Get in touch

SIT: Back in our favourite Melbourne vinyl bars.

It’s common knowledge that a solid playlist has the ability to transform a good night out into a great one. Taking cues from Tokyo’s famous ‘listening bars’ (spaces more about sonic discovery than socialisation), an increasing number of Melbourne venues are putting music at the forefront of their offering – bringing in hi-fi sound systems, rare vinyl collections, and DJ sets to boot. In a city as infatuated with music as it is with food and wine, we think it’s a match made in heaven.

From recording studios behind secret doors to Euro-style wine bars with vinyl on rotation, here’s a list of our four favourite music rooms for your next night out on the town.

Waxflower
A pioneer of the Melbourne music room movement, Waxflower marries the spirit of a European wine bar with a typical Japanese jazz kissa. Slurp oysters, sip wine and enjoy a cool curation of tunes spun on vintage turntables imported from London. If drinks roll into dinner, the menu is well-equipped with a selection of mouth-watering Latin American share plates.
Book in here.

Music Room
When Her Bar opened its doors last February, it very quickly made a name for itself as Melbourne’s go-to after work drinks spot – the result of Instagrammable interiors, an impressive drinks list and a particularly vibey rooftop. The venue’s hidden gem, however, is the music room hidden on the second level. Designed to look like a giant speaker, the intimate space features a library of over 3000 records, doubles as a recording studio, and hosts weekly DJ sets from undiscovered artists and big names alike.
Book in here.

Hope St Radio
No list of music venues would be complete without a mention of Hope St Radio. Having existed as an online broadcasting platform for many years, the community radio station made Collingwood Yards its permanent home in 2021 in the form of a vibrant neighbourhood wine bar. Live streaming emerging Australian DJs while serving up a melange of tasty morsels by culinary darling Ellie Bouhadana, this unique venue is any foodie or audiophile’s dream.
Book in here.

Alley Tunes
Part-record store, part-coffee shop, Alley Tunes has proved the music room trend isn’t exclusive to the evenings – or the inner-north for that matter. Tucked away in Hawthorn’s historic Glenferrie Arcade, the relaxed haunt plays host to one of Melbourne’s best record collections with a particular focus on underground dance music. Have a browse before unwinding with a long black in the laneway alfresco area.
Book in here. 

REMEMBER: Vintage BMW; the classiest car on the road.

Last year, New York lifestyle brand Kith partnered up with BMW for the second time to redesign two electric vehicle models – one vintage, one modern – along with a range of bespoke accessories and apparel, and it had the internet in a frenzy. Marking the 50th anniversary of BMW’s first EV as well as the launching of BMW M, the sleek models sported a custom green shade never used before by the brand along with elegant caramel interiors and signature Kith detailing. You don’t have to be a car-person to appreciate the level of craftsmanship that went into designing these state-of-the-art whips.

Kith founder Ronnie Fieg is a self-proclaimed BMW super-fan, possessing 10 of their vehicles himself. His second collaboration with the brand following a redesign of the M4 Coupe, the formidable designer was inspired by BMW’s history as well as the relationships that exist between aesthetics and technology; fashion and function. The BMW i4 M50 (the more modern of the pair), sold in a Sotheby’s auction for $370,650 last year, with only seven in total available to the public. We have our fingers and toes crossed there’ll be a third collab between this dynamic duo before the year’s out.

See more here. 

EDUCATE: Yourself on all things design, craft and culture at MPavilion.

PSA fellow design fanatics: you have two weeks left to check out the free talks and events at this year’s Mpavilion, Australia’s leading architecture and design commission. An ongoing initiative by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, MPavilion is a ‘cultural laboratory’ designed to platform the world’s most exciting creative minds while encouraging sharing and education within the community. There’s also plenty of fun non-design stuff too like live music, craft classes, dance parties and beyond. If you haven’t already stumbled upon the bright orange canopy nestled among the trees in Queen Victoria Gardens, that in itself is definitely worth a visit.

Each year, a leading architect is commissioned to design a new pavilion to become a cultural beacon for the city. 2022’s vibrant structure was composed by visionary Thai firm all(zone), who used predominantly fishing-net and waffled fabric to create a light, breezy canopy reminiscent of a big tree. Between the layers is a cutting-edge STFE membrane which reduces glare and holds water, keeping the Pavilion waterproof. Still on this year’s program is a host of incredible talks and performances including Intro to DJing with DJ Sarah, Dancing in the Park with Cavallo Nero, a talk on how green spaces can counter loneliness and so much more.

Check out the full program here.