Looking for fun things to do in Melbourne at night?
To be honest Melbs is a pretty cool city for night owls like me, as there is seriously tonnes of fun stuff to do after dark, other than the obvious like go to a bar (but I’ll include some of the best of those too!)
Luckily, the city of Melbourne is full of life and there are plenty of fun night activities to enjoy. Here are 29 of our favourites:
- See more: Romantic Date Ideas in Melbourne
- See more: Best Day Trips from Melbourne
- See more: Best Breakfast Melbourne CBD
- See more: Romantic Restaurants in Melbourne
- See more: Melbourne bucket list.
29 Things to do in Melbourne at Night
Loop Roof Cocktail Bar
Loop Roof Cocktail Bar is an open-air rooftop café/bar with awe-inspiring views and a garden setting. Here, you can enjoy cocktails that are crafted by the skilled bartenders. All guests claim the cocktails are delicious and worth the trip to the bar. You should also try their crafted beers, local wine and champagne.
Along with the drinks, they serve light snacks in the form of calamari strips, chicken bites, salads, fries and etc. The bar is fully equipped to handle Melbourne’s changing weather all-year round with awnings that are retractable for rain and heaters for when its cold.
And, you’ll just love the views from the Loop Roof – trust me!
Visit Legendary Princess Theatre to Watch a Movie
After its reopening in 1986, the Princess Theatre become a hot spot in Melbourne and it has hosted popular shows like Cats and South Pacific.
The theatre is lined with comfortable seats, booster cushions and wheelchair places along with a bar from where you can pre-order your drinks to avoid queuing at the bar.
For purchasing tickets, you should pre-book them online and then collect them from the box office before the show. The box office is opens 1 hour before the show. One of the best Melbourne attractions at night.
Climb to the Eureka Skydeck
Dubai, the capital of United Arab Emirates, has sky-high buildings like the Burge Khalifa but Melbourne has something even better, not to mention exciting.
You’ve guessed it! It’s the Eureka Tower that reaches 300 metres into the sky. The Eureka Skydeck is on the 88th floor of the tower and is the go-to place in the city if you want to treat yourself with iconic and exciting views of the city. One of the best melbourne night views.
The Skydeck is open all year round for the public and you can even participate in an event as Eureka Climb in which the participants race up the 1642, competing for first place.
Book your tickets here.
Image credit: Skydeck IG
National Gallery of Victoria (Friday Night)
Hosting more than 75,000 artworks, the National Gallery of Victoria has two galleries which are a short walk from each other. The galleries house artworks from European, Oceanic, American and Asian collections and is a wonderland for people who love art in all its forms.
Entry into the National Gallery is free of charge and Friday nights a thing to look forward to with live fabulous music and stunning artwork collections by true artists like Keith Haring and others.
The Gallery also holds tours, talks, collection displays, films and even A program for children. One of the best night activities in Melbourne!
Post-war Themed Berlin Bar
To gain entry into this juxtaposition bar, you will have to ring the bell. When you ring it, you’ll be transported through time to Berlin. The bar is divided onto East and West Berlin based on its décor, music, seriously committed staff and of course the drinks.
The bar shows a bizarre mingling of luxury with the gloom of war but the strangeness makes it more enticing.
For seating, the bar has comfy grenade crates and leather booths along with soft or light lighting to get you into the bar mood. Skilled bartenders make amazing cocktails that’ll seriously make your day!
Queen Victoria Market Summer Night Market
It’s an epic place to visit with international food stalls, a flea market featuring handmade items and other things and live music.
It opens it doors or stalls to be precise to the public in summer on every Wednesday only – the latest summer might market was from 20th November 2019 to 11th March 2020. It was quite an event, just like it always is, and around 55 food and drinks stalls lit up the summer nights from November to March.
Be sure to check the dates for the next Summer Night Market and mark it up on your bucket list!
Watch Sunset at St. Kilda beach
St Kilda isn’t just a beach but it’s a playground that’s right across from the blue sea and it’s also one of the best locations to see a magical sunset. Located in Port Phillips, the beach is about 6km in the Southern direction from Melbourne city centre.
It’s the beach to be if you’re looking for a splendid sunset to watch or out on a date. You can submerge your feet in the Port Phillip bay and gaze at the enigmatic sight of the setting sun or walk along the pier – it’ll show you the best sights of the sunset.
Butterfly Club Cabaret Show
In Carson Place, the Butterfly Club is a small-scale theatre that is open 6 days a week year round and closed on Sunday.
This theatrical venue is famous for its comedy, cabaret and burlesque performances. The club does 2 to 8 shows every night and all of them are entertaining for the crowd gathered. Its cabaret shows, ripe with drama, music and singing, is a sight for sore eyes if you like cabarets.
Go on a ghost tour of the Old Melbourne Gaol
Once a jail and now a museum in Russell Street, Old Melbourne Goal is a scary place with a very dark history clinging to its eerie walls.
Russel Street has been the heart of crime and Law and order in the city from way back in the 1840s. This much time has generated many stories about the ghosts of the former inmates.
