Where to grab a bite to eat during Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Stumped for places to grab a bite to eat before or after your show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival? We’ve got you covered.
Comedy Festival
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Stumped for places to grab a bite to eat before or after your Melbourne International Comedy Festival show?
We’ve got you covered, whether you’re catching a gig in the CBD or surrounding suburbs.
EURYDICE’S MEMORY TO BE HONOURED WITH GRANT
ATHENAEUM THEATRE
CHIN CHIN
Make sure you get in early to snare a table at one of Melbourne’s most popular restaurants. Once seated, make a beeline for the wok fried spanner crab, corn fritters and beef massaman curry and wash it down with a cocktail or two.
125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 11am till late, 7 days. chinchinrestaurant.com.au
MEATMAIDEN
Enjoy meat from two walks of life at Meatmaiden — woodfired, BBQ or the dry-aged kind. There’s plenty of non-meat dishes to enjoy between.
195 Little Collins St, Melbourne. Monday to Saturday, Lunch 123-3pm, Dinner 5pm- late. Closed Sunday. meatmaiden.com.au
FANCY HANKS
Fancy Hanks is all about American BBQ. There’s beef brisket, sausages, ribs and mac and cheese to name a few items.
1/79 Bourke St, Melbourne. Noon till 11pm, 7 days. fancyhanks.com
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL
SUPERNORMAL
If there’s one dish to try at Supernormal, it’s the famed lobster role. Best enjoyed with a glass of bubbles. Lobster not your thing? Try the noodle salad, pork belly or dumplings.
180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 11am till late, 7 days. supernormal.net.au
LELLO PASTA
After a recent revamp, Lello Pasta Bar has taken things back to basics. Enjoy handmade pasta, a selection of pizzas and antipasto plates.
150 Flinders Ln, Melbourne. Monday to Saturday (dinner only). Lunch 11.30am- 3pm, dinner: 5.30pm-10pm. lellopastabar.com.au
ARTS CENTRE
FATTO
Grab a quick bite, or stay for a feast, at Fatto on the banks of the Yarra. There’s pizzas, antipasto and more substantial pasta dishes if you’re after a decent feed.
100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Noon till late, open 7 days. fatto.com.au
THE BARRE
The menu at The Barre has been designed for theatregoers. Whether you’re after a quick bite beforehand, or wanting to indulge post-show, there’s something for everyone. Try the kingfish sashmini with yuzu soy dressing and fries with truffle oil for something light, or pan-fried pumpkin gnocchi or twice-smoked beef ribs for something more substantial.
100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne. Monday to Saturday, 4pm till late. artscentremelbourne.com.au/visit/eat-drink/the-barre
ARBORY
On a sunny day, take advantage of Arbory’s riverside views and casual dining options. There’s burgers, pizza, sandwiches and a selection of larger share plates for groups.
1 Flinders Walk, Melbourne. Open 7 days, 7.30am-1am. arbory.com.au
ACMI
MOVIDA
It’s Spanish fare at its finest. Make sure you book to score a seat inside the restaurant. You may have more luck snacking and drinking in the front bar. Think tapas and share plates, including the famed anchovy with smoked tomato sorbet.
1 Hoiser Lane, Melbourne. Sunday to Thursday 12pm- 10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 10.30pm movida.com.au/original
POP-UP BUDDAH
The original may have closed for renovations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your fix of Japanese fare across the other side of Fed Square. The pop-up still has your favourites, including all day sushi, poke and izakaya.
Federation Square, corner Flinders and Swanston St, Melbourne. Open 7 days, 10am till late. popupbuddha.com.au
GREEK CENTRE (LONSDALE ST)
CONNIE’S PIZZA
Enjoy a slice of New York style pizza, out the back of Heartbreaker.
234 Russell St, Melbourne. Mon-Thurs 3pm til 3am, Fri-Sat: 12pm-1am, Sun 12pm-1am.
HAWKER CHAN
Enjoy a Michelin star meal without the price tag at Singaporean eatery Hawker Chan.
157 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Open 7 days, 10am to 10pm.
