The Cold List

Find the best dining discounts, ticketing offers and blockbuster winter events.

Two women walking under a neon sign at a corner cafe.

The crisp air. Laneways filled with dappled light. Footy crowds coming and going. Cosy pubs and colourful galleries. Long lunches and late dinners. Theatre, gigs and clubbing when it’s cold out. Melbourne comes alive in winter. Layer up and get out there with these moments, events and happenings that make the most of the city when the temperature drops.

Luxe hotel offers

Two espresso martinis on a table with Hawthorn and Essendon scarves

Lancemore Crossley Street Hotel

Score a free night's stay when your AFL team wins this footy season. T&Cs apply.

Special offer
A small teddy bear soft toy, a bottle of wine and two boxes of premium drinking chocolate resting on a round white table.

Sebel Melbourne Docklands

Winter together with an upgrade and range of winter treats. 1 Jun – 31 Aug. Min 2-night stay.

Special offer
A stylish lounge room area in a hotel room with floor to ceiling windows looking out over Melbourne.

Lanson Place Parliament Gardens

Enjoy 2-nights with daily buffet breakfast, welcome drink and restaurant credit. From $499 for two.

Special offer

Mercure Melbourne La Trobe Street

Enjoy a full buffet breakfast plus complimentary room upgrade, for stays to 31 Aug. T&Cs apply

Special offer

Winter activities and shopping

Two individuals interacting closely, drinking from coffee cups, in a barista workshop setting.

I Am Barista Coffee School

Learn to prepare high-quality espresso and latte art, plus take home 250g beans. $230. 1 Jun-31 Aug.

Special offer
A forearm reaching out to select a glass from a whisky flight, in a bar setting.

Whisky & Alement

Receive 10% off any whisky class using the code 'WHATSON26' at check-out, 1 June to 31 August.

Special offer
A tray containing a selection of pre-packaged snacks and nuts.

Winter Special Meditation Class

Enjoy free snacks & refreshments at the end of each Thursday night class, till last Thursday of Aug.

Special offer
Hand claiming golf balls from a dispensing machine.

PLAYit

Load $50+ of arcade credits & score 50% off mini golf.

Special offer

Happy hours, bottomless brunches and cocktail bars

Fad Gallery Bar

Try Fad's famous homemade mulled wine during winter, only $8 during happy hour, or $11 after 7pm.

Special offer
A couple sampling whisky's as part of a tasting flight.

Whisky & Alement

Book a seat and explore the latest whisky releases by local Victorian distilleries, to 31 Aug. $45pp

Special offer
A wooden table in a restaurant with bottles of wine and plates of food.

Little Collins St Kitchen (LCSK)

Enjoy 6 spirit tastings with matched canapes and meet-the-makers. $98pp. Fortnightly Fridays.

Special offer
An amber coloured cocktail with a cloche being removed and smoke swirling around it.

Bar Clara

Certain drinks have hit a special note at Bar Clara. Enjoy the greatest hits remix until Sept 16.

Special offer
A glass of Glenfiddich whisky on a coaster on a marble table top.

Chancery Lane

Enjoy a special winter snack menu, single malts by the fire or hot toddies for the colder nights.

Special offer
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

Best winter dining specials and deals

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

Om Vegetarian

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

Special offer
A deep burgundy banquette in a restaurant with glasses of wine and several dishes on the table.

Saint & Rogue

Enjoy six seasonal dishes, rich and comforting, rotating every two weeks, from 20 May.

Special offer
Two beef tartare meatballs with seaweed on a red plate.

Niku Ou by WagyuYa

Experience the award-winning champion, Matsusaka Wagyu through a curated tasting menu.

Special offer
An earthenware dish with prawn fried rice, featuring a pile of grated black truffle on top as garnish.

Cha Ching Melbourne

An indulgent, 7-course menu showcasing premium black truffle from WA. $99pp, to 30 Aug.

Special offer

YX Hot Pot

Enjoy a free fruit highball when you dine in, show this page in-store to redeem. To 30 Nov.

Special offer
A white bowl of pasta with a bottle of red wine and a glass half-filled with wine behind the bowl, set against a green leafy view.

Renzo's Bar Cafe Italiano

Choose any pasta or pizza and enjoy it with a glass of house wine for $40, dine-in 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
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

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

Luci

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

Special offer
A pie resting on a bed of mashed potato surrounded by a pepper jus, a pint of beer on the table next to it.

Transport Public Bar

Every Thursday: Steak and ale pie, creamy mash, mushy peas, pepper jus and a pint of beer for $35.

Special offer
A dish of tuna tartare with fennel leaves and radish slices on a scallop-edged brown plate.

