Culture | Melbourne City Guide

National Gallery of Victoria

Large and popular art gallery

Victorian Pride Centre

Queer Cultural Venue

Victorian Pride Centre

A major LGBT+ community and cultural hub

Arts Centre Melbourne

A large cultural venue

Athenaeum Theatre

Theatre, comedy and live music

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

A contemporary art gallery

Chapel Off Chapel

Hosts queer events

Chapel Off Chapel

Beautiful and intimate theatre in Prahran

Cinema Nova

Hosts queer events

Cinema Nova

Arthouse cinema in Carlton

Comedy Theatre

Comedy and live theatre

Fortyfive downstairs

Visual art, theatre and live music

Forum Melbourne

Live music, theatre, cinema and comedy

Fringe Common Rooms

Hosts queer events

Fringe Common Rooms

Performance, live music and entertainment

Her Majesty's Theatre

Opera, ballet, plays and concerts

Palais Theatre

Largest seated theatre in Australia

Princess Theatre

Grand venue for live theatre

Regent Theatre

Large-scale theatre productions

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Large outdoor performance space

Southbank Theatre

A theatre for performing arts

The Butterfly Club

Hosts queer events

The Butterfly Club

A quirky independent theatre and bar

The Ian Potter Centre

The Australian collection of the NGV

The Jam Factory

Hosts queer events

The Jam Factory

Food and entertainment hub in South Yarra

The Palms at Crown Melbourne

A modern venue featuring live performance

	Neighbourhoods	12 Collingwood & Fitzroy Queer Neighbourhood Melbourne's unofficial gay village Melbourne CBD Melbourne CBD St Kilda Queer-interest Neighbourhood Laid back beach vibe Prahran & South Yarra Queer-interest Neighbourhood Stylish bars and late night clubs Carlton Melbourne's Little Italy Abbotsford A mix of industrial architecture and urban culture Richmond A multicultural neighbourhood Footscray Known for the arts and its food scene East Melbourne A quaint neighbourhood Southbank and South Wharf A picturesque waterfront neighbourhood Docklands Modern high-density neighbourhood Brunswick Queer-interest Neighbourhood Hipster-central 6km north of the CBD
	Bars & Nightclubs	26 Mollie's Bar and Diner Mostly queer crowd Popular gay bar with casual dining and great drag Sircuit Bar Mostly queer crowd Popular and lively bar The Peel Mostly queer crowd Large and popular club with a late license DT's Hotel Mostly queer crowd Local pub with entertainment Murmur Charming laneway piano bar The Osborne Hosts queer events Rooftop and bar with popular gay Sunday event Wows Mostly queer crowd Cowboy-themed drag karaoke bar Poof Doof Mostly queer crowd Saturday night gay club night The 86 Cabaret Bar Mostly queer crowd Drag cabaret and restaurant Evie's Disco Diner Mostly queer crowd A funky bar and diner that caters to a queer crowd The Laird Mostly queer crowd A bear bar with accommodation upstairs Pride of Our Footscray Mostly queer crowd A community-owned queer bar Vau d'vile Drag Cabaret Mostly queer crowd A drag bar and restaurant ADAM Mostly queer crowd Nudist pub night for guys Flippy's Mostly queer crowd Brunswick's first dedicated queer bar UBQ Mostly queer crowd New queer bar with weekly events Storyville A fairytale-themed bar and club Love Machine Mixed queer and straight A queer-friendly club The Emerson Hosts queer events Rooftop bar with a queer crowd on Sundays The Railway Hotel Hosts queer events Drink and eat with a queer crowd on Sundays Yah Yah's Hosts queer events Hip bar that's queer on Thursdays Brown Alley Hosts queer events A hip nightclub that hosts queer events Sub Club Hosts queer events A creative club supporting subcultures The Bottom End Hosts queer events A club in the CBD that hosts a monthly queer event Nevermind Hosts queer events A bar with drag bingo Tuesdays and Thursdays Rubix Warehouse Hosts queer events Edgy venue with queer events
	Dance Parties	12 Thick 'n' Juicy Mostly queer crowd Masculine, body-positive parties in Sydney and Melbourne BARBA Party Mostly queer crowd Sweaty queers and techno beats Honcho Disko Mostly queer crowd Queer dance party with a strong creative vibe Big Gay Brunswick Party Mostly queer crowd Celebrating Brunswick's queer scene Bonez Mostly queer crowd Melbourne's alternative queer party CLOSET Party Mostly queer crowd Sexy and fun queer dance parties Haus of Sass Mostly queer crowd Fun, sexy and inclusive parties and cruises Homo Erotica Mostly queer crowd Melbourne's most audacious queer dance party Popchops Mostly queer crowd Pop-centric inclusive dance parties Sissy Mostly queer crowd Fortnightly queer and burlesque party at Tokyo Hustle Sundaylicious Mostly queer crowd Sunday session popular with lesbians Swagger Mostly queer crowd Monthly RnB and hip hop queer dance party
