A winery in the city limits

Coming in at numero uno on our list of cool things to do in Melbourne in Noisy Ritual.

Victoria’s famed wine regions are roughly 90 minutes by car, but if you don’t have time to waste, Noisy Ritual is your slice of wine country in the city.

Grapes are sourced from all over Victoria and shipped to hip Brunswick in Melbourne’s inner north for processing, maturation and your enjoyment.

There’s no better place in Australia to learn the dark arts

Learning how to make coffee like a Melburnian? It doesn’t get much cooler. Since a wave of Italian migrants arrived in the 1950s, Melbourne has become Australia’s undisputed king of the morning cup. The Espresso School will teach you the ways of the humble coffee bean, from the entry level two-hour latte art session to a five day master barista course.

Smash, crash and destroy all in your path

If you’ve ever fantasised of hurling your phone against a wall, The Break Room should make your cool things to do in Melbourne list. This is guilt-free, judgement-free destruction. Choose from their selection of wine glasses, coffee cups and dinner plates, or bring your doomed relic and relish in its demise.

Melbourne’s best suburban art deco theatre

When the Hateful Eight was released in 2016, Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L Jackson and Kurt Russel made one appearance at an Australian cinema: The Sun. Arrive early in Yarraville, (15 mins by train from the city) grab dinner and a drink in the pop-up park, and enjoy your movie with a glass of vino in luxurious leather lounges. And it’s independently owned.

Melbourne is blessed with some of the country’s best theatre experiences. The Astor in St Kilda is also worth a visit, as is the drive-in cinema at Coburg.

Fall asleep to the sounds of lions, tigers and bears.

Zoo excursion meets glamping on the planes of Werribee, about 30 minutes west of the city.

Over two days (and one night) you’ll tour the Werribee Open Range Zoo, have a close encounter with at least one of the park’s residents, go on a safari tour, eat dinner and share a drink from the balcony of your luxury tent.

Enjoy classics or new releases on the lawn

The Royal Botanical Gardens are among Australia’s most picturesque public spaces – so there’s no better place to grab a bean bag , a bottle of wine and watch a movie on a giant inflatable big screen. Bring your own supplies or buy food and drink from the on-site outlets. Upgrade to gold class if you really want to splash out.

You haven’t had hot chocolate like this

Not all the cool things to do in Melbourne require you to move. Let’s settle in for a nice, warm hot chocolates at Mork in North Melbourne before we move on. Their delicious beverages are traceable, ethical and sustainable. But above all, utterly delicious. Their “Campfire” blend is the reason most chocolate pilgrims (and Instagram tragics) pay homage, but for a true local experience, try the “Forager”, made with Australian natives.

Local grub doesn’t get any more local than this

Before starting a celebration, it’s traditional to say ‘Mabu Mabu & Big Esso’, with the latter Torres Strait slang term for the biggest thank you. You’ll be saying it plenty here. Birrarung was once a vital food source, home to eels, sharks, dolphins, and stingrays, and Big Esso is a bar and kitchen proud to revive Indigenous food and culture.

These burgers ain’t no train wreck.

Located five floors up, Easey’s offers burgers and beers with a view of Melbourne’s CBD.

The unique burger joint is located in an old-school train carriage adorned with graffiti and train seats. The menu includes indulgent comfort food and local beer, and the retro soundtrack adds to the relaxed atmosphere. Easey’s is a must-do foodie experience in Melbourne – and number 9 on our list of coolest things to do in Melbourne.

A peaceful sojourn on the Ornamental Lake

Cool things to do in Melbourne can also be calming.

Punts were used in the early days of Melbourne to cross rivers before bridges became widespread. Propelled by pushing a pole against the river bottom, punts are now solely a leisure activity. On this tour, you’ll combine a pleasant ride on the Ornamental Lake with a high tea in the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The perfect cut for a price you won’t believe

This unassuming shopfront on Sydney Road is run by Nam Huynh, who has been making jeans for more than 20 years. There will be a long wait to get in, but when the jeans fit this well (and cost less than $100), the wait will be worth it.

Beers and food trucks in a former Morris Minor car factory

Melbourne’s beer gardens compete on the world stage for style more than size, but Welcome to Thornbury does a great job on both fronts. With space for 700 people, Welcome To Thornbury can fit seven food trucks at any given time. ATMs are on site, and you can even bring your dog. Coolest things to do in Melbourne? Tick.

Befriend the bees

Bees are vital to the health of natural ecosystems, but few would think beehives or beekeeping would be found in the city. For more than a decade, Rooftop Honey has been making the good stuff (and it’s very good) across a range of rooftops in Melbourne, and you can visit the sites while learning about the noble art of the apiarist.

Cruise the mighty Yarra, eat fish & chips

The Yarra River is little used as a waterway, which makes kayaking on the river (especially at night) all the more appealing. Plus the whole affair is topped off with fish and chips. Yum.

From 180 handbrake turns to 360 spins

For anyone wishing to live out their James Bond car chase fantasy, here’s your chance. Strap in to a Mini Cooper and learn stunt driving from the best, or ride shotgun with a professional to show you how it’s done.

Great Whites in the guts of the CBD

Forget shark cages. The Melbourne Aquarium offers a shark diving experience sans metal bars – and only a short walk from your City hotel. It’s 30 minutes you won’t soon forget.

Solve the puzzles. Escape the maze

Think Saw without the gory bits. You and a friend (or five) must work together to solve a variety of puzzles to escape the room. Multiple locations across Melbourne offer a variety of experiences – from escaping a dangerous mine to navigating the mind of a WW2 veteran. Creepy? Sure? Pretty damn cool? Absolutely.

