Things to Do

Table of Contents

Art Galleries
Eat-in Restaurants
Fast / Take-away Food
Bars
Coffee

Art Galleries

Melbourne has a vibrant arts and culture scene. Several of the largest galleries can be found on the banks of the Yarra River, just south of the city centre.

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

A beautifully curated, world renowned gallery with an extensive collection of art from around the world. General entry is free. Entry to the current Van Gogh exhibition is $28 full price.

Ian Potter Centre

A showcase of Australian art, with a suite of galleries dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Located in the Federation Square complex, opposite Flinders St Station. Entry is free.

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)

The national museum of film, video games, digital culture and art. One of the most popular museums or galleries in Australia. General entry is free. A special exhibition of ‘Wallace & Gromit & Friends’ will be showing during DiGRA ($24 entry)

Eat-in Restaurants

Fonda

Area: Hawthorn, Collingwood and City Centre
Cuisine: Mexican
Hours: 12:00-late (lunch and dinner)
Price: $15-$20

Just across the road from Swinburne, Fonda offers sit-down Mexican food. Vegetarian and allergy friendly, some vegan options.

Crabapple Kitchen

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Brunch
Hours: 7am-5pm
Price: $20-$25

Pricey but quality brunch-style food. Caters to all dietary requirements and allergies.

The Green at St. Columbs

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Brunch
Hours: 8am-3pm
Price: $15-$20

Quiet but quality brunch-style food and gourmet sandwiches. Vegetarian usually okay, others patchy depending on the changeable menu.

Zen Japanese

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Japanese
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10pm
Price: $10-$15 lunch, $15-30 dinner

Well-reviewed sit-down Japanese restaurant is pricey for dinner, but does a cheap lunch special. Vegetarian options available.

Siam Lemongrass

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Thai
Hours: 11am-9pm
Price: $15

Cheap and cheerful sit-down Thai food at the back of the upmarket Lido Cinema complex. Caters to vegetarians better than the menu suggests (ask).

Ajisen Ramen

Area: Hawthorn and City Centre
Cuisine: Japanese
Hours: 11:30am-9:00pm
Price: $10-$15

Quite a good chain of Japanese restaurants. Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly

Bewon Kimchi

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Korean
Hours: 10:30am-9:00pm
Price: $10-$15

Cheap and cheerful Korean (leaning towards Japanese). Get a lunch box for the best value, though the bibimbap isn’t bad either.

Viet Star

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Hours: 11am-10pm
Price: $15-$20

For Melbourne’s best Vietnamese, catch a tram down to Victoria Street, Richmond, but Viet Star is not a bad local option. Vegetarian options, though you’ll be jealous of the (meat only) Pho.

Trippy Taco

Area: Fitzroy
Cuisine: Mexican vegetarian
Hours: 11am-9pm (10pm Wed-Sat)
Price: $10-$15

Popular all-vegetarian Mexican joint. Serves your basic tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas, and serves them well.

Fast / Take-away Food

Ya Souv

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Greek street food (casual tables also available)
Hours: 10:30am-9:30pm
Price: $15

Slightly pricey for a souvlaki or falafel with chips. If it’s the end of the night you’ll want to go around the corner to the late-night Souvlaki place near the station for a cheap and alcohol-suppressing souvlaki or Halal Snack Pack. Falafels for vegetarians.

Continental Deli

Area: Hawthorn
Cuisine: Lunch rolls
Hours: 8am-7pm, but if you’re after lunch get there before 1pm to be sure
Price: $5-$9

This unassuming Deli is popular among students for offering cheap baguettes with delicious deli fillings, including olives, brie, prosciutto, and roasted eggplant. Walk up to the counter and fill out your order form before paying. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Yo Chi

Area: Hawthorn and Carlton
Cuisine: Yoghurt
Hours: 12pm-11pm
Price: $7-$15

Yoghurt with toppings priced by weight means you can either get a healthy and sustaining snack of plain yoghurt with fruit and nuts, or something dire with chocolate and toppings of chocolate with chocolate sauce.

Guzman Y Gomez

Area: Hawthorn and City Centre
Cuisine: Mexican
Hours: 10am-10pm
Price: $10-$15

Chain Mexican street food that is noticeably cheaper than the Mexican sit-down place literally across the road. Most staff speak Spanish, there’s takeaway coriander (that’s cilantro for Americans) onions, and chipotle. Vegetarian friendly.

