Melbourne City guide

Discover everything Melbourne has to offer

Listings

	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 Abbotsford A mix of industrial architecture and urban culture Brunswick Queer-interest Neighbourhood Hipster-central 6km north of the CBD Carlton Melbourne's Little Italy Docklands Modern high-density neighbourhood East Melbourne A quaint neighbourhood Footscray Known for the arts and its food scene Richmond A multicultural neighbourhood Southbank and South Wharf A picturesque waterfront neighbourhood
	Bars & Nightclubs	29 Mollie's Bar and Diner Mostly queer crowd Popular gay bar with casual dining and great drag DT's Hotel Mostly queer crowd Local pub with entertainment Murmur Charming laneway piano bar Sircuit Bar Mostly queer crowd Popular and lively bar The Peel Mostly queer crowd Large and popular club with a late license The Osborne Hosts queer events Rooftop and bar with popular gay Sunday event Wows Mostly queer crowd Cowboy-themed drag karaoke bar ADAM Mostly queer crowd Nudist pub night for guys Brown Alley Hosts queer events A hip nightclub that hosts queer events Evie's Disco Diner Mostly queer crowd A funky bar and diner that caters to a queer crowd Flippy's Mostly queer crowd Brunswick's first dedicated queer bar Jono's Piano Bar Mixed queer and straight Neighbourhood piano bar Love Machine Mixed queer and straight A queer-friendly club Nevermind Hosts queer events A bar with drag bingo Tuesdays and Thursdays Poof Doof Mostly queer crowd Saturday night gay club night Pride of Our Footscray Mostly queer crowd A community-owned queer bar Rainbow House Club Mostly queer crowd Queer bar with regular entertainment Rubix Warehouse Hosts queer events Edgy venue with queer events Storyville A fairytale-themed bar and club Sub Club Hosts queer events A creative club supporting subcultures The 86 Cabaret Bar Mostly queer crowd Drag cabaret and restaurant The Bottom End Hosts queer events A club in the CBD that hosts a monthly queer event The Emerson Hosts queer events Rooftop bar with a queer crowd on Sundays The Laird Mostly queer crowd A bear bar with accommodation upstairs The Railway Hotel Hosts queer events Drink and eat with a queer crowd on Sundays The Rubber Chicken Hosts queer events A comedy club with drag bingo on Wednesdays UBQ Mostly queer crowd New queer bar with weekly events Vau d'vile Drag Cabaret Mostly queer crowd A drag bar and restaurant Yah Yah's Hosts queer events Hip bar that's queer on Thursdays
	Dance Parties	13 Rock City Mostly queer crowd Circuit-party style dance parties 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 Abbotsford Convent A beautiful spot for a day trip Cooks' Cottage A unique piece of history Federation Square A cultural venue and public square Fitzroy Gardens A spectacular park Melbourne Museum A natural and cultural history museum Melbourne Zoo Melbourne's zoo Prahran Market Fresh food market in historical building Queen Victoria Market Open air market Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria A picturesque haven Southbank Promenade Beautiful waterfront and fabulous culture St Kilda Beach Melbourne's most famous beach St Kilda Pier A lovely beachfront attraction
	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 Ink Hotel Artsy and hip hotel Notel Retro airstream RVs on a CBD rooftop QT Melbourne Trendy hotel chain The Cullen Art-series hotel The Prince Hotel Queer-interest Hotel Local hotel with a long history Treasury on Collins A bank converted into a hotel Tyrian Serviced Apartments Longer-term stay W Hotel Uber trendy hotel chain Zagame's House Queer-interest Hotel Beautiful boutique hotel
	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

Nightlife

Melbourne has an intoxicating energy. Explore the city and you will discover there is an aliveness that draws you in and makes you want to be a part of it. This energy crosses over into the nightlife. The city has a very lively queer nightlife scene and late night revelry is very much part of the culture. What’s more, lockout laws were never a thing in the city so there is still a strong culture of partying until the wee hours.

And best of all, Melbourne’s queer nightlife is still growing. There were three new openings in 2022 - Flippy’s in Brunswick and Wows and UBQ in Fitzroy. It's great to see Melbourne bucking the trend of dying queer nightlife.

The biggest concentration of gay bars can be found in the inner northern suburbs of Collingwood & Fitzroy. There are rainbows painted on the sidewalks and you’ll find no less than 10 queer options within walking distance of each other. Drag bar Mollie's, cabaret bar The 86 and gay clubbing institutions like Sircuit and The Peel are all within a few blocks. Add in bear bar The Laird which is a short walk away in neighbouring Abbotsford, and you'll never have to leave the area! You can head to Smith street any night of the week and find a buzz.

South of the river, Prahran & South Yarra have an offering of gay nightlife, but only on certain nights of the week. For Saturdays, one of the best options in the city is Poof Doof. These party organisers are some of the best in the business and this is their home turf so expect a great night out. This neighbourhood also owns the Sunday gay scene with 3 options Railway Sundays, Osborne Sundays and Emerson Sundays. Gay-owned Jono's Piano Bar in the charming Greville street is another option worth checking out.

The other neighbourhood with a noticeable queer scene is Brunswick. The nightlife here has a hipster/queer vibe and includes Flippy’s and queer-friendly Daddy Bar. The suburb also has notable queer dance parties like Big Gay Brunswick Party.

And finally, other must-sees in Melbourne's queer scene are DTs in Richmond and Pride of Our Footscray.

Still wondering where to go with so many options? We've got you covered with our picks for a great night out.

Thursday: Thursgay at Yah Yah’s in Fitzroy is the best fun you can have on a weeknight. Friday: Start your night with drag at Mollie’s. Around 10pm head downstairs to Sircuit for club anthems and dancing. Once you’ve closed out Sircuit, join the migration to The Peel to dance through till dawn. Saturday: You'll be in good hands with Poof Doof in South Yarra. Sunday: Head south of the river and start the evening at Railway Sundays. Once the sun goes down, you can walk to Osborne Sundays for drag and entertainment.

Nightlife

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