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Is This Bayside’s Best Bar and Beer Garden?

With Sonder’s sleek modern interior and queues out the door, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s located on Flinders Lane rather than in the heart of Melbourne’s Bayside. The Bentleigh bar opened in 2018 to a captive audience of south-eastern locals fed-up with travelling into the CBD to find somewhere...

Brunswick Street Eats For Every Day Of The Week

Spending the day on Brunswick street? In the mood for treating yourself (again)? No matter what day you’re there, we’ve got you covered on the must have spots that won’t break the bank. Monday > The Fitz  347 Brunswick St, Fitzroy The Fitz softens the blow of your Monday morning whether...

Melbourne BeerFest 2020 Hits St Kilda This Weekend

Do you know your IPAs from your pilsners, your lagers from your stouts? Are you looking for an Insta-worthy excuse to lounge in the St Kilda sun this weekend? Then look no further than Melbourne’s BeerFest 2020. This Saturday 29th February, fifty of the country’s most exciting established and upcoming...

Limited Pop Up Bar, Electronic Dance Festival + Many More!

With so much going on in Melbourne, it is sometimes hard to know how you can spend your time. Here is a short list of special activities on right now in the Melbourne Arts Precinct that you should not miss!   Speakeasy at the Barre – Arts Centre Melbourne If...

Cool new music/arts festival happening in Thornbury in Feb

Welcome to Thornbury will have its entire landscape transformed in to a music and arts event called Daybreak Festival, for a full day on February 29. Widely known for its food trucks and food festivals, Welcome to Thornbury will invite attendees into a day of fun dance music curated across 2 main...

West Side’s Best Kept Secret – a Vintage Beer Garden, Op Shop Bar and Social Enterprise in One

Tucked off Footscray’s Moreland Street is the secluded garden oasis that is Lickety Split. Blink and you’ll miss it, this west side hidden gem is home to Melbourne’s first op-shop bar, a vintage inspired alfresco beer garden, a vegan food truck, Shuffle boards, a pop-up bike workshop and some esteemed...

5 Must-Attend Boozy/Foodie Events Before Summer is Over

As we roll into the last couple of months of sunshine and glorious weather made for day drinking, it would be a crime not to take advantage of Melbourne’s jam packed events calendar. We’ve rounded up the last few events of the summer that are guaranteed to be a fitting...

Australia’s Biggest Gin-Fest is Back!

Cancel your Valentine’s plans, whatever they may be, because the weekend of the 15th and 16th of February 2020 has offically been renamed Juniperlooza, ie Melbourne’s premium Gin festival. For lovers of Gin, and for lovers of summer activities, this one is for you! Trapeze down to The Boat Builders...

Melbourne Zoo’s Twilight Picnics return with Meg Mac, The Cat Empire and Good Times Galore

Zoo Twilights are back at Melbourne Zoo serving up live music, decadent picnics and wholesome surroundings all in the one place. From January 24th, spend your summer weekends sprawled on Melbourne Zoo’s lush lawns as they open their gates after hours for their renowned twilight picnics. Boasting headliners like Missy...

This Pop Up Beach Bar is Back Just in Time for Summer

The Exchange Hotel’s Pop up Beach Bar is back for another year. Hitting literal shores on the 25th of January, you best believe your long weekend is sorted. But the event won’t just be around for Aus Day, you’ll be able to enjoy your beach cocktails until 24th of February. The event...

Gluten-Free Guide to Melbourne’s Best Italian Eats

Italian may not be to go-to choice for those of us incapable of efficiently processing wheat. However no one, and I repeat no one, should have to eat Italian in fear, or settle for an alternative that is more closely related in consistency and flavour to cardboard than dough. As...

Shh, QT Has A Secret Garden Bar

I bet you didn’t know that nestled behind the Rooftop at QT Melbourne bar is the hotel’s latest addition, the Secret Garden Bar. This ideal summer destination has landed on Russell St, and is perfect for celebratory, tough day, post-work, and TGIF drinks! The QT has brilliantly teamed up with the one and only...

Prahran Market’s New Eco-Conscious Workshops

If you have been to the Prahran Market recently, then you may have noticed a new pop-up haven, the Social Food Project. This joint venture pop-up brings together the various vendors at the market and the importance of sustainable food. Prahran Market demonstrates a philosophy of being sustainable in all aspects, and...

