A dedicated hot cross bun window. Four new, distinctly different pubs to try. And the one show you need to see this year. Here’s what Broadsheet Melbourne editor Tomas Telegramma is checking out in Melbourne in April.

Go underground
Something new awaits down Supernormal’s dramatic burgundy spiral staircase. And I can’t wait to get there (before it’s too late). For 13 nights only, it’s where you’ll find Bar Paradox, Andrew McConnell’s nocturnal, subterranean drinking den. Bask in the glow while snacking on a saucy pork katsu roll (“it’s so tall you’ll need to squish it down to take a bite,” according to Broadsheet editor Chynna Santos) and build-your-own “baolinis” (like blinis but with bao dough). Cocktails are the star here, though, curated by former World Class Bartender of the Year Orlando Marzo. I’ll be sipping the crisp Olive Martini – it’s made with cold-vacuum-distilled extra-virgin olive oil in place of brine. Yes.

Easter feasting
Somehow, it’s Easter time? To help ensure your long-weekend festivities are as delicious as possible, the Broadsheet team has pulled together some jam-packed guides. Firstly, these are Melbourne’s best hot cross buns, plus a Bentleigh cafe has opened a dedicated HCB window in collaboration with cult pastry shop Black Star. Not sure whether to toast or microwave? We asked top Aussie pastry chefs for their preference (and reasoning) – here’s the verdict. Beyond the rudimentary buns, though, there are still plenty of Easter treats worth getting excited about; this is our guide to Melbourne’s best for 2022. Some are chocolatey, others are boozy, but they’re all very on-theme. And on the savoury side of things, we’ve rounded up nine top seafood-delivery services (if, like me, you’ve left your prawn haul to the last minute).

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Ham it up
Global phenomenon Hamilton is here. And if there’s only one show you see in Melbourne in 2022, let this be it. You might consider the story of the so-called “forgotten” founding father of the United States an unexciting one. That was my thinking when I turned down a discounted ticket soon after it debuted on Broadway. Regrets. Winner of 11 Tonys, a Grammy and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it’s a musical masterpiece. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s soundtrack seamlessly blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap and R’n’B in a way that led me to inadvertently commit it to memory. And the choreography is so razor-sharp you’ll likely find yourself unable to sit still. We spoke to the show’s musical director to find out why it captivates global audiences. Sold? You can score $10 tickets thanks to a weekly digital lottery.

To the pub
The long weekend is looming, which (for me, at least) means one thing: the pub. If you want to stray from your usual watering hole, here are some excellent new options. In a charming bluestone building in the CBD, Caretaker’s Cottage, by the Fancy Free team, is “probably Victoria’s smallest pub”. In Brunswick – after a drug bust and fall from grace – the notorious Railway Hotel has made a triumphant return as a 965-person mega-pub. And in St Kilda, a historical church hall has lost its religion to become pub and food-truck park Trinity, with a sitting room that feels like your nanna’s fancy lounge room. If you’re Peninsula-bound in search of some sun, Sorrento’s grand old dame, the Conti, is back with a monumental new bar and beer garden.

In the galleries
Heading for the galleries this month? A new blockbuster exhibition, Elvis: Direct From Graceland, is currently taking Bendigo by storm. But the King-themed shenanigans are certainly not limited to the walls of Bendigo Art Gallery. Broadsheet writer Ricky French spent a weekend lapping up all the Presley glory the gold-rush town has to offer – and it left him all shook up. Read his dispatch here. Back in Melbourne, these are four exhibitions you should check out in April, including the chance to see one of the city’s greatest art collections in a whole new light. Plus, First Nations rights and martial arts collide in the world premiere of Reko Rennie’s new action-packed video work, What Do We Want?, at ACMI.