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Best Food Challenges in Melbourne!

Melbournians love to make the most of everything, including eating meal sizes of such epic proportions that not every man and his dog could get through. Hidden City Secrets have provided you with a list of Melbourne’s greatest food challenges that range from kilograms of parma to nearly every type of...

Best Beer Gardens to Hire in Melbourne

We’ve finally made it through one of the coldest recorded winters in Melbourne’s history, so we deserve nothing more than to gather our friends and enjoy a beverage at one of Melbourne’s great venues out in the sunlight! Whether you want to soak up that sun on a rooftop, by...

AFL Grand Final-ly!

 Australians all let us rejoice, for it’s almost Grand Final time and we all know what that means… a day off work. Of course there’s a lot more to it all than JUST a sleep in – so in case you aren’t up with the play on all things footy,...

Not going to the AFL Grand Final? Read on…

To go to the game, or not go to the game? That, Mr. Shakespeare, is the REAL question. The answer though is probably not, as 99% of us couldn’t get tickets… You probably are by now aware that the AFL Grand Final warrants a public holiday, so the decision  as...

Go On, Melbourne: Espresso Yourself

Holy caffeinated cocktails, Batman! Melbourne’s obsession with all things coffee-and-liquor is set to be fuelled (literally) by the inaugural ‘Festival of the Espresso Martini’, kicking off on the 5th of November. Hosted ever so kindly by Mr Black, the festival promises to bring to the table all the caffeinated concoctions...

Cows and Goats and Sheep – Oh My!

When you think of Melbourne, the first image you conjure up isn’t likely to be one of farmers and livestock, amirite? In actual fact, the closest a lot of true-blue Melburnians usually get to a sheep is being wrapped in a plush merino wool scarf on a crisp spring day....

Dummies Guide To: The Melbourne Cup Carnival

Spring heralds a few things for Melburnians – perhaps more drinking Little Fat Lamb cider in swish rooftop bars than getting amongst traditional lambing – but easily one of the biggest celebrations and social events of spring is the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Taking place over four days, visitors flock to...

‘Fringe’ comes to the Fore

From the 15th of September until the 2nd of October, the word on the street is fringe. No, not those naff bits of material hanging off the sleeves of that 70’s coat your mum still has hanging in the closet, but the fringe performance artists, dancers, comics, and installations which...

Twist It At The LuWOW

There isn’t a venue more appropriately named then the LuWOW in Fitzroy. With special events happening month after month, it’s no wonder why it has become one of the most thriving hot-spots in Melbourne’s bar scene, and they’re at it again. The famous Tiki cocktail bar is proud to present a...

Wine and Dine with Charles Melton

Calling all wine enthusiasts, connoisseurs, aficionados and lovers of the cherished liquid of the God’s. A very special dinner event is being held on September 8th, and it’s not to be missed. Charles Melton is to Australian wine what Lindt is to chocolate and Normandy is to cheese, and good...

The Secrets of South Wharf

Move over South Yarra (pronounced yaa-rah), there is a new ‘South’ that is fighting for your title of the best ‘South’ in Melbourne, and she brings with her some of Melbourne’s best bars, restaurants and function spaces. Let the duel begin. Minutes from Melbourne’s CBD is a hidden city secret...

Top 5 Function Venues in Prahran

Prahran is one of Melbourne’s trendiest suburbs, with cafes, restaurants and bars galore available for venue hire. Being just a stone’s throw away from the CBD and with Chapel St at its doorstep, it is the ultimate location to have your next party or event. Here are our picks of...

Happy Birthday to the Queen, Thanks for the Day Off

One of the most debated days of the year has come around again where many are up in arms, questioning why it is exactly we have the day off to “celebrate” the “birthday” of a lady who “supposedly” governs our great nation from afar, on a date that isn’t actually...

Celebrate Jack’s 150th Birthday

The King of Whiskey is coming to Melbourne and, as expected with all royal celebrations, no extravagance will be spared. Jack Daniels is turning 150, and to celebrate, he is bringing Tennessee to Melbourne for the biggest whiskey celebration the city has ever seen! His palace, which comes in the...

5 Local Acts to Catch at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

By Charlie Ranger Yep. It’s back. That thing to do during March and April in Melbourne. You know…The people trying to be funny for a month thing? The one where there’s over 500 shows and hundreds of desperate performers on the street trying to drag you into their venue to...

Labour Day Eve at Ms. Collins ft. DJ Mustard!

