14 Things To Eat, See, And Do In Melbourne For Valentine's Day

Everything you need on your bucket list for the best day ever.

1. Eat gelato at Messina

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The hype is all true – this really is some of the best gelato in Australia. Even if you've already been there, the gelateria produces five wackily-named weekly specials in addition to its 35 regular flavours. With outposts in Fitzroy, Richmond, and Windsor, make it your business to visit at least one.

2. Check out Finders Keepers at the Royal Exhibition Building

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Expect to meet some lovely local makers and fall in love with a minimalist fashion piece approximately 3,439 times. Come hungry -– the edible offerings are a major drawcard.

3. Have a picnic at Montsalvat

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Montsalvat is Australia's oldest not-for-profit artists' colony. It's home to over a dozen medieval-styled buildings and endless gardens filled with roaming peacocks. Picnickers are welcome, and it's only 35 minutes northeast of Melbourne, in Eltham.

4. Catch a film at Rooftop Cinema

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There's nothing more Melbourne than a rooftop bar...unless, of course, it's a rooftop bar that houses a rooftop cinema. This inner-city institution just gets better and better as time goes by. The program is packed with cult classics and indie gems, and you can hire a blanket if it gets chilly. Rooftop Burger Shack will even help you out with your choc-top and popcorn fix (and they do vego burgers as well as meaty numbers!).

5. Swim laps and read Monkey Grip under the "Aqua Profunda" sign at Fitzroy Pool

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Helen Garner is one of Melbourne's most beloved authors and Monkey Grip is arguably her most well-known book. It starts off with an encounter at the deep end of Fitzroy Pool one summer and ends up right back there under the "Aqua Profunda" sign one year later. Splash about – and feel literary doing it – with a visit to this iconic 50-metre pool.

6. Indulge at South Melbourne Night Market

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South Melbourne Night Market is a playground of street food, food trucks, shopping, and live music once the sun goes down. Browse gorgeous wares from market regulars like The SuperCool, Koenji Vintage, and Merchants of Change, and don't forget to indulge in the world-famous dim sims.

7. Go to a footy game at the 'G'

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A love of football runs deep in every self-respecting Melburnian's blood, so this could be the perfect date-night opportunity for you and your bae. Even if you don't enjoy footy, a piping hot pie and a bit of friendly heckling will soon have you whistling a different tune.

8. Make a booking to visit Lyon Housemuseum

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Lyon Housemuseum is a world-first: A private house that also happens to be an art museum. Hidden on a leafy street in Kew, it's open to the public on selected days throughout the year. The art collection includes paintings, sculpture, video art, and large-scale installations by leading Australian contemporary artists.

9. Drink a pint in a converted train carriage

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The bartenders at Easey's in Collingwood don't have attitude – they have altitude. Three graffiti-covered train carriages have been plonked on a roof five storeys high. It serves gloriously unhealthy food from 7am: Think fried chicken coated in Frosties cereal, potato cake sandwiches, and burgers stuffed with double-fried beer-battered dim sims. The bar pours bottomless refills of post mix and tap beers from CUB, Mountain Goat, Holgate, Tooborac, and Mornington Peninsula Breweries. It couldn't be more Melbourne if it tried.

10. Ogle the street art at Hosier Lane

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Been there before? That doesn't matter – it changes all the time! It's easy to take Melbourne's street art scene for granted, but a wander down Hosier Lane is always worth the effort. Bonus points if you spot a couple taking their wedding photos...it shouldn't be hard!

11. Visit an inner-city micro brewery

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Melbourne's craft beer boom shows no signs of abating, and there are a bunch of micro breweries all over the city. Check out Abbotsford’s Moon Dog, which opened in 2010, for a look at one of the most legendary. The brewers are as witty as the names of their beers (Love Tap! Artisan Pouseuré! Chocolate Salty Balls!) and there's nearly always a food truck out front.

12. Run the "Tan"

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The Tan Track, which runs around King's Domain and the Botanic Gardens, is Melbourne's most popular running route — and perfect for fitness-lovers across the city. It's up to you whether you walk, run, or prance the 3.8km of scenic goodness. To make it even better, it's just a short stroll from the city, and it's dog-friendly!

13. Lunch on the State Library lawn

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BYO sandwiches or grab a takeaway lunch from any of the delicious places nearby.

14. And finally, pop in for champers at The Espy.

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Former Melbourne live music icon The Espy hotel closed its doors indefinitely in 2015...or so Melburnians thought. The new owners reopened the venue in October 2018 and have refurbished it to honour its 139-year history. As well as live gigs, you can also grab a delicious bite to eat and toast to your love with a fine glass of bubbly.