Hanging around after Christmas? Here's what's open for eating, drinking and city exploring.

Opening hours, offerings and prices will vary by day, and not all businesses will be open every day. Be sure to check with the venue directly before visiting.

Free things to do between Christmas and New Year's in Melbourne

Myer Christmas Windows
Until

Myer Christmas Windows

This festive season, the annual Myer windows display celebrates Bluey.

Flash Forward

Flash Forward

Explore 40 city laneways that have been transformed by over 80 creatives.

Julian Opie's Australian Birds

Julian Opie's Australian Birds

See the artist's illuminated birds on St Kilda Road.

NGV International

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

Street art walk

Street art walk

See Melbourne’s world-renowned street art on this walk through the city's laneways.

Secret gardens and majestic parks

Secret gardens and majestic parks

Take a walk through Melbourne’s lush parks and gardens.

Run the Tan: Run Club
Until

Run the Tan: Run Club

Start the weekend off on the right foot with a run around the Tan.

Toys, Tales and Tenacity
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Toys, Tales and Tenacity

This first-of-its-kind exhibition at the Shrine delves into the experiences of children during war.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

The world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art.

Watercolour Country: 100 Works from Hermannsburg
Until

Watercolour Country: 100 Works from Hermannsburg

Discover watercolours of Australian landscapes by artists working at Hermannsburg over generations.

More of the best things to do between Christmas and New Year's in Melbourne

Yarra Sunrise Running Tour
Until

Yarra Sunrise Running Tour

Explore Melbourne’s parks, gardens, fountains and sporting precincts.

Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition

Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition

Explore human stories of the Titanic told through 200+ artefacts recovered from the legendary ship.

NGV Architecture Commission: (This is) Air
Until

NGV Architecture Commission: (This is) Air

The NGV 2023 Architecture Commission is a large-scale installation that makes the invisible visible.

RELICS: A New World Rises
Until

RELICS: A New World Rises

A unique new exhibition where real-world artefacts meet the ingenious world of LEGO!

Melbourne Museum

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science, and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Punting on the Lake
Until

Punting on the Lake

Glide between the bays and islands of Ornamental Lake on a guided boat cruise.

The Fluid Project
Until

The Fluid Project

A unique and joyful creative experience located at the Emporium Shopping Centre.

Melbourne Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour
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Melbourne Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour

Enjoy spirits and ales at a former police station with an unsolved murder, Melbourne’s oldest pub.

Chocolate and Wine or Spirits Matching
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Chocolate and Wine or Spirits Matching

Learn how to match chocolate to wine or spirits in these interactive experiences.

Belongings: Objects and Family Life
From

Belongings: Objects and Family Life

An exhibition looking at some of the objects that have shaped family in Australia over the decades.

WNBL: Deakin Melbourne Boomers Matches
Until

WNBL: Deakin Melbourne Boomers Matches

Cheer on the Melbourne Boomers during their 2023/24 basketball season.

View of Melbourne from across the Yarra River

Melbourne Central

Fri 5 May: 6pm - 8pm, Sun 7 May: 2pm - 4pm

Restaurants open between Christmas and New Year's in Melbourne

Remember: opening hours, offerings and prices will vary by day, and not all businesses will be open every day. Be sure to check with the venue directly before visiting.

Operator Diner

Operator Diner

A diner-style cafe serving all-day breakfast, coffees and sandwiches.

Butchers Diner

Butchers Diner

Diner and takeaway joint serving burgers, steaks and rotating daily specials.

La Petite Crêperie

La Petite Crêperie

Tiny takeaway kiosk serving up authentic French crepes.

Beast City

Beast City

Juicy wagyu burgers and vegan cuisine.

Section 8 Bar

Section 8 Bar

A funky outdoor bar with drinks served from a converted shipping container.

Her Melbourne

Her Melbourne

A four-storey mega venue celebrating modern food, drinks, music and art.

Arbory Bar and Eatery

Arbory Bar and Eatery

Riverside outdoor eatery with all-day dining and a wide selection of drinks.

Robata

Robata

Features Japanese grilled dishes, sashimi, pork katsu and select cuts of premium beef.

Tomo’s Little Collins

Tomo’s Little Collins

Offering big breakfasts, quality pastries and top-notch coffee, plus donburi on weekdays.

Last updated on Tue 28 Nov 2023

Christmas

Christmas events

Christmas events

Explore a wonderland of events and dazzling decorations as the city comes to life this Christmas.

Christmas eat and drink

Christmas eat and drink

Savour the season with festive feasts and rooftop drinks. Read on for Christmas catch-up ideas.

Christmas shopping

Christmas shopping

Wrap up your Christmas list and find the perfect pressies with thousands of shops to choose from.

Discover more

Mirror: New Views on Photography​
Until

Mirror: New Views on Photography​

Step into this immersive experience, celebrating the power of great photography and story.

Bill Henson: The Liquid Night
Until

Bill Henson: The Liquid Night

An exhibition of large-scale colour-saturated photographs taken in New York in 1989.

Viewfinder: Effy Alexakis
Until

Viewfinder: Effy Alexakis

An exhibition of key works by Effy Alexakis, one of Australia's leading documentary photographers.

Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business

Portraits and stories of 30 First Nations people with disability.