, that is). Many other cheese and cheese-themed dishes are on the menu (including roquefort served with Four Pillars gin marmalade), but simply too many to list before dinner: we're already hungry. You can satisfy yours from 5.30pm every day between May 24 and August 31. High Cheese is available from 5.30pm daily. To reserve your spot, head to the website. UPDATE: AUGUST 8, 2019 — Due to popular cheese demand, the Westin will continue to run High Cheese until the end of the year.
Hawker-style specialist Bang Bang is opening a third Melbourne location, bringing its vibrant brand of pan-Asian cuisine to St Kilda. Occupying a prime Fitzroy Street position, an array of street foods inspired by culinary cultures across Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and India make satisfying your cravings an easy and tantalising prospect. Spanning small plates, shareable mains and a much-loved cocktail list, expect bustling crowds piling into this new spot. With enough space for 60 guests, Bang Bang St Kilda will feature table and booth seating perfect for big groups down to those flying solo. Meanwhile, there's comfortable seating at the bar for diners who love to watch the chefs whipping up a feast in the kitchen. And for the first time at Bang Bang, the restaurant will feature a private dining room so you can celebrate a momentous occasion in aromatic bliss. The St Kilda outpost will feature the Bang Bang signature dishes you know and love. From small plates like crispy fried Sichuan eggplant and chicken tikka masala roti wrap to 12-hour beef brisket gua bao, plus larger dishes like twice-cooked pork belly, curating a jam-packed feast is never a problem. Throw in other must-tries like Mooloolaba king prawns, sticky Shanghai pork belly and Fremantle octopus and you'll be sufficiently satiated for hours to come. For those who want to leave their decisions to the experts, Bang Bang St Kilda will also offer three Feed Me options. Across small, classic and ultimate menus, each level steps up from a host of tasty small plates, to a selection of favourite dishes, to an even bigger spread that adds oysters, a cocktail for each guest and a dessert. So, striking the perfect option for your hunger level is made simple. For yum cha fanatics, Bang Bang is bound to impress. Gather your friends, family or colleagues, as guests dine on 10 yum cha bites and a Saint Felix spiced lemonade cocktail. Perfect for an overdue catch-up, expect a diverse mix of flavours and textures. Finally, the Bang Bang Hour happens weekdays from 5–6pm, with $2 oysters, $15 rotating cocktail specials and a $35 raw tasting plate adorned with kingfish sashimi, Atlantic salmon, beef tataki and more. Joining Bang Bang's other locations in Mordialloc and Hampton, this new addition to the southeast means getting your pals together is easier than ever. And with this spot just a short stroll from the beach, it's a stellar option for extending the laid-back vibes into your next meal. Bang Bang St Kilda is located at 2/157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Head to the website for more information.
If your "new year, new you" thinking has already started as 2024 approaches, you might be justifying your end-of-year excesses during the festive season by making a health kick one of your New Year's resolutions. IKEA wants to assist. Sure, walking around its stores is already a workout, but the Swedish retailer is going a step further by releasing its first-ever fitness range — on Monday, January 1, 2024, of course. So, gyms aren't for you, but you'd like to get active and you need some equipment to help? The DAJLIEN collection features exercise mats, ring dumbbells, step-up boards and more. Indeed, the whole aim of the range is making working out accessible for wherever suits you to get sweaty — and making it a part of your everyday routine. The collection's moniker is the Swedish word for daily, in case you need a reminder that fitness should be more than a now-and-then thing. IKEA designed the limited-edition range by exploring how folks workout at home, even doing visits in New York, Chicago, London and Shanghai. Factoring into the end products: issues surrounding space, time, motivation and exercise gear not fitting in with home decor. Some items also double as storage, and others are meant to be both practical and stylish. When the collection drops in-store and online, prices will span from $6–149, with hand towels the cheapest items and a bench with storage that can also work as a coffee table the most expensive. You can also pick up belt bags, massage balls, bath ponchos, air purifiers, slippers, blankets, trolleys and valet stands, with the range's colour scheme including dark and light green, yellow and white — plus bamboo. If some of the above items don't sound like they'll help you when you're actually exercising, that's because the recovery process and just stress relief in general are also covered by the DAJLIEN collection. "Not everyone feels safe or comfortable going to a gym, and at home we often deal with small space and time constraints. DAJLIEN was born from the desire to find smart solutions that address these limitations, and help people create a convenient and motivating place for exercise," explained IKEA Designer Sarah Fager. "We wanted to create smart, beautiful products to inspire and redefine training as a fun, easy and natural everyday activity." "DAJLIEN is all about supporting movement and helping people live more active lives at home. We have designed a collection that helps bridge the gap between home and active life, that recognises that training can take many shapes and forms — and that you don't need a lot of space to do a simple workout,"added fellow IKEA Designer Akanksha Deo. IKEA's DAJLIEN collection goes on sale across Australia, in stores and online, from Monday, January 1, 2024 — until stocks last. Head to the IKEA website for further details.