	Events	23 Midsumma Festival Queer Event Annual pride festival Chillout Festival Queer Event LGBT+ rural festival Melbourne Queer Film Festival Queer Event Annual queer film festival A Week of Leather Queer Event Leather and fetish event Ballarat Frolic Festival Queer Event Regional LGBT+ Festival Carols by Queerlight Queer Event Christmas carols for the LGBT+ community Drag Expo Queer Event Drag convention Gay Ski Week Queer Event Australia's LGBT+ ski week Gaytimes Festival Queer Event LGBT+ festival in Gembrook, Victoria GLOBE Community Awards Queer Event LGBT+ awards ceremony Melbourne Cabaret Festival Hosts queer events Annual cabaret festival Melbourne Fringe Festival Hosts queer events Annual fringe festival Melbourne International Comedy Festival Annual comedy festival Melbourne International Film Festival Annual film festival Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival Event series in Melbourne for food and wine lovers. Midwinta Gala Queer Event A gala in support of the Midsumma Festival Mind Body Spirit Festival A holistic wellness festival Pride Cup Queer-interest Event Sports matches in support of LGBT+ inclusion in sport Rainbow Serpent Arts and music festival near Melbourne RISING Festival Major international arts event Southern Hibearnation Queer Event Annual international bear event St Kilda Festival Art and music festival in St Kilda The Northside Bizarre Queer Event Annual event for the leather and kink community
	Attractions	16 Luna Park Iconic amusement park Flinders Street Railway Station An iconic railway station Laneways and Arcades A uniquely Melbourne experience Trams Mass transit meets romantic travel Prahran Market Fresh food market in historical building Cooks' Cottage A unique piece of history St Kilda Beach Melbourne's most famous beach Federation Square A cultural venue and public square Abbotsford Convent A beautiful spot for a day trip St Kilda Pier A lovely beachfront attraction Fitzroy Gardens A spectacular park Southbank Promenade Beautiful waterfront and fabulous culture Queen Victoria Market Open air market Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria A picturesque haven Melbourne Zoo Melbourne's zoo Melbourne Museum A natural and cultural history museum
	Restaurants	31 Akaiito Stylish Japanese restaurant Bodega Underground A funky Mexican restaurant and bar Bomba Bar Stylish Spanish bar and restaurant Chato Queer-interest Restaurant LGBT+ owned Spanish restaurant Chin Chin A fun Southeast Asian hangout Cookie Trendy Thai restaurant Cutler & Co. Upscale modern Australian restaurant Easey's Unique burger and beer joint Etta Neighbourhood wine bar in East Brunswick with impressive menu Hawker Hall Trendy Southeast Asian restaurant Ichi Ni Nana Decorative Japanese restaurant Kisumé Upmarket Japanese restaurant Milk The Cow Adorable cheese and wine bar MoVida Popular Spanish restaurant off Hosier Lane Mya Tiger A stylish Chinese restaurant Naked For Satan Cool Spanish restaurant and bar with rooftop Panda Hot Pot Decorative Chinese restaurant Pier Farm Queer-interest Restaurant LGBT+ favourite for seafood Prahran Hotel Modern pub food in a unique space Rice Queen Beautiful pan-Asian restaurant Rock Sugar Stylish Thai restaurant Sister of Soul Very popular plant-based restaurant Smith & Daughters Italian-inspired vegan restaurant Soda Rock Diner 1950's American-Themed Restaurant South of Johnston Queer-interest Restaurant Gay-owned brunch spot Stokehouse Upscale Australian restaurant Stovetop A beautiful restaurant for breakfast or lunch The Hatter and the Hare Decadent meals and treats The Smith Hosts queer events Restaurant that hosts drag brunch Tonka Modern Indian restaurant Top Paddock Award-winning brunch option
	Cultural Venues	21 National Gallery of Victoria Large and popular art gallery Victorian Pride Centre Queer Cultural Venue A major LGBT+ community and cultural hub Arts Centre Melbourne A large cultural venue Athenaeum Theatre Theatre, comedy and live music Australian Centre for Contemporary Art A contemporary art gallery Chapel Off Chapel Hosts queer events Beautiful and intimate theatre in Prahran Cinema Nova Hosts queer events Arthouse cinema in Carlton Comedy Theatre Comedy and live theatre Fortyfive downstairs Visual art, theatre and live music Forum Melbourne Live music, theatre, cinema and comedy Fringe Common Rooms Hosts queer events Performance, live music and entertainment Her Majesty's Theatre Opera, ballet, plays and concerts Palais Theatre Largest seated theatre in Australia Princess Theatre Grand venue for live theatre Regent Theatre Large-scale theatre productions Sidney Myer Music Bowl Large outdoor performance space Southbank Theatre A theatre for performing arts The Butterfly Club Hosts queer events A quirky independent theatre and bar The Ian Potter Centre The Australian collection of the NGV The Jam Factory Hosts queer events Food and entertainment hub in South Yarra The Palms at Crown Melbourne A modern venue featuring live performance