Among the stories, Cell 17 has the most interesting one. It’s said to have experienced the most supernatural events like trained dogs going berserk when inside it and a spirit having pulled a journalist from the doorway. Don’t let that scare you and see for yourself if ghost haunt the building or not.
Hosier Lane at Night
Hosier Lane is the go-to place if you’re into street art or just enjoy looking at artworks splattered by both locals and foreign artists. During the day, vibrancy of the art lining the lane comes out in full effect but at night when the streets are somewhat deserted and empty, the art takes on a sheer darkness of its own.
The artworks get transformed by the dimness of the light and invite passers-by to take deeply look at them to notice the details in the shape and structure of the artworks. At night, art plays a game of light and shadow that is intriguing and worth checking out.
Join Overnight Safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo
You can visit the Werribee Open Range Zoo to see the animals but if you want to do it right, you should join the Overnight or Slumber Safari at the zoo.
For two days, you’ll have access to the entire zoo and can view the animals at your leisure. You’ll also be given a fully-hosted safari tour and at night, you’ll be awarded with an African Cuisine dinner.
Then, you’ll wake up in the morning to the roars of the lions and have a buffet style breakfast before going out again to some animal viewing. It’ll be a blast as a family vacation.
Join a sunset safari here.
Ride Melbourne Star Wheel
In the Docklands area at the Waterfront City precinct, the Melbourne Star Wheel is a Ferris Wheel waiting to be ridden. The wheel rise at a sheer height of 120m and the views of the city it offers, especially at night, are breathtaking.
It basically gives 360 degrees views of the surrounding bay and attractions in the Waterfront City precinct. You can take the “Welcome to Melbourne” flight up the wheel in which you’ll be given sparkling wine or beer drink while on-board the wheel.
Besides, the sight of the lit-up Ferris Wheel at night from the ground is awesome. One of the best late night Melbourne activities.
Book your tickets here.
Melbourne Rooftop Bar to watch a film (Lido Rooftop)
At Curtin House, the Lido Rooftop is one of the best open-air cinemas in Melbourne. This rooftop cinema has screened many blockbusters and arthouse classics and all combined with appealing views of the city.
Films that they have shown before are Ford V Ferrari, Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, Marriage Story, The Two Popes and Charlie’s Angles. Some other entertaining films they have screened are Jumanji, Little Women, Frozen 2 and Cats among others.
The cinema also doubles as a bar and you can just buy food and drinks in-house without having to go anywhere else.
Walk the Southbank Promenade
Southbank Promenade is a perfect location to go for a nice walk to clear your head with its ambience. It’s also the busiest place in the whole city so you might a hidden gem somewhere around there. It has good restaurants like the Leftbank that you can visit for a date night or some family fun.
Love art? Then, head over to the National Gallery Victoria International to view awe-inspiring collections. The Southbank is also known for its river cruises across the Yarra River and markets.
One of the best things to do in Melbourne at night for free.
Late Night Fondue at Milk the Cow
Milk the Cow is a late-night type of bar that is located in St Kilda and Carlton and it’s the home 180 varieties of cheese.
All that delicious and interesting cheese is kept in the 6m cheese cabinet and the cheese is looked after and skilfully curated by the cheesemonger team there. You can visit the bar on Monday to Friday for takeaways and drive-ins and buy cheese for under $40.
You have the option to choose from Cheesemonger’s Choice Cheeseboards and every cheeseboard is complemented with bread and quince pasta, etc. If you love cheese, you’ll love this place.
The Comic’s Lounge Comedy Show in North Melbourne
For many years now, the Comics Lounge has attractions hordes with its unique and singular comedians, both local and international.
The Comics Lounge is considered the all year-round Comic Festival in Melbourne that pulls in people and puts smiles on there faces. If you’re a comedy geek from ages 18 to 80 or just have a good sense of humour, you should really drop by the club sometime.
The club shows a 2 ½ hours live show followed by a tasty menu and delicious cocktails.
Crown Melbourne – Australia’s largest casino.
Open 24/7, Crown Casino is Australia’s largest casino located on Yarra River’s south bank.
The casino contains 50 poker games like Caribbean Stud. Other games that you can indulge in are Blackjack, Big Wheel, Baccarat, Casino War, Craps, Pai Chow and others. Crown Casino prides itself on promoting and following responsible gambling so be sure to follow their rules while you’re there.
Go on a scenic dinner cruise on The Spirit of Melbourne
The Spirit of Melbourne is a cruise restaurant that is reservations only and it cruises across the Yarra River and you can take in all the sights close to it.
The cruise will last for 3 hours in which you’ll be served with a 4-course menu along with drinks. You will have the option of choosing your food and the restaurant has vegetarian options too so don’t let being a vegan stop you from cruising. It’s open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
If you find yourself in Melbourne at the end of the year, there is a fun NYE Dinner Cruise. It’s a 4 hours long cruise but it’s only for 31st December 2020.
Another dinner cruise you can take is the Private Romantic Dinner Cruise for 2. It offers a 3-course meal and lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes and is perfect for a romantic night.
Book your cruise here.