Taxi Kitchen

Taxi Kitchen's signature shared dining experience with choice of 3- or 4-course menu. $90-160 pp.

Special offer
A mortadella sandwich.

Stacka

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

Special offer

The Douglas Club

Enjoy whisky tastings, barrel-aged cocktails and aged port from Lark Whisky, nightly from 4pm.

Special offer
Selection of hard and soft cheeses, toastie and baguette on a plate and board.

RIPE Cheese

A curated experience is for serious truffle lovers who want even more truffles in their life! $100

Special offer
The back of a chef wearing an apron stoking a wood fired oven in a kitchen

Pastuso

Chefs prepare an ever-changing lineup of slow-smoked meat specials, available daily to 31 Aug.

Special offer

789 Korean BBQ

Enjoy a free signature pan-fried pork dumpling with dine-in, show this page to claim. To 30 Nov.

Special offer
Black truffles resting on white rice grains, in a wooden box.

Lexy Restaurant and Bar

Savour a set menu of 10 dishes, highlighting winter's black truffles. $169pp, to 30 Aug.

Special offer
A bowl of dhal with rice and a rolled up naan bread, a drizzle of yogurt across the top.

Chapati Indian

Grab a bowl of your favourite curry with naan or rice for only $17.

Special offer
A galette, cut in half and stacked together, on a red and white checked napkin.

La Petite Crêperie

Order fresh and fast savoury galettes every day between 12-2pm.

Special offer
Sauce being poured from above onto a white dining plate over a tenderloin of beef, with a vegetable side.

Chancery Lane

Unearth the truffle with a 5-course Chef’s menu as the season draws to an end. 27 Jul–8 Aug, $195pp.

Special offer

Mid-week pick-me-ups

People drinking and dining in an outdoor rooftop courtyard.

Johnny's Green Room

Aperitivo Mondays on the terrace, with cocktails from $8 and pizza from $10. All day, all winter.

Special offer
Hands of people tucking in to a Chinese banquet platter with a small table lamp.

Oriental Teahouse

Every Monday & Tuesday night BYO ($12 corkage) and enjoy a massive roast platter for $76 (feeds 3-4)

Special offer
A tray of crispy pies on an oven shelf.

Whitehart Bar

Enjoy $15 hot pies & tinnies (12–5pm), or $16 pies & select house pours from 5pm, Mondays in August.

Special offer
A steak on a plate with chips

Transport Public Bar

Every Wednesday: 300g O’Connor Black Angus Porterhouse, frites and classic garlic butter for $25.

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

Sweet treats to indulge in

Matcha and regular hot chocolate takeaway drinks on a marble counter.

Pidapipo Gelateria

Velvety hot chocolate, fior di latte gelato, marshmallows & hazelnuts - and a matcha version too.

Special offer
Three takeaway cups of hot chocolate, the middle cup with whipped cream.

Piccolina Gelateria

Cioccolata Calda made with dark chocolate & warming spices. Choose from classic, gelato or S'mores.

Special offer

Ultimate winter guides

Flinders street station lit up in blue lights at night

7 things Melburnians will do even if it's raining

From AFL games and night markets to winter festivals and theatre shows.

The sun setting through the main entrance of Flinders Street Station.

Things in Melbourne that are just better in winter

When the weather gets cold we embrace Sunday roasts, big wool coats, cosy cafes and indoor gigs.

A queue of people are lining up outside a Chinese restaurant at night there is a sign saying shanghai street on the exterior of the restaurant

10 things worth lining up for in Melbourne in winter

These ramen restaurants, viral coffee shops and award-winning croissants are worth the wait.

A glowing archway of red lights in a garden at night.

9 things in Melbourne you can only do in winter

Find the best festivals, markets and projections coming to Melbourne this winter.

Festivals and events

A lighting display that shows a red design with a square and a light above and below.
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Now or Never

Twelve days of art, ideas, music and technology await - a festival of new dimensions.

A group of six actors and actresses standing in a line in front of a purple branding board with MIFF printed on it.
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Melbourne International Film Festival

Experience eye-opening cinema at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

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.

Two individuals talking to each other inside Melbourne Museum at night, with blue lighting.
Until

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

Experience Melbourne Museum after hours, when the doors stay open and the night belongs to adults.

A man looking into the eyepiece of a large telescope, pointed towards the night sky at the Melbourne Observatory.
Until

Stellar Nights

Embark on a journey through time and space with this guided tour at the Observatory.

Visitors enjoying an evening event at the National Gallery of Victoria, seated on stools under shadowy lighting.
Until

NGV Friday Nights: Cartier

NGV Friday Nights shine with Cartier, featuring live music, flims, food and drinks.

