The World