Popular CBD restaurants offer happy hours and dining discounts (plus more free fun) in Melbourne

A month of CBD dining discounts, happy hours and more is planned in Melbourne, as cultural institutions, local government and individuals including restaurateur Chris Lucas step up efforts to revitalise the city.

Lucas, who owns restaurants including Chin Chin and Society, is offering a 30 per cent discount on mid-week long lunches at select venues as part of his Lucas Loves Melbourne initiative.

Parking in the evenings is also free with a receipt from his CBD venues, and a daily happy hour includes $11 glasses of Piper-Heidsieck and cocktails under the $20 mark, even at the ritzy Society.

The program, which starts on February 15, involves all seven of Lucas's venues, with incentives extending to Baby Pizza in Richmond and Hawker Hall in Windsor. But the city's comeback is the focus.

"This city of ours is one of the most liveable cities in the world, and we are ready to welcome everyone back and show visitors what we are famous for," Lucas says.

It's similar to previous efforts by City of Melbourne to attract visitors and workers back to the CBD after lockdown with $60 million in Melbourne Money dining vouchers and parking discounts on weekends and at night.

Other CBD attractions in February include the free Candlelight Concerts series in Fed Square, with classical performances of film scores, Beatles songs and Bach (Feb 14, 18 & 26, fedsquare.com), laneways lit up by art and music from 80 creatives under Flash Forward (ongoing, flash-fwd.com) and a free performance by Archie Roach with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Feb 19, mso.com.au)

Lucas Loves Melbourne runs February 15 to March 15, details at lucaslovesmelbourne.com.au