After almost two decades of dishing up its signature rock 'n' roll-infused revelry, Melbourne's legendary live music hot-spot Cherry Bar has reached the end of an era. Co-owner and booker James Young took to Facebook in January to break the news, revealing the bar will close its famed AC/DC Lane doors for the final time on March 31 this year. It's not been sold, and Young is firm on the fact that it never will be. Rather, this is a case of pulling up roots and scouting out a new home for the venue, in an effort to ensure the Cherry Bar legacy lives on strong. "It is my intention to take the name, the staff and the sticky carpet to a new Melbourne address with a long lease and a safe and secure future for live local music and late night rock n roll revelry," the post states. So despite the sudden closure, fans can (sort of) rest easy — the team's revealed it's currently in talks with ten different venues across the city to work to find the perfect digs for this icon's next phase of life. Which is a relief, seeing that fellow CBD live music venue Lounge has announced it will close in April. The Cherry Bar story has been as colourful as it is long, the space playing host to everyone from the Arctic Monkeys to Lady Gaga, and amassing an army of die-hard fans over its lifetime. Back in 2014, the venue took just three days to crowdfund $90,000 for necessary soundproofing works, following the threat of mass noise complaints from a new residential building erected next door. You've got until the end of the month to catch Cherry Bar in its original habitat — drop by for its David Bowie party on Sunday, March 10 or a gig on any other night of the week. Stay tuned for details on its next home, coming soon. Find Cherry Bar at AC/DC Lane, Melbourne until March 31. The bar's open late every night of the week. Images: Visit Victoria/Jake Roden. Updated: March 3, 2019.
Located on 15 tranquil, rolling bushland hectares in the heart of Fingal, this modern wellness sanctuary has been years in the making. And Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is a certified stunner; from the majestic main spa building with its grand curves, to the thermal baths nestled throughout the grounds. If bathing is on the agenda, you'll find 31 idyllic pools, each one built for a different purpose and carefully integrated into its own immediate landscape, right down to the choice of native flora surrounding it. Forming a trail down the hill known as The Hemisphere, they range from the secluded to the more social; with everything from botanical-infused baths to icy plunge pools. One might feel like you're stepping into an Ancient Roman bath, while another envelops you with high walls carving out your own private view of the skies above. A steam room and sauna sit up here, too. Back down in the main building, the onsite spa is a serene and oh-so-stylish escape, complete with 22 treatment rooms and a zen relaxation lounge where you can kick back on a daybed in that post-pamper glow. The spa offers a hefty range of facial and body treatments, built around both Vanessa Megan's award-winning Aussie-made nutraceutical products and Aika Wellness Ayurvedic skincare. There's also a Vichy shower, a steam room, and a dedicated manicure and pedicure suite. Only building on how good you're guaranteed to feel after a bathing session or massage here, is the onsite restaurant Thyme helmed by renowned chef Karen Martini. A lofty indoor-outdoor space overlooking the pools, it's an all-day affair, championing local produce via a menu filled with plates designed to both satisfy and nourish. Images: Chris-McConville
If you hit up a Melbourne restaurant and find over ten wines offered by the glass, you're doing alright. If you get 20, you're in for a real treat. But the new Circl wine bar in Melbourne's CBD is doing what few hospo venues can by offering a whopping 150 drops by the glass and 1500 by the bottle. This is hugely important to the owners, who created this Melbourne wine bar to help foster a new culture around vino — one built around accessibility, inclusivity and discovery. One way to help people explore heaps of new and rare wines is to offer them by the glass. No need to worry about trying something new, only to find you hate it after spending hundreds of dollars on an entire bottle. But that's not the only way to help people sample hard-to-find drops. The Circl crew is taking it one step further by pouring one extremely rare wine each week. These drops are limited to 75ml per person, to ensure everyone gets a go. Spanning Australian and international vineyards, the selection will be highly curated, and feature the likes of Coche Dury, Roulot, DRC, and old vintages from top producers in Australia. Head Sommelier and Venue Manager Xavier Vigier shares, "At Circl, we really want to bring our guests wines they've never heard of before. There's a new market and audience in wine that we're very much conscious of." "We will challenge the status quo by offering rare and allocated wines by the glass to allow anyone the chance to try wines they otherwise wouldn't be able to reach. It also provides the chance to have a glass rather than committing to the full bottle." Wine is most certainly the star of the show at Circl, but food is far from neglected. Executive Chef Elias Salomonsson (ex-Scott Pickett Group and Vue Group) has created a Euro-centric menu of small and large dishes that are strongly influenced by his Scandinavian background. They are also pretty luxe bites. You can start off with Sydney Rock oysters and caviar service (if your budget allows), or opt for more complex bites like the smoked eel tart, goat's cheese eclair, arrowhead squid with nduja, morcilla and celeriac, and tuna crudo with Yarra Valley caviar (yes, you know it's a fancy spot when caviar is scattered all over the menu). And it makes a whole lot of sense when you consider the fact that Circl boasts one of the biggest champagne selections in Australia, with 135 bottles available at any time. You'll be sipping and snacking all this within newly designed digs, dreamt up by MARCH.STUDIO (Baker D. Chirico and Lucy Liu). Downstairs, you'll find the main dining room and bar, which features natural timber finishes and polished concrete floors. It's all kept quite minimalist, championing a less-is-more aesthetic. But the top spot to sit has got to be upstairs by the room-length glass-encased wine cellar. Watch on as the sommeliers move around this space, picking and choosing rare wines throughout the night. You'll find the new Circl wine bar at 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne, open from Tuesday–Saturday. For more details, check out the venue's website.
