Must-see entertainment in Melbourne

  • Esplanade Hotel

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    You could spend all day going from room to room now that the beloved 'Espy' is back, after a $15 million renovation. Antiques complement its Victorian…

  • Moonlight Cinema

    Melbourne

    Melbourne's original outdoor cinema hits the Royal Botanic Gardens from the end of November through March, screening current releases and retro classics…

  • The Tote

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    One of Melbourne's most iconic live-music venues, this divey pub has been hosting a roster of local and international punk, heavy metal and hardcore bands…

  • Palais Theatre

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    Rising gracefully beside Luna Park, the art deco Palais (c 1927) is a St Kilda icon, with everyone from the Rolling Stones and Rufus Wainwright to the…

  • Astor

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    This 1936 art deco darling has had more ups and downs than a fading Hollywood star. Saved from permanent closure, it's one of Melbourne's best-loved…

  • Howler

    Melbourne

    At the back of a car park near the train tracks is not usually a great spot to hang out, but here you'll find a street-art-covered warehouse facade…

  • Red Stitch Actors Theatre

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    Featuring a company of top-drawer talent, Red Stitch is one of Australia's most respected actors' ensembles, staging new international works that are…

  • Prince Bandroom

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    The Prince is a legendary St Kilda venue, with a solid line-up of local and international acts spanning hip-hop, dance, rock and indie. It's been going…

  • Australian Ballet

    Melbourne

    More than 50 years old, Melbourne-based Australian Ballet performs traditional and new works in the Arts Centre and around the country. Take an hour-long…

  • Wheeler Centre

    Melbourne

    Set up by Lonely Planet founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler to showcase 'books, writing and ideas', this centre has become an important part of the city's…

  • Melbourne Recital Centre

    Melbourne

    This building may look like a framed piece of giant honeycomb, but it’s actually home (or hive?) to the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (www.mco.org.au), with…

  • Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

    Melbourne

    The MSO has a broad reach: while not afraid to be populist (it's done sell-out performances with Burt Bacharach and Kiss), it usually performs classical…

  • Melba Spiegeltent

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    Located onsite at Circus Oz's headquarters, this spiegeltent was built in Belgium in 1910. It's been here since 2006, when it was renamed after Aussie…

  • Cherry

    Melbourne

    In 2019 Melbourne's most legendary live-rock bar had to vacate its divey AC/DC Lane basement, ending up a few blocks away in this heritage-listed 19th…

  • Comic’s Lounge

    Melbourne

    There's stand-up featuring Melbourne’s best-known funny people most nights of the week here. If you like to live dangerously, Tuesday's when professional…

  • Forum

    Melbourne

    One of the city’s most atmospheric live-music venues, the Forum does double duty as a cinema during the Melbourne International Film Festival. The…

  • Corner

    Melbourne

    The band room here is one of Melbourne’s most popular midsize venues. It's seen plenty of action over the years, from Dinosaur Jr to the Buzzcocks. If…

  • Melbourne Theatre Company

    Melbourne

    Founded in 1953, MTC is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia. It stages up to a dozen productions each year, ranging from contemporary …

  • Cinema Nova

    Melbourne

    See the latest in art-house, docos and foreign films at this cinema, a locals' favourite. Cheap Monday screenings ($7/10 before/after 4pm).

  • Butterfly Club

    Melbourne

    Down a typical Melbourne laneway, this eccentric little cabaret club stages acts from drag and improvised comedy to Glee singalongs and theatre. The rooms…

  • Night Cat

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    A barn-sized space with a dance floor that sees lots of action. Music is generally in the Latin, jazz or funk vein; check online for bigger gigs and exact…

  • Toff in Town

    Melbourne

    An atmospheric venue well suited to cabaret, the Toff also works for intimate gigs by rock gods, avant-folksters and dance-hall queens. The moody bar next…

  • La Mama Courthouse

    Melbourne

    As theatre-lovers wait for La Mama Theatre (205 Faraday St) to rebuild following a fire in 2018, it's business as usual at the nearby larger venue, La…

  • Gasometer

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    This bright red corner pub features a cosy front bar, an excellent line-up of bands most nights – from up-and-coming local acts to punk and indie big…

  • Sidney Myer Music Bowl

    Melbourne

    This beautiful amphitheatre in the park is used for a variety of outdoor events, from popular concerts (think AC/DC, Neil Diamond and Florence and the…

  • Malthouse Theatre

    Melbourne

    Dedicated to promoting Australian works, this exciting company stages interesting productions in its own theatre, converted from an atmospheric old brick…

  • Chapel off Chapel

    Melbourne

    Built in 1858, what was one of the state's oldest churches is now one of Melbourne's most intimate performance venues. Come here for up close and personal…

  • Yah Yah's

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    Yah Yah's has always had a reputation for general late-night messiness – good or bad depending on your goals. Bands play upstairs: check the website for…

  • Old Bar

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    With live bands seven days a week and a licence 'til 3am, the Old Bar's proof that Melbourne is the rock 'n' roll capital of Australia. It gets great…

  • Workers Club

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    The Workers Club pulls in some decent live gigs in the band room most nights, while the front bar and beer garden pack out with punters knocking back beer…

  • Bendigo

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    The Bendigo is everything that's great about Collingwood: dark, divey and straight down the line. It's got a great roster of local and international…

  • Theatre Works

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    Theatre Works is one of Melbourne's veteran independent theatre companies. With award-winning creative director John Sheedy at the helm, the company's…

  • Openair Cinemas

    St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick

    Recent releases and cult classics by the sea, with bar service and the option of renting blankets ($4) and bean-bag lounges ($9). Sunday screenings…

  • Her Majesty’s Theatre

    Melbourne

    On the outside Her Majesty's is painted-brick Second Empire; on the inside it’s 1930s Moderne. The home of musical comedy since 1880 and still going…

  • Princess Theatre

    Melbourne

    This beautifully renovated 1854 theatre is the venue for super-slick musicals. It even has a resident ghost, that of opera singer Federici.

  • IMAX

    Melbourne

    Animal and adventure films in 3D screen on a grand scale here, with movies specially made for these giant screens.

  • Regent Theatre

    Melbourne

    The opulent Regent, built as a picture palace in 1929, hosts big-name musicals, opera, comedy and concerts.

  • Kino Cinemas

    Melbourne

    The Kino screens art-house films in its comfy licensed cinemas.

  • Bill posters in the window of Hamer Hall, Southbank.

    Hamer Hall

    Melbourne

    Part of Arts Centre Melbourne, this large, round structure is well known for its excellent acoustics, with decor inspired by Australia’s mineral and…

  • Victorian Opera

    Melbourne

    Dedicated to innovation and accessibility, this opera company's program, pleasingly, doesn’t always play it safe. New Australian works and performances…