The Night Creatures return to DOLLY at Le Méridien Melbourne for The Grand Jazz Dinner Show, pairing improvisation and reworked classics with a four-course dinner and matched wines.
There’s something theatrical about descending the staircase into DOLLY, the underground modern European restaurant and cocktail bar at Le Méridien Melbourne.
On Saturday, 29 August 2026, the Melbourne CBD venue will welcome five-piece jazz outfit The Night Creatures for the third edition of The Grand Jazz Dinner Show, following two sold-out performances earlier this year.
For the band, no two nights in the room have looked quite the same.
Two sold-out shows behind them, The Night Creatures are returning to the luxury hotel’s basement without playing it safe.
The Night Creatures at DOLLY, Le Méridien Melbourne
- The Grand Jazz Dinner Show at DOLLY
- DOLLY, Le Méridien Melbourne
- 20 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
- Saturday, 29 August 2026, 6.30pm to 9.30pm
- $145 per person, including show admission, a four-course dinner and matched wines
- Book here
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“Jazz has always been just one big part of our persona but with these shows it’s been great to really sink our teeth into the genre exclusively – we all have jazz and improvisational backgrounds so we’re right in our element,” The Night Creatures told Beat.
“Because of this, no set is the same and it’s really meant that we’ve been able to stretch out over the tunes further and further as the months have gone along.
“With each show, the sets become more imbued with our personal quirks and stylings – it’s definitely a lot of fun!”
Musically, the band splits its time between the greats and the unexpected.
Expect nods to Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Sarah Vaughan alongside jazz-flavoured reworkings of Billie Eilish and Amy Winehouse.
“It’s always fun to find that line where you can keep the intended integrity of the original song but also shape it to fit in such a classic genre.”
The room itself gets a fair share of credit too.
“DOLLY really is a one-of-a-kind space to play in, there’s so many different ways to experience the show depending on what part of the room you’re in,” the band explained, pointing to the prime listening seats by the staircase, the lounge seats further back and the more intimate view from behind the band.
“We’re so lucky, we get to set ourselves up how we like and let the audio production and shape of the venue spread the sound in these different and interesting ways.”
Dinner unfolds over DOLLY’s four-course signature menu, led by Bordeaux-born, Michelin-trained Executive Chef Hervé Borghini. The evening features favourites including steak frites and crème brûlée, with matched wines served across the experience.
“This address has always had a strong connection to live music and nightlife, from The Palace Theatre to the era of Metro Nightclub,” says Daniel Butcher, Director of Food & Beverage at Le Méridien Melbourne.
“Our Saturday live jazz dinner show is about honouring that history while carrying it forward for a new generation of Melbourne diners. The best jazz venues create a relationship between the musicians, the room and the audience, and DOLLY’s intimacy allows guests to experience that connection up close.”
For those after something looser, the band also plays DOLLY’s stripped-back Jazz Nights every Saturday.
“There’s obviously less instruments on the stripped back nights but they’re also the nights where we can experiment a bit more and try some new things,” they said.
“The grand shows definitely have some more structure to them and we make sure we always play to the strength of the band size and instrumentation – they definitely pack a heftier punch.”
The wider lineup includes Jordan Donnelly on 15 August and 12 September, either side of The Night Creatures’ headline dinner show.
View the full lineup and book The Grand Jazz Dinner Show at DOLLY.
This article was made in partnership with Le Méridien Melbourne.