The kids are all right: in Future Council, the third feature-length documentary directed by Australian actor-turned-filmmaker Damon Gameau after That Sugar Film and 2040, children are brimming with enthusiasm to act to solve the inescapable problem facing every single person on earth right now. There's no avoiding the fact that the earth is in the midst of an eco-crisis, and that challenges to fix it linger at every turn. The young environmentalists in front of Gameau's lens know this deeply. They're distressed and angry about it. They're also driven to act, to bring about change and to do whatever they can to stop the planet's plight from continuing to worsen. When That Sugar Film became a sensation in 2014 — it's in the top five Australian documentaries of all time at the local box office, and sparked many among its audience to rethink the role of the movie's titular substance in their lives — it did so through a particular approach. Gameau, then best-known as an actor in the likes of The Tracker, Thunderstruck, Love My Way, Razzle Dazzle, Underbelly, Balibo, Patrick, Charlie's Country and Puberty Blues (he also played an Australian backpacker on an episode of How I Met Your Mother), put himself and his eating habits at the centre of the film. Think: Super Size Me, but Aussie and about the sweet stuff. Accordingly, Gameau physically charted the consequences of a high-sugar diet. The viewer response, as the cinema takings show, was phenomenal. Gameau wasn't thinking at the time that he'd discovered the blueprint for his approach as a filmmaker, aka documentaries with both a personal and an activist angle. "Upon reflection, I didn't know it at the time," he tells Concrete Playground. "I certainly just wanted to tell stories and thought that there weren't enough stories that, I guess, could enlighten or educate and inspire people. And so I thought that was the goal of making that. And then obviously seeing the impact that had, even in influencing policy in some countries — that kind of lit the fuse, I guess, of like 'oh, there's something really potent about storytelling'." "So much of our storytelling has been used for distraction and other means, and they're perpetuating values that maybe we don't need in this moment," Gameau continues. "So, how could we tell better stories that actually give people a bit more hope and show that there's a different part of humanity, rather than just conflict and competition and really base values around things — you think of those reality shows. So I just got inspired, I think, to tell more stories and try to encourage other storytellers, artists, whatever, to use their platform to maybe highlight the best of us as opposed to other values." Next on his behind-the-camera filmography — after more on-screen stints in Secrets & Lies, Gallipoli, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Barracuda and The Kettering Incident — came 2019's 2040. In a film that world-premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, follows in An Inconvenient Truth's footsteps and is in the top ten Aussie docos of all time at the box office, Gameau retained the same documentary style but changed subjects. His topic: climate change and ways to combat it. The personal element came via packaging his plea to the world to act as a letter to his then-four-year-old daughter, then travelling the globe to delve into potential solutions. Again, it was a massive success. Just as That Sugar Film helped put Gameau on the path to 2040, the latter did the same with Future Council. The environment is again the focus and the writer/director appears on-camera once more, but eight kids — Australian Ruby Rodgers, Joseph Wijaya from Bali, Norfolk Islander Hiva Tuki Grube, Karla Albjerg from Uganda, The Netherlands' Joaquin Minana, Clemence "CC" Currie from Scotland, Wales' Skye Neville and Aurvi Jain from Singapore — are the true stars of the show. Each was selected after a callout for children to accompany Gameau across Europe on a biofuel-powered school bus to both examine options for tackling the planet's predicament and speak with the leaders of companies contributing to the issue. The film's name doesn't just apply to their actions in the doco, either, with the kids making the child-led Future Council a real and ongoing organisation that's advocating for genuine action to save the earth. Gameau isn't merely giving voice to the frustration of the next generation about humanity's current handling of the climate crisis, then, but is helping them in their efforts. One result so far, almost a year before the film reached Australian cinemas in general release on Thursday, August 7, 2025 (but after world-premiering at the 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival): Ruby, Joseph, Hiva, Karla, Joaquin, CC, Skye and Aurvi appearing at, screening the feature for and meeting with world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024. Their deeds, plus Future Council as an off-screen initiative, are inspiring both fellow children and adults — as also chronicled in a movie that's well aware of adult-washing but never earns that description itself, even while ensuring the film is accessible, and also balancing the seriousness of the environmental situation with a sense of joy, play and empowerment. Future Council, the film, is as much a celebration of unique personalities and children following their passions, too — and proves as heartening in that element as well. With Gameau, we also explored that key aspect of the documentary, his show-don't-tell approach to factual filmmaking in general, the path from 2040 to Future Council and the difficult task of getting CEOs to speak with the movie's eight kids, plus his own journey from when he was starting out as an actor and more. On the Show-Don't-Tell Approach Resonating Across Gameau's Documentaries "I think particularly, in this film, I think it could have failed really, really dramatically if it had felt preachy, if the kids were too precocious or pretentious, if it felt like I was steering them in any way and it was a sort of manipulation. That's a careful dance to do and it does take some crafting. I guess I don't think about it too overtly, but I think I know what I don't want it to be. And I see films where it does feel preachy and I think that's