Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025: The best events to see
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25.11.2024

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025: The best events to see

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's full 2025 program featuring Pesto the penguin and more.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's full 2025 program featuring Pesto the penguin and more. Credit: Ben Clement
Words by Staff Writer

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's 2025 program returns from March 21 - 30 with Pesto the penguin and more.

Melbourne is set to reaffirm its status as Australia’s culinary capital with the return of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025. Running from 21 to 30 March, this 10-day event celebrates the city and state’s vibrant food and drink culture, featuring over 200 events across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Presented by La Trobe Financial and supported by Visit Victoria, the festival will spotlight international culinary stars, highlight local talent, and introduce unique food experiences designed to delight and inspire. From its flagship events, the World’s Longest Lunch and World’s Longest Brunch, to an exciting array of collaborations in the Global Dining Series, the festival offers a program rich in creativity, culture, and flavour.

With a strong emphasis on both Melbourne and regional Victoria, the festival also serves as a major contributor to the state’s booming tourism economy, drawing food enthusiasts from across Australia and the world.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025

  • Running from 21 to 30 March, this 10-day event is Melbourne’s premier gastronomic festival
  • The 2025 edition features over 200 events across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
  • The festival offers a program rich in celebrities, creativity, culture, and flavour

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.

A celebration of culinary excellence

The 2025 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival offers an unparalleled lineup of experiences, blending beloved traditions with innovative new programming.

The return of signature events

  • World’s Longest Lunch: Kicking off the festival on Friday 21 March, the World’s Longest Lunch is one of its most iconic events. This year, Melbourne-born celebrity chef Curtis Stone will take the reins, designing a three-course menu for diners seated at a stunning 600-metre-long table in Kings Domain. Each ticket includes a curated dining experience crafted by Curtis Stone Events, the festival’s new catering partner, and paired with premium local wines. With its roots dating back to 1993 at the MCG, this event has grown into a spectacle that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the festival.
  • World’s Longest Brunch: On Sunday 23 March, Julia Busuttil Nishimura, a beloved Melbourne author and food personality, will lead a reimagined brunch experience in the Royal Botanic Gardens. This progressive brunch offers a culinary journey through three stunning garden locations: Tecoma Pavilion, featuring cinnamon buns and lemon mascarpone tart; Taxodium Lawn, offering chive pancakes with smoked salmon; and The Alto on Dog Flat, where guests can enjoy Persian herb frittata and savoury tarts. A dedicated cake station will showcase Julia’s celebrated creations, from marbled ciambellone to saffron cakes.

These events not only highlight Melbourne’s rich dining culture but also showcase the artistry of the city’s most renowned chefs.

Global Dining Series brings international flair

The Global Dining Series is set to elevate the festival, bringing 20 internationally celebrated chefs to Victoria for exclusive collaborations.

  • Daniel Calvert of Tokyo’s Sézanne (ranked number one in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants) will collaborate with Dan Hunter at Brae to create an intimate and unforgettable dining experience.
  • St John Restaurant, a global icon of British cooking, will host its first Australian residency at French Saloon, presenting its signature nose-to-tail cuisine.
  • Tomos Parry, the chef behind London’s acclaimed Brat and Mountain, will bring his fire-driven culinary philosophy to Cutler, offering Australian diners a taste of his world-famous cooking.
  • Konstantin Filippou, a celebrated figure in European fine dining, will join Hugh Allen at Vue de Monde to create a boundary-pushing menu that combines their unique visions.
  • Vaughan Mabee of New Zealand’s Amisfield will team up with Ross Lusted at Marmelo, blending the finest ingredients from Australia and New Zealand in a collaborative feast.
  • Jordy Navarra and JP “Jepe” Cruz, two champions of Filipino cuisine, will bring the bold flavours of Manila to Serai in Melbourne, showcasing contemporary Filipino charcoal cooking.

These one-off events offer a rare chance to experience the intersection of global and local talent, with each collaboration promising a singular dining experience.

Special Events Program showcases creativity

The festival’s Special Events Program, presented by Square, spans over 165 unique experiences across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

  • Hats and Wine: This hands-on workshop combines the art of hat-making with wine appreciation. Led by Natasha Jordan Bauer and Stelios Kimonides, participants will craft custom hats while enjoying premium wine pairings, creating a truly immersive creative experience.
  • Progressive Dining at the MCG: Guests will embark on a five-course culinary journey through the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s most exclusive spaces, from the players’ change rooms to the rooftop, where desserts by Belgian chocolatier Ryan Stevenson await.
  • Henrietta Chicken Goes Mangal: Sydney chef Ibrahim Kasif will bring Middle Eastern-inspired flavours to Melbourne in an evening of flame-grilled meats, mezze spreads, and bold flavours.
  • Snapshots and Flavours: At Navi in Yarraville, chef Julian Hills will present a menu inspired by the surf photography of Ed Sloane, blending visual and culinary art in an unforgettable dining experience.

Fed Square hosts Baker’s Dozen

The Baker’s Dozen event on 29 and 30 March is a love letter to Melbourne’s obsession with baking. Held at Fed Square, this two-day celebration brings together the city’s finest bakers, including Lune, Baker Bleu, and Hart Bageri. Highlights include:

  • Vote #1 Scone: Guests can sample and vote for their favourite scone flavours, with three creative options competing for the top spot.
  • Hot Cross Bun Bar: Featuring a variety of artisan buns served by attentive Butter Butlers.
  • Coco Cabana: A vibrant cocktail and smoothie bar adding a splash of colour to the festivities.

This supersized event also features workshops, tastings, and guest appearances by renowned pastry chefs, making it a must-visit for dessert lovers.

Free pop-up events

Several free events across Melbourne’s CBD will add a playful and accessible dimension to the festival:

  • Dim City: Chefs Rosheen Kaul, John Rivera, and Eun Hee An will reinvent the classic dim sim with creative new twists.
  • Something Saucy: A Southern Italian-inspired pasta feast served in a vibrant laneway setting.
  • Tacos and Toum: Raph Rashid and Tom Sarafian will explore the intersection of Mexican and Middle Eastern street food, offering dishes that are as bold as they are delicious.

SEA LIFE Nights offers a unique experience

For a completely different type of event, SEA LIFE Nights, presented by Square, invites guests to explore SEA LIFE Melbourne after hours and party with Pesto the penguin. Attendees will enjoy roving cocktails, gourmet canapés, and interactive exhibits, including an up-close encounter with King and Gentoo penguins.

Event details

  • Dates:
    • Fri 21 Mar 2025, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
    • Thu 27 Mar 2025, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
    • Fri 28 Mar 2025, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
  • Location: SEA LIFE Melbourne, Corner King St and Flinders St
  • Price: $99, including unlimited cocktails and aquarium entry

Regional Victoria shines

The festival’s regional program extends the celebration beyond Melbourne, offering events that highlight the state’s best produce and culinary talent. From farm-to-table dinners to vineyard tours, these events showcase Victoria’s diverse food and wine regions.

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is more than a celebration of culinary excellence—it’s a vital contributor to Victoria’s economy. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos noted, “Melbourne is the culinary capital of Australia, and our booming vibes economy keeps our state buzzing and boosts local jobs and businesses.”

By drawing international visitors and spotlighting local talent, the festival underscores Victoria’s position as a global destination for food, wine, and culture.

Plan your visit

Tickets for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025 go on sale at 10am on Thursday 28 November, with pre-sales beginning at 10am on Monday 25 November.

The 2025 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival runs 21 to 30 March; for full details and all ticket sales visit mfwf.com.au; follow MFWF on Instagram at @melbfoodandwine.