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Melbourne Nightlife

Melbourne is considered Australia's bar capital and hub of live music, comedy and Broadway music theatre.

Many of Melbourne's smarter bars are tucked away in the city's numerous narrow lanes. Across the Yarra River, Southgate provides the arts precinct with a strip of bars with riverside views. Entrance to most clubs is free but a fee may be applicable on weekends.

For gay nightspots, head for the inner suburb of South Yarra, with various pubs, clubs and discos clustered around Commercial Road.

Free listings magazines include Inpress and Beat. Friday's Age newspaper contains the entertainment listings supplement EG. Information is available online (www.streetsofmelbourne.com.au or http://melbourne.citysearch.com.au).

You can book cheap tickets for most venues throughout Melbourne at the Half-tix booth, Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street (tel: (03) 9650 9420; www.halftixmelbourne.com). Advance tickets can be bought through Ticketek (tel: 132 849, in Australia only; www.ticketek.com.au).

Bars in Melbourne

Charlies

Exposed brickwork, red hues and dark timber create a warm, immaculately presented venue. Sample a cocktail during 2-for-1 happy hour, or perhaps you’d prefer a little nibble from the tasty array of bar fare.

Basement, 71 Hardware Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9600 1454.
www.charliesbar.com.au

Hairy Canary

Hairy Canary is a funky little place that doubles as a café and bar. During the day, it’s frequented by suits and book worms drawn in by the promise of lunch and coffee. But by night, the young, hip crowd are drawn in by the relaxed, cool vibe, great drinks, tasty pizza and tapas fare.

212 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9654 2471.

Melbourne Supper Club

The sumptuous, well-worn Chesterfield lounges are testament that this is a great place to enjoy cocktails and impressive array of wines. With views over Parliament house from the huge round window and right next door to the Princess Theatre, this is a great place to enjoy a pre- or post- theatre beverage, meal or dessert. The roof top bar is a perfect destination for a warm summer’s night.

Level 1, 161 Spring Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9654 6300.

Clubs in Melbourne

Revolver Upstairs

From break beat and drum’n’bass to soul and funk, this eclectic live music venue-come-nightclub has no shortage of cool stuff to entertain.

229 Chapel Street, Prahran VIC
Tel: (03) 9521 5985.
www.revolverupstairs.com.au

Room 680

Progressive house, garage, disco, and breaks are mixed into eclectic sets by some of the coolest DJs on the planet. This ‘way too cool for school’ nightclub is all about music diversity and attracts a diverse, vibrant crowd keen for a party.

Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn VIC
Tel: (03) 9818 0680.
www.room680.com

Seven

Quality dance music and a diversity of pumping beats, Seven is one of Melbourne’s premier nightclubs. Boasting four distinct rooms, you’re welcome to kick back and chill out in one of the lounges, or dance the night away in another to tunes turned out by some talented local and international artists.

52 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC
Tel: (03) 9690 7877.
www.sevennightclub.com

Live Music in Melbourne

Bennetts Lane Jazz Club

Open nightly from 2030, Bennetts Lane is Melbourne's longest-running, dedicated jazz spot. This intimate venue respects music: there’s no smoking, no mobile phones, no talking during the set, and expect to wait for your cocktail to be loudly shaken during interval. But Bennetts has still attracted the crème of local, Australian and international artists from Australia’s Katie Noonan to Harry Connick Jr and Prince. Tickets for shows are generally available at the door.

25 Bennetts Lane
Tel: (03) 9663 2856.
www.bennettslane.com

The Esplanade Hotel

Arguably one of Australia’s most famous alternative and rock music venues, The Espy, as it’s affectionately known, features a big line-up of live music and regular comedy shows. An impressive line up of local, Australian and international artists have graced the Espy’s stages during its 100-plus year history. A physical and cultural icon, the Espy continues its live music tradition seven days per week, some of it for free.

11 Upper Esplanade, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9534 0211.
www.espy.com.au

The Prince of Wales Bandroom

Host of live music for six decades, some of the world’s best and well-known artists and DJs have graced The Prince with their presence: Lenny Kravitz, Jack Johnson, Scissor Sisters, Ben Harper, Pink, Coldplay, Bright Eyes and Goldfrapp to name but a few.

29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9536 1168.
www.princebandroom.com.au

Opera in Melbourne

Victorian Arts Centre

Home to Opera Australia, the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Ballet, the Victorian Arts Centre hosts many top class performances throughout the year.

100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9281 8000.
www.theartscentre.com.au

Dance in Melbourne

Dancehouse

Dancehouse is an exciting venue for innovative dance and physical theatre and has a well-deserved reputation in the contemporary dance field.

150 Princes Street, North Carlton, VIC 3054
Tel: (03) 9347 2860.
www.dancehouse.com.au

Theatre in Melbourne

Her Majesty's Theatre

Despite numerous name changes since its construction in the late 1880s, HMT has been home to great performances by opera great Dame Nellie Melba and the Borovansky Ballet, and theatrical productions including Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Cats, The Hobbit, Mamma Mia and The Hollow Crown by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

219 Exhibition Street
Tel: (03) 8643 3300.
www.hmt.com.au

The Princess Theatre

This absolutely stunning architectural masterpiece, built in 1886, is regarded as Melbourne’s pre-eminent theatre and has hosted world-class productions including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The Producers, Cats and Mamma Mia. Haunted by Frederici, a friendly ghost, a seat in the front row of the Dress Circle is left vacant on opening night because it is considered good luck for him to be sighted.

163 Spring Street
Tel: (03) 9299 9800.
www.marrinertheatres.com.au

The Regent Theatre

Since it opened as a grand picture palace in 1929, the Regent Theatre is a lavish, grand building, now home to many world renowned theatre productions including Disney’s The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and Singin’ in the Rain.

191 Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9299 9800.
www.marrinertheatres.com.au

Music and Dance in Melbourne

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

This spectacular, open-air amphitheatre hosts a range of performances all year round, including the annual Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s summertime concert series as well as a range of concerts by international artists.

King’s Domain Gardens, Linlithgow Avenue
Tel: (03) 9281 8000.
www.theartscentre.com.au/discover/venues

Casinos in Melbourne

Crown Casino

Perhaps Australia’s most well-known casino, Crown Entertainment Complex boasts three hotels, more than half a kilometre of casino gaming floor, and a world of dining and entertainment options. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is no shortage of places to sleep, play and eat at Crown.

8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006
Tel: (03) 9292 8888.
www.crowncasino.com.au

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