really off-putting, and people don't want that. They're craving authenticity in the current state of the world. They want people to be real. And I think that's what the children bring in spades." On How 2040 Put Gameau on the Path to Making Future Council "I took 2040 around the world and a lot of the releases did school visits, and I did lots of classrooms — and the questions were often better than any adult would ask in the Q&As. The kids really knew their stuff. And I just realised that I've projected my own childhood onto these children sometimes and forgotten that they just have access to so much information now. And the ones that are passionate about sustainability just go super-deep on these subjects — and they can online now. So they often know far more than most adults do. So it really felt like 'well, this is their moment. They deserve a platform. How do we connect them together so they don't feel like their only avenue is to protest on the streets? What if they could actually come together meaningfully, collaborate with organisations, businesses, their schools, and actually actively shape and design their own future?'. And I think we've got the opportunity with our tech now, their knowledge, their awareness, to do that, and so that just felt like a good fit for the Future Council." On Whether Gameau Expected the Huge Response That 2040 Received Around the World "I don't think so. I mean, you probably know it yourself, but I think there's a default in any artist that is self-sabotaging and doesn't think we're much good at anything, really. So it's always a little bit of a surprise when something does well. And I guess I was a bit spoilt with Sugar in that that was just such a bizarre, extraordinary takeoff that I didn't expect. That was always going to be hard to match. So I just, yeah, I was surprised. But I think 2040 came at a time when people were looking for solutions and, strangely, that narrative hadn't been told very much — which was a real surprise to me, that we weren't focusing all the great things that people were doing. And so I can see now why it resonated, but of course, yeah, anytime you make something and put it out in the world, you kind of assume that no one is going see it. And it means something to you, but might not connect. So it's always a lovely bonus when people do support it." On Gameau Not Worrying About Falling Into the Adult-Washing Trap By Making Optimistic and Empowering Environmental Documentaries for All Ages "No, I think it's the very thing we need. I think this whole particular movement has got bogged down in so much graphs and analysis and data that what it needs is humanity. It needs a burst of heart. And there's a great quote by an English academic, Louisa Ziane, and she says that 'if you want to change the world, you've got to throw a better party'. And I think that that's what these children bring. Even though, as you saw in the film, they're really processing deep grief, they still find a way to be children, and to play and have fun and find the best moments in in their life. And I think there's great lessons in that for all of us that, yeah, times are incredibly tough right now — we need to be honest about — but when we are honest about it and we give ourselves a good cry like the kids do, you do free up some space to also find the joy and be grateful for the things that are still happening in our lives. And that's the thing that's going to sustain us. If we all get too bogged down in the way of the world, we're no good to anyone, and I can relate to that. I know the state I get in when I'm too serious. So the children really taught me and inspire me to make sure I stay in my heart, and to make sure I still find the moments of joy and the slices of light among these dark times. They do still exist. There are people doing extraordinary things in the face of this adversity, trying to come up with new solutions right now, find the best and be the best humans they can be. So we need to focus on that just as much as we're focusing on the things we don't want." On Whether the Children Setting Up a Real-Life Future Council Was Always the Aim for the Film "It was always in the back of the mind there was a potential that could happen. But again, I was so careful to not steer this or lead the kids on in any way. And that sort of started to happen midway through the film. That's when the children went 'oh, we can see that we've got something to say here. We can see we're valuable and we are having an impact in these boardrooms — what if we did actually start extending this out?'. So it was an idea we talked about halfway through filming. And then subsequently, we've developed that together. We've run every decision through them — 'okay, from everything from branding, what would this look like? How would you want it to run? What don't you want it to be?'. And so now we have a functioning Future Council entity with a COO and board members, and it's all kicking off. And there's now an invitation to children right around the world — which is what this film will do as we take it around the world, is recruit children that want to sign up and join. And then it'll be child-led. So all the decisions go through the children. But we've got the adults that want to support the children with the more-complex stuff and the logistics and the governance, all those sort of things. But the idea is to really make sure that the children feel like they're making the decisions and it is coming from them. They're not being told by their teachers or someone else. Because they do know their stuff, and they do have a chance to really make change — and let's let them drive it." On How Future Council's Children Are Inspiring Adults "Every screening, something magical happens. Like, someone from somewhere reaches out. Some adult wants to join up some organisation. We've got people who just — one woman just gave every child $10,000 to support their initiatives. They are doing something. There's a magic that they have together, and I think it is that humanity. There's a lot of emotion in the screenings. There's people being very, very — it's sort of unlocking parts of them they haven't confronted for a while. So there's just — I don't know, it's hard to describe. There's a magic that's coming out of the tailpipe