Huxtaburger

Area: Hawthorn, Collingwood and City Centre
Cuisine: Burgers and fries
Hours: 11am-10pm
Price: $15

Chain of burger joints with all burgers named after Cosby Show characters (they refuse to rename the Bill after recent events, FYI). Tasty and fatty, good spicy options.

Hooked

Area: Hawthorn and Fitzroy
Cuisine: Fish and Chips
Hours: 11:30am-9:30pm
Price: $10-$15

‘British style’ fish and chips, though you’re still gonna find more quinoa salads than Deep Fried Mars Bars, you’re in Melbourne now chaps. Gluten-free friendly. Vegetarians need not go unless you’re happy not asking what the chips are fried in.

Spud Bar

Area: Hawthorn and City Centre
Cuisine: Potatoes
Hours: 11am-9:30pm
Price: $12

If you like potatoes, a place that serves exclusively potatoes should serve your potato needs effectively. Potatoes come with an array of toppings, from traditional with sour cream and cheese and corn, to Mexican, and Thai (?), and bunch of stuff we haven’t tried. Potatoes also come in the ‘sweet’ variety. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Bars

All prices are for an average pint. In Victoria, we have a ‘pot’ (small) and ‘pint’ (large). If you order a schooner or a half pint or anything else the bartender likely won’t know what you’re talking about. All bars will also stock beers in bottles, wine, spirits, and a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Also, Americans: you don’t need to tip your bartender here.

Alchemist’s Refuge

Area: City Centre
Hours:
  Evenings Wed-Sun
Price: $10

Located below Games Laboratory in the city centre, Alchemist’s Refuge offers drinks and board games in a comfortable lounge setting. Staff will happily suggest board games from their selection and teach you how to play.

Bar SK

Area: Collingwood
Hours:
 1pm-1am
Price: $10

A small bar/gallery space for new and playful media, just north of the city centre and RMIT. A favourite gathering place of the DiGRA 2017 organising committee.

Bartronica

Area: City Centre
Hours: 3pm-1am
Price: $10-15

Pinball, original Donkey Kong, Mario Kart and more, in a secretive basement venue. Serves cocktails, beers and wine, plus nachos and hot dogs for the peckish.

Beer Deluxe

Areas: Hawthorn and City Centre
Hours: 11am-1am
Price: $10-15

If you’re missing that beer from back home, Beer Deluxe probably has a beer from your home town that you’ve never heard of. Ask before ordering something for best results. Good bar food available.

Glenferrie Hotel

Area: Hawthorn
Hours: 11:30am-midnight
Price: $10

Large, traditional pub with a happy hour from 5-7. Pub food (parmas, steaks, burgers) also available.

Nevermind

Area: Hawthorn
Hours: “Really late”
Price: $10

If this was during semester, you’d be crowded out by students looking for cheap beer and food, but happily, DiGRA is outside of semester. Burgers (including a vegetarian option) are $12 and good, especially after a pint.

Pixel Alley

Area: Fitzroy
Hours: 5pm-late
Price: $10

An old-school arcade packing nearly 100 games and pinball machines, which also serves drinks. Get a game token with each pint of beer, or try a game-inspired cocktail. For those in an analogue mood, sister bar Mr Wow’s Emporium upstairs offers bocce, ping pong and pool.

The Kilburn

Area: Hawthorn
Hours: 4pm-late
Price: $10 (Hawthorn Pale on tap is a good local beer, surprisingly cheap)

Classy bar on the corner of Glenferrie and Burwood roads. Do a good line in boilermakers (matched beer and whisky). Finger food and pizzas available. Mostly booths and standing room.

Coffee

We’ll be serving fresh barista-made coffee all through the conference – no need to head out for your caffeine fix! But just in case, these are the places we’d recommend near the main conference venue.

Prices are for a Flat White – it’s usually a little cheaper for a black coffee (espresso, short black), and usually a little pricier if you need soy or almond milk or a large size.

Oscar Mike

Price: $3.90
Hours: 7am-5pm

For our money, Oscar Mike does the best take-away coffee near Swinburne. Be prepared to wait during peak times.

Axil

Price: $4.00
Hours: 8am-4pm

Axil have held the Australasian Coffee Championships on site for several years. They also do sit down brunch-style food.

The Green at St. Columbs

Price: $3.70
Hours: 8am-3pm

Take a Swinburne staff member along for a discount on coffee. Quiet, with good brunch-style food options too.