Summer weekend in Melbourne
How locals do summer in Melbourne — patios, beaches, festivals and the long-evening rituals that only happen in July and August.
Top spots in Melbourne
St Kilda Beach + Acland Street
FamilySt Kilda
Penguins on the pier at dusk, cake row on Acland Street.
Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
NightlifeFitzroy
Vintage shops, rooftop bars and live music at The Night Cat.
Queen Victoria Market
Food & DrinkNorth Melbourne
1878 market — Friday night summer market is a citywide event.
Section 8
NightlifeChinatown
Shipping-container laneway bar — Melbourne nightlife in a sentence.
Where to eat
Attica
$$$$Contemporary Australian · Ripponlea
Ben Shewry's Indigenous-ingredient tasting — World's 50 Best regular.
Chin Chin
$$$Pan-Asian · CBD
No-bookings cult favourite — banquet menu, basement bar GoGo.
Cumulus Inc.
$$$European · CBD
Andrew McConnell all-day classic — slow-roast lamb shoulder is the move.
Lune Croissanterie
$Bakery · Fitzroy
Said by NYT to be the world's best croissants — queue starts at 7am.
Live & on stage
Laneway Festival
Footscray Park · Feb · Indie Festival
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
Citywide · Oct · Jazz
The Forum
CBD · Year-round · Live music
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Queen Victoria Market, St Kilda Beach + Acland Street, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The shortlist is curated by people who live in Melbourne and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.