Where to eat and drink in the city during Now or Never festival

Seeing a gig in the city during Now or Never? Find the best spots to eat before the show and the coolest haunts to kick on later.

People walking down a laneway at night towards a busy laneway bar with colourful lights.

Where to eat and drink near Melbourne Town Hall

A young man with a moustache, drinking a red cocktail with a straw.

Hickens Hotel

Your multi-level home for good times in the heart of Melbourne, with a story behind its walls.

Aru's wood fire kitchen fitout.

Aru

Bringing together the woodfire hearth and flavours of Asia and Australia.

A table with plates of food and cocktails, and a menu.

The George on Collins

An up-market basement venue and eatery within the historic Georges building.

Two girls sharing a cocktail in a colourful tiki bar.

The LuWOW Cocktail Bar

Known for its eye-popping cinematic décor, sensational sounds and amazing tropical cocktails.

People seated at tables and on stools in a cocktail bar with illuminated shelves and stairs in the background.

Black Kite Commune

A chic and contemporary cocktail bar championing the produce of Australia.

A spoon being used to break into a cake like dessert on a ceramic plate.

Marameo

Marameo is a fun, easy-going Italian eatery offering a range of pasta and mains.

Entrance of Bar Ampere.

Bar Ampere

Vermouth, fortified wine, absinth and food until 3am.

Several plates of barbequed and smoked meat.

Meatmaiden

A meat eater's paradise with more options than you can poke a bone at.

Exterior of Supernormal restaurant on a winter's night, with pedestrians walking past, the view though the window is of a warm inviting space.

Supernormal

Asian-inspired dishes alongside delicious wines, sake, whisky and cocktails.

Shaved ice dessert in large stainless steel bowl with handles, with pink topping being poured on it.

Snow Moon

Cute and tasty Thai milk bar and dessert cafe in The Walk Arcade.

Exterior of Morris House, a white three-level building on a city corner, with balcony seating and glassed-in top floor.

Morris House

A four-level drinks, dining and entertainment destination in the heart of the city.

Diner cooking hotpot on a bright blue table.

Soi 38

Soi 38 is inspired by Bangkok street food and named after the side streets of the Thai capitol.

Where to eat and drink near the State Library

Diners at tables on an outdoor rooftop overlooking Myer and other city buildings, including central couple with drinks and snacks.

Her Melbourne

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

Interior of Cookie restaurant showing many patrons eating at tables.

Cookie

Eclectic cocktails, beers, and Thai dishes served in a bustling space.

People enjoying drinks at a rooftop bar with cityscape in the background.

Rooftop Bar

Enjoy open-air drinks under the setting sun or a starry sky, with city skyline views to match.

Comfortable banquette seating around tables in a wood panelled interior of a restaurant.

Mesa Verde

A contemporary Mexican restaurant and home to the country's largest collection of agave spirits.

Toy bear and jamjar cocktail on a ledge overlooking buildings.

Goldilocks

Hidden rooftop bar serving creative cocktails.

Array of dishes including bread and dips, salads and meat.

Stalactites Restaurant

One of Melbourne’s longest established and best-known Greek restaurants.

Selection of Korean dishes.

Bornga

Delicious Korean barbecue with loads of banquet options.

Hands grabbing bits of cooked red lobster on a white table.

The Boiling Crab

A must-try boil-in-a-bag experience for seafood lovers.

A plate of Indonesian pork with condiments.

Kata Kita

Bringing a new layer of fresh, flavourful Indonesian dining, with delicious cocktails to match.

Aerial view of Indonesian dishes.

YOI Indonesian Fusion

YOI Indonesian-fusion restaurant brings Bali's brunch scene to the streets of Melbourne.

Darkly lit entrance to Byrdi bar.

BYRDI

A bar that is uniquely Australian where the local environment informs the drinks.

Person selecting a piece of raw meat to grill at the table in a Korean barbeque.

Mansae Korean BBQ

Mansae Korean BBQ is a modern, yet authentic, Korean restaurant.

Where to eat near the Arts Precinct and Southbank

Sunset view from Ponyfish Island Bar women at tables looking happy and drinking.

Ponyfish Island

A floating bar on the Yarra River under the Southbank pedestrian bridge.

