What❜s Open in Melbourne on Christmas Day - Where to Shop, Play and Eat Out

Melbourne is just about the city that never sleeps, but the law does require some shut-downs come Christmas Day! While there's no shopping to be had, plenty of services are allowed to remain open, and restaurants and cafes across the city will be trading that day.

Looking for a lunch or maybe just something to do on the day? You're sure to find a string of things to do that will be just as magical as any other Christmas you could convceive. Get your festivewear on and head out into Melbourne for Christmas Day!

Federation Square

There will be a few cafes and bits and bobs open in the very Christmassy-decorated Fed Square, and Taxi Kitchen are running a full Christmas menu (bookings a must). Will be a very festive atmosphere with the entire place turned into a magical Christmas wonderland with a 16m Christmas tree and giant light-up snow globe.

Royal Botanic Gardens

The gardens in Melbourne and Cranbourne will remain open from 7.30am to sunset (about 8.30pm) for you to picnic, wander, or just escape for a little while among nature.

The Cranbourne gardens will be closed Christmas Day.

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo is once again hosting their Christmas Day Lunch from noon to 3pm, with free entry to the zoo from 11am. Feast on four courses, see the animals, and hang out with Santa! Bookings are essential, contact the Melbourne Zoo Events team at melbournezoofunctions@restaurantassociates.com.au or call them on 03 9285 9440. Check out their other lunch too at the Lakeside Cafe here, which is slightly less expensive. The zoo itself is open from 9am to 5pm, catch the keeper talks with different animals on this schedule. 

Sealife Melbourne Aquarium

The Aquarium is 9.30am to 6pm on Christmas Day, with Scuba Santa making a watery appearance at 2pm!

Eureka Skydeck 88

See Melboune from a bird's eye view on top of the Eureka Skydeck from 10am to 5.30pm, last entry is at 5pm.

Cinemas

Plenty of cinemas open on Christmas day:

Cameo Cinemas, 1628 Burwood Highway, Belgrave
Melbourne Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton
Melbourne Classic Cinema, 9 Gordon Street, Elsternwick
Melbourne Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins Street, Melbourne
Melbourne The Lido, 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
Melbourne Village Cinemas, Crown Entertainment Complex

Southgate

Riverside foodcourt favourite Rhumbas will be open, which does not require booking, but its best to book for the other restauarants on Christmas Day, including 

Pure South Decadent Christmas Lunch, PS Bar + Kitchen Christmas Lunch, Christmas Lunch at Bluetrain, BearBrass Christmas Day, Christmas at PJ’s!, La Camera Southgate, and Red Emperor. Find out more here. 

Crown

Festivities reopen again from 10am including restaurants and bars (everything is shut down 3am - 10am Christmas day), Restaurants included often have a Christmas menu, check for details here.

Last-minute needs

Check out your local 7-Eleven (in the CBD Federation Square, Swanston Street, Elizabeth Street and Bourke Street locations will be open), or IGA stores, which can sometimes be a saving grace in these hectic times! the 90-96 Spencer Street, 84 Flinders Street, 212 King Street,  and 320 St Kilda Road IGAs will be open if your'e in the city.

Are you heading out this Christmas Day? Where do you love to go?