Looking for the best place in Melbourne to party the night away this Labour Day Eve? Hit up Ms. Collins for the ultimate night out! DJ Mustard, the award-winning genius DJ/producer behind some of your favourite hits (Tyga’s ‘Rack City’, 2 Chainz ‘I’m Different’, and Jeremih & Y.G’s ‘Don’t Tell...

Festivals This Summer: Melbourne Zoo Tastes of Twilight 2016

As if you needed another excuse to go to Melbourne Zoo this summer, the Tastes of Twilight season kicks off on January 29th with a killer line-up of all your favourite musicians set to the backdrop of a lion’s roar! Another one of Melbourne’s Festivals for a great cause: Music...

Festival 21 – Our Future Through Food

FRIDAY THE 11TH DECEMBER. F21Y DURING THE DAY 12PM-5PM F21 FLAGSHIP EVENT STARTS 7PM It’s the end of the year and everyone’s looking for something to do. Well, almost everyone. Santa’s probably pretty busy and got stuff going on, but for the rest of us… On Friday the 11th of...

6 Bars That Cater to a Melbourne Summer

From 40 degree melters, to stormy evenings, Melbourne summers are unpredictable to say the least. Find the bars that have the goods to suit the Melbourne weather with our handy guide. The weather in Melbourne, as we all know, is very precarious at best. One moment there will be scorching...

COMPETITION TIME! Melbourne’s New Year’s Party Village: World Carnivale NYE!

Experience a party like no other with five different parties each with their own theme, entertainment, and food. This New Year’s Eve, experience World Carnivale!   GO IN THE DRAW TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO WORLD CARNIVALE! SEE BELOW! This New Year’s Eve, South Wharf will be transformed into...

Pilgrim & Riverland Bars Bring You: Juniperlooza!

Sick of the muggy heat that’s taking over Melbourne? Hankering for a refreshing drop or twelve? Well then, Juniperlooza is for you! Our friends over at Riverland Bar and Pilgrim Bar have always had a flirtation with all things alcoholic and delicious, so it’s no surprise that they have buddied...

Attention Sweet Tooths – Sweetfest is Here!

It’s two parts festival, one part masterclasses, and ten parts artery clogging goodness! Sweetfest, Good Food Month’s two day festival for all things baked, fried, and delicious, is coming to North Melbourne at the end of November.   DO YOU WANT TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO SWEETFEST? SHARE THIS...

10 Bars Every Melburnian Must Visit

Drink. Drank. Drunk. The Melbourne bar scene is one of the best things about this city. Make sure you check these 10 out! The best bars in Melbourne lists are always going to cause social media conflict and antagonise the purveyors of fine tipples. With so many fantastic suburbs and thousands...

Greening Melbourne City, One Laneway at a Time!

Melbourne CBD has a tonne of laneways, arteries running through its heart, and the City of Melbourne is looking to green them up, with your help!     The Green Your Laneway project aims to green up to four laneways in the city by getting people to nominate laneways in...

Melbourne’s New Rooftop Cinema – Lido on the Roof!

By Charlie Ranger We don’t know what you did last summer, but we definitely know what you didn’t do, sat on the rooftop of The Lido Cinema and watched films. It’s okay, neither did we. Tis the season for outdoor experiences: rooftop bars, beer gardens, and outdoor cinemas! Are you...

Win a $100 Venue Voucher – Courtesy of HCS!

Have you seen this ad on your train?   If so, you could be in to win! All you have to do is take a photo of it this ad next time you see it, post the photo to our Facebook page, and you automatically go in the draw to win a $100...

Melbourne Good Food Month 2015: Battle of the Pans!

You Eat. You Drink. You Decide. Ms. Collins hosts Good Food Month event, Battle of the Pans, with famous foodies: Dan Poyner and Daniel Wilson. This November 10th, watch as two heavyweight gastronomes go head to head in a battle of wills and pans at the one and only Ms....

Thursday Night Sessions: South Melbourne Night Markets 2016!

The South Melbourne Night Markets return in 2016 with a super long season for ten weeks from 7 January – 10 March. Good times, come at us! Everyone in Melbourne knows that South Melbourne is the place to haunt at the beginning of each year, the night markets a must-do...

Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas Melbourne 2015

By Charlie Ranger Hey, you guys like movies? How good are movies right? What an awesome thing to do, especially in summer. Want them to be waaaay better? Easy. Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas Melbourne returns in November to bring us a month of movie joy. From the 29th of...

