Your weekday guide to the city

Find Melbourne's best coffee spots, cheap lunches and afternoon treats. Hang around after work for happy hour deals, weeknight comedy or blockbuster shows.

Four people in a laneway with a large wall mural of a jungle.

City worker deals

Ippudo QV

On the first Wednesday of every month, buy one ramen and get one free, so grab a buddy and dine-in.

Special offer
Three gourmet bowls with various fillings on a restaurant table.

Jayda

Find a new $18 lunch bowl every fortnight this winter, available Tue-Sat, 12-3pm.

Special offer

BKK

Try three different noodle dishes for $15 each, available 11.30am-3pm, Monday to Friday.

Special offer

Yakimono

Enjoy a Teriyaki Cheeseburger or Chicken Karaage Burger with fries for $22. Lunch only.

Special offer

Society

Enjoy a Society Cheeseburger or Fillet O Snapper with fries for $22. Lunch only.

Special offer

Maison Bâtard

Enjoy Le Cheeseburger or Au Poivre Burger with fries for $22. Lunch only.

Special offer

Grill Americano

Enjoy a Cheeseburger or Piccante Fish Burger with fries for $22. Lunch only.

Special offer

Om Vegetarian

Enjoy an all-you-can-eat thali, samosa, lassi/soft drink for $14.50. Daily, noon-9pm, to 31 Aug.

Special offer

Kisumé

Enjoy a Kisumé Cheeseburger or Chicken Teriyaki Burger with fries for $22. Lunch only.

Special offer
A chef's specialty laksa dish with prawns, noodles and a green garnish, alongside other malaysian dishes.

Past / Port Dining Room & Rooftop Bar

Enjoy Past / Port's signature lunch Sarawak Laksa everyday from 12-3pm.

Special offer
A mortadella sandwich.

Stacka

Get the OG Biggie sandwich for $12 everyday. Stacked with mortadella, jamon, roasted veggies & more.

Special offer

Chin Chin

Enjoy a Chin Chin Cheeseburger or Rendang Curry Burger and fries for $22. Lunch only.

Special offer

Soho Restaurant & Bar

Every Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm. 1-course $25 or 2-courses $40, plus $5 for a house wine / pot of Soho lager.

Special offer
Grilled salmon alongside a dolmade with green garnish, sitting in a vegetable broth with dots of chilli oil.

Taxi Kitchen

Enjoy 3 dishes from Taxi's Bites and Noodles menu, plus one large main to share. $65pp, 12-3pm.

Special offer

Luci

First 25 diners daily can enjoy a $25 pasta with focaccia and a drink. Usually $29, from 12-3pm.

Special offer
Blue rice with a selection of vegetables and garnishes in a brown dish.

Past / Port Dining Room & Rooftop Bar

Enjoy a selection of entrées and mains designed for a quick midday reset. $42pp, Mon-Fri, 12-3pm.

Special offer

Happy hour specials

People seated on a rooftop bar under umbrellas behind wire fence, city buildings and grey sky.

Rooftop Bar

Happy hours deals on pints of Guinness $10, house wine $8, bloody shiraz spritz $12. Mon-Fri 4-6pm.

Special offer
Graphic illustration of a purple orb drinking a martini.

JUNI

Stop by for $9 beer and wines, Monday to Thursday, from 4pm to 6pm.

Special offer
Several coupe glasses of sparkling wine, a gold-toned LED-lit stand, and pearl decorations on a wooden table.

Nick & Nora's Melbourne

Enjoy $5 bubbles, $8 beers, $10 spritzes, $15 margaritas or negronis. Tue to Fri, 5pm-6pm.

Special offer

What's on weekdays

Lightscape installation at night with purple images of trees.
Until

Lightscape

Melbourne's favourite winter tradition Lightscape returns to Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

An exquisite Cartier diamond tiara, suspended against a black background.
Until

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: CARTIER

Featuring nearly 400 extraordinary jewellery objects, alongside rare archival materials.

People walking towards a red illuminated archway that reads Winter Night Market.
Until

Winter Night Market

The Winter Night Market returns to the iconic Queen Victoria Market sheds.

A small tour group looking up from the ground floor of the La Trobe Reading Room.
Until

State Library Victoria Unlocked

On this exclusive tour, gain access to State Library Victoria before the doors open to the public.

Looking over a blurred shoulder at a table with books displayed.
Until

World of the Book

Experience the rare, the sacred and the iconic in this one-of-a-kind exibition.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
Until

The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

People walking along a plant-lined pathway in public gardens, with city towers in the background.
Until

Fitzroy Gardens Heritage Tour

A journey through the heritage-listed gardens, where history and nature seamlessly blend.

