In a corner of the sky

Rooftop Bar on the top of Curtin House in Swanston Street has long been on my list of go-to spots for a summer's night of drinks and merry jinks, but it was only this last Sunday that I made it to one of their Rooftop Cinema screenings. Have I been missing out! With a couple of friends and a comfy duffel coat in tow, I caught a moonlit showing of Lost in Translation, a movie just as atmospheric of Tokyo as Rooftop is of Melbourne.


They've got a winning setup there in the sky: the rows of surprisingly comfortable striped deck chairs and the strings of soft lightbulbs bobbing in the breeze give you a relaxed vintage beach vibe, while the creative programming and the bustling bar ensure a blue-ribbon night's entertainment. At $16 for a concession ticket, it's well worth skipping the lines at Hoyts. For a few extra bucks you can even rent a cosy blanket if it gets a titch chilly - how's that for cute and practical? (Although this is Melbourne, so best to be prepared and pack your own!) And if by any chance you tire of your chosen film, just avert your eyes to the bright city vistas and the skies above. Maybe, like me, you'll even catch glimpse of a shooting star...

Screenings every night except Mondays and Fridays until the end of March. It looks like things can get a little busy up there, so arrive early, grab yourself a seat and settle in with some sangria and a spot of urban gazing before the show. Mmm-hmm!