The year 2025 is off to a spectacular start with Melbourne, Australia earning the title of the fourth best city in the world, according to Time Out! Known for its vibrant food scene and rich cultural offerings, Melbourne continues to be a top destination for travelers seeking both culinary experiences and relaxing escapes. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, an art lover, or someone looking to unwind, Melbourne has something for everyone.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (21 to 30 March 2025)
If you’re a foodie, you’re in for a treat! The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returns with a mouthwatering line-up. The event kicks off with the famous World’s Longest Lunch at Kings Domain, where renowned chef Curtis Stone will serve a three-course feast to hundreds of guests seated at a table stretching over 600 meters. The festival also welcomes twenty international chefs, alongside the best of Victorian and Australian culinary talent, bringing their global flavors to the city. Don’t miss the World’s Longest Brunch, a reimagined experience hosted by author Julia Busuttil Nishimura. Enjoy an array of delicacies across three stops in the Royal Botanic Gardens, including zesty lemon mascarpone tarts and savory chive pancakes. It’s a food lover’s paradise!
Yayoi Kusama Exhibition (Now open until 21 April 2025)
Art enthusiasts, take note! The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is hosting a world-premiere exhibition celebrating the iconic contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. Spanning an eight-decade career, this exhibition showcases 200 works, including the global unveiling of Kusama’s latest immersive infinity mirror room. The show offers a rare opportunity to explore her entire career—from her childhood in the 1930s to present-day masterpieces. Expect an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, fashion, and installations that highlight Kusama’s unparalleled multidisciplinary talent. This is a must-see for anyone fascinated by contemporary art!
Nocturnal: Museum After Dark (February to December 2025)
For those who love a little mystery and adventure, Nocturnal: Museum After Dark is returning with a thrilling lineup of after-hours events. Each themed night provides a unique adults-only experience combining art, science, history, and culture. Explore fascinating exhibitions, enjoy immersive tours, and participate in hands-on activities, all while savoring delicious food and drinks. From February to December, the event offers something new each month—perfect for those looking to spend their evenings in a creative, cultural environment.
Juni (Now open)
Esteemed English chef Michael Lambie has returned to Melbourne, after a three-year hiatus, with Juni, a CBD restaurant on Exhibition Street, with a menu inspired by flavours and textures from South East Asia. Lambie’s dishes at Juni are designed around the concept of ‘Fire and Spice’, with dishes designed to share, including Chinese roast duck, pot-roasted beef short rib and rare tuna tataki. There will also be vegetarian dishes, including crispy fried eggplant with vegan red curry and lychees. The bar area will be available for pre-theatre and pre-dinner cocktails as well as late-night drinks and snacks. The beverage menu will include an extensive wine list, cocktails, beers, premium spirits and sake.
Maison Bâtard (Now open)
Melbourne restaurateur Chris Lucas has opened the doors to his highly anticipated Maison Bâtard, marking the culmination of a lifelong dream and creating a new legacy for Melbourne’s Bourke Hill precinct. Careful and meticulous restoration has transformed the landmark heritage site at 23 Bourke Street into a four-level haven of immersive, French-accented dining and celebratory experiences; including a showpiece restaurant spanning the lower two floors, a late-night supper club in the basement and an elegant rooftop terrace.
Maison Bâtard’s name encompasses the venue as a collection of experiences and spaces, each of its levels delivering something distinctly different to the last. This is a place for all occasions — an all-day destination for everyday indulgence, sophisticated revelry and everything in between. Lucas has drawn on his decades of experience as one of the nation’s most accomplished restaurateurs, as well as from his many travels through France, to serve as inspiration for the showstopping venue. Maison Bâtard perfectly melds timeless European elegance with an unmistakably ‘Melbourne’ sense of place; from the understated sophistication of its design to the contemporary culinary offering that pushes beyond the expected.
The Sanctuary (Opening in June 2025)
Discover serenity with Alba Thermal Springs & Spa’s luxurious new retreat for wellness enthusiasts, dubbed The Sanctuary. The expansion into villa style accommodation enhances the premier wellness experience established by Alba, allowing guests to deepen their experience while in residence. The Sanctuary accommodation features five exquisitely appointed stand-alone villas, along with two studio rooms. Each villa is thoughtfully designed to provide an intimate retreat, nestled within a tranquil screening of native bushland. Perched at the highpoint of the 15-hectare property, the villas boast sweeping views across the peninsula. The Sanctuary reflects Alba’s design and wellness ethos, with interiors crafted by local designer Kate Walker of KWD in Mt Martha, showcasing a soft palette of muted hues for a serene atmosphere.
What sets the city of Melbourne and regional Victoria apart is not only its stunning vistas, award-winning wellness retreats, lush nature, spectacular wildlife and cosmopolitan lifestyle. It is also home to a vibrant street art scene, a coffee and brunch capital that provides a scrumptious culinary journey to its visitors, as well as world-class art exhibitions and events. Melbourne celebrates its diversity in the most quintessential way, where you will always be spoilt for choice!
For more information visit www.visitmelbourne.com.
