Whether you’re a visitor to the city or a local looking for a night out, Melbourne’s CBD offers a seamless blend of world-class dining, vibrant entertainment, and old-world charm. From a meal at Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street’s stunner Luci to a show at the Melbourne Theatre Company followed by late-night cocktails or karaoke, here’s how to experience a playful slice of Melbourne after dark.

Start your night with a meal at Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street’s in-house restaurant, Luci. The day-to-night venue occupies the magnificent, heritage-listed Equity Chambers, which was built in 1931 on the site of the state’s first synagogue. The Italian-influenced menu champions Victorian producers through its dishes and wine list, including baked scallops, crispy zucchini flowers, marsala glazed spatchcock, and its famous spongy focaccia.

Right now, a K-wave is bringing Melbourne into a new era of Korean dining. And at sleek Korean diner Doju, chef Mika Chae makes a Western style of Korean food where Korean condiments and flavours are definite heroes (try the deep-fried cheese covered in a sticky glaze and topped with Emperor’s Pearl melon). The drinks menu is just as playful, with house cocktails like a spicy Korean Margarita mixed with house gochujang and yuja-cheong (yuzu syrup).

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Next, a show. A short stroll from Doju, the Melbourne Theatre Company is currently showing Golden Blood. Written by and starring Sydney’s Merlynn Tong (Top of the Lake, White Pearl), the play explores Singapore’s seldom-talked-about gangster underbelly, drawing on Tong’s upbringing around the city-state’s nightclub scene.

To debrief over dessert, head to the recently opened Koi Dessert Bar from Masterchef alum Reynold Poernomo. There’s a changing line-up of over 150 artfully constructed cakes, best enjoyed alongside fruity foam-topped teas.

Or, if your version of a post-show debrief involves singing your favourite song at the top of your lungs, try Yum Sing House. Inspired by 1960s Hong Kong, the venue is hidden down a discrete, trendy laneway in Melbourne’s CBD. You’ll find a stylish ground-level restaurant where chef Aiven Lee is dishing up contemporary Asian plates with a twist, like prawn toast with tobiko and prawn mayo, roasted dry-aged duck with caramelised orange and soy, and grilled king george whiting, cod fat and preserved mustard. Upstairs, private karaoke rooms are available from Wednesday to Saturday (and they’re open till 5am on weekends).

Before retiring to your room at Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, go for a nightcap at the hotel’s moody cocktail bar, The Douglas Club, which blends modern flourishes with a 1930s-inspired drinks menu. Try one of three exclusive whisky cocktails on the limited-edition Journey Through Time menu, created in partnership with Scottish distillery The Macallan to celebrate its 200th anniversary. Plus, right now Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street is offering its Sweeten Your Stay package, which includes breakfast, self-parking and 25 per cent off food and drinks (excluding in-room dining).

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Hilton.