Australia’s first-ever dine-in cinema has opened in Melbourne.
What do you get when you combine good movies and great food? The answer is FoMo Cinemas, the latest venture from Barry Peak (Valhalla/Cinema Nova) and Natalie Miller AO (Longford Cinema/Cinema Nova).
Located within the recently opened East Brunswick Village precinct in Melbourne, FoMo is a film lover and foodie’s dream come true. And it’s the first of its kind to open on Australian shores.
Each theatre features state-of-the-art sound design technology. (Image: Tony Lee)
Already being compared to New York’s famous Nitehawk Cinema, FoMo invites guests to enjoy the latest blockbusters from around the world, with food from a comprehensive dining menu delivered mid-film. Did someone say the perfect date night?
Made up of six theatres with a total capacity of 392 seats, FoMo is set to serve up some of summer’s biggest films with a side of fresh flavour.
Each cinema is fitted with state-of-the-art sound design technology and high-quality projection for an immersive and exciting experience. Two of the cinemas even feature 3D capabilities, while the largest, a 114-seat auditorium, offers 4K laser resolution on a screen measuring more than 10 metres wide.
FoMo is Australia’s first dine-in cinema. (Image: Tony Lee)
FoMo opened its doors on 18 January and has screened new releases including The Holdovers, Ferrari, The Beekeeper, The Iron Claw, Priscilla and Mean Girls.
Barry Peak, co-founder with Natalie Miller AO, describes the project as “cinemas run for movie lovers by movie lovers. Like us." Adding, that “there’s no obligation to eat anything, but you’d be crazy to miss out."
Order local beers or a tasty cocktail at the bar. (Image: Tony Lee)
So, what’s on the menu you ask? Well, head chef Darren Collier is hoping to spoil guests with his carefully curated menu. Think antipasto, cheese boards, New York-inspired sandwiches, burgers, pizza and a delectable dessert platter.
Classic cinema snacks will be on offer too, such as popcorn, choc tops, ethically sourced chocolate and chips from bespoke local companies. FoMo’s bar is also set to excite, with local beers on tap and specialty cocktails available.
Choose your meal from a carefully curated menu. (Image: Tony Lee)
Food can either be pre-ordered or bought during the film, with a cash-free interface located within each theatre chair, avoiding any distractions for other movie-goers. Orders are sent straight to the kitchen and delivered promptly and discreetly.
Guests can also say goodbye to those dreaded pre-movie ads. Rather, interactive quizzes and trivia will entertain, plus movie history and classic cinema moments.
The foyer’s design is inspired by the movie Blade Runner. (Image: Tony Lee)
East Brunswick Village was completed in October 2023 and opened in early 2024. Designed to be self-sustaining, the precinct features a number of apartment buildings surrounded by an apiary, kids cubbyhouse, veggie gardens and a private rooftop with CBD views.
An expansive pedestrian laneway acts as a community hub of retail and entertainment, which FoMo Cinemas now calls home. Other businesses popping up include Bridge Road Brewery, Rumi Restaurant, Taycoya Japanese Restaurant and Siconi Gelato, making for the perfect evening out.
Brunswick is also one of Melbourne’s most vibrant suburbs, with plenty of restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes dotted along its streets.
Get delicious food delivered directly to your seat. (Image: Tony Lee)
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Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
Get out of the city and close to nature in Victoria’s Heartland, one of Australia’s finest food-producing regions.
This fertile area is abundant in natural beauty, rich volcanic soils, mineral-rich waters, artisan producers and farm fresh produce. In towns spanning the Central Goldfields, Macedon Ranges and surrounds, just a short drive or easy train ride from Melbourne, you can taste a plethora of incredible food and world-class wine in these best of Victoria’s Heartland food regions.
1. Daylesford
Dine on the multi-course fare served at the elegant and light-filled Lake House Restaurant. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Warm and inviting, fans of Japanese cuisine should make a beeline for Kadota. Settle in for Japanese flavours, in cocktail glasses and on the plate, that have been carefully produced using seasonal local ingredients.
For those who love a farm-to-table moment, Sault is the place to be. Fresh ingredients – directly from the restaurant’s kitchen gardens, or from regional organic farms and producers – are crafted into a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Hat-awarded Head Chef Jack Powlay.
Boasting gorgeous water views from its location on the banks of Lake Daylesford, Boathouse Restaurant is perfect for an elevated dining experience.
For a special treat, a visit to the two-chef-hatted restaurant at the Lake House is a must. Savour beautiful views and a seasonal menu championing small-scale local suppliers and their own farm just 10 minutes away.
2. Hepburn Springs
Tuck into hearty, farm-fresh flavours. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Taking cues from its Swiss-Italian roots and the area’s produce, the picturesque Lavandula Farm houses a seasonal trattoria, rustic wine bar, and a new deli and larder inside the original Shepherd’s Flat Post Office.