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.

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.

Cosy spots to eat and drink

Table set with food and drinks next to potted palms.
Until

Fern’s Hidden Winter Garden

Melbourne's most-booked winter escape blooms into spring.

An open fireplace

Melbourne pubs, bars and restaurants with fireplaces

Cosy up by the fire for a warming winter night out.

A bowl of ramen with lobster tails on top

Where to find the best ramen restaurants in Melbourne

Discover secret ramen bars, cult-status broth brewers and iconic foodie spots for ramen.

Two friends are at an Irish pub having drinks

Best Irish pubs in Melbourne

On the hunt for your next perfectly poured Guinness? Try Melbourne's best Irish pubs.

The best spots to visit before winter is over

Diners using chopticks to choose food from an array of dishes in a neon-lit Chinese restaurant.

YX Hot Pot

Enjoy this Sichuan hot pot restaurant on Melbourne’s iconic Bourke Street.

Looking down at the bar counter at LB's Record Bar, with people drinking and socialising, under a large mirror ball, with warm and atmospheric reddish lighting.

LB's Record Bar

A vinyl-only, agave-forward cocktail bar featuring a rotation of local DJs and music talent.

Two smiling friends, wrapped in winter scarves and wearing gloves, leaving the clothing shop Vintage Sole located in the historic Cathedral Arcade in the Nicholas Building.

Nicholas Building

This historic building is home to an eclectic mix of galleries, boutiques and artists.

Dark silhouettes against panels of red and blue in a dark exhibition space.

ACMI

Museum dedicated to the moving image through events, film screenings and exhibitions.

Interior of Up There retail space features minimalist design elements, including a bright pink glowing wall and a central counter.

Up There

The latest streetwear from loads of great brands.

Close-up person smiling in front of red-lit bowling lanes.

Kingpin at Crown Melbourne

An entertainment destination with bowling, laser tag and the Playtime arcade.

Dark interior of Flinders Street Railway Station entry with light filtering through art nouveau stained glass window onto silhouetted figures.

Flinders Street Railway Station

Iconic domed railway and metro hub, opened in 1910, with a yellow facade and an arched entrance.

A nighttime street scene featuring a warmly lit food van selling crepes and two children wearing beanies eating crepes in front of it, blurred city commuters walking past in the foreground.

La Petite Crêperie

Tiny takeaway kiosk serving up authentic French crepes.

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.

People watching flames shooting out of a tower in the city by a river at night.

Southbank

Explore the best spots on Melbourne's beautiful waterside dining strip and surrounding streets.

Aerial view of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) showing oval-shaped open air stadium surrounded by parklands.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

The largest stadium in the southern hemisphere and arguably Australia's sporting mecca.

Rows of red seats in the historic Princess Theatre.

Princess Theatre

Melbourne’s iconic Princess Theatre is regarded by many as Melbourne’s most spectacular landmark.

Exterior of a Gothic style building in Melbourne's Bourke Street, with colourful artwork surrounding the windows on the ground floor.

MECCA

Located at Bourke Street and offering brands, products and services across three levels.

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.

A person with short dark hair stands with their back to the camera, looking at shelves in a narrow, crowded bookstore; the room is filled from floor to ceiling with books, creating a cozy atmosphere.

The Paperback Bookshop

An independent bookshop that has been at the top end of Bourke Street since the 1960s.

Florist store, set in a classical Victorian stone building.

Pollon Flowers

Pollon Flowers is noted for creative floral arrangements and their stunning window display.

Two children resting their hands on the glass water wall at NGV International.

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

Melbourne Museum

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

People seated outside the brick Caretaker's Cottage bar on a winter's day as light is fading.

Caretaker's Cottage

Smart drinks, top tunes and good times in a beautiful old cottage.

The cocoon-like interior space of Curious bar, with a textured wall and ceiling, and small groupings of round tables and club chairs.

Curious

Curious pairs bold cocktails with a selection of small bites and sharing plates.

The gates at Chinatown at night

The ultimate guide to Chinatown

Where to eat, drink and karaoke the night away in Melbourne's famous Chinatown precinct.

Blurred images of people singing and enjoying themselves at a karaoke bar, one person holding a microphone in front of her friend's face.

Heroes

Vibrant and lively vertical laneway of private karaoke rooms, open mic karaoke bar and rooftop bar.

A Reuben sandwich with pickles on the side.

Butchers Diner

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

A person serving behind a counter, raising the lid on a takeaway cup of hot chocolate to add a marshmallow.

Mörk Chocolate QVM

Enjoy Mörk Chocolate at Queen Victoria Market’s iconic dairy produce hall.