Luna Park Melbourne
Luna Park is an amusement park at St. Kilda in the foreshore of the Port Phillip Bay. It’s been popular since its opening in 1912 and it’s a total funhouse with amazing games and rides.
Be sure to ride the Great Scenic Railway which will show you a great many spectacular views of the city and Port Phillip Bay. Also, rides like Supernova, Speedy Beetle, Moon Balloons and the Twin Dragons will keep you entertained and excited. You can also enjoy Carnival Games – good choice for little kids.
Go glamping on the rooftop of Melbourne Central Mall
On the rooftop of Melbourne Central Mall, you will be able to find a camp in the middle of the city. But, it’s not ordinary camping. It’s glamping – a term that refers to camping in luxury.
The space used for this purpose is called St. Jerome and it’s divided into two sections, the East Wing and the West Wing. Tents have been stationed across the entire space along with potted plants. The rooftop also has mobile toilets at one end along the small art gallery and a café/bar hut in another corner that is basically the General Store there.
The rooftop has all the necessities for a comfortable stay, after all it camping in the concrete jungle.
Explore laneways to find interesting street art (e.g. Hosier Lane)
Melbourne is considered the art centre of Australia and it showcases some of the best street art ever seen in the world. Hosier Lane is one such lane ripe with street art and graffiti but Melbourne has other as well.
ACDC Lane has every inch lined with street art that illustrated musicians. Duckboard Lane is another lane where wine and food lovers and artists gather and it has widely entertaining and skilfully drawn street artworks. Other lanes you can visit are Caledonian Lane, Croft Alley, Rankins Lane among others.
You can join a street art tour here.
See the Phillip Island Penguins
Australia is home to small cute Penguins that have made the burrows at the Summerland Beach their home. They’re native to Australia and they’re only 33cm long and they waddle onto the beach after sunset.
Seeing the little fellas rising up from the water is a sight to behold – there’s something magical about it. The penguins display a lovely Penguin Parade in which they walk to the beach to get to their burrows. This parade attracts tourists from across the globe at dusk.
Book your tour here.
Moonlight Kayak Ride
A Kayak tour is a good way to see the city from the waterways. The Moonlight Kayak Ride is 2 ½ hours long and it starts from the Victoria Harbour a little while before sunset and ends when the kayak reached the boat landing area in the Rowling Sheds.
You’ll also be fed chips and fish along the way in the boat and you don’t need to have kayaking experience for this tour since a guide will go along with you and teach you the basics.
Book your kayak tour here.
See an old movie at Astor in St Kilda
Located at 1 Chapel Street, the Astor Theatre is a classic and single-screen movie theatre that is lined with a pre-television atmosphere.
Despite the fact that its décor is designed to show pre-television times, it’s still up-to-date and has good air condition facilities and sound system. It’s the only vintage cinema in Australia and it screens old classics and latest blockbusters.
Visit IceBar Melbourne
Nestled at the Atrium in the Federation Square, IceBar Melbourne is the go-to ice bar in Australia for an arctic experience. You will be given the Ice Bar’s distinct snow gear to wear.
This fun bar is a fortress of ice and it’s made with 30 tonnes of ice and you’ll be served cocktails and other concoctions in a room that’s about 10 degrees below 0 degree. It’s the best place to chill (literally) and savour a drink.
Book your visit here.
Stay in a hotels with a spa in Melbourne
Go on a night time horse and carriage ride
Horse and carriage rides are a fun way to tour Melbourne city at night. A coach driver will wait for you in Federation Square, all dressed up in traditional clothes. You can have the hood of the carriage up or down as you prefer.
Visit the Melbourne Observatory
If you like looking at the cosmos, you should visit the Observatory where you’ll be able to see the stars up close from a telescope.
The Observatory is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens and it provides night tours and solar tours. In the night tour, you’ll get to explore the history of the Observatory and its role as a weather forecast, star charting and time keeping.
Melbourne’s Moonlit Sanctuary
It’s a popular wildlife park in Melbourne that houses many friendly animals like kangaroos, koala, wallabies, dingoes and others like vibrant birds and reptiles. The park is about 50 minutes away from the centre of Melbourne and its night tours are magical.
You’ll encounter pythons, quoll, potoroos and other nocturnal animals. A great way to experience Australia’s wildlife.
Melbourne’s Chinatown
Behind the red gates of Chinatown, another world thrives in Australia with its hot Asian food, karaoke, fashion shops and drinks.
You should have dinner at one of Chinatown’s renowned restaurants like HuTong Dumpling Bar or the Shandong Mama – they both serve the best dumplings in town. Chinatown also has a Chinese Museum, Chinatown Cinema and other attractions.
You can also browse its shops and fashion boutiques for gifts and beautiful clothes.
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More Fun things to do in Australia
We hope you liked these places to visit in Melbourne at night. If you are traveling around Australia, you might also like to check out:
- Fun things to do in Brisbane at night
- Things to do in Maleny
- Things to do in Yeppoon
- Fun things to do in Dalby
Note: If you are a backpacker and want to work in Melbourne, you may want to do an RSA Course. Here’s the full backpacker guide on how to get an RSA Certificate.