For another dining destination immersed in the area’s history, visit The Hepburn Pavilion café at Hepburn Bathhouse. Brunch, lunch, scones and house-made cakes are served under the vaulted ceiling of this Edwardian heritage-listed building.
And while The Surly Goat may have a farm-like ring to it, it’s in fact a homely restaurant that takes seasonality seriously. Chef David Willcocks heads up an ever-changing set menu celebrating local and small-scale regenerative producers.
3. Trentham
Satisfy your sweet cravings with handcrafted treats. (Image: Sisko Chocolate)
No trip to an Aussie regional town is complete without a stop at the pub. Pig & Whistle Hotel sits surrounded by farmland. Soak it in from the locally beloved beer garden. Here, pub classics include a parmigiana with an Irish twist.
For a more refined experienced, dine at du Fermier, where chef and owner Annie Smithers crafts a weekly menu of French farmhouse-style dishes, often sourcing ingredients from her nearby farm in Lyonville.
And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave town without a cheeky stop at Sisko Chocolate Studio, where owner Christina Tantsis has built a chocolate-lovers wonderland inside a stunning architectural space. Her handcrafted creations use couverture from Valrhona, a certified B Corporation, and the hot chocolates are positively sinful.
4. Woodend
Taste incredible Japanese cuisine at Kuzu Izakaya.
Taste local drops in town at the family-owned Woodend Cellar and Bar – complemented by tapas and artisan platters featuring sourdough from the local bakery – or at 600 Above, a wine bar with a sunny courtyard and cosy fireplace serving small and large plates.
Nearby, Kuzu Izakaya is the go-to place for Japanese dining. Chef Eriko Pannam has crafted a moreish menu of creative and traditional dishes; think miso cream scallops and everyone’s favourite, Japanese fried chicken.
Mount Macedon Winery is another must-visit for wine connoisseurs. Enjoy a glass and wood-fired pizza on the deck, or opt for fine dining at their Cellar Door Restaurant.
5. Kyneton
Piper Street in Kyneton is overflowing with top-notch eateries. Take Prato, specialising in traditional Greek dishes and pinsa (a lighter, crispier version of traditional pizza); or the upscale Midnight Starling, where chef Steve Rogers serves French classics inside a historic building with bluestone cellar.
A little further down, The Piper Street Wine Company is a European restaurant and wine bar inside a gorgeous heritage building. Their evolving menu highlights one European country or region at a time, so there’s always something new to discover. Further along, Fook Shing delivers a flavour-packed Southeast Asian menu using local and regional Victorian produce.
6. Castlemaine
Discover rich, creamy cheeses crafted by a certified cow’s milk artisan cheesemaker. (Image: Long Paddock Cheese)
Cafes, bars and restaurants have taken up residence inside this former Gold Rush town’s historic buildings. At The Mill Castlemaine – an 1870s woollen mill turned creative hub – you’ll find Long Paddock Cheese, a small-scale artisan cheesemaker that uses certified-organic cow’s milk from a nearby family-owned farm; and Das Kaffeehaus, a Viennese cafe serving traditional Austrian food with coffee from their small batch roastery.
Meanwhile, inside the Midland Hotel you’ll find the chef-hatted Bar Midland, founded by locals Loudon Cooper and Alexander Marano. Their monthly set menu celebrates Victorian producers who focus on sustainable land management, and often utilises indigenous food, introduced wild animals and weeds.
7. Lancefield & Romsey
Savour beautifully plated dishes in a relaxed setting. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Art meets food and wine at Mount Monument, located just outside of Romsey. The beautiful vineyard is home to a sculpture park, cellar door and restaurant with a menu shaped by the Macedon Ranges’ rich seasonal produce.
In town, The 1860 Romsey has reimagined a 160-year-old hotel. Here, country pub charm meets modern bistro, with a menu that supports local at every opportunity (their Central Victorian Oakdale Black Angus steak is a winner).
A few minutes’ drive north, the Lost Watering Hole in Lancefield is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant crafting 100% naturally brewed beers. Their unusual names – No Dodo, Flightless, Big Roo – make sense once you learn Lancefield is the location of one of the richest deposits of megafauna fossils in Australia.
8. Harcourt
Treat yourself to buttery, house-made Danish pastries. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Harcourt is famous for its apple orchards and cider production, and there’s no better place to visit than The Little Red Apple. At this roadside store, you can stock up on fresh crisp apples, ciders, vinegars, juices, and other gourmet products.
To taste more local delights, pop into the Harcourt Produce & General Store, renowned for their house-made danishes, or stop at Sutton Grange Winery where winemaker Chris Smales crafts wines using their organically grown estate fruit. Open on Sundays, it’s an idyllic spot to slow down over wine, pizzas and share plates.
