Melbourne Nightlife
It will surprise few locals that a recent international survey found Melbourne to be the world's most liveable city, and for those whose 'living' centres around evening activities, the place is a joy.
Travellers to the south-eastern city will be impressed by the range of night time pursuits available to them, with Melbourne's famous bohemian atmosphere infecting the city's clubs and bars and making the place a great venue for theatre and film enthusiasts.
The city centre itself is small; meaning an evening walk around the entertainment districts is a must to pick up the varied local colour, which is unlike anywhere else in the country.
Melbourne has been called a hedonist's paradise, with its wonderful mixture of bars and clubs catering to even the most wild of visitors, but in-keeping with the city's bohemian nature, it also provides many unpretentious yet enjoyable venues with a good array of music.
No visit to Melbourne is complete without a visit to Honkytonks nightclub. The flamboyant interior is matched by the kaleidoscope of people that come to Honky's for its vast array of beers and ultra-cool music. Or why not try the Laundry in the Fitzroy area of town, which provides an enjoyable mix of music, occasional karaoke or live music and pool tables to keep you entertained.
For those just after a good drink in a cracking boozer, Melbourne doesn't disappoint, and the majority of locals would direct you to the Empress Hotel, which despite its name is the home to an unpretentious pub serving fairly cheap local brews and good food to a mixture of locals and students.
The live music lover is also spoilt for choice, with a wide range of venues catering to every taste. The Bennetts Lane Jazz Club is a popular haunt for locals and provides some top live acts both local and from overseas. This non-smoking bar, found along a narrow lane off Little Lonsdale Street in the city centre, is the place the world's big jazz acts come to when in town, and Prince even played an impromptu gig here once.
The Esplanade Hotel is another popular venue for those wishing to catch some live music. With bands on every night and on Sunday afternoon, the quality of the music can always be ensured, as can the views, with the vista across the bay making the Esplanade something of an institution for courting couples.
If you're after something a little less raucous, do not worry, as the city is also Australia's cultural centre for a wide range of artistic night time attractions. Film buffs may wish to head to the art deco Sun Theatre. The establishment is a real old movie house showing a blend of mainstream and art house pictures, all in the comfort of spacious green suede chairs and your own coffee table.
Melbourne is also home to the Australian Ballet, with a number of works put on each year at the city's Arts Centre, which also caters to opera and classical music fans. Theatregoers will not be disappointed either, with numerous productions on at one time, only bettered in number by Broadway or the West End.
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Nightlife