Melbourne Salami Festa 2015

By Charlie Ranger We have a never ending list of things to do on this website; bars to hit up, restaurants to try and the best of Melbourne’s Nightlife. But something quite different is coming, and it’s the Melbourne Salami Festa and it’s happening this October. In a time where...

Malaysia Street Festival at Queen Victoria Markets

By Charlie Ranger Make way for Queen Victoria Markets’ Malaysia Street Festival this 11th October. Because Melbourne needs another food festival! Queen Victoria Market is always playing host to some of the most exciting and unique events on offer in Melbourne. With a huge variety of venues contained in arguably the...

Melbourne Good Food Month 2015

By Charlie Ranger The time has come, my little friends, to talk of other things… Such as Good Food Month coming to Melbourne this November! (Oysters included)     There are no end of top restaurants and bars in Melbourne that offer up some of the best food you’ll find...

HCS’ Top AFL Grand Final 2015 Bars!

The AFL Grand Final is here and whether you go for the Hawks, the Eagles, or are just another Kiwi who doesn’t care about footy, there’s no better day to hit the bars.     Here at HCS, we know our Melbourne bars. And with the Grand Final this Saturday,...

Day of the Dead Celebrations Come to Melbourne

A long celebrated tradition in Mexico comes to Melbourne this October in a mysterious, debauchery filled event like no other! Calling all underground, Mexican, and bizarre festival fanatics! Day of the Dead Warehouse Project 3.1, the newest, most killer festival to hit Australia this year, has drawn inspiration from Burning Man, Sleep...

Dogapalooza – Melbourne’s New Dog Friendly Festival!

Dog friendly music festival hitting Melbourne this September! As if Melbourne didn’t haven’t enough awesome festivals, we are now getting Dogapalooza! Started in Adelaide, this two year old festival is now making its way to Melbourne on the 27th September, 2015. Primarily a charity concert, the funds raised at Dogapalooza...

Melbourne’s *Subjectively* Best Burgers

Now that Burger King’s Peace Day burger is becoming a thing, we figured that it was time to write a tried and tested, and no doubt controversial, post about the best burgers in Melbourne. Bring on the hate! As everyone knows, Melbourne does food really REALLY well. However, amongst the...

Cadbury Takes Over Federation Square!

It's chocolate time in Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square! Cadbury is calling on the city's hard workers, busy parents and chocolate lovers alike to come and celebrate a brand new chocolate covered event! Take some time out of your normally busy day to enjoy Joy O’clock, Cadbury’s gift to Melbourne. From...

MELBOURNE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL 2015

After a stunningly successful year in 2014, Melbourne Underground Film Festival is back with MUFF16 – their sweet 16th year supporting independent and guerrilla local and international cinema. MUFF, the ultimate destination for underground film buffs, aspiring screenwriters, and budding directors, kicks off on Friday, September 11th! Running for nine...

THE BAR THAT JACK BUILT

September marks the birth of our favourite distiller, Jack Daniel. Celebrate in Sydney and Melbourne by helping to make the coolest pop up bar on the planet! As no-one is sure of his exact date of birth, we celebrate Jack Daniel’s birthday for the whole month of September with events...

5 Things to NOT Do at Your Next Work Function

By Charlie Ranger Pash Your Boss: If you get to the point in the night where you’re sitting in a quiet corner with your boss, some low light, a bit of music and workmate chatter blending in the background, then you need to recognise the danger you’re in. This goes...

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Have You Planned Your X-Mas Party Yet?!

The festive season is fast approaching and venues have already started booking key dates in their event calendars. So, if you haven’t book your venue already it’s time to put the kettle on grab a bicky, and look through all the amazing bars, restaurants, cafe’s, function venues and e

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We’re Uncovering Melbourne’s Best Hidden Bars!

Ever wonder if there’s more to Melbourne’s bar and restaurant scene? Something you might be missing? The answer is yes! The beauty of our city is that it is stacked with hidden gems – whether they’re through alleyways, up hidden elevators, or down secret staircases – and we’re peeling

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Treat Dad At These Melbourne Spots This Father’s Day

A celebration of perhaps the hardest-to-buy-for creature on the planet (Father’s Day) is coming up, and we’re feeling just as daunted as you are. So we’re doing dad’s day a little different this year, and we’ve scoured the bars and restaurants of Melbourne to compile the

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