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Melbourne's best places to eat and drink this Australia Day

Krisinda Merhi

Celebrate Australia Day at O'Connell's with an Aussie favourite: BBQ prawns in a roll.
Celebrate Australia Day at O'Connell's with an Aussie favourite: BBQ prawns in a roll.Brook James

Australia day is fast approaching and if you haven't organised plans it's time to rally some mates and get yourself sorted. From lamb burgers to lamington gelato cake, Melbourne has a huge helping of Aussie offerings for you (and your tastebuds) to choose from this year.

Builders Arms Hotel

The Builders Arms are combining steak, cricket, iced tinnies, BBQ and the Australian Open to bring you the 'Aussiest' Aussie Day there is. The courtyard opens from midday until late so pop in for a juicy steak , try your luck at a friendly game of cricket and quench your thirst with a cold one.

211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 03 9417 7700, buildersarmshotel.com.au

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Grosvenor Hotel

It's a two-day party at the Grosvenor from the 25th to 26th. On Thursday, sip 2-for-1 cocktails or pair a Lamington cocktail with an Aussie Lamb Burger and dessert. On Australia Day replace cocktails with $10 pints all day and spend the night dancing as DJs spin the tunes.

10 Brighton Road, St Kilda East grosvenorhotel.com.au

Celebrate Australia Day the right way with a Lamington Cocktail.
Celebrate Australia Day the right way with a Lamington Cocktail. Supplied

Huxtaburger x We Love Our Lamb

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To celebrate Australia day Huxta has created its very first lamb burger with the help of We Love Our Lamb. The 'Shazza' burger is packed with a mix of ingredients which celebrate the cultural diversity of Australia. As well as a 150 gram Victorian lamb patty, Shazza features native pepperberry, tomato kasaundi, wild rocket and tzatziki. Get in quick! The Shazza burger will only be available for a limited time, in all Huxtaburger locations from Saturday 27th January.

Celebrate Australia day with 'Shazza'.
Celebrate Australia day with 'Shazza'.Supplied

Melba Restaurant at the Langham

Wanting something more sophisticated on the 26th? Pop in to Melba from 5pm for a dinner of Australian classics. Dishes include Tasmanian oysters, Merimbula rock oysters, salt bush spit-roasted lamb and damper with Yarra Valley venison stew. Dessert is just as patriotic: choose from raspberry, lemon and orange lamingtons and strawberry and passionfruit pavlova. The restaurant overlooks the Yarra River, so the view will be (almost) as good as the food.

Adults are $105.00 per person and children dine for half price (aged 4-12, children 3 and under dine free).

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Bookings required. Contact rest.res@langhamhotels.com or call 1800 641 107.

1 Southgate Ave, Southbank,1800 641 107, melbarestaurant.com.au

Munich Brauhaus

Swap snags for bratwurst, tinnies for steins of beer, and indulge in the limited-edition Oz Day Schnitzelmeister: 1kg schnitzel with bacon, three eggs and cheese . There'll be live music, a free snag with a stein, and Aussie Pale Ale on tap. On Saturday 27th, the Triple J Hottest 100 will crank, and on Sunday 28th, kids under 12 eat for free and there'll be a petting zoo.

Munich Brauhaus 4-7pm, 45 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf munichbrauhaus.com

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The Schnitzelmeister: 1kg schnitzel with bacon, three eggs and cheese.
The Schnitzelmeister: 1kg schnitzel with bacon, three eggs and cheese. Supplied

O'Connell's Hotel

Nothing says 'Straya more than a barbecue. But instead of just putting "shrimps on the barbie" head chef Tom Brockbank of O'Connell's has decided to turn things up a notch with BBQ Prawn Rolls. The bad news? The rolls will be available as a one day special. The good news is that there are no booking required: just turn up to the bar and enjoy.

Prawn rolls will be $14 each or $38 for 3.

407 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, 03 9810 0086, oconnells.com.au

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St Kilda Burger Bar (STKBB)

For those celebrating elsewhere, the Grosvenor Grocery + Bottle Shop will be open for booze and party goodies. Maybe you'll keep it traditional with a good-old goon bag or buy a sophisticated bottle of wine. Anyone looking to grab a bite on-the-go, Grosvenor Hotel's adjoining drive-through SKTBB has you sorted. Serving up special True Blue Aussie Lamb Burgers ($15) and Lamington Milkshakes ($7) on both Australia Day and Australia Day Eve.