Range of Japanese dishes, viewed from above, and hands using chopsticks to select food items.

Sake Restaurant & Bar

This luxurious dining space at Hamer Hall offers premium Japanese dishes and sake.

The interior of Gradi showing a large dining room with tables set for guests.

Gradi at Crown

Authentic, excellent and premium Naples-style pizza and loads of Italian classics.

An espresso martini and a lavender coloured cocktail with dried citrus garnish with a bunch of wattle in the background

Yarra Botanica

Yarra Botanica is a floating bar and eatery on the Yarra River, celebrating Victorian producers.

Terrace with set tables, bathed in red; river to left.

La Camera

Classic Italian food overlooking the river at Southbank.

Dining table filled with trays of fresh meats and vegetables, waiting to be cooked in the hot pots at the centre of each table.

Ten BBQ & Hotpot

Dine on all-you-can-eat hotpot and Korean BBQ.

Restaurant table at night with city buildings lit up in the background.

The Deck

Modern European restaurant at Southgate with great city views.

People seated at a riverside beer bar outside area, under cover.

Hopscotch

Riverside beer bar with 30 beers on tap and an in-house microbrewery.

Nobu's backlit marble bar with stools and shelves filled with bottles and glasses.

Nobu

Renowned for its innovative Japanese cuisine, stylish decor and city skyline views.

Looking down at plates of food that include steaks, burgers, salads and fries on a wooden restaurant dining table.

Melbourne Cellar Door / Dukes Distillery

A South Wharf spot for great food, drinks, and weekly specials.

A table set with a Chinese banquet.

Spice Temple

Modern Chinese, specialising in regional cuisine and dishes designed to share.

Protagonist cafe tables and chairs in the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt.

Protagonist

Cafe offering drinks and bites in the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt.

Where to eat and drink near Fed Square

Airy dining space at Taxi Kitchen, with huge windows and overhead lighting, and patrons seated at tables eating and drinking.

Taxi Kitchen

Accessible and affordable meals in a light-filled room with great views.

Hands holding glasses over pizza and snacks on a table.

Transport Public Bar

Bustling pub in Federation Square with tasty pub meals and an impressive range of drinks.

Exterior of Riverland Bar showing patrons seated at outdoor tables under large umbrellas with leafy tress in the background.

Riverland Bar

Outdoor waterfront beer garden by the banks of the Yarra River.

Exterior of Arbory Bar building, showing the wooden outdoor deck, situated on the banks of the Yarra River, surrounded by green leafy trees.

Arbory Bar and Eatery

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

An elegant restaurant interior with floor to ceiling windows.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

An elegant cocktail bar and dining room from renowned chef Andrew McConnell.

Interior of Chin Chin restaurant, filled with patrons seated at dining tables, high ceilings giving an industrial warehouse feel to the busy space.

Chin Chin

A fast-paced hawker-style dining sensation serving Thai-inspired food.

Interior of restaurant showing tables set and ready for dining patrons.

Nomad

Upbeat restaurant on Flinders Lane, serving contemporary cuisine with Middle Eastern accents.

Exterior of historic The Duke of Wellington pub on Flinders Street.

The Duke of Wellington

One of Melbourne's oldest pubs, open for lunch and dinner.

Neon-lit signage.

Robata

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

The outdoor seating area at Good Nature Hotel, showing table and chairs under large umbrellas.

Good Nature

Your place to gather in the heart of the city.

Last updated on Thu 18 Jun 2026

Only In The City

Winter Only in the City - Checkout the cold list

Discover more

Meatballs and spaghetti and a glass of red wine.

Meatball & Wine Bar

Casual diner offering a selection of meatballs and sauce, with great wines to match.

Interior of a speakeasy-style bar with rich wooden tones, red velvet bar stools and a deep red chesterfield surrounded by wooden circular tables and leather chairs.

1806

A serious cocktail bar with an extensive menu and full table service.

A couple dining at night at a rooftop bar

Unique first date ideas in Melbourne

Ban boring dates with these cute night spots and fun activities for two.

Sunset over the water

Magical places to watch the sunset in Melbourne

Daylight saving starts on 5 October. Here's where to make the most of it.