Bar Ferdinand Brings Garden Cocktails to Heritage CBD Spot
A 21-seat garden-inspired cocktail bar with a reimagined Japanese Slipper, seasonal drinks and picnic snacks opens above 7 Alfred in Melbourne’s heritage CBD.
Location: Melbourne CBD
Cote Basque Leads Eight New Melbourne Winter Dining Openings
Cote Basque, Andrew McConnell’s wood-fired Basque grill in a heritage laneway, leads a list of eight new dining spots opening in the CBD this winter, alongside Sergio’s and Smith & Deli.
Curators’ ‘Relentless’ Motherhood Shapes NGV’s Free MOTHER Show
The NGV’s MOTHER exhibition at Fed Square presents more than 200 works on motherhood from across cultures and centuries, with free entry until 12 July. Curators Sophie Gerhard and Katharina Prugger drew on their own experiences of early mothering to shape this raw and honest show.
Vinyl Factory Reverb Lands at ACMI
ACMI and RISING present The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, a multisensory exhibition of 14 installations and a listening room curated by Yasmine Sharaf, until 31 August.
Melbourne at its most Melbourne: Winter campaign leans into the grey
City of Melbourne’s winter campaign ‘Melbourne at its most Melbourne’ aims to repeat last year’s $66.5 million economic uplift by owning the cold, grey months. Featuring a tram wrap, AFL-aligned ads and ‘The Cold List’ of events and deals.
Lil’ Kim ends 15-year Australian drought at RISING
Lil’ Kim ends a 15-year Australian absence at RISING 2026, headlining Festival Hall on 30 May. The festival also debuts the Australian Dance Biennale with Lucy Guerin Inc’s The Forest.
Melbourne mulls special nang bins to prevent bin explosions
City of Melbourne is considering dedicated collection bins for nitrous oxide canisters after nearly 50,000 are retrieved from streets each year, posing explosion risks in public rubbish bins.
Fed Square at 24: Melbourne’s youngest heritage icon
Federation Square, Melbourne’s youngest heritage-listed building, draws millions to its free events, galleries and riverside plaza. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Fourth-Generation Maker Wins 2026 Design Week Award
Fourth-generation furniture maker Jon Goulder takes home $10,000 prize; free exhibition at Chapter House opens 14 May with limited-edition Alpha60 bag.
Heritage Meets Tower in Western CBD Gateway
Fiona Lynch’s design for 623 Collins Street treats heritage and modern architecture as one dialogue. The $590m project adds 320 residences, now at Melbourne Design Week 2026.