Two young adults observing a sculpture in a gallery space with digital and scupltural displays.
Until

EMERGENCE[Y]

An exhibition exploring how adaptation in a world of flux unfolds in every layer of life.

Display of sculptural moulded clay figures.
Until

Are you lonely tonight? I'm so lonesome I could cry

A group exhibition around the theme of loneliness, at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Two people standing in front of a large pink spiky wall of speakers in an exhibition space.
Until

Reverb: A Journey into Sound

ACMI and RISING present Reverb: A Journey Into Sound, a major exhibition of vinyl culture and music.

Two actors wearing formal clothes in a spotlight on a theatre stage during a performance of Pretty Woman: The Musical.
Until

Pretty Woman: The Musical

A dazzling stage adaptation of one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time.

Private dining bubbles in a designed space with greenery and fairy lights.
Until

Fern’s Hidden Winter Garden

Enjoy a unique winter dining experience in a private botanical conservatory.

A gallery space with paintings displayed on one white and one yellow wall, plus a series of totems or tree trunks displayed in a white stand in the middle.
Until

Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the Gum Tree

Discover how the iconic gum tree has inspired centuries of Australian art and culture.

A person in a gallery setting looking at a sculpture of an oversize wooden pipe with a sculpture of a giant peeled mandarin balanced on the pipe.
Until

Poetry Goes No Further Than Language

Explore a moment in mid-1980s China when a group of artists began to question values about art.

A tiered High Tea plate of savoury and sweet food served at Hello Kitty and Friends cafe.
Until

Hello Kitty and Friends High Tea

Enjoy a charming daily high tea, made for sharing little moments of joy with friends.

Best coffee in Melbourne

A cup of coffee on a wooden table in a cafe, a shelf in the background with bags of coffee for sale.

Rumble Espresso Bar

Brewing and serving a range coffee that is roasted just a block away.

Cup of coffee on a windowsill.

Patricia

No lattes. No long blacks. No flat whites. Just the best boutique coffee with or without milk.

Looking into the interior of a small cafe from the outside, the window has thin venetian blinds and people are waiting in line ot order a coffee.

Trbl Coffee

A small quiet spot serving good coffee, a place for caffeinated conversations only.

Two people walking past Pellegrini's Cafe on a winter's night, a view through the glass windows into the brightly lit cafe, the red neon cursive script Pellegrini's sign is illuminated.

Pellegrini's Espresso Bar

This iconic espresso bar serves authentic Italian food and of course fantastic coffee.

Cups of coffee.

Brother Baba Budan

Small cafe specialising in single origin beans roasted by Seven Seeds.

Coffee cup sign in Flinders Lane.

Dukes Coffee Roasters

Serving specialty coffee alongside a selection of cakes and pastries.

Code Black cafe exterior with black paintwork, neon sign and dim interior.

Code Black Coffee

The Flinders Lane cafe is the destination for expert service, coffee cocktails and brunch.

The coffee service counter of Axil Coffee at Flinders Gate, with a logo on the wall and a large coffee machine.

Axil Coffee

Specialty coffee and freshly baked pastries from Axil Coffee at Flinders Gate.

Four people are standing outside a laneway cafe

Melbourne’s best hidden laneway cafes

Head down these laneways to find leafy cafes, tiny hole-in-the-walls and hidden gem coffee roasters.

A man and woman sitting on stools outside a hole-in-the-wall cafe in a laneway.

Melbourne's best hole-in-the-wall cafes

We found Melbourne's tiniest cafes in laneways, under train tracks and on top of traffic islands.

People drinking coffe in an arcade

Melbourne's best cafes that open late

These Melbourne cafes are open late for evening coffee runs.

The inside of a coffee bar

The best Melbourne cafes for iced coffee

Try Vietnamese iced coffee, yuzu spritzes and classic cold brew.

Top spots for casual meetings

Outside tables at Queensmith Baretto with patrons seated and a waiter attending.

Queensmith Baretto

A modern day baretto in the legal and business district with an all-day offering.

Pastries.

Cathedral Coffee

An intimate little nook in Cathedral Arcade serving single origin coffee and sweet treats.

People seated inside a modern-looking cafe.

Mr Tulk

A licensed espresso bar located inside the 19th-century wing of State Library Victoria.

Poolhouse Coffee interior with white marble bench topped with coffee machine, cups and coffee-making items, with shelves on white wall behind.

Poolhouse Coffee

Great coffee and quick cafe food under the Melbourne City Baths.

Break ideas in an hour or less

Small juice bar with bench seats outside in Centre Place.

