The days are warming up, the nights are getting longer and our cities are coming alive again. With the anticipation of summer comes a slew of pizza parties, restaurant takeovers, outdoor exhibitions and festivals.
These are the top events and experiences to make the most of this spring:
Sips + Snacks / Sips & Sticks
Every Monday – Saturday, 4–6pm
The Wine Bar at The International has refreshed its Sips & Snacks offering to include light and fresh bites, from scallop crudo with pink grapefruit to pan con tomate with anchovy. This spring, you can also head up to the rooftop Panorama Bar for Sips & Sticks – think $15 Margaritas and wagyu skewers grilled over charcoal.
Man Ray and Max Dupain exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art
6 August – 9 November
Victoria’s Heide Museum of Modern Art is bringing a landmark exhibition featuring the controversial photographs of American-born artist Man Ray and famed Australian photographer Max Dupain. It’s the first Australian exhibition to consider the two influential modern photographers’ works side by side, with the 200-plus photographs on display exploring the artists’ relationships with surrealism and experimentation.
Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased via the Heide Museum of Modern Art website.
Arbory Afloat: Olá Rio
29 August – late November
Afloat returns for its 10th season on the Yarra River this spring, with the floating venue taking a leaf out of Rio de Janeiro’s book. The entire space will be transformed with the Carioca spirit in mind, from the interiors and design to the food and drinks menu and the lively entertainment line-up. Expect snacky bites reminiscent of what you’d find beachside in Brazil, alongside fruity cocktails and samba-shaking fun.
Check out the full program at afloat.melbourne
Sunday Arvos Chef Series at Ace Hotel Sydney
5 October – 8 February
Swing by Ace Hotel Sydney’s laneway café, Good Chemistry, on the first Sunday of the month and you’ll find the space taken over by chef Isobel Whelan-Little and an impressive line-up of her friends, including Luke Powell (L.P’s Quality Meats), Jean-Paul El Tom (Baba’s Place) and Drew Huston (Pizza Oltra). Gear up for afternoons filled with pizza, snacks and tunes courtesy of DJs Levins and Charlie Chux.
Free entry with RSVP from 3–7pm, with menu items available for purchase on the day. More info via the Ace Hotel Sydney website.
Med Beats & Mezze at Baraki Bar
Friday – Sunday, October – December
Greek newcomer Akti is turning up the heat this summer with live DJ sets and a sun-drenched mezze menu made for lounging by the water. Expect oysters with ouzo mignonette, moussaka croquettes and fresh kingfish crudo with finger lime. Cap it all off with a pistachio and honey baklava served with yoghurt sorbet for a sweet finish.
Baraki Bar is walk-in only, so make sure to arrive at 6pm Friday and Saturday, and by 2pm on Sunday to avoid missing out.
Tippling Club’s residency at Canopy
19 Nov – 22 Nov; 26 Nov – 29 Nov
In an Australian first, award-winning Singapore restaurant Tippling Club will take up a fortnight-long residency at Adelaide’s Canopy Bar. Consistently ranked in Asia’s Top 50 Restaurants, the residency will offer a retrospective of Tippling’s signature dishes. In true Tippling style, guests can also enjoy a late-night menu paired with a curated edit of Tippling’s most iconic cocktails.
Tickets for the private dining room cost $350 per person while the Tippling Club Snack dégustation tickets cost $80 per person. Both can be reserved via the Canopy Bar website.
A priceless evening with Chae and Lennox Hastie
In a one-off for Mastercard cardholders, Victoria-based Jung Eun Chae from famed restaurant, Chae joined forces with fire master Lennox Hastie for a one-night-only evening at Firedoor. Guests were treated to a priceless five-course feast where the flavours of the hanok table and Korean barbecue traditions met Firedoor’s signature elemental cooking.
For more Priceless experiences, such as access to a tennis legend at the Australian Open followed by a premium omakase dinner in the Rod Laver Arena, visit priceless.com.
Pair’d Food & Wine Festival
20 – 23 November
A food and wine festival celebrating Margaret River’s finest wines, flavours and music will take over the region from 20–23 November. Get exclusive access to events set across some of Western Australia’s most breathtaking locations.
Check out the full program at their website.
The House of Suntory x Hiroshi Senju Collaboration
The House of Suntory has unveiled a collaboration between its iconic blended Japanese Whisky, Hibiki, and celebrated Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju. Hibiki 21 Years Old offers an elegant roundness harmonised with the deep complexity of honeycomb, sandalwood, and dried apricot, all complemented by the subtle complexity of Mizunara oak. The finish is long and graceful, tenderly unfolding with a delicate incense-like aroma.
Hibiki 21 Years Old Artist Collaboration with Hiroshi Senju is available to purchase at at Kent Street Cellars and retails for $1800
Coming up: What’s on in 2026
An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi
9 February – 21 February 2026
London-based chef, author and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi is coming to Australia in 2026 for a series of live events sharing conversation, cooking and culture. He’ll share top picks of his signature interpretation of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, kitchen secrets he’s picked up from studying at Le Cordon Bleu and beyond, and stories of his travels across cultures and continents. Starting in Perth, Ottolenghi will visit Adelaide, Canberra, Bendigo, Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle, before a final appearance in Auckland on 21 February.
See tour dates and buy tickets online.
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