of this bus as it cruises around, and I'm just sitting back, watching it all, I'm observing, and I'm incredibly excited by what's forming and the people from right around the world that are coming in to support this. I think it's just one of those stories that's come at the right time. The children are taking this conversation to a deeper level that it needed to go to." On Getting Representatives From Large Corporations to Meet with the Children "Yeah, that was a challenge. And I guess the framing was that we wanted to make sure that we — it wasn't about just telling them they're wrong, that it was an invitation to some of these groups to say 'these kids have some really good ideas, and I think you'd be crazy not to access some of their creativity'. I think the children learned that as it went along, that, as you saw, when we started with Nestle, they did go in with quite an activist bent — and it was a much more aggressive take. Then they reflected on that and thought 'you know what, I don't know that that worked entirely'. So they tried and pivoted to a slightly different approach with ING — and by the time we got to Decathlon, which is the world's biggest sporting goods retailer, they were so collaborative. 'Right, how can we work?'. And that, I think, is when they discovered their superpower, and that's why they then wanted to turn this into something much bigger. So it was a really interesting journey. But as I said, to their credit, these companies did say yes. A lot said no. And it was a very, very difficult challenge to get the children in there, to be honest, and I was very lucky that I had some people that were supportive of my previous work in 2040 and were able to open the doors there. But yeah, full credit to those CEOs that did front up and listen to, as you saw, what were some pretty awkward questions and difficult conversations for them. But they were willing to lean in, not shut the film down, not try to edit or cancel — which they could have done. So in the end, we're grateful for the conversations we were able to have." On How Pivotal It Is for Future Council to Celebrate the Unique Personalities of the Kids in the Film — and to Make Children Feel Included for Whatever It Is That They're Passionate About "I obviously really love these kids and they do have their own uniqueness — and that's what's beautiful about it. And Ruby said it on a Q&A — what she learned was that some people feel like they can't do enough or 'who am I to do anything?' or 'I'm not doing enough?', but we all have our own unique way to contribute to this problem right now. And that's, I think, what the kids brought. Ruby found herself that she didn't think she was of any value, and then realised that her art is the thing that people need. And now she's got a record deal and now she's singing live, and all this stuff is happening because she's expressing her grief through her music Whereas Hiva, for example, is just obsessed with birds. And I've watched him give a TED talk now and bring a whole room to its knees because he channels these birds and tells people how important they are to our ecosystem. So they've all got their different superpower. And then they came together as this incredible force. And I think that's the metaphor, isn't it? That's the great example of what we need to do as humans, as a whole, is that no matter what field we're working in, no matter what area of interest we have or our passions, when we actually come together and reknit that fabric that's been torn apart from us by this system, that we can achieve extraordinary things. And I think that's the best takeaway — and my favourite scene in the film is that last scene where the kids are all coming together, they're all acknowledging what they learned from each other and the best that they see in each other. Whoa — what a what a lesson that is for adults right now and how we're going to fix some of these problems we're facing." On Whether Making Inspiring Documentaries Was Gameau's Aim Back When He Was Starting Out as an Actor "No. God no. No, I was way too self-obsessed back then. That was very much sort of, I guess, trying to forge my own path. 'What am I doing in life?'. I hadn't really understood — I always never felt quite happy. I was lucky enough, obviously, to do a film like The Tracker or Balibo, and those felt very, very rich and deep, and felt really fulfilling. But other than that, I always felt a little bit frustrated and not comfortable. And I was lucky enough, obviously, to work with people like Rolf [de Heer, who directed Gameau on The Tracker and Charlie's Country] and Rob Connolly [Balibo's filmmaker], and they showed me how powerful storytelling can be. And I decided that I wanted to start telling my own stories. I thought I had something to say and I wanted to find the courage to be able to say that. And that took a long time to find that courage. I had a lot self-doubt that so many people do, and I was really my worst enemy in that sense. So it's taken me a long time, and I'm still on that journey of really believing this. But I see it now. I can see the impact of what these stories have done and I'm just so grateful. It's been a magical experience. And this one even more so. I feel like it's less about me, this one — the others were quite focused with me at centre, but this again is a shifting in my own journey, to give a platform to these eight kids and then these other kids around the world. So yeah, it's just I've seen it. I just think storytelling is our most-potent tool for change and it is so underutilised and undervalued. And I think it's the only way we're going to get through. I really want to call out to all artists, whether they're musicians or artists or storytellers, whatever it might be, that this is our moment. This is our time. Terence McKenna had this great quote, he said that 'the role of the artist is to save the soul of mankind and anything else is a dithering while Rome burns. If the artist can't find the way, then the way cannot be found'. And I just think whoa, what a moment right now, given everything we're facing — let's unite as artists and tell a new story." Future Council opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Cafe, designer's paradise and overall very cute space Cibi expanded in a big way