lifestyle
Outdoor movies: top 10 open-air cinemas in Australia this summer
With summer hotting up down under, it’s outdoor movie season – so we’ve focused on the top 10 best outdoor cinemas in Australia, with hip rooftop screenings, beachside film festivals and open-air park soirees up for grabs. Pack a picnic, take a plus one or even a pooch, and enjoy a romantic evening under the stars. And, after the credits roll, you can stroll off into the sunset for a happy ending at one of our recommended boutique hotels…
1 ROOFTOP CINEMA, MELBOURNE
Where? Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street
When? Until 31 January
For Manhattan-style views of Melbourne, you can’t beat the uber-cool Rooftop Cinema, perched loftily atop club- and bar-packed Curtin House on Swanston Street in the CBD. Recover from the heart-pumping climb upstairs with a cocktail at the open-air bar, before settling into a deckchair for the movie. This urban eyrie always attracts an up-for-it crowd, and serves tasty snacks to fuel the faithful. Highlights this season include cult Brit flicks Submarine and Trainspotting as well as US scarefest Jaws.
Get a room! Roll into bed at Apartment 401 in Melbourne, a short walk away.
2 MOONLIGHT CINEMA, VARIOUS LOCATIONS
For movies under the stars, make a date with Moonlight Cinema, which screens cult and classic flicks in alfresco locations across Australia, including Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Port Douglas until 25 March. You can even bring canine companions along to the 15 January Aussie feel-good flick Red Dog in Melbourne. New York-style street food, bars, gourmet picnics and bean bags can be yours, depending on the venue.
Get a room! For crashing out after, try the Lyall Hotel and Spa in Melbourne; Establishment Hotel in Sydney; NB City holiday house in Adelaide; Spicers Balfour Hotel in Brisbane or a stylish holiday house in Port Douglas.
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At a loose end tonight? Not so unlucky then, despite the date. If you’re staying in London but pining for an African adventure (or a slice of idiosyncratic fun before Valentine’s Day), a Victorian warehouse in Islington might just be the answer. Just remember to dress up.
Say what? Officially, The Double Club is a ‘pop-up art installation that combines Congolese and Western culture for fun-loving London party people’. Unofficially, this temporary restaurant/bar/disco cum art project by Carsten Höller has become the place to be seen by London’s fashion crowd (I spotted designer Giles Deacon and his crew there on Friday dancing underneath the club’s neon palm trees).