18th October 2019 / Sarah Lowry: How to Enjoy Spring in Melbourne

In addition to being the most popular selling season, Spring in Melbourne is when the city is finally getting its warm weather groove back with festivals, outdoor events, plenty of great exhibitions and theatre, and much more!

Take a look at some of the city's best offerings throughout this glorious season!

Top 3 Events

Spring in Melbourne is synonymous with the AFL Grand Final and the race that stops the nation! Both events are highlights on the busy Spring social calendar, with fun for all ages.

1. Melbourne Cup | Tuesday, 5 November

Australia's greatest sporting and cultural icon, the A$8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is the feature of Cup Week and a sporting spectacle to be witnessed live. While a racing event at its core, Cup Week is a combination of sport, fashion celebrity and entertainment. flemington.com.au/melbournecupcarnival

2. Melbourne International Arts Festival | 2 - 20 October

In its 35th year, this leading event showcases the best local and international artists from around the globe. The Festival is a celebration of the wonder of arts and culture and this year, welcomes back the iconic 1920's Famous Spiegeltent to the Arts Centre Melbourne Forecourt. festival.melbourne/2019

3. Melbourne Night Noodle Markets | 7 - 24 November

The markets will return to Biarrarung Marr in 2019, setting the city alight with the smells, sights and sounds of over 20 sizzling Asian food stalls. Entry is free, dogs are welcome but don't forget the markets are cashless.

Top 5 Rooftop Bars

As the weather starts to improve and the days get longer, there's nothing better than catching up with friends for a drink with a view! We've picked five of our favourites - because everything tastes better at high altitude, right?!

1. Peaches | 301 Swanston Street, Melbourne

A gorgeous cocktail bar directly above Swanston Street's three-story American BBQ restaurant Cheek, Peaches is fun and flirty. The rooftop is the Hamptons meets Miami, with white furniture and a separate drinks menu led by creative interpretations of the spritz, i.e. beyond the Aperol. peaches.melbourne

2. Naked in the Sky | 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Fitzroy's go-to rooftop since it opened in 2010, Naked in the Sky offers one of the city's best-known views. In addition to its extensive drinks list that includes an impressive assortment of vodkas, there's also a delicious modern Australian menu if you're peckish. nakedforsatan.com.au

3. Siglo | 161 Spring Street, Melbourne

Located above the Melbourne Supper Club, Siglo is a stunning cube of industrial steel, glass and neon, boasting stunning city views over Spring Street and Parliament House. Served by waiters, the terrace offering focuses on classic cocktails, spirits and champagne, as well as a fine selection of fine Cuban cigars and bar snacks. siglobar.com.au

4. Rooftop Bar | 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Set on the 7th storey of Curtin House, Rooftop Bar has become a Melbourne institution and favourite choice for drinks in the sky. Grab a few friends, slip into a deckchair and enjoy an intimate evening under the stars. rooftopbar.co

5. Nineteen Forty | 200 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East

Named after the year that the Rivoli Cinema opened, this rooftop bar offers panoramic views of Camberwell and some of the best Art Deco architecture in Melbourne. Whether it's for a pre-dinner drink, post-movie night cap or cocktails after work, this is a great place to watch the world go by.

Top 4 Theatre Shows

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Until 22 March 2020

Head back to Hogwarts for this epic two-part adventure – the eighth chapter of JK Rowling's magical saga. Melbourne is just the third city to welcome the critically acclaimed play, which is presented in two parts. Hot tip: a moderate familiarity with either the books or the film adaptations is a basic requirement and if you're a Potter tragic, even better!

2. Turandot | 19 November – 6 December 2019

Turandot is a fantasy opera of poetry and myth, set in an exotic world of where fear and love go hand in hand and death is always just around the corner. Puccini's 'Nessun dorma' is just one of its magnificent moments.

3. Come From Away | Until 10 November 2019

This award-winning musical takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town of Newfoundland that put their lives on hold and opened their homes to this world of strangers, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. This is a slick, first-rate production with a lot to say about compassion, inclusion and goodness.

4. The Selfish Giant | 17 – 19 October 2019

Best known for his witty comedy of manners and novella The Picture of Dorian Gray, the multi-faceted Oscar Wilde also delved into the enchanting universe of fairy tales, producing splendid creative gems such as The Selfish Giant.

With real musical substance and subtle humour, this entertaining work is a pure delight and will touch the hearts of audiences of any age; the young will be captivated by the funny, lovable characters, and the older audience by the clever way Wilde denounces the excesses of his epoch's industrialisation!