GO NOODLE HOUSE
There’s giant noodle soup bowls and porky spam fries — all the more reason to try Go Noodle House.
195 Exhibition St, Melbourne.
FORUM THEATRE
GARDEN STATE
Enjoy a relaxed snack or meal in the public bar at the Garden State Hotel. No need to book, just walk in.101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Public bar open 11am till late.
101 Flinders Ln, Melbourne. gardenstatehotel.com.au
LUCY LIU
Try a few small bites over a drink or two at the bar, or sit down for a larger meal.
23 Oliver Lane, Melbourne. Open daily, 11am till late. lucylius.com.au
MAX WATT’S
DIN TAI FUNG
Din Tai Fung dumplings have been described as some of the world’s tastiest.
Level 4, 287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne. dintaifung.com.au
POLE POLE
The Tanzania phrase “pole pole” translates to slow in English. Enjoy slow-food mentality at this African-Australian eatery.
1/267 Little Collins St, Melbourne. Tues., Wed, Thurs and Sat opens 5pm, Friday 12pm
TRADES HALL
EPOCHA
Dine in style with a contemporary European meal at Epocha.
49 Rathdowne St, Carlton. epocha.com.au
THE JOHN CURTIN
Come here for a beer and stay for a counter meal and this no-frills pub.
29 Lygon St, Carlton. Mon-Thurs: 12p-late, Fri-Sat: 12pm-3am and Fri: 12pm-11pm.
GAMI CHICKEN AND BEER
There’s stacks of fried chicken, flavoured to your liking, here at Gami Chicken and Beer.
100 Lt. Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Mon-Thurs, Sun: 5pm- 10pm, Fri-Sat: 5pm-10pm
MANTRA ON RUSSELL
HUTONG
Dose up on dumplings ahead of your comedy show, or as a treat afterwards. Make sure you order the chilli wontons. They’ll have you craving more.
14-16 Market Ln, Melbourne. Open 7 days for dinner, 5.30pm-late.
EXFORD HOTEL
If you can’t get enough laughs for one night, there’s also stand up at The Exford, along with pub grub and beers.
199 Russell St, Melbourne. Mon-Thurs: 11am-4am, Fri: 11am-5am, Sat: 12pm-5am, Sun: 12pm-4am. exfordhotel.com.au
MALTHOUSE
MALTHOUSE THEATRE CAFE
Drop in for a quick bite before or after your show. Make sure you arrive 40 minutes beforehand if you’re eating dinner.
Open daily from 8am. 113 Sturt St, Southbank. malthousetheatre.com.au/your-visit/eat-drink
CROWN
SAN ANTONE
Get the real American BBQ experience at San Antone by Bludso’s BBQ. Make sure you try the beef brisket or loaded fries.
Level 1 Casino, Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
crownmelbourne.com.au/restaurants/casual/san-antone/info-booking
400 GRADI
If you haven’t tried the world’s best pizza at 400 Gradi, then make sure you grab a slice during the comedy festival.
8 Whiteman St, Southbank. Open daily 12pm till 11pm. 400gradi.com.au
MERRYWELL
People watch along Southbank while tucking into a Merrywell burger. Best enjoyed with a bold beer and a side of hot chips.
Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank.
AND THE REST …
PRAHRAN
Queen Vees
180 High St, Prahran.
Hawker Hall
98 Chapel St, Windsor
Tokyo Tina
66A Chapel St, Windsor
Angus and Bon
168 Greville St, Prahran.
ST KILDA
Hotel Esplanade
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda.
Republica
10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda.
Stokehouse
30 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda
Di Stasio
31 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
COLLINGWOOD
Le Bon Ton
51 Gipps St, Collingwood
Biggie Smalls Kbabs
86 Smith St, Collingwood
Easeys
48 Easy St, Collingwood
What to see at the comedy festival this weekend
From a big-name benefit in support of Christchurch terror victims to a chat show with a difference, these are the best offerings at the Melbourne comedy festival this weekend.
Who’s firing at the comedy festival?
We’ve just passed the halfway mark of the 33rd Melbourne comedy festival. Mikey Cahill takes us through the bangers and clangers so far — who has excelled or repelled?