	Businesses	9 Hares and Hyenas Queer Business Queer Bookstore in the Victorian Pride Centre Joy 94.9 Queer Business LGBT+ community radio Beat Books Queer Business Queer adult bookstore Daily Jocks Queer Business Underwear, fashion and accessories Eagle Leather Queer Business Fetish store Elite Male Massage Queer Business Male-to-male massage Melbourne Star Observer Queer Business LGBT+ monthly magazine Mens Body Works Extensive day spa for men VIC Rainbow Tours Queer Business LGBT+ tour operator
	Hotels and B&Bs	11 The Laird Queer Hotel Accommodation above Melbourne's main bear bar Adelphi Hotel Trendy boutique hotel Tyrian Serviced Apartments Longer-term stay QT Melbourne Trendy hotel chain The Cullen Art-series hotel Notel Retro airstream RVs on a CBD rooftop Ink Hotel Artsy and hip hotel Treasury on Collins A bank converted into a hotel W Hotel Uber trendy hotel chain Zagame's House Queer-interest Hotel Beautiful boutique hotel The Prince Hotel Queer-interest Hotel Local hotel with a long history
	Groups	18 GLOBE Queer Group LGBT+ business networking Gay Singles Melbourne Queer Group A group for gay singles LOW REZ Melbourne Male Choir Queer Group Men's choir Melbourne Bisexual, Fluid and Undefined Men Queer Group Bisexual men's social group Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus Queer Group LGBT+ choir Melbourne Gay Society Queer Group Gay social group Melbourne LGBT Social Culture Explorer Queer Group LGBT+ social group Men For Dinner Queer Group Queer men's social group Nakedman Melbourne Queer Group LGBT+ nudist group Out Techs: Melbourne Queer Group LGBT+ tech professionals People who happen to be LGBTIQA+ Queer Group LGBT+ social group Pride Outside Queer Group LGBT+ outdoor activities Queer Meditation Melbourne Queer Group LGBT+ meditation Rainbow Boardgames Queer Group LGBT+ group for boardgames The Blokes Pub Club Queer Group Gay men's social group The Melbourne Rainbow Band Queer Group LGBT+ band Turing Circle - LGBTQIA+ Scientists and Engineers Queer Group LGBT+ scientists and engineers VicBears Queer Group A social group for the bear community
	Sports Clubs	21 Melbourne Argonauts Queer Sports Club LGBT+ rowing club Bent Kranks Queer Sports Club LGBT+ bike riding club ClimbingQTs Queer Sports Club LGBT+ rock climbing club Dance Cats Queer Sports Club LGBT+ dancing Kingston City Rollers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ roller derby league Melbourne Chargers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ rugby club Melbourne Dragons Queer Sports Club LGBT+ martial arts club Melbourne Frontrunners Queer Sports Club LGBT+ running club Melbourne Glamourheads Queer Sports Club LGBT+ swimming club Melbourne Motorcycle Tourers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ motorcycle riding club Melbourne Rovers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ soccer club Melbourne Spectres Queer Sports Club LGBT+ basketball club Melbourne Spikers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ volleyball club Melbourne Surge Queer Sports Club LGBT+ waterpolo club Melbourne Wranglers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ wrestling club Rainbow Riders Queer Sports Club LGBT+ motorcycle riding club Sixty Niners Queer Sports Club LGBT+ bowling league Southern Lights Queer Sports Club LGBT+ ice hockey club The Melbourne Smashers Queer Sports Club LGBT+ badminton club The Nomads Outdoors Group Queer Sports Club LGBT+ outdoor activities VicTennis Queer Sports Club LGBT+ tennis club
	Trips	10 Daylesford Queer-interest Trip LGBT+ favourite rural town Yarra Valley Beautiful destination just outside of Melbourne Mornington Peninsula Beautiful destination one hour drive from Melbourne CBD Bellarine Peninsula Chilled out coastal towns Dandenong Ranges Beautiful mountains one-hour outside of Melbourne Geelong Coastal city one-hour from Melbourne Great Ocean Road A beautiful drive from Melbourne Mt Buller Ski field destination Phillip Island Scenic island just outside of Melbourne Williamstown Historical town 25 mins from Melbourne CBD