Blink And You’ll Miss This Awesome Loft-Style Venue Hidden On High Street!

Take a wander off Chapel Street, turn the corner onto High Street, and find your new favourite hidden loft-style cocktail bar, Galah. Enter through the boutique bottle shop down stairs, and head to the upstairs bar which provides a delightful setting for late afternoon drinks, then transforms to an ambient and...

Soak Up the Sun at Fed Square’s Summertime Social

Set against the backdrop of Federation Square’s Skyline Terrace, Summertime Social is an outdoor pop-up event for all ages! From the 2nd of January right through to the 5th of April you can check out this colourful and endlessly fun seasonal event. Whether you take the kids along for a...

Have A Tea Party At This Alice in Wonderland Themed Cafe!

If you consider yourself ‘curious and curiouser’ and perhaps even a little bit ‘mad’, begin your journey to The Hatter and the Hare where you’ll be taken on a trip to Alice’s Wonderland. Located in an unassuming, industrial part of Bayswater, this not-so-hidden gem boasts and indoor hanging garden as...

Melbourne’s Most Drool-Worthy Bagels

Bagels are a tricky little thing to nail in the baking world – getting that perfect balance of chewy and soft dough with a tiny hint of sweetness is no easy feat. So you’ve got to hand it to the places that get it right, and celebrate them for all...

6 Socially Aware Eateries That Make The Planet Smile

Sick of not being able to finish off the enormous pile of avocado that accompanied your eggs on toast? Watching as the waiter scoops the remainders into the bin of the local café kitchen. Food waste strikes again. Cue the guilt. Believe it or not, there are some hospo-superstars that...

Melbourne Music Week’s 10th Birthday is looking like a big one!

There’s nothing we love more than celebrating Melbourne’s arts culture. We have a notoriously talented music scene, and we’re the music capital of the world, which is why there’s an entire week dedicated to it! Melbourne Music Week is not just about standing in a crowd watching live music. You’re...

Sugar Republic’s Christmasland is Back! A sugary, interactive wonderland for all ages

There’s no such thing as being too old for Christmas, so gather up your nearest and dearest and head down to the Macrobertson’s Chocolate Factory in Fitzroy this November! After the sold out success of its debut year, Sugar Republic’s Christmasland will be running from the 10th of November right...

Need those noodles? Get slurping at our favourite ramen joints.

If I could only have one meal for the rest of my life, I’d choose ramen. Noodles + soup = a match made in heaven, especially when you go to the right place. These 5 ramen restaurants have been tried and tested, and have rightfully earned their place among the...

4 Pines Are Giving Us A Welcome To Brunswick

Imagine an oasis with solar powered energy, bio-dynamic composting, reusable plates, recycled furniture, a line-up of glorious food trucks, and an abundance of beer. A place where people can eat without feeling diner’s remorse as their food scraps and plastic dishes are thrown into the bin. This dream is very...

Going to The Fringe Festival? Check Out These Restaurants Before Your Show!

It’s time once again to revel in the weirdness and uniqueness of Melbourne. Running from September 12th to the 29th, the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival is bigger and better in 2019. There are over 400 exciting and strange acts and shows which range from stand-up comedy to drag shows. There’s...

Melbourne Fringe Festival Is Back!

Witness the Melbourne Fringe Festival transform the city into an artistic platform that presents 450+ works in 170+ venues from over 3,000 artists. From September 12th – 29th 2019, the festival will hold events that pushes and breaks artistic boundaries and inspire new ideas. Participants will be tested outside of...

Pub Trivia Venues for Every Night of the Week!

Here at Hidden City Secrets, we love our pub trivia. It makes us feel that those hours spent on Wikipedia and reading weird poetry wasn’t a complete waste of time. If you can relate, visit one of these bars that hosts trivia nights every week. Grab your mates and show...

Bop and Jive at Bird’s Basement Jazz Venue

Fancy yourself as a jazzy guy? A bit of a hep cat? A big band Betty? A lover of jazz? If you identify as one, or all, of these, Bird’s Basement is where you need to be. One of Melbourne’s best live music hotspots, Bird’s Basement has been spreading the good...

The Ultimate CBD Venue Destination for your Next Event

Set in the cosmopolitan heart of Flinders Lane, Garden State is a multifaceted, beautiful assemblage of spaces that will definitely take you on a wondrous adventure that encompasses full grown trees and illuminous, glowing pendant lighting. Each setting has their own personality, signature stylings and work together to creative a...

Collingwood’s Favourite Vegan Pizzeria Opens Its Doors In Prahran

Following their Smith Street success, the cult favourite pizzeria have just opened their doors to the south siders. Currently open 5-10pm Wednesdays through to Sundays, the new location at 260 Chapel Street Prahran is already welcoming a sea of regulars and newcomers alike.  Fitted with vintage style vinyl booths and...

Satisfy those Pizza cravings at this South Melbourne Italian Restaurant

A charismatic escape away from the hectic streets of South Melbourne, Mister Margherita is the kind of restaurant you can expect to see a chef making a pizza whilst singing along to That’s Amore. The outside light infiltrates through the windows, which brightens and fills the space during the day,...

Its the F*cking Catalina Wine Mixer

Call it a nation-wide collaboration if you will, Welcome to Thornbury and South Australia’s Howard Vineyard are bringing the biggest (or smallest) event of the year to our beloved north-side food truck park, on the 14th of September. A perfect opportunity to have a few wines wearing a Captain’s hat,...

5 Things To Do For Father’s Day in Melbourne

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and for most of us this means frantically looking for a way to show the big man how much he means to you. But instead of serving up the remnants of charcoaled toast in bed with a side of crumbs tossed through every...

White Night Reimagined Re-Introduces Itself to Melbourne

Get ready to engage all five of your senses as Melbourne celebrates performance art, music and food across three nights in August. From Thursday the 22nd – Saturday the 24th  of August (this weekend), you will witness the city host large-scale performances, culinary/music offerings and art installations. This iconic event has undergone a transformation...

5 Fun Bars You Need to Check Out This Weekend

Sometimes, your regular wild weekend drinks need somewhere a little bit “extra” to spice it up. From sinking golf balls to sinking Harry Potter-inspired cocktails, these fun bars  will take your next sesh to the next level. GG EZ Basement 93 – 95 Queen St, Melbourne Australia’s first dedicated e-sports...

5 South-East Asian Restaurants To Ease Your Wanderlust

I’ve been there. You wake up, check Instagram and see that your friend is enjoying the paradise-like weather in Bali. You get out of bed, fighting the freezing Melbourne morning and on the train, you check the app again. Now your friend has boomeranged herself enjoying Balinese cuisine. Your stomach...

South Yarra Rooftop, Cocktail Lounge, Bar and Dining All in One Venue

From the outside, The Osborne Rooftop and Bar could have passed as any ol’ south-side hotel. Plonked on the corner of Osborne St and Commercial Rd, with a history dating back to the early 1900’s, the humble white brickwork gave no hint of the charm concealed beyond. But, the second the...

5 Bar & Restaurant Combos for an Easy Night Out

To the lazy bums, the disorganized and the overly prepared, Do I have the perfect plan for your next night out! Below I have compiled a cute little list for you where I have coupled bars and restaurants within close proximity from each other in and around Melbourne. It is...

Melbourne’s Newest Burger Joint With A Sustainable Twist

Please note: Henry’s Burgers is now permanently closed. Brunswick Street’s esteemed strip of vegan eateries just got its newest addition, and it’s changing the fast food game. Dubbed ‘New world Burgers’, Henry’s Burgers are reinventing what we all know and love with house made, plant-based substitutes, and there’s no compromise on taste....

Win A Double-Pass For Underground Cinema’s Opening Night In Melbourne

Head to the Hidden City Secrets Facebook page, like the post about the event and tag who you would take in the comments below for your chance to win. Click Here To Enter! Competition starts Monday 5th of August Midnight AEST and will end Tuesday 14th of August. Winners will be...

31 Hot Chocolates in 31 Days? Challenge Accepted

ATTENTION ALL CHOCCY LOVERS! It’s that time of year again, the annual Hot Chocolate Festival has reared its delicious head. Prepare your chocoholic stomachs for all sorts of delicious and twisted flavours to escape the winter chill this August. Held in three regional Victorian chocolateries in the Yarra Valley, the...

5 Eateries To Beat Those Midnight Cravings

It’s late. You find yourself stumbling around the CBD trying to find a bite to eat. Maybe you just came from a party where the food wasn’t all the great. Or maybe you just finished a karaoke session and all that Steven Tyler screaming has you starving. You look at...

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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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