Considering it’s about to turn 25 this year, you’d be right to think that the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is on to a good thing. The celebration of the edible in Australia’s arguably most European city continues to thrive thanks to ongoing community support – the state-wide celebration now hosts 300 events across Victoria. But when it comes to which to attend, we’ve put our top picks below:

1. House of Food and Wine Hotel
The festival is taking up residence in Hotel Lindrum for 10 days, taking over the kitchen to bring to life some of the state’s best produce. A series of sustainable dinners will be held, co-curated with ZeroFoodprint, and featuring the likes of James Biles (Biota), Clayton Wells (Automata) and Paul Iskov.

But the hotel’s own cuisine will be equally impressive. Advocates of zero-waste cooking and ethical food (and co-heads at Oakridge Wines) Matt Stone and Jo Barrett have devised an innovative bar menu pulled straight from the Victorian regions. They have also revamped the in-room dining menu when room-service is on the agenda, as well as left a few surprises in each mini bar. 

2. Disco Amalfi, at Neptune Food & Wine
As its name suggests, this event will see Windsor’s Neptune transformed into a Studio 54-esque venue with an Italian twist. Guests will be treating to an evening overflowing with crudo to nibble on and Campari orange granitas to sip on, all the while dancing the night away to a smorgasbord of disco tunes. Disco Amalfi will be held on Thursday March 22, with doors opening at 7.30pm. Tickets are available for $98 per person. Just don’t forget your dancing shoes!

3. Employee’s Only, at Uncle
Become a part of the hospitality family of three Melbourne favourite’s for one night only. For $78 per person, you’ll enjoy a bite to eat and an accompanying drink across three separate venues. It’s the pub crawl for the foodie. On this particular evening you will enjoy a Mexican nibble at Mamasita, before moving on to Vietnamese haunt. To finish, you’ll make your way to barbecue expert Fancy Hank’s.

4. Truly, Madly, Deeply Melbourne – Part Three
A night where food, wine and entertainment come together is Truly, Madly, Deeply. Embracing this year’s festival theme of community, the event will take guests from paddock to plate (quite literally on this occasion). Guests will wander through producer-manned stalls before sitting down to a culinary feast of four courses presented by award-winning and hatted executive chef David Ricardo. It’s also a chance to take an up-close look of the Plaza Ballroom, which opens its doors once a year to the public.

5. A Historic Cocktail Journey
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal may have quite the reputation when it comes to its food menu, but its drinks are the star of this particular event. The evening celebrates the distillations, infusions and innovations of the Melbourne fine dining restaurant’s cocktail list. Guests will enjoy a selection of tasting-style tipples, each accompanied by the story behind its inspiration, and an appropriate snack. Drinks expert Tony Conigliaro takes care of beverages and chef Ashley Palmer-Watts the fare.