The end-of-year festive parties are done and dusted, you’ve (hopefully) done all your gift shopping, and your out-of-office has been turned on. Yep, we’re approaching the finale of silly season.

There’s just something about that week between Christmas and New Year’s. The tourists are gone, the locals flee to the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast and beyond. You can feel this stillness around the city, like everyone’s unclenching and relaxing a bit.

With the city so quiet, it’s a low-key amazing time for going out to eat. Here’s what our Hot List bars, restaurants and cafes are up to during the break – and how to get in on it.

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Hot List activity this week

• Most trending restaurant: Marmelo
• Most trending bar: Caretaker’s Cottage
• Most trending cafe: Akimbo

Make Christmas Eve the main event

You know, Carols by Candlelight is great, and no shade to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, but if you asked me whether I’d rather go there on Christmas Eve or get stuck into a long lunch at Aru, I’d have to go Aru. Every time. Not even close. But if you can’t nab a table there tonight, it’s open from the December 27 until it closes for New Year’s Day.

That awkward post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s Eve phase is a great time for restaurants

Like I said, if you’re not going away for your end-of-year break, you’re in luck. Because it truly is a lovely time to go out in Melbourne. Every time I go to Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos, I flip-flop between whether I love the tortas or the tacos more. I think – maybe, just barely – the tacos win. Or maybe I need to take myself back there. You certainly should, because it’s open December 27 to 30, before it reopens just after New Year’s Day.

Bahama Gold, which is so packed some evenings that passers-by will cross the street instead of trying to get through on the footpath, will be open on all non-public-holidays this break. You might even get a seat – unless you go in on New Year’s Eve, in which case you’ll be braver than me.

If you’re headed out for a bayside beach day, drop by The Walrus in St Kilda on your way home. Nothing screams summer holiday more than a plate of oysters and something nice to drink. It’s open December 27 and 28, and is doing a special day party on New Year’s Day.

Speaking of special parties, chef Rosheen Kaul is continuing her post-Etta return to Melbourne kitchens with her Sunday lunches at Bar Bellamy. If you can get a booking, take it. This Sunday’s lunch will be a cracker – she’ll be cooking with Podge Kennefick of Marion.

Andy Mac’s steaming into 2025

Actually, while we’re on the topic of Marion, basically all of Andrew McConnell’s venues around town will be open, outside of New Year’s Day and Christmas. Gimlet, Supernormal, Cutler – you’ll be catered for somewhere.

And all reservations at Apollo Inn on December 31 are for its “Some Kind of New” party, where you can expect copious snacks, champagne, cocktails and tunes. That’s how you start 2025 right: with a sore head and a full stomach.