What's New in Melbourne? February 2020

URBNSURF
Melbourne is home to Australia’s first surf park; URBNSURF. Surfers are no longer restricted to the coast, visitors can now hit the waves in an urban environment. URBNSURF parks, provide perfect, ocean-like waves in an authentic, safe and controlled environment, catering to all ages and abilities in the city’s west at Tullamarine. Four levels of surfing are available with learning to surf, beginners, intermediate and advanced. Along with the option to watch, visitors can grab a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant, Three Blue Ducks set to open soon.
309 Melrose Dr, Tullamarine. Monday to Sunday 6am – 10pm.

Gogyo Fitzroy
Japanese ramen dining has a new home in Fitzroy. Gogyo have been serving up ramen in Sydney for the past three years and have just opened their sister store on the corner of Brunswick and Westgarth street in Melbourne. Their signature dish is kogashi (burnt miso) ramen but they also do a range of rice, wagu and sushi dishes served with Japanese style cocktails. Outside there’s a 10-metre mural detailing the ramen-making process and highlighting the five main elements: fire, wood, earth, metal and water painted by Japanese artist Kentaro Yoshida.
413 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Monday to Friday 12pm–2.30pm, 5.30pm–9pm. Saturday and Sunday 12pm–2.30pm, 5.30pm–9pm.

Lekker
Pop-up restaurant, Lekker has made a temporary home at the Windsor. Focusing on Dutch cuisine, Lekker is a neo bistro offering the option of tasteful bar snacks or a set menu. Headed up by Rob Kabboord, best known as the co-owner and chef of Northcote fine diner Merricote and then as chef de cuisine at Sydney fine diner Quay. But you’ll have to get in quick because as they say, they’re here for a good time, not a long time.
1 Bourke St, Melbourne. Dinner: Wednesday to Saturday, 5:30pm - 10:30pm. Lunch: Friday, 11:30am - 3:00pm. Bar snacks & a good wine: All day on Friday. Wednesday to Saturday from 5:30pm.

Mrs Singh

A new wine bar with an Indian flair has opened on Flinders Lane. Serving a Thali platter for lunch (it’s literally the only thing available on the menu) and small plates for dinner including lobster roll with curry chips and vindaloo momo dumplings. The stylish bar is decked out in velvet, with a black-and-white terrazzo bar and complete with a golden champagne trolley on the outskirts of the room. There’s an extensive wine list of 220 bottles which are also available for guests to take home.
88 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Monday to Wednesday 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11 pm. Thursday and Friday 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 1am. Saturday and Sunday: 5pm – 1am.

Mary’s
Sydney burger bar Mary’s has hit Melbourne down a narrow alley off Franklin Street in the CBD. With the menu graffitied on the walls, Mary’s is slinging burgers, fried chicken and potato mash with gravy which is all available as a vegan option. They also have a wild cocktail list including a Unicorn Cooler, Margarita’s and a Bloody Mary served with a melted square of cheese.
167 Franklin St, Melbourne. Monday to Thursday: 4pm – 1am. Friday to Sunday: 12pm – 1am.

Keith Haring Collingwood mural
An iconic 1984 Keith Haring mural has come out of hiding on Johnston Street in Collingwood. The mural’s been hidden behind protective hoarding since 2017, but the construction covering it was removed to coincide with the near completion of the Collingwood Arts Precinct, which now occupies the site. The Collingwood mural is one of only 31 known murals across the world by Haring that have survived, and one of only three that hasn’t been significantly over-painted. The Unveiling also aligns with the NGV’s Keith Haring | Jean Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines exhibition which is now open.
35 Johnston Street, Collingwood.

Punchin’ Bottles
A pop-up wine shop has opened on Russel Street. Embla’s Christian McCabe, winemaker Patrick Sullivan and importer Eric Narioo are taking over a long-serving music shop until it’s demolished later in 2020. Punchin’ Bottles offer a wide selection of local, independent and small-batch producers. You’ll also find champagne from France, sangiovese from Italy but the focus is on local made wines making it the perfect last-minute pick up for BYO in the city.
124 Russell Street, Melbourne. Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm-10pm.

Room + Board, Daylesford
Best known for The Estate, Trentham and The White House, Daylesford, Australian stylist, Lynda Gardener has opened her fifth boutique accommodation, Room + Board. Located in the heart of Daylesford, Room + Board is a purpose built get away for couples, featuring a simple open plan layout in a beautifully designed warehouse with a cosy barn-like feel. The interior features beautiful plants and trees together with curated pieces, furniture and art, all sourced individually from personal collections and sustainable suppliers.
58b Albert Street, Daylesford. Stays start at $345 per night, twin share.

Axil Coffee Roasters
Axil Coffee Roasters have a new venue open at Melbourne Airport brewing up all your pre-flight coffee needs. There’s freshly made sandwiches, jaffles, salads and of course, the coffee menu; with a seasonal espresso blend for milk-based coffees and a daily rotating single origin for black-coffee drinkers, and batch brews. Melbourne street artist, Adnate has painted a large-scale mural covering one of the walls. You’ll find it between the Virgin Terminal and international terminal.
Terminal 2, Melbourne Airport

MoPA: Museum of Play & Art
MoPa is one of Australia's most acclaimed children’s museums, based in one of Geelong’s oldest buildings. Focusing on play-based learning for age 1 to early primary aged children, MoPA have worked with experts from across the globe to assemble a collection of beautiful, creative, immersive and educational exhibits. The exhibits are designed to inspire you and your child’s inner-creativity and provide a huge range of opportunities for play-based learning.
51 McKillop Street, Geelong. Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm.

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