back in 2018. Having spent the past decade on Keele Street in Collingwood, it outgrew the original site — filling it to the brim with Japanese homewares and cafe customers — but it didn't move far. Just a few hundred metres down the same street, actually. Taking up residence in a huge 800-square-metre warehouse, which was once a garment factory, Cibi could stretch out across a space four times the size of the original. Although the word "cibi" means "little one" in Japanese, little it no longer is. Sticking with the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi (acceptance of beauty in imperfection), the warehouse now has exposed beams, concrete and brick finishes, with owners Meg and Zenta Tanaka purposefully leaving things untouched. The cafe has expanded its cafe menu, too, with food available from breakfast through to afternoon tea. You can try dishes for the store's recently published cookbook, Cibi: Simple Japanese-Inspired Meals to Share with Family and Friends, and its super-popular Japanese Breakfast — with grilled salmon, omelette, seasonal greens, rice and miso soup — will now be available every morning, instead of just weekends. In terms of the homewares, the brands exclusively imported by Cibi (such as Hakusan porcelain and Sori Yanagi cutlery) have been built on, with the addition of larger items — such as furniture — and more brands. Love the food at Cibi in Collingwood? Buy the cookbook and recreate such dishes at home. Equally enamoured by the plate it was served on? Those are for sale, too. Even the chair you sit on could have a price tag underneath it. Synergy is in full swing here. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Melbourne for 2023
Want to experience the buzz of live sumo without the hassle of that long flight to Tokyo? You're in luck, because you can experience the thunder of one of Japan's most ancient traditional sports here in Australia over one action-packed weekend. On Friday, January 19 and Sunday, January 21, Melbourne and Sydney respectively will play host to 'Sumo International Downunder'. Punters will get to experience all the show and panache that comes with live sumo, including a traditional pre-match Taiko drumming show. Hiroki Sumi, a huge figure in the sumo world, will be the star of the show. Known for his appearance in Netflix's 2023 series Sanctuary, he has gained international recognition beyond traditional sumo circles. Although he plays a fictional character in the series, Sumi is a genuine world-class sumo wrestler, and his appearance in Australia is a massive get. Special VIP tickets are available if you fancy donning a mawashi (sumo belt) and trying some sumo wrestling on stage. VIPs will also get an exclusive meet-and-greet with the sumo wrestlers, including Sumi himself. Melbourne's Festival Hall will host two events on the same day, with the first starting at 11am and the second at 6pm, while Sydney's Aware Super Theatre will host the final show at 7pm. [caption id="attachment_878169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alessio Roversi (Unsplash)[/caption]
At the end of 2023 we sadly bade farewell to Baby Snakes, one of the best wine bars in Melbourne. But just as soon as the team packed up, a trio of Melbourne hospo veterans stepped in to create a new bar in its wake. Jacob Bell (Whitehart), Jerry Poon (The Operatives) and Amber Hahipene (Section 8) have revived the space with some splashes of paint, new floors, house plants and more refined decor. Where Baby Snake edged towards dive bar, Misfits is considerably sleeker and more put-together. The new bar isn't losing any of the community feels, as it hosts workshops, panels and live recordings, alongside a weekly selection of local and international DJs. The team even uses the square behind Misfits for laneway parties, local arts and community festivals. Hahipene notes, "we want Misfits to be a platform for new talent, a stomping ground for the local community and a home to people who love music and hospitality." Bevs are an all-round affair as opposed to specialising in just one spirit or type of booze. Plenty of wines are up for grabs, plus limited-release beers and some cocktails. Those wanting a feed are also free to get pizzas delivered from the downstairs Slice Shop Pizza. A casual affair, this space remains. Just with a little more spit and polish. Find Misfits at 30 Chambers Street, Footscray, open 5–late on Thursday to Saturday, and 3–11pm on Sunday. For more information, head to the venue's Instagram page.
Frankie may not have the label of destination diner like its fellow Geelong spot Igni does, but this (cheaper) eatery is well worth the drive to the coast. Why? Well, the interior is divine — all polished leather, beige leather couches and soft rose-gold accents. It's the kind of interior we all want but are too clumsy and messy to manage. But let's not be superficial. Frankie serves up both atmosphere and a killer drinks menu featuring wines from local and state wineries, and gorgeously garnished cocktails (try the Stonemelon Sour for $20 — trust us). Once you've quenched your thirst, the pan-Asian dinner menu has the rest of your night covered. The kitchen dabbles in a little Japanese cuisine with the crispy sesame rice balls ($18), a little Thai with their slow-cooked beef cheek curry ($32), and some Korean by way of fried chicken glazed in mirin and gochujang ($21). Plus, there's everyone's favourite finger food: bao. Try the slow-cooked pork belly version with sesame and crushed peanuts ($17) for a flavour combo you won't forget in a hurry.