Sea Baths, Ceramics Studios and the Local Pub: Where Melbourne Finds Wellness and Connection

Melbourne’s a city that knows how to work hard and play hard, but with that pace and energy, it’s just as important to rest and recover well – in whatever way that means for you.

Wellbeing isn’t limited to any one routine or philosophy. It might look like an early swim before work, or a midweek drink with friends. Maybe it’s hot yoga followed by a bowl of hot chips, knowing they can co-exist in healthy balance. Or taking a nap because you’ve been overwhelmed, instead of forcing your way through the decision paralysis. It’s about knowing when to do things on your own, and when to be around other people.

Because in a city like Melbourne, feeling well doesn’t come down to step count – it’s built from the small, everyday rituals that help you feel your very best. And you need health insurance that supports the kind of wellness you need. ahm understands that wellness is simply whatever makes you feel good: whether that’s through fitness, mindfulness, creativity or connection.

From Pilates to pottery, pubs to pickleball, here are some of the best places in Melbourne to find your own definition of wellness.

Fitness, movement and recovery

Unlike some other major cities, Melbourne doesn’t wear its fitness culture on its sleeve, but it’s there to tap in or out of at your leisure. At Happy Melon Studios, yoga, reformer Pilates and strength training converge with an approach that’s just as much about mindfulness as it is about fitness.

A few suburbs away, St Kilda Sea Baths draws on its bayside location with natural seawater pools sourced directly from the ocean, helping ease the muscles after a workout. And Melbourne’s bathhouse scene continues to grow – relax into slower forms of recovery with saunas, steam rooms, and hot and cold pools at venues like Sense of Self, Comma, Inner Studio, EQ, Sauna Goose and more.

Creative pursuits

Beyond the physical, there’s a growing appetite for spaces that invite wellbeing through art, craft and creativity. At Tender Place, a self-described “third place”, programming spans deep listening sessions through to activities like embodied movement and dance.

In the backstreets of Collingwood, Museum of Desire takes a broader view, exploring women’s health and sexual autonomy through immersive art and technology – in a way designed to be wild and fun. And Pot Dispensary taps into the appeal of making something with your hands, offering ceramics classes that leave little choice but to turn off your phone and lose yourself in the experience.

Neighbourhood hang-outs

In Melbourne, where hospitality is a way of life, social spaces are another support for staying well. The familiarity of some of the city’s best pubs – like the Napier Hotel in the inner north, the Orrong Hotel out east, the Cheeky Pint in the west or the Local Taphouse south-side – means they cater to just about everyone, with longstanding connections to their neighbourhoods and communities.

Gracie’s Wine Room offers something more intimate, evolving from a digital community into a small bar focused on thoughtful pours and a personal approach to hospitality. And at Little Homey, the cafe within Honey Bones Gallery, the emphasis is on community-building, with regular events supporting Melbourne’s Black community and a strong focus on collaboration with independent artists and producers.

Community activities

Spaces that bring movement and social connection together are on the rise in Melbourne, shaping how the city thinks about wellbeing. At Colosso Padel, the racquet sport padel (which sits somewhere between tennis and squash) is the main event, but it’s also a casual meet-up spot with on-site St Ali coffee and a social energy that encourages people to arrive early or stay after a game. The National Pickleball League reflects a similar shift towards accessible, low-barrier sports that are as much about participation as competition.

Live music continues to play its part, too – particularly at venues like Young Hearts and On Air, where the community comes together over regular DJ sets and live programming, whether you’re going with friends or bobbing your head along solo.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with ahm. ahm supports your version of wellness, whatever that might be. ahm – people things.