A park on a sunny day with the tall buildings in the background.

East Melbourne

This leafy suburb is home to Melbourne icons like the MCG and Fitzroy Gardens. Roam through stunning green spaces then discover unique museums, cute hidden wine bars and more.

Best East Melbourne events

Illustrations of two children with clipboards in (real) garden setting.
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Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure

A free fun outdoor seek and find adventure around the Fitzroy Gardens.

Woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, standing behind a table, indicating with right hand, holding a folder with sepia photograph, just visible, with left hand, talking to people on a tour.
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Tour the Old Treasury Building Museum

Discover early Melbourne, through architecture, art and artefacts, in an iconic gold rush building.

A woman holding a picture book titled 'Ruffles' and also holding a dog toy in a library reading area.
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Songbirds

Come along to East Melbourne Library on Thursdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

Three coloured gin-based cocktails with platters of snacks.
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Gin-dulgent High Tea Experience

Take your seat for a guided gin high tea like no other with bottomless sparkling.

Black and white photograph of a busy Melbourne city intersection with trams, cars, people crossing the road, and buildings, dating from around the 1950s or 1960s.
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Making Modern Melbourne

This free exhibition examines the tumultuous twentieth century in Melbourne.

Black and white mirrored image of the guitarist Adam Russo in a suit, straightening his tie, looking to the side, a guitar resting on his lap.
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Live Jazz: Smooth Strings and Slow Sips with Adam Russo

Enjoy three hours of gypsy jazz guitar with Adam Russo in Melbourne's most romantic secret bar.

The feet of two people on a walking tour, standing on a tiled floor.
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East Melbourne Walking Tours

Take a guided walking tour of East Melbourne to discover secrets and hear untold stories.

An early watercolour painting of Melbourne's Yarra River.
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Yarra: Stories of Melbourne's River

Explores the chequered history of the stream we call the ‘city’s river’.

Large room with artwork on walls and floor.
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Secret Cellar Market - Artists, Makers and Small-batch Finds

Find original art and prints, handmade crafts and clothing, and dog items at this tiny local market.

Watercolour travel sketch with detail of church and city skyline.
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Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil

Talk a walk around East Melbourne, sketching and learning tips and techniques. Note: sold out

A drypoint etching in monotones depicting an industrial scene.
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Louise Donovan: Common Ground

Nineteen everyday moments in intimate drypoint by Melbourne artist, Louise Donovan

A woman in Regency-period costume including a white bonnet, white neck ruff and a red checked dress with puffed sleeves; holding a tea cup and saucer.

Dining with Jane Austen with Lise Rodgers

Join Lise Rodgers for a presentation delivered in costume on dining in the time of Jane Austen.

More East Melbourne events

East Melbourne attractions

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.

Visitors surveying the tranquil scene of Fitzroy Gardens fountain, lawns and trees,

Fitzroy Gardens

These historic gardens are home to the famous Cooks' Cottage.

The two-storey Georgian building facade of The Johnston Collection house museum, with small trees in the front garden.

The Johnston Collection

View beautiful objects arranged in a house-museum setting unfettered by ropes or barriers.

People walking past elm and palm trees in Treasury Gardens

Treasury Gardens

A tranquil green edge to Melbourne's government buildings precinct.

Parliament Gardens Reserve with Pastor Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial.

Parliament Gardens Reserve

This small triangular park is a pleasant respite at the Spring Street end of town.

Old sepia photo of horse-drawn fire vehicles.

Fire Services Museum of Victoria

Australia's largest collection of fire-fighting memorabilia.

Exterior of the tennis centre showing multi courts and the clubhouse behind a high fence.

Powlett Reserve Tennis Centre

A public tennis facility with five synthetic courts and a pro shop.

Interior of a luxury hotel with curved furniture and neutral tones.

Lanson Place Parliament Gardens

The ultimate Melbourne retreat for your next leisure or business stay.

Trees and grass at Yarra Park.

Yarra Park

Public parkland surrounding Australia's sporting mecca, the MCG.

Bluestone and sandstone historic building of St Patrick's Cathedral with tall spire and Gothic revival architecture.

St Patrick's Cathedral

This historic Catholic cathedral is the largest Gothic Revival building in Victoria.

Historic Cooks' Cottage stone English building with ivy and hedges in Fitzroy Gardens.

Cooks' Cottage

Come and explore Cooks' Cottage and learn about its English origins and relocation to Melbourne.

Conservatory building entrance in Fitzroy Gardens.

The Conservatory

An indoor world of floral beauty with displays that change five times each year.

A mall group tour on the MCG field, led by a guide wearing a striped blazer, stands in the background.

MCG Tours

Take a guided tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Top of the German Lutheran Trinity Church bluestone church showing the pitched slate roof.

German Lutheran Trinity Church

Heritage-listed Lutheran Trinity Church dates from 1853, with the present structure built in 1874.

Looking out through floor to ceiling glass windows onto buildings around a courtyard, part of the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre.

Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre

A place of inspiration and vitality, that promotes the spirit and charism of Saint Mary MacKillop.

Columns and building of Parliament House lit at night.

Parliament House

Meeting place of the Victorian Parliament and one of Melbourne's best known landmarks.

Neo-classical pediment and columns of College of Surgeons' Museum building.

College of Surgeons Museum

An exhibition of surgical objects and memorabilia.

The modern exterior of East Melbourne Library.

East Melbourne Library

Australia's most ecologically sustainable public library.

Where to eat and drink in East Melbourne

A woman working behind the counter of a KereKere Green cafe with calico bags on hooks under the counter

KereKere Green

Cute little cafe with a community focus in the heritage-listed Fitzroy Gardens.

Two glasses of spirits with ice, plus a cigar.

Everything But Gin Distillery

A boutique distillery offering blending sessions and tours.

A table with several wood-fired pizzas and someone pouring a beer.

Roccella

An all-day dining Italian restaurant located across from the Fitzroy Gardens.

Looking up from below at two chilled glasses of white wine on a bar with bottles behind.

Life's Too Short Bar

A romantic back-vintage wine and cocktail bar with chef-prepared all-day dining.

A table with antipasto and bread and two glasses of wine.

The Tippler & Co

A neighborhood gem offering an independent range of tipples and a sustainable focused share menu.

Bowl of muesli with berries.

Grocery Bar East Melbourne

Great coffee and sandwiches to eat in or take away.

Interior of Hanshi restaurant showing a central bar area and high dining tables and stools, decorative lanterns and sake barrels on display.

Hanashi

Offering authentic Japanese food in an izakaya style.

US lunch plates on a table with burgers and chips, meat and salad.

Route 66 Bar and Grill

An iconic American Bar and Grill with a touch of Southern hospitality.

Afternoon tea setting with scones, cake stand with sandwiches and cakes, teapot, cups and saucers.

Strangers Corridor

A sophisticated restaurant inside Parliament House, serving seasonal lunch and high tea.

Interior shot looking down on the dining area of Tadka Hut Indian Restaurant.

Tadka Hut Indian Restaurant

Family-friendly restaurant serving authentic dishes from all over India.

Knife and fork cutting into a meat dish garnished with basil.

Geppetto Trattoria

An East Melbourne institution serving classic home-style Italian cooking since 1981.

Soft boiled eggs and half an avocado.

Square and Compass

Healthy and filling staple dishes for breakfast and lunch.

Three large Laurent quiches.

Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie

A French artisan style bakery, offering breads, cakes and pastries.

Interior of Cliveden restaurant with high stools linked up against the bar, and views out large windows onto Fitzroy Gardens.

The Cliveden Bar & Dining

Located at the Pullman on the Park and offering casual dining and a bar.

A caffe latte with abstract heart design, on a wooden table.

George Street Cafe

Simple breakfast and lunch dishes in a spot that has been serving food since 1867.

Collection of breads and pastries.

East Melbourne General Store

A licensed grocer selling a full range of groceries, fresh produce and liquor.