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is turning 120 in 2026, and to celebrate, the orchestra is putting out an open call to anyone who's musically inclined to express their inner sounds. MSO has soundtracked Melbourne for over a century with professionally developed music from at home and abroad, but this new initiative, Open Score, expands the scope more than ever: anyone who can compose sheet music is invited to take part. The brief is simple. Any composer, no matter their age, background and professional experience, is invited to submit a two-minute max composition for standard orchestral instruments that expresses their take on the theme: a sense of place. The piece must be original, unperformed and developed by the human hand, not generative AI. It's not about which entries are the most technically complex or deep, but about how they represent the personal expressions of the entrants, all to capture reflections on who participants are, what home means to them, and the role music plays in their identity. As MSO themselves put it, "a collective musical snapshot of who we are, and where we are, right now." MSO's CEO Richard Wigley said, "Open Score is part of our ongoing commitment to access, inclusion and shared cultural ownership. It celebrates creativity in all its forms and reflects our belief that orchestral music belongs not just on the concert hall stage, but in the lives, places and imaginations of people everywhere." Selected pieces will get the spotlight they deserve. All entries will be reviewed over the course of the year by MSO's in-house artistic teams, and if your composition is selected, you'll receive a copy of MSO performing it — a recording that may also be shared on their digital platforms and, in some cases, performed live by the orchestra. Applications are open now, and will remain open until the end of the year, so find your inner maestro, find your sense of place, and bring your idea to life with the help of one of Australia's best orchestras. Terms and conditions apply, visit the MSO website for more information. Images: Mark Gambino and Samantha Meuleman for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
After three years lying dormant and many months of anticipation of what will come next for the venue, the Melbourne live music institution that is the Hotel Esplanade will finally reopen its grand ol' doors this Friday, November 23. The massively ambitious revamp has seen the stalwart St Kilda pub go from three levels to six, housing a whopping 12 bars, two restaurants and three live music stages — plus a fully-equipped podcast studio for rent and an arts, performance and culture space. The refurb comes courtesy of local hopso group Sand Hill Road — it's redone the Terminus, Garden State and Prahran hotels, and bought The Espy back in May 2017. The group has collaborated with Technē Architecture to restore the old girl to her former glory (and then some), looking to the site's 140-year history and unveiling rooms that haven't previously been open to the public. Here's all you need to know about The Espy's restoration from run-down pub to beach-side grandeur. THE FIT-OUT The Epsy's now six levels all highlight the pub's history and include the newly opened top level, which was once the residence of well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist and art-lover Alfred Felton back in the late-19th century. Felton is a huge inspiration for the fit-out, and the upstairs level is dedicated to his memory with a series of rooms themed with Felton's love of knowledge, arts and science. Within the incredible 12-bar venue is a street-side beer garden, a basement public bar, a garden terrace overlooking St Kilda pier and a 1970s-inspired studio bar — it encompasses a fully-equipped podcast studio which patrons can rent. Imported furniture and decorative objects span the venue, along with a series of hand-painted murals by Perth artist Desmond Sweeney (8 Foot Walls design company). Other notable design elements include a retractable glass roof in the terrace, arch windows in the foyer, the refurbished grand staircase and a 120-person private mezzanine with bay views. [caption id="attachment_698607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] THE MENU Executive chef Ash Hicks is heading up the Espy Kitchen, a cellar door-inspired restaurant which has taken the place of the original loading bay and boasts a whopping 60 chefs, plus custom-built charcoal grills, two wood-fired pizza ovens and a Rotisol French rotisserie. Expect Aussie produce to be at the forefront, along with market fresh seafood. Dshes include the crispy bug roll, charcoal-roasted baby snapper and a range of raw bar items — from oysters, prawns and grilled calamari to a daily crudo offering and a market seafood platter. Out of those pizza overs comes wood-fired pies, made using stoneground flour and 72-hour fermented dough. Fancier pub meals include spicy lamb flatbread, beef tartare, charcoal chicken and slow-roasted wagyu. But the menu is not without its pub staples, either, with fish and chips, burgers, parmas and schnitties all on offer too. Boozy weekend brunch offers the likes of green nourish bowl with scrambled tofu and avocado and barbecued haloumi and mushroom rolls. Drinks options range from local craft brews and unpasteurised Carlton Draught delivered from Abbotsford to an affordable wine list and a barrel-aged drinks programme — starting with the house negroni, which is made in American oak barrels, treated with tawny port for two months and then aged for an additional four weeks. Other spritzes and gin cocktails emulate the beachside location. In December, the venue's second restaurant offering will open in the form of Mya Tiger, a Cantonese restaurant and classed-up cocktail bar inspired by the 1850s gold rush era. THE LIVE MUSIC The biggest question hanging over the relaunch of The Espy has been whether the new owners will pay the same respect to local live music as the old venue did in its heyday. The planned programming shows that it's not just an afterthought. Among the three live music stages is one in the main bar, which will host solo acts, small-scale bands and late-night DJs. The basement stage will feature emerging artists and local bands, and the hallowed-out Gershwin Room will host ticketed gigs, starting with The Teskey Brothers — lucky ticket holders to this Thursday's gig will get an early access glimpse of the revamp before The Espy officially opens to the public. If you're late to the party, you can still sign up to the wait list here. Upcoming gigs include PP Arnold, Tex Perkins, Dan Sultan and The Chats. The Gershwin Room will also host film screenings, dance classes and offer a weekly artist's space for hire on Mondays. Ghost tours are also on the docket, are is an immersive choose your own adventure-style theatre show. The Hotel Esplanade will officially open on Friday, November 23. Opening hours will be Monday through Friday from 11am to late and Saturday through Sunday from 9am to late.
