The ALWAYS LIVE 2024 season is in full swing, and so is planning mode: where to eat, where to drink and where to stay around Victoria during our 17-day program.  

Perhaps you have already downloaded our calendar and already mapped out a daily itinerary. Perhaps you have a Type A friend you’d like to forward this article to. In any case, to help allay any planning stress, we’ve assembled a quick guide to ALWAYS LIVE hot spots throughout the state  with a few of our top recommendations. 

Melbourne 

Scenario 1: You’ve got a couple of hours to burn before heading to Crown for An Intimate Audience With St. Vincent. Tonight, you’ll experience an up-close and personal evening with only few hundred other fans. Annie Clarke will sit down in conversation with award winning journalist Sosefina Fuamoli, before a performing a stripped back, acoustic set of her biggest hits.   

Melbourne has an enviable food and drinks scene; the city and the suburbs packed to the gills with amazing food and drink offerings. But where to start?  

For an unmissable CBD experience, be sure to check out Caretaker’s Cottage: a historic, bluestone (would you believe) cottage, with a team globally recognised for their expertly crafted cocktails and warm hospitality.   

If a wine is more your speed, check out Embla: plucked direct from the pages of an Italian novella and plopped onto Russell Street, relax and unwind in the company of their handpicked collection of local and international wines.  

Geelong  

Just an hour South-West of Melbourne sits Geelong, Victoria’s second largest city and gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula; its burgeoning food and drink landscape has been satisfying tummies and tantalising tastebuds for the past 3 decades.   

Scenario: You’re in Geelong early for a swim before immersing yourself in the incredible emerging music scene to see some of the region's most exceptional grassroots talent at ALWAYS LIVE AT The Barwon Club – GRID Series Showcase.  

ILZA on Malop street, is a Japanese café helmed by a former Nobu sous chef. Fusing traditional and contemporary Asian influences, IZLA team’s sharp focus on quality ingredients and homestyle cooking makes it the perfect stop for a delicious meal ahead of a show.  

Shipping container café Box Office puts flavour and sustainability first, prioritising local produce and native ingredients: finger lime and native pepper to name a couple. It’s a friendly neighbourhood haunt to duck into and grab a coffee (powered by Axil Coffee Roasters of Melbourne fame) or sit down for the full brunch experience.  

Goldfields  

Scenario: After obsessing over her new album, I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain, you’ve secured two tickets to Sarah Blasko’s sold out show at Theatre Royal in Castlemaine. It’s a date, and you’re in charge of booking the restaurant.  

Uncovering treasure has been a part of the history of Goldfields for centuries, and that sentiment still rings true today with a slew of food and beverage options from Ballarat to Bendigo.   

Chauncy, a lunch-only restaurant housed in a historic sandstone building constructed in the 1800s, lays claim to being one of the best regional dining experiences Victoria has to offer. Started by hospitality power couple Louis Naepels and Tess Murray, Chauncy came to life in 2021 and has been heralded since for their French inspired, vibrant menu.  

Castlemaine’s Bar Midland celebrates indigenous food, organically produced with a focus on biodynamic and regenerative land management. Its ethos is straightforward: a dining experience that serves as a love letter to this incredible state. Every dish, wine, and spirit on the menu are sourced, grown, and produced in Victoria 

Gippsland  

Scenario: You’re excited to see Brad Cox in a different setting than usual: his Yarns & Yodels Gippsland tour will see the Golden Guitar winning country music phenomenon switch gears for a more intimate, solo tour. Weaving personal stories and hilarious anecdotes into his set, this peep behind the trucker cap is sure to make for an unforgettable evening. 

Gippsland is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes: from the rugged ranges of the Victorian Alps to the glittering coast; an idyllic backdrop to your next weekend escape. 

Frosty craft beers and the best locally sourced Gippsland ingredients are just part of what makes the Criterion Hotel the perfect spot to grab a bite ahead of a show in Sale. Established in 1865, and recently renovated, they also offer accommodation so you can make your visit to Sale a weekender!  

The lovingly restored River Drive Motel is a 5-room boutique Motel in Tarwin Lower. Heavy on the holiday nostalgia, the gorgeous interiors and thoughtful touches of these self-contained rooms provide the perfect oasis after a big night at the rock show.    

This blog post was inspired by our media partners Broadsheet, and written by the team at ALWAYS LIVE. For the latest and greatest recommendations on other activities in Victoria, head to broadsheet.com.au