Enter via bottle shop, 10 Brighton Road, St Kilda East burger.melbourne

Terindah Estate

For a pre-party party pop into the Terindah on Australia Day Eve to enjoy live music from Mr. Meaner 3 Piece as part of the Estate's usual Thursday Evenings Unplugged. While listening to some tunes, why not enjoy some grub? Restaurant The Shed will be open and serving dinner as normal. Want something more chill? Relax on The Deck's lounges with wine and French-style share plate or enjoy a snack on the lawn with picnic rugs and games set up.

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90 Mc Adams Lane, Bellarine terindahestate.com

The Deck at Terindah Estate is the perfect spot to relax this Australia Day. Estate
The Deck at Terindah Estate is the perfect spot to relax this Australia Day. EstateSupplied

The Local Taphouse

Triple J's Hottest 100 is an Australia Day staple, but The Local Taphouse has put its own spin on it. The Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers (AKA #h100beers) is running for its 7th year and is as exciting as ever. Head down to the pub for a feed, try your luck winning some prizes and drink some cold-ones off the tap. Entry is free, so whether you're a beer connoisseur or just like a tinnie, good times are guaranteed.

184 Carlisle Street, St Kilda thelocal.com.au

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The Rooftop at QT

QT Melbourne is celebrating in true Aussie style, hosting a BBQ on The Rooftop with some of the best Australian produce from the land and the sea. Starting at 2pm, the party is set to be a good one. Prices range from $10-$24 and the full menu will be available. Anyone hoping to make the most of the daylight won't be left out: Pascale Bar and Grill downstairs will be open from 6pm with their standard á la carte menu on offer for dinner.

11/133 Russell Street, Melbourne qtresortsandhotels.com/melbourne

Party with one of the best views in town at QT Melbourne rooftop
Party with one of the best views in town at QT Melbourne rooftop qthotelsandresorts.com


Piccolina

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Oh how we love the humble lamington. Gelateria Piccolina has developed their own twist on the national favourite, serving single portion Lamington Gelato Cake on Australia day. If you're hosting your own party Piccolina has offers the same lamington cake in a fourteen serve Lamington Log. With layers of traditional sponge, crema gelato and strawberry jam all covered in dark chocolate and tossed in coconut, it's hard to resist. So don't.

296 Smith Street, Collingwood

802 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
picolinagelateria.com.au

Piccolina's lamington gelato cake: traditional sponge, crema gelato and strawberry jam, covered in dark chocolate and tossed in coconut.
Piccolina's lamington gelato cake: traditional sponge, crema gelato and strawberry jam, covered in dark chocolate and tossed in coconut.Piccolina

Candied Bakery

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Open on Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend, Candied Bakery is the place to stock up on your Aussie Day lamingtons. With fresh sponge, jam and chocolate icing, this is one treat you won't regret.

81A Hudsons Rd, Spotswood, 03 9391 1335, candiedbakery.com.au

Host your own

Buy some lamingtons, buy some snags and host a barbie at home. While you're at it, why not make it a Big Red BBQ in support of Kidney Health Australia? Get a red theme going in your venue and donate the proceeds towards Australians affected by kidney disease.

Who's open?

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Bar Carolina, 44 Toorak Rd, South Yarra, 12pm - late

Bistro Gitan, 52 Toorak Road West, South Yarra, 12pm - late

BKK, 2 Duke Street, Windsor, 6pm - late

Hanoi Hannah Elsternwick, 267 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick, 12pm - 4pm and 5pm - 10:30pm

Hanoi Hannah Express Lane, 186 High Street, Windsor, 11:30am - 10:30pm

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Hanoi Hannah Windsor, 180 High Street, Windsor, 12pm - 4pm and 5pm - late

Impala, Level One, 212 High Street, Windsor, 6pm - 1am

L'Hôtel Gitan, 32 Commercial Road, Prahran, 12pm - late

Neptune Food & Wine, 212 High Street, Windsor, 12pm - 12am

Tokyo Tina, 66a Chapel Street, Windsor, 12pm - late

Yagiz, 22 Toorak Rd, South Yarra. Happy hour from 4pm-6pm, including bar food from $4-$5, house wines for $9, cocktails from $10 and $2 oysters.

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