This winter, garage goths, a fusion of jazz and metal played by musicians in clown masks, a head-on collision and sand raining down on a man in an hourglass are all on the agenda — on Dark Mofo's 2025 agenda, that is. If you needed any proof that the Tasmanian winter arts festival is back after sitting out 2024, consider the above sample of the lineup as overwhelming evidence. This has always been a fest where expecting the unexpected is the baseline, and that isn't changing in 2025. Dark Mofo already gave the world a sneak peek at what's to come from Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 15, 2025, when the bulk of the event takes place — the Nude Solstice Swim is on Saturday, June 21 — when it announced Nathan Maynard's We threw them down the rocks where they had thrown the sheep back in March. Accordingly, when it revealed that it'd be hosting a mass installation from the multidisciplinary Trawlwoolway artist, and one that uses sheep flesh to make a statement about the treatment of First Nations people, it signalled that it was still the boundary-pushing fest that folks love flocking to when the weather cools. Now comes the full program, the first under new Artistic Director Chris Twite, which has a date with riverbanks, deconsecrated churches, rooftops, basements, bank vaults and more. 'Dark Mofo is back!" said Twite, revealing the lineup. "Once again we will bathe the city in red, filling it with art and taking over disused and hidden spaces all across Nipaluna/Hobart. Night Mass — the late-night labyrinth of revelry — will carve new paths through the city and a host of Australian-exclusive artists from around the world will storm our stages." That filling downtown Hobart with art and music for Night Mass was set to be a part of Dark Mofo 2025 was announced last year — as was the return of the aforementioned Nude Solstice Swim, the Ogoh-Ogoh and culinary highlight Winter Feast. The festival has shared more details on each now, however, including that Niyati Rao from Mumbai restaurant Ekaa is Winter Feast's guest chef, working with Craig Will, Bianca Welsh and James Welsh from Launceston's Stillwater; that Night Mass: God Complex boasts 100-plus talents involved; and that a giant Maugean skate is the focus at the Ogoh-Ogoh. [caption id="attachment_998147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netti Habel[/caption] On the music side of the lineup, the full program now adds The Horrors and Clown Core, plus Tierra Whack, Cold Cave, Boy Harsher, Baroness, Crime & the City Solution, Show Me the Body, Alabaster DePlume, LUCY (Cooper B Handy), Machine Girl and Mong Tong — all in Australian-exclusive gigs, and all demonstrating how wide-ranging even just the fest's tunes will be. Rap and R&B, progressive metal, art-punk, hardcore both ceremonial and digital: they're just some of the genres on offer. Portishead's Beth Gibbons is also performing at Vivid Sydney, RISING in Melbourne and Brisbane's Open Season, but her spot on the Dark Mofo bill is no less exciting — and via two shows at The Odeon, she's launching the music program. Or, you can catch Rival Consoles give the ambient synth of Landscape From Memory its Australian premiere; see Spectral Wound, Imperial Triumphant Hymns, Hulder and Slimelord at the return of Hymns to the Dead; and witness Dead Can Dance founding member Lisa Gerrard and William Barton perform their Under In Between project live for the first time. DIIV, Jessica Pratt, Drain Gang's Thaiboy Digital, Keanu Nelson, Shackleton, Siddhartha Belmannu, Gut Health, Forest Swords, Brighter Death Now, Evicshen: they're hitting the stage as well. So is a new project from German music festival Berlin Atonal, and London Contemporary Orchestra's Robert Ames teaming up with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Featuring Brazilian artist Paula Garcia and a stunt driver, Crash Body is one of the performance highlights. The Havana-born Carlos Martiel is contributing two pieces, video work Cuerpo and new unveiling Custody, which is where the hourglass comes in — and, as part of his unpacking of systemic violence against people of colour, where Dark Mofo gets another must-see. A empty warehouse will be lit up like the sky thanks to SORA by Nonotak, Simon Zoric's Coffin Rides contemplates the afterlife and collaborative music project Everything Is Recorded from Richard Russell will ponder the winter solstice in an improvised piece. Claudia Comte's La Danse Macabre is set to combine two pianists playing the titular piece as a motocross rider jumps through a the flames from a wooden sculpture on fire — as everyone can witness on a screen in Dark Park — to comment on capitalism, while Ida Sophia's video work Witness muses on religious fervour, and Nicholas Galanin's Neon Anthem will get visitors taking knee and scereaming. From Ronnie van Hout's Quasi and Travis Ficarra's Chocolate Goblin sculptures to the extreme metal vocalisations of Karina Utomo's Mortal Voice and Dark Mofo Films making a comeback, too — with Sound of Metal, Eraserhead, The Proposition, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, The Lighthouse, Wake in Fright, Melancholia and more — if you're not finding at least 20 events on the program to get excited about instantly, then you're not looking hard enough. [caption id="attachment_994599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] We threw them down the rocks where they had thrown the sheep images: Jesse Hunniford, 2025. Image courtesy of Dark Mofo 2025.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_998148" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ednid Alvarez[/caption] Dark Mofo returns from Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 15, 2025 and for the Nude Solstice Swim on Saturday, June 21. Head to the festival's website for further details and tickets. Images courtesy of Dark Mofo. Top image: Marcos Cimardi.
