Neighbourhoods

A great thing about Melbourne is nightlife and culture is spread throughout the city and each neighbourhood has a high street with great drinking and dining options.

There is no dedicated gay village holding the flame as the historical home of the LGBT+ scene. However, the Collingwood area has a good concentration of gay bars that spill over into nearby Fitzroy and Abbotsford. The neighbourhood also has rainbows painted on the sidewalk, so has a strong claim to the title of the city's gay village.

However, not so long ago, Prahran and South Yarra on the southern bank of the river were considered the gay village. The area once boasted the city’s most popular gay bars, however, all of these venues have since closed. While there are no longer any dedicated gay bars, some venues host queer events (the biggest of which is Poof Doof) and the area still has a sizeable queer population and many queer-interest restaurants, bars and businesses.

Any discussion about Melbourne neighbourhoods isn't complete without mentioning St Kilda. With its beautiful beachfront, palm-lined streets and distinctive Luna Park, it is an iconic image of Melbourne. There also a number of queer points of interest including the Pride Centre, the Prince Hotel and it is also the location of the annual Midsumma Festival.