A rooftop room with a view

Six 1970s Airstream trailers have been lovingly restored, fitted out and placed on a rooftop to create Notel. You’ll be staying in style, surrounded by street art and within walking distance of the City’s best bars, cafés and restaurants. A uniquely Melbourne experience.

From the ‘G to Flemington

No Melbourne trip is complete without visiting one of our famous sporting venues. For the die-hard sports tragic, Melbourne Sports Tours will take you to every major sporting venue in one day. Tour the ‘G, walk trackside at Flemington and cruise Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open.

Your hair and face will thank you

Melbourne’s impeccably groomed male residents swear by Men & Co, where gentlemen’s club meets hair salon. You’ll get the best haircut of your life, a razor-sharp shave, a shoeshine and a cool beer to wash it all down – and a barber who will actually listen to you. A cool thing to do that will actually make you look pretty cool, too.

The Bar Tour that grew up.

Of course, we’d be remiss not adding ourselves to the list of cool things to do in Melbourne.

More fun than a walking tour, classier than a bar crawl. In just three hours, you’ll get the unique history of Melbourne, three unique bars, laneways, street art and historic sites. And you’ll get access to dedicated bar maps to continue your City drinking Odyssey! A unique way to explore Melbourne that no one does better! Plus it’s awesome fun whether you’re into history or not.

Elvis never visited Melbourne, or Australia for that matter.

But that didn’t stop the erection of the only official monument to the rock legend outside the US.

Installed in 1977 by Australia’s answer to Elvis – rock legend Johnny O’Keefe – the shrine sits inside the Melbourne General Cemetery, lovingly tended to by the Elvis Presley Fan Club of Victoria (a real thing).

Get inked from the best in the biz

As a city known for its artistic endeavours, Melbourne is home to some of the best tattoo artists in the world. There’s no better place to get that commemorative “I was in Melbourne” ink than Melbourne Tattoo Company. Tucked away inside historic Somerset Place are some of the city’s best tattoo artists, who will work with you to create something truly unique. Be warned, they are often booked months in advance.

An Edwardian gem for any time

Dating back to 1863 when the Burn Family established Melbourne’s first boathouse on the Yarra, the Studley Park Boathouse in Kew is well worth the trip to the eastern suburbs. The views are spectacular, the food is excellent, and you can even hire a boat (starting at $26 an hour for two people) to row, row, row gently down the stream. Whether you do so merrily is entirely your choice.

Big shows at little prices

As Australia’s arts and cultural capital, Melbourne is blessed with some of the country’s best theatres. And you needn’t pay a king’s ransom to see some of the best shows in town. Halftix sells tickets to a range of live shows at big discounts, usually on the day the show is running (you can sometimes get Sunday shows on the Saturday). Head to 208 Little Collins Street (you can only buy in person).

Topping out our list of cool things to do in Melbourne is something appealing to our cultural sensibilities.

Between the National Gallery of Victoria, the Heide Museum of Modern Art, The Ian Potter Centre and the many pop-up galleries you’ll find throughout the city, Melbourne is never short on art. In fact, there are more than 100 art galleries throughout Melbourne City, each sporting a different vibe and collection from both international and local artists.

Give in to your inner art snob and go check some out while you’re in town. You won’t be disappointed!

An event for every taste

Melbourne is, if nothing else, a festival city. Famous for its year-round festival calendar, here are a few of our favourites:

January – March

• Australian Open: The tennis Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific. Held in January
• Lonsdale Street Festival: A celebration of Melbourne’s Greek Community. Held in February
• Chinese New Year Festival: The new year ticks over in style among Melbourne’s Chinese community. Held in February
• Moomba: Melbourne’s famous Labor Day long weekend celebration. Held in March
• St Jerome’s Laneway Festival: One of the few must-do music festivals held close to the city (just 6km west in Footscray). Held in February.
• St Kilda Festival: One of Melbourne’s biggest music festivals, and completely free. Held In February.

April – June

• Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Laughs aplenty, and often for free. Held across March and April.
• Rising: The city comes alive with installations, displays and shows. Held across May and June

July – September

• Royal Melbourne Show: The country comes to the city with animals and produce aplenty. Held across September and October
• Whisky, Wine & Fire: The name says it all. Sample some of Victoria’s best beverages. Held in July.
• Open House Melbourne: The doors to some of Melbourne’s most historic buildings are thrown open for one day only. Held in July.
• AFL Grand Final: You probably won’t get tickets to the game, but it’s the biggest sporting day in Melbourne’s calendar. Held in late September/early October
• Pinot Palooza: A celebration of the most delicate of grapes, and the world’s biggest. Held in September/October

October – December

• Melbourne Cup Carnival: Don your finest frock and head to the race track. Several race days across November
• Great Australian Beer Spectapular (GABS): A giant beer festival held inside the historic Royal Exhibition Centre. Held in October/November
• Johnson Street Festival A celebration of all things Latino in the heart of hipster Fitzroy: Held in November.

What’s on this list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring the world’s most liveable city. We’ve left hundreds of things off this list, including St Kilda Beach, the Brighton Beach boxes, Eureka Tower, Crown Casino and more. Just remember, if you are visiting Melbourne and looking to take the road less travelled, Drinking History Tours will give you the lay of the land and make sure you have fun while you’re at it!

Book a tour online today for your next trip to Melbourne and experience the city the way it was meant to be.