Jungle Juice Bar

Jungle Juice Bar on Centre Place serve seriously good coffee along with delicious food.

Shopfront of Myer store in Bourke Street Mall.

Myer

Iconic upmarket department store in a historic building on the Bourke Street Mall.

A sophisticated music store with guitars hanging on the wall.

The Music Gym

Drop in to The Music Gym, Melbourne's most playable pit stop!

Outdoor Aboriginal art installation at Birrarung Marr park.

Birrarung Marr

Popular park along the Yarra River next to Federation Square.

A violinist plays in St Paul's Cathedral.
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Lunchtime Concerts

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral and fine music during a weekly lunchtime concert.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
Until

The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

Selection of cassette tapees with handmade covers.
Until

Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations

A stirring exhibition exploring romantic love through the State Library's extraordinary archive.

Visitors walking through a 3D simulation of the cosmos using wireless VR headsets.
Until

Starstruck

Smithsonian Starstruck is an immersive 3D journey to the cosmos.

Team lunches

Restaurant interior with people seated at tables along a wall and at the bar.

Tonka

Indian-inspired cuisine with unique dishes and cocktails celebrating the spices of the subcontinent.

View from the street into a small and cosy interior of a cafe, a table of diners on the footpath and people also dining inside the small cafe.

Ilza

The second city venue for this popular Japanese snack bar and izakaya diner.

Cafe interior with tables and seats next to open kitchen and ordering counter with signage.

Thai Social

Serving affordable and authentic Thai street food.

A couple walking down a busy laneway at night

The best restaurants, cafes and bars in Hardware Lane

Out shopping? Stop for street food, Korean desserts and secret Italian bars.

Team building activities

People enjoying tenpin bowling.

Strike Bowling

Tenpin bowling plus laser tag and escape rooms - great fun for everyone.

A group of friends playing darts at Oche Melbourne, with platters of food on the tables near them.

Oche

Oche Melbourne - Darts with a twist

Interior of Archie Brothers games venue, showing a candy counter, and a central bar area.

Archie Brothers

Archie Brothers delivers circus themed arcade charm, whimsical cocktails, and big-kid energy.

A giant ball pit with brightly coloured geometric patterns and neon shapes on the walls.

Hijinx Hotel

No beds here. Just ball pits, bold colours, brain-teasing challenges and a lot of laughter.

Exterior of Holey Moley mini golf venue at night.

Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley offers a mini golf course and bar with 27 themed holes plus a karaoke room.

The exterior of Hardrock climbing in the city, surrounded by other buildings.

Hardrock Climbing

The ultimate indoor rock-climbing experience in Melbourne is at Hardrock Climbing.

Two people driving past a golf course green in a golf cart, with two golf bags on the back.

Royal Park Public Golf Course

Nine-hole public golf course offering cart and club hire and coaching sessions.

Bowls club at eye level with grass playing area with balls set against city skyline of tall buildings, trees and blue sky.

City of Melbourne Bowls Club

Located within the Flagstaff Gardens, adjacent to the legal precinct and Queen Victoria Market.

3pm treats

Glazed ring doughnut.

Shortstop Coffee and Donuts

Great coffee and even greater doughnuts. Heaven for anyone with a sweet tooth.

A selection of mostly green matcha flavoured drinks and sweet treats in takeaway containers from Balibola cafe, arranged with pale pink wrapping paper and napkins.

Balibola

Find Bali's famous matcha cafe at a cute hole-in-the-wall kiosk in Collins Street.

A tray of decorated pastries with corn, fruit and flour patterns.

Bloomwood

Bloomwood is a cafe and bakehouse focused on artisan viennoiseries and Asian-influenced pastries.

Two iced drinks, one coffee and one matcha, with the top of a match a cake visible and two forks on a napkin.

Tori’s

Artisan bakery in a hidden laneway.

After work drinks

People seated outside under shade umbrellas at a rooftop bar

Good Heavens

Rooftop bar on Bourke Street serving fabulous cocktails, craft beer and Australian wine.

Rooftop bar and outdoor park area at The Quarterhouse, with Melbourne city buildings in the background.

Quarterhouse

A contemporary, three level pub conveniently located next to Southern Cross Station.

Cocktail in a glass.

Cabinet Bar

Cabinet Bar is a softly lit, Parisian-style gem, with European furnishings and retro chic decor.

Patrons enjoying the atmosphere at a city pub at night.

Springrock Public Bar

Offering up classic counter meals, great beers and sweeping views of Melbourne.

Last updated on Wed 15 Jul 2026

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Inside a cafe. There is a barista making coffee and people sitting down drinking coffee.

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