Extraordinary Eateries, Experiences and Events

NEW HAPPENINGS
The saying ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ is spot on for Victoria this spring, with pop up eateries and experiences taking over across the region.

For foodies, Madame Truffles, Australia’s only French Black Truffle retailer, pops up seasonally to provide visitors with freshly harvested, high quality truffles. Food Truck Park sees a selection of Melbourne’s finest food trucks travel to various CBD locations, serving guests in a dynamic and unique environment. 

Intriguing experiences are aplenty with St. Jerome’s – The Hotel offering pop up glamping in the heart of the city, while guerrilla-style gigs are performed on Melbourne trams to entertain commuters as part of Tramsessions. For film lovers, Boutique cinema Deja-View pops up annually to screen a line-up of 80’s and 90’s classics, while Underground Cinema asks guests to take a leap of faith and purchase tickets to see unnamed films in secret locations.

Madame Truffles
Where: 17 Yarra Place, South Melbourne and 83-85 Victoria Street, North Melbourne
When: 18 June – 6 September

Food Truck Park
Where: Various locations within Melbourne CBD
When: Various dates

St. Jeromes – The Hotel
Where: Level 3, 271 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
When: May 2015 – January 2016

Tramsessions
Where: Various locations within Melbourne CBD
When: Various dates

Deja-View
Where: Location TBC
When: Dates TBC

Underground Cinema
Where: Various locations
When: Dates TBC


St. Jeromes Hotel. Photo and caption courtesy of Haystac.

FOODIE FEATURES
Asian cuisine continues to migrate to Australia with numerous Asian-fusion eateries opening across Melbourne in recent months. Highlights include the establishment of Sugar Prawn, serving Malaysian hawker food with a vinyl-only soundtrack, Menya Sandaime, a modern yet mysterious ramen shop, and the second Pho Nom restaurant, the first of which has been praised for being both ethical and successful.

Unconventional wine events and experiences intended for a new generation of grape admirers is the latest craze to hit Melbourne’s beverage scene. Designed to celebrate the Victorian Pinot Noir, annual urban wine festival Pinot Palooza is set to host DJs and food trucks, whilst offering over one hundred unique varieties of Pinot Noir to sample. Keeping things simple, Chalmers, a Victorian vineyard located in both Mildura and Heathcote, has introduced Bucketwines, where ready-for-consumption wine is produced using only a bucket, sieve and hydrometer, creating an entirely unique batch each time.

Sugar Prawn
Where: 230 Smith Street, Collingwood, Victoria

Menya Sandaime
Where: 225 Russell Street, Melbourne

Pho Nom
Where: Emporium Melbourne, Store 33, Lower Ground

Pinot Palooza
Where: Bay 3 & 4, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf

Chalmers
Where: 118 Third Street, Merbein, Victoria



Guy Lavoipierre Pho Nom. Photo and caption courtesy of Haystac.

MAJOR EVENTS
Culture and cars takeover Victoria in coming months, with the region set to host a series of exhilarating events.

In a world first, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will present Andy Warhol ǀ Ai Wei Wei later this year, displaying work from two of the most significant artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Multi award-winning musical Kinky Boots will make its Australian debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne in October, directed by two time Tony award winner Terry Mitchell and featuring music and lyrics from pop icon Cyndi Lauper.

For petrol heads, the action packed Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will see the world’s best riders return to Phillip Island in October, while the V8 Supercars Phillip Island Superstint is to take place in November at one of Australia’s fastest racing tracks.

Andy Warhol ǀ Ai Weiwei
Where: National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
When: 11 December 2015 – 24 April 2016

Kinky Boots
Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre, 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
When: 2016


Kinky Boots Original Broadway cast. Photo and caption courtesy of Haystac.

Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
Where: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Black Beach Road, Phillip Island
When: 16 – 18 October 2015

V8 Supercars Phillip Island Superstint
Where: Phillip Island Circuit, Black Beach Road, Phillip Island
When: 20 – 22 November 2015