The restaurants, bars and galleries at Fed Square are gems for winding down after work every summer. It's a go-to spot for cultural confluence and culinary delight.
The Birrarung land (around the Yarra River) has a rich and deep history as a meeting place spanning thousands of years. Today, it’s the home of Melbourne Arts Precinct with Fed Square as its hub of culture, cuisine, and creativity.
As the CBD hums with activity throughout the warmer months, Fed Square hosts Open Air at the Square – a free program running throughout February featuring live music from the likes of Tina Arena, Big Freedia, Sister Nancy and The Beatles Dub Club, plus outdoor cinema screenings, Candlelight Concerts, an Afro-Caribbean Carnival and more.
Tennis fans can also catch the Australian Open on the Big Screen in Main Square, with free live coverage from Channel 9 running throughout the tournament. Alongside the screenings, Fed Square is hosting a range of AO activations including the AO Shop pop-up with exclusive merch and tennis-themed art prints by local artists.
Hosting countless events every year and hundreds of millions of visitors since its opening in 2002, Fed Square is central to Melbourne’s identity and creative scene. Beyond the allure of the programmed festivities, there’s an array of restaurants, bars, and galleries that collectively define Fed Square as a hotspot for those seeking an exceptional summer retreat, world-class art, irresistible food, and educational exhibits.
You can visit a rooftop bar or time travel through an immersive art exhibition, and that’s just the beginning. Let’s check out some of the highlights of what’s on offer this summer.
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Fed Square restaurants and bars
Taxi Kitchen
Located high above the city streets, you can’t miss Taxi Kitchen’s unbeatable 180-degree views of the CBD, Yarra River and the Arts Precinct. With a strong focus on sustainability, Taxi Kitchen offers a unique culinary experience with a distinctive fusion of Australian and Asian cuisine. What better place for after-work drinks, or to meet friends in the CBD for pre-drinks on a weekend?
Find out more here.
Chocolate Buddha
Offering an array of sushi, bento, ramen and donburi, served on a sushi train, Chocolate Buddha is a must-go restaurant with stunning views of the city skyline. The fast-paced atmosphere is the perfect place for a quick meal, with their recognisable bullet train getting your food to you fast.
Find out more here.
Riverland
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Just beneath Fed Square, this riverside joint is the perfect place to sit, sip and relax. Drink in hand, soak in the merciful breeze off the Yarra and watch the birds and the boats float merrily along. With pizzas, bites and pub favourites on the menu, Riverland is designed for knock-offs, pre-show bevvies and everything in between. Plus, the happy hour is hard to pass up.
Sharing the waterfront spot is MEXI by Riverland Bar, a Tex-Mex inspired restaurant and bar slinging margaritas, loaded nachos and their signature MEXI Pocket – a deep-fried masa pastry stuffed with cheeseburger fillings.
Find out more here.
Mama’s Gozleme
The best part about flocking into the CBD this summer is the world-renowned range of cuisines Melbourne has to offer. One of the best experiences you can have is at Mama’s Gozleme, a taste of Turkey. Serving up delicious traditional Turkish flatbread and other popular street food, the cart, located on the Birrarung Marr Walk, promises fresh and authentic flavours cooked on-site.
Find out more here.
Transport Public Bar
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On the ground floor of Transport Hotel, this is Fed Square’s go-to spot for live sport, live music and cold beers. Multiple screens broadcast every major sporting event while rotating bands and DJs keep things moving into the night. With three outdoor terraces overlooking the Yarra and a menu of pub classics, it’s built for everything from post-work pints to pre-game sessions.
Find out more here.
Transit Rooftop Bar
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Head upstairs to Fed Square’s rooftop bar for panoramic views stretching from the Yarra River across the CBD skyline to the Arts and Sports Precincts. The heated outdoor terraces make it a year-round option, while the cocktail list and refined bites from the Taxi Kitchen team below keep things classy. It’s the kind of spot where one drink easily becomes three.
Find out more here.
Beer Deluxe
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Tucked away on the Flinders Street side of Fed Square next to ACMI, Beer Deluxe is a craft beer lover’s paradise spread across two levels. The Beer Bible features over 150 local and international brews, with rotating taps showcasing the best of Australian craft. There’s a sunny beer garden, a burger bar upstairs, and enough options to keep even the most dedicated hop-head busy.
Find out more here.
Time Out
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Positioned right on the corner of Flinders and Swanston beneath those iconic orange umbrellas, Time Out serves all-day dining with front-row seats to the Fed Square action. The sprawling terrace is ideal for people-watching over breakfast, post-ACMI drinks or lazy afternoon sessions in the sun. Open 365 days a year, it’s the kind of place where a quick coffee can turn into dinner.
Find out more here.
Museums & Galleries
ACMI
Explore the world of film, video games, art and TV at the Australian Centre of the Moving Image (ACMI). General entry to ACMI is free, including the interactive exhibit The Story of the Moving Image, while special exhibitions are very affordable. Here, you are completely immersed in the exhibits using The Lens – a handheld device that allows visitors to interact with their surroundings.
Find out more here.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Dedicated to exclusively Australian art, this national treasure showcases Australia’s artistic history and culture. From sculptures to fashion to photography, the exhibits are as enjoyable as they are enlightening.
Find out more here.
Koorie Heritage Trust
The Koorie Heritage Trust celebrates Koorie peoples (Indigenous Australians from a region that roughly corresponds to southern New South Wales and Victoria) and their art and culture. The centre also offers an Oral History Program and a Reference Library, encouraging cultural education and awareness of the Koorie People’s rich and enduring history.
Find out more here.
Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio
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Fed Square’s newest cultural resident is a playground for synth nerds and curious beginners alike. Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) relocated from North Melbourne to the Atrium in late 2025, bringing more than 1,000 synthesisers, drum machines and modular instruments spanning the entire history of electronic music. Unlike a traditional museum, this collection is designed to be touched – you can book studio sessions to actually play the gear.
Find out more here.
Every summer, Fed Square beckons both locals and guests to savour the enticing flavours of world cuisines, revel in the artistic expressions that narrate Australia’s rich heritage, and relish the communal spirit that permeates its spaces. So, as you step into this vibrant hub, let every bite, every sip, and every gallery exhibit be a reminder of Melbourne’s ceaseless vitality.
Find out what’s on at Fed Square here.
This article was made in partnership with Fed Square.
