A fancy fish’n’chipper – by a pioneering Aussie chef – lands in Melbourne. Idyllic swim spots to escape to this summer. And a spectacular rooftop bar popping up for one day only (with all-you-can-drink booze). Here’s what Broadsheet Melbourne editor Tomas Telegramma is checking out in Melbourne in January.

Summer swim-spo
Despite some quintessentially Melbourne peaks and troughs in the weather, things are really starting to heat up. (Finally.) If you’re looking for somewhere to beat the heat in the city this summer, consult our guide to Melbourne’s best outdoor pools, plus you can swim on (yes, on) the Yarra at Arbory Afloat’s new infinity pool, then get an ice-cold sangria afterwards. (Mostly) further afield, be inspired by our Where Melbourne Swims series in which Broadsheet’s swimming correspondent Caroline Clements asks well-known Victorians where they like to take a dip (and get a feed nearby). She’s also compiled a trio of Victoria’s loveliest lesser-known beaches if you want to escape the crowds this summer. Plus, here are nine gorgeous natural swimming spots close(ish) to the city. And for the sand-averse, these are the best hot springs (and spas) in the state – including three newcomers.

Fly me to the Moon (Mart)
Condiment queen Eun Hee An is doing some wonderful things out west. She was part of the team behind Sydney’s exceptional (but now-closed) Moon Park and Paper Bird, but – in a big win for us – she’s relocated to Melbourne and opened Moon Mart, a joyous pan-Asian convenience store and cafe for West Melbourne. It’s a real-life home for her small-batch pantry-staple business; she makes incredible kimchi, XO sauces and more, all of which feature on the Korean- and Japanese-inspired menu. We’re talking char siu bacon and egg rolls, okonomiyaki-style hash browns and katsu sandos.

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Working from home, redefined
Ah, WFH. For better or worse, it became an unescapable part of lockdown life for most of us. But some Melburnians have really run with the idea. In the before times, you couldn’t get enough when we covered the 2018 opening of the OG Enter Via Laundry in chef Helly Raichura’s Box Hill home. Now, there are three other eateries in their owners’ houses worth checking out – including one that runs reservations on a ballot system (throw your hat in the ring). Plus, up a nondescript north-side driveway – in a cleverly converted garage – is what could be Melbourne smallest Pilates studio. Garage Pilates is about as private and pint-sized as fitness studios come, and only clients (including the Australian Ballet’s artistic director) know the exact location. Intrigued?

Summer on a budget
If you, like me, find the festive season equal parts fun and financially draining, here are some ways to make the most of going out this summer – without annihilating your bank account. Firstly, we’ve got a guide to things to do in Melbourne for $10 or less – it includes $5 Mimosas and Spanish tortilla, free outdoor gigs and Pilates, $8.50 movie tickets and a multicoloured relic you can walk inside. For more cheap-eats inspo, suss out our gamut-running Melbourne-wide guide or get your hands on one of 10 under-$15 dishes in Fitzroy North. If you’ve got kids, many of these summery activities are free for littlies.

AO, let’s go
Melbourne summer stalwart, the blockbuster Australian Open, is back this month, with all the on-court (and courtside) action kicking off on the 16th. As well as the world’s tennis stars, Melbourne Park will also play host to a raft of frontrunning restaurants – including Supernormal and Nomad making their debut alongside pioneering pescetarian chef Josh Niland’s fancy Sydney fish’n’chipper Charcoal Fish. (Think of it as the charcoal seafood equivalent of a suburban chook shop, known for its excellent tuna cheeseburger.) Plus, hear Niland talk about his philosophy at the Cooking for Our Future event on the 17th. And if you want in on the action without the crowds, Frederic is opening its pop-up rooftop bar Frederic in the Sky for a one-off tennis-themed lunch with unlimited booze and ace skyline views.