What’s new in Melbourne and Victoria - October

Dining and drinking experiences

The team behind St Jerome’s popup glamping hotel is converting the rooftop space above Melbourne Central into summer’s hot new hang out spot – a rooftop pool oasis. The Reunion Island Pool Club will be Australia’s first rooftop pool, bar and leisure club, styled to give the nostalgic elements of a public pool but with modern twist and palm trees retreat. Offering yoga, pilates and massages in the early morning hours, and by day to evening it will be the perfect summer spot for a social splash and poolside fun with an afterwork cocktail. This city centre island escape is set to launch in October and run to April 2019. Rooftop, Melbourne Central, cnr Swanston and La Trobe streets, Melbourne, 3000.

Southbank welcomes its latest dining experience, Asado offering dinners modern Argentinian food, designed to share with a nod to Argentina’s Spanish roots. From the team behind San Telmo, Pastuso and Palermo, diners can sample everything from elegant Spanish conservas, delicately prepared pintxos, rustic smoked Asado meats to traditional Argentine desserts. 6 Riverside Quay South Bank, Melbourne 3000, (03) 9088 8600

Visitors strolling in the city around the Russell Street, Grand Hyatt area may expect a flurry of pastry lovers congregating at the eagerly awaited Lune Croissanterie’s second store. City dwellers will have the opportunity to get their hands on the coveted buttery goodness such as the plain croissant, pain au chocolat, almond, ham and gruyere, and the lemon-curd cruffin. Shop 16 161 Collins Street (enter via Russell Street), Melbourne 3000, (03) 9419 2320

Visitors interested in exploring beyond the city grid should head out West to Westwood offering café dining by day and wine bar by night. The kitchen is headlined by Chef Lynton Tapp, MasterChef Australia (season five runner-up) offering croissants and other pastries, a house-cured bacon sandwich, and fried eggs on toast, complemented with coffee. Later in the afternoon, a menu driven by seasonal produce is available till late complemented with wine by the glass. A café, wine bar and bottle shop in West Melbourne. 313 Victoria St, West Melbourne, (03) 9348 9406

Craft, small batch distillery, Tiny Bear has recently opened its distillery and cellar door (Sundays only) offering gun (The Doctor, The Gypsy, The Sailor), barrel-aged gin, Lemoncello and even coffee liquer. The distillers also run a GIN101 session where participants can delve into the unique flavours and sensations of their gin botanicals and be involved in every step of production; working through fermentation, distillation, vapour infusing, finishing with bottling and labelling. 7/10 Henderson Rd, Knoxfield VIC 3180, +61 (0)416030786

Robert Gordon Australia, owned and operated by the local Gordon family and boasts more than 70 years of history and three generations of potters, has created stoneware for some of the finest restaurants in the country including Vue de Monde, Longrain and Grossi Florentino - not to mention the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas and E.P. & L.P. in Los Angeles. The Pottery, in Pakenham, is also now home to Robert Gordon Kitchen serving local favourites and signature dishes from head chef Chris Henderson, all drawing on ethically-sourced produce featuring items such as the Proper Bacon Sandwich, the Pottery Burger and a decadent bowl filled with waffles, cinnamon sugar, lemon curd, vanilla ice-cream and honey nut clusters.  114 Mulcahy Rd, Pakenham 3810, (03) 5941 314