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What’s On in Melbourne: Your Ultimate Guide for October & Beyond
Everything to see and do this month in Melbourne (and beyond).
The winter chill is fading, and Melbourne is stepping into October with renewed rhythm. The city feels lighter, looser — café courtyards hum again, parks glow with jacaranda and wattle, and there’s a collective sense that everyone’s ready to do something.
This month, the calendar is stacked: pop-ups are popping, fashion festivals are restyling wardrobes, wine bars are back in full pour, rooftop sessions stretch into the night, and festival season is quietly warming up. The air’s still crisp enough for a jacket, but the vibe? Pure springtime ease. A season made for late lunches, twilight gigs and spontaneous plans that slip easily past sunset — the kind of month Melbourne wears beautifully.
Here’s everything worth seeing, sipping and doing in Melbourne this October.
The GlenDronach Presents: Whisky & Film Nights at Palace Como
In a cinematic celebration of old-world glamour, The GlenDronach is bringing a touch of Highland decadence to Melbourne this November. For three nights only, film lovers can settle into Palace Cinema Como for a whisky-and-film experience curated by critic Zak Hepburn.
Think in-seat whisky butler service, caviar-topped popcorn, Spanish charcuterie and a guided tasting of The GlenDronach’s most coveted drams — including a rare release worth over $2000 a bottle. Classic cinema, exceptional whisky, pure indulgence. Need we say more?
Sitchu Tip: Book fast — these golden-age screenings are destined to sell out.
$50 per ticket
Book tickets here
November 12th to 14th, 2025
Palace Cinema Como, South Yarra
Paris by Way of Sichuan: Bistro Marigold Springs to Life
Rosheen Kaul is returning to the pass with Bistro Marigold, a month-long Chinese–French pop-up taking over Zia Rina’s Cucina in Armadale from 2–30 November. Sundays will be devoted to long, languid lunches; Mondays will shift into sultry supper service.
The concept — Australian chinoiserie — sees classical French method flirt with Sichuan sparkle and spring’s finest produce. Dishes promise both elegance and a hint of mischief: a truly stunning spring-vegetable terrine with yuba and okra in green Sichuan pepper vinaigrette; white asparagus and poached prawns in a silken suprême spun from Chinese superior stock; and a crisp pork trotter, neatly packed with chicken mousse and braised in cognac.
Dessert seals the affair with cherry-blossom crème diplomat, jasmine-warm madeleines baked to order, and “Sour Patch Kid-esque” pâte de fruits. Joining Kaul are Jake Mayhew (ex-Etta) and Jett Alexander (Osteria Ilaria), with Danny Natoli overseeing the wine. One month, two nights a week — and one of the season’s most exciting dining events.
Running Sundays for long lunches and Mondays for supper, from 2nd to 30th November
Sold out; email hello@rosheenkaul.com to be added to the waitlist
857 High Street, Armadale
Kichi Kichi Returns: Kyoto’s Viral Omurice Master Takes Over Ishizuka
The world’s most famous omelette is making an encore in Melbourne. Kyoto’s Chef Motokichi Yukimura — the culinary showman behind Kichi Kichi and his internet-breaking omurice — returns for an exclusive three-day collaboration with fine-dining temple Ishizuka.
From November 6th to 8th, diners will witness his signature golden omelette unfurl over a bed of fried rice with cinematic precision, joined by a new Spring menu from Executive Chef Katsuji Yoshino.
Playful yet exacting, it’s gastronomy as performance — a sensory journey from Kyoto to Melbourne, no passport required.
Book here
November 6th to 8th, 2025
Basement Level b01/139 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Nobody Wants This Season 2 Premiere Watch Party
Calling all fangirls — this one’s for you. Champagne Problems is hosting a Nobody Wants This watch party, shaping up to be the most delightfully low-key night of the week. With great drinks, easy company, and those perfectly timed collective giggles and gasps that only a shared TV moment delivers, it’s a celebration of connection and pure, unfiltered fandom. Hosted by Luisa Sanchez and the Living Girlhood Community, it’s your chance to meet fellow devotees, toast the premiere, and revel in the drama — pink hearts optional, enthusiasm essential.
Thursday 23rd October, 6pm to 9pm
$5 tickets; book here
Champagne Problems, 238 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
CakeCon Melbourne: The City’s Sweetest Underground Gathering
Forget bake-offs and frosting showdowns — CakeCon is the Melbourne event inviting everyone to share a slice (or ten). Part social experiment, part sugar-fuelled art show, this grassroots celebration turns cake-making into community currency. The rules? Bring one whole, uncut cake — six inches minimum — and trade your creation for a glorious mix of others, from lemon drizzle to pistachio sponge. Held at the Old Melbourne Gaol on Sunday, 23rd November, this guaranteed joyfully chaotic afternoon reminds you just how good life can be when cake is involved.
Sunday 23 November 2025, 11:30am to 3:30pm
$50 per ticket
Book here
The Watch House, Old Melbourne Gaol, 377 Russell Street, Melbourne
The Talented Mr. Ripley Seduces Melbourne’s Stage
A story of envy, elegance and calculated deceit is set to captivate Melbourne this spring. From 28th October to 23rd November 2025, The Talented Mr. Ripley makes its Melbourne premiere at the Arts Centre Playhouse, direct from its acclaimed Sydney debut. Written by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Sarah Goodes, this Sydney Theatre Company production transforms Patricia Highsmith’s classic into a taut, noir-inflected thriller steeped in 1950s glamour.
Will McDonald (Heartbreak High) takes centre stage as the charmingly dangerous Tom Ripley — a role that dances between desire and deception. Sleek, suspenseful and dangerously seductive, it’s a must for those who crave their theatre with a touch of darkness and a glimmer of style.
28th October to 23rd November, 2025
Book tickets here
Arts Centre Playhouse
In partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne
Round Up the Crew for Bottomless Fun at George’s Social Club
Ready to raise your ultimate night-out game? George’s Social Club might be bottomless, but it’s no brunch — it’s a late-night production. For $89pp, two hours unfold like a tasting-menu fever dream: scallop ceviche with mango and grapefruit, build-your-own bao buns (chicken, pork or veg), mu ping pork skewers with sticky rice, and crispy fries with aioli. Drinks orbit around Nuvè Vodka — dirty martinis, Elderflower Sours, grapefruit-forward Salty Dogs — alongside beer, wine and bubbles. Add a tableside caviar bump (+$30), stay for a boogie, and call it what it is: polished, hedonistic, irresistible.
Friday sittings at 8:30pm, 8:45pm and 9pm
Book here
The Georges Building, 162-168 Collins Street, Melbourne
Melbourne Fashion Week
For one week, Melbourne trades coffee cups for couture. Melbourne Fashion Week returns with a bold theme — Come As You Are — celebrating individuality, creativity and unapologetic style. Six premium runways and more than 100 events transform the city into a living catwalk: twilight shows in unexpected spaces, First Nations design spotlights, and runway dinners where the dress code is confidence.
It’s bold, inclusive and unmistakably Melbourne — fashion as expression, rebellion and art form all at once. Our pick? The Opulent Tastes Runway, staged within the atmospheric Il Mercato Centrale, where couture from Atoir, Clair Helen, Clea, Gary Bigeni, Godwin Charli, Lovaan, Ngali, Perple, and Saint Stella M meets cuisine in one exquisite collision of texture, light and flavour.
See the full program here
20th to 26th October, 2025
Wicked Wardrobes Exhibition at Federation Square
In a city already steeped in style, Wicked Wardrobes casts its own spell. As part of Melbourne Fashion Week’s cultural program, this free exhibition at Federation Square unveils Oscar-winning designer Paul Tazewell’s breathtaking costumes for Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good. Elphaba’s emerald gowns and Glinda’s ethereal sparkle take centre stage, each thread a study in theatre, artistry and transformation. A rare look behind the curtain — part fashion fantasy, part cinematic preview — and utterly enchanting.
Monday 13th October to Sunday 26th October
Free event
Federation Square
A Complimentary Wine Flight Awaits at Marvel Stadium’s The Wine Room: AKA Date Night, Decanted
A good night starts with a pour — and The Wine Room at Marvel Stadium makes it memorable. Located beside Friends of Fire, this elegant, wine-led dining space pairs low light with high flavour. The menu oozes indulgence: grilled baby octopus with nduja and pickled fennel, burrata with roasted hazelnuts, lamb merguez with fried mint, and a smoked chocolate torta with lemon cream to finish. Book a table and you’ll also be handed a complimentary wine flight, handpicked from the cellar — the kind of detail Melbourne drinks up beautifully.
Stadium Square Gate 3 Level 1 Marvel Stadium, 740 Bourke Street, Docklands
Eau-De-Vie & Angel’s Envy Present Finishing Touches: Decadent Desserts, Opulent Cocktails & Fine Port Await
This October, Eau-De-Vie turns the dial to velvet, with Angel’s Envy stealing the spotlight. Port-barrel bourbon threads through reimagined classics — Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac — all silk, hush, and candle-glow theatre. Order The Velvet Finish and pocket an Angel’s Envy “Finishing Touches” coaster for the trophy cabinet, then drift to dessert: an iced doughnut with a wicked grin or a high-gloss chocolate parfait murmuring bourbon. Sumptuous, warm, gloriously hedonistic — a soirée that proves why this cocktail chapel still commands devotion. Book a booth, arrive thirsty, and devote October to unapologetically luxurious sipping. Confession: one month won’t feel like enough.
1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne
Gemini Coburg Serves Fried Chicken, Fine Wine and Feel-Good Community Vibes All Month
Gemini is keeping Melbourne’s north moving, mingling and martini-ready this October. From $35 steak-frites Thursdays and happy hour oysters to free wine tastings and fried-chicken Sundays, the calendar is bursting with reasons to gather. The new Gemini Move Club has also upped the pace — every Wednesday from 5:30pm, locals lace up for a 3 km walk or 6 km run (interpretive dance optional), rewarded with a complimentary G&T thanks to Dutch Rules and Mischief Brew. No booking, no pressure — just good company, wagging tails, and midweek satisfaction.
Add in the Pool Wines Tasting (October 11th) — a free community event for locals and wine lovers alike — and The Madrusan Way cocktail book celebration (October 14th), an intimate evening with Michael and Zara Madrusan (formerly of The Everleigh) featuring bespoke cocktails, snacks, and signed copies for keen collectors, and October at Gemini shapes up to be one long, delicious community affair.
Check Gemini’s what’s on guide here
Once-In-A-Lifetime Comet Lights Up Aussie Skies
Newly discovered comet, C/2025 R2 (SWAN), is swinging by for a rare cameo across the Southern Hemisphere. Making its closest approach to Earth around October 20th, small binoculars will give you the best view, and under dark, clear skies, some lucky stargazers might even spot it with the naked eye. Comets don’t hang around for long, so take a moment to sweep the western horizon near Mars and constellations Libra–Virgo for this once-in-a-lifetime sky show — yep, the experts think this cosmic traveller will take more than 20,000 years to orbit the Sun. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it!
Maho Magic Bar at Spiegel Haus Melbourne
Direct from Tokyo with a cocktail in hand and a trick up every sleeve, Maho Magic Bar is back to bewitch Melbourne audiences. After its sell-out 2023 run, the neon-lit spectacle returns with a fresh line-up of Japan’s finest sleight-of-hand prodigies — all charm, mischief and jaw-dropping illusions performed right at your table. Pair the gasp-inducing tricks with a curated menu of Japanese libations and you’ve got the closest thing to a night out in Shinjuku, without leaving Lonsdale Street.
November 25th to February 15th
Tickets from $71 + bf
Spiegel Haus Melbourne, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
Step into a sea of blooms this spring as the Tesselaar Tulip Festival transforms the Dandenong Ranges into a floral fairytale. From early September through October, more than a million tulips will unfurl across Silvan’s rolling fields, painting the landscape in dazzling swathes of colour.
It’s not just about the blooms — weekends brim with live music, food stalls, and cultural celebrations, from Turkish and Dutch traditions to Jazz & Wine afternoons. Little ones can hunt through fairy gardens and clamber aboard tractor rides, while grown-ups indulge in wine tastings and photo moments among the tulip rows.
Celebrating its 70th year in 2025, this family-run festival is a rite of spring: equal parts nostalgia, nature, and pure joy. Bring a picnic rug, your camera, and an appetite for waffles and poffertjes — this is the closest you’ll get to Holland without leaving Victoria.
13th September to 12th October, 2025
357 Monbulk Road, Silvan
Road Trip, Alert: Hunt Down Australia’s Best Vanilla Slice
Forget the cruffin — the snot block reigns supreme. Sharp’s Bakery in Birchip has just reclaimed the crown at the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, officially serving up the nation’s best custard slab for 2025. Family-run since 1977, this regional Victoria icon now has lines out the door, dishing up thousands of their glossy, flaky slices to sugar pilgrims every week.
Road trip, anyone? Birchip is 3.5 hours from Melbourne — and worth every kilometre.
47 Cumming Avenue, Birchip
NGV’s Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday
From mushroom leather handbags to seaweed straws, NGV’s Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday proves the future of design is as practical as it is visionary. More than 50 Australian and international innovators are reshaping the way we live — air-purifying paint freshens your walls, clothes grow with your child, and oyster shells are reborn as terrazzo tiles. Part science lab, part style guide, this free exhibition is a lively blueprint for a world where sustainability doesn’t just look chic, it feels inevitable.
Free entry
29th August, 2025 to 1st February, 2026
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square
Burrata Festival: A Night Dedicated to Italy’s Creamiest Treasure
This October, the South Melbourne Market rooftop will be draped in decadence for the very first Burrata Festival — a night dedicated to Italy’s creamiest treasure. From burrata-laced creations by Melbourne favourites like Cannoleria, LaManna and Farmer’s Daughters, to sweet indulgences from Pistachio Papi and Naturalis Gelato, every corner promises temptation. Sip spritzes from Vino Bambino, explore local artisan stalls, and watch chefs including Alejandro Saravia work their magic in the Smeg Kitchen. With live music, roving entertainers and an Italian Disco DJ, plus indulgent VIP lounges and wine masterclasses, it’s a spring celebration made for cheese lovers.
Thursday 30th October, 5pm to 9pm
322 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Hofbräuhaus Throws a Six-Week Beer-Soaked Birthday Bash
Melbourne’s OG German beer hall is back for its 57th Oktoberfest — and if anyone knows how to stretch a party, it’s Hofbräuhaus. From 13th September to 25th October, expect six rollicking weeks of litre steins, golden schnitzels the size of your head, pork knuckles with proper swagger, and Bavarian knödel that put carbs back on the pedestal where they belong.
The soundtrack? Live oompah bands, big singalongs and the odd stein-holding showdown (winner takes a year’s worth of beer — prost to that). Add schnapps rounds, surprise guest acts and 15,000 revellers in Market Lane, and you’ve got yourself a mini Munich in the heart of Chinatown.
Have a birthday in September or October? You’ll be shouted a stein and schnapps on the Haus. Lederhosen optional, but highly recommended.
Saturday 13th September to Saturday 25th October
Hofbräuhaus, 18-28 Market Lane, Melbourne
La Dolce Vita: Melbourne’s Italian Film Month
This spring, Melbourne goes full cinephile with the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival (17th September to 22nd October). From Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-winning La Grazia to Ferzan Özpetek’s glittering Diamonds, the lineup serves drama, comedy, and glamour in generous helpings. Watch lost Fellini scripts come alive in Napoli–New York, or scream with delight at Dario Argento’s restored Deep Red.
Contemporary tales, giallo classics, and heart-tugging stories await — a cinematic stroll through Italy’s finest, all without leaving the city. Grab tickets, and let Melbourne screen la dolce vita this month.
See the full program here
17th September to 22nd October
Candlelight: The Wizard of Oz Lights Up Melbourne
This October, Melbourne is swapping ruby slippers for candlelight. For two nights only, the Sea Life Aquarium will glow with thousands of flickering candles as Eclective Strings reimagines The Wizard of Oz soundtrack in a spellbinding classical concert. From “Over the Rainbow” to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” each note is cast in a golden, intimate atmosphere where cinema meets symphony. Add the aquarium’s dreamy surrounds, and you’ve got a one-way ticket to Oz — no tornado required.
October 20th to 21st, 6:45pm
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Victoria’s Secret Gardens Are Blooming — Here’s Your Spring Escape
Spring is calling, and Open Gardens Victoria is swinging the gates open to some of the state’s most breathtaking, off-the-radar gardens — but only for a single weekend each. From lush designer landscapes to wild native wonderlands, this year’s lineup is a choose-your-own-adventure across Victoria, celebrating the organisation’s 10th anniversary with returning favourites from the early days.
Highlights include:
- Red Gums, Bellarine Peninsula (Oct 25th to 26th) — sculptural rocks, 150+ species, and talks with landscaping legend Sam Cox.
- Farm Raiser & Bellfield Community Garden, Banyule (Oct 25th to 26th) — veggie patches, compost workshops, pizza ovens, and good vibes.
- Blackwood Ridge, Macedon Ranges (Nov 1st to 2nd) — Japanese-inspired ponds, garden rooms, and high-impact seasonal colour.
- Ridgefield, Yarra Valley (Nov 8th to 9th) — 500 rose varieties and an on-site boutique perfumery.
- Bentwood, Yarra Valley (Nov 8th to 9th) — vintage sculptures, panoramic Kinglake views, and flower paddocks.
- Little Steading, Flinders (Nov 15th to 16th) — coastal bush meets wildflower meadows and dreamy pool gardens.
- Gherang Gardenalia, Surf Coast Hinterland (Nov 29th to 30th) — collector’s garden, native heroes, CWA scones, and a pop-up gallery.
Why go? For the plant sales, garden talks, coffee vans, zero screens, complete spring reset, and ridiculously photogenic moments at every turn. Your entry fee even supports community grants and mental health initiatives. Spring is waiting. You can go ahead and plan your garden-hopping weekends, now.
SANCTUM: Melbourne’s New Members’ Club for Sport, Culture and Connection
This spring, Melbourne welcomes SANCTUM, a members-only club connecting the city’s tastemakers, culture-chasers, and sport enthusiasts in one elevated space. Positioned on the CBD’s fringe and just moments from Melbourne’s iconic sporting and entertainment precincts, SANCTUM offers curated experiences that go beyond velvet ropes — from behind-the-scenes access at major events to intimate dining with cultural icons.
The HQ interiors, designed in collaboration with Cox Architects, balance restraint, warmth, and adaptability. Natural stone, hand-finished timbers, soft suedes, and bespoke Australian-made furniture create a space that moves seamlessly from day to night, work to play. It caters to moments both private and social: a quiet lounge for focused work, a curated performance at sunset, or an impromptu gathering at the bar.
SANCTUM members are able to access a range of premium perks, including:
- Priority access at Lucas Restaurants
- Wellness benefits through Fitness First
- Concierge services via Cavalo Prestige Cars
- Exclusive ticketing and green-room experiences at major sporting and cultural events
- VIP invitations to private dining and immersive cultural moments
- Travel perks, preferred hotel rates, and lifestyle concierge services
With a capped, diverse membership and a calendar of immersive experiences, the club delivers insider access, considered design, and a like-minded community. It’s where Melbourne’s heartbeat is felt, shared, and elevated — a place to belong, explore, and experience the city anew.
Find out more here
Your November Soundtrack Starts with Hatchie at Soundmerch
Get this on your radar: Australian dream-pop favourite Hatchie is heading to Melbourne for a free, all-ages in-store at Soundmerch on Sunday, 9th November. Expect an intimate live set, signing session, and front-row moment with Harriette Pilbeam — a must for your November soundtrack.
Fresh from releasing her shimmering new single “Only One Laughing” — a rush of euphoria from her upcoming album Liquorice (out 7th November) — Hatchie’s proving once again why she’s the Aussie artist every spring playlist needs. Have a listen and get ready to float.
Sunday 9th November, 2pm
64 Oxford Street, Collingwood
NOSTRA Brings Handmade Pasta and Big Sunday Feels to Northcote
After a string of sold-out pop-ups across Melbourne (and a little Kyneton detour), NOSTRA is setting up shop at Onlys in Northcote for an eight-week residency starting on August 22nd. Expect hand-rolled pasta, fire-licked vegetables, and slow-cooked everything from chef Dane Hewson (ex-Embla, Etta), with Lydia Greenwood curating the vibe. Alongside their regular dinner service (Thursdays to Sundays), Thursdays bring $25 pastas and $10 martinis while Sundays turn into Nostra Famiglia — a spirited long lunch with guest chefs from Love Shack, Embla, Leonardo’s and more.
It’s all about food, connection and feeling like you’ve walked into a friend’s party — one where the playlist’s good and someone’s always pouring another glass.
August 22nd to October 13th
Onlys, 58A Victoria Road, Northcote
A New Cultural Landmark Now Open in the Grampians
After fourteen years of anticipation, the WAMA Foundation has officially opened its doors, becoming one of regional Victoria’s most extraordinary cultural destinations. Just outside Halls Gap, this 16-hectare site hosts Australia’s first National Centre for Environmental Art, currently showcasing End & Being by Jacobus Capone — a powerful meditation on climate, memory, and transformation.
With curated talks, DJ sets, workshops, local wines, and the thriving Gariwerd Botanic Garden featuring over 500 native plants, WAMA offers an immersive blend of art, nature, and community. Food trucks and a cosy cafe round out the experience, making it an essential winter escape for culture lovers and nature seekers alike.
Adults $18
Saturday, 11am to 6pm, Sunday and Monday, 10am to 5pm
4000 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Halls Gap, Victoria
Glow On the Go: HYDE Melbourne Adds Cult LED Masks to the In-Room Lineup
Self-care just got a glow-up at Melbourne’s most creative new stay. HYDE Melbourne Place is now offering Sonna’s cult-status LED face masks — available straight from your in-room compendium. With six high-tech settings (think Rejuvenate, Anti-Ageing, and Morning Mode), this luxe treatment is perfect for winding down or getting ready to go out.
Designed by Kennedy Nolan and stocked with Leif and Aesop, HYDE is all about sleek vibes — and Sonna fits right in. Wellness, but make it effortlessly chic this winter.
130 Russell Street, Melbourne
Regional Farmers Monthly Market at Abbotsford Convent
The Abbotsford Convent has got a new monthly farmers market, with more than 45 stalls of organic fruit and vegetables, locally sourced dairy, homemade desserts and more on offer. Embrace the spring sunshine and stroll through the bustling stalls, with highlights include Spring Creek Organics, Heathmont Honey, the fresh kefir and vintage cheddar at Blue Bay Cheese, and the delightful desserts at Pudding Nana. Bread and butter pudding, anyone?
$2 entry
8:00am to 2:00pm
Second Saturday of every month
What’s On in Melbourne This Month: Regional Adventures
Djaara Lights in Bendigo
Step into the story of the land at Djaara Lights, a mesmerising fusion of art, culture, and technology illuminating Bendigo’s Oscars Walk and Bath Lane Precinct. Through stunning Dja Dja Wurrung artwork and augmented reality, experience the six seasons of Djandak as told by the Traditional Owners. It’s immersive, moving, and a must-see this month.
Daily, 7pm to 11pm
Until March 2027
Bendigo, Victoria
Looking for more fun things to do in Melbourne this spring? We have plenty to keep you entertained. From Melbourne’s best new restaurants and bars to friendly pubs, cafes and late-night cocktail haunts, here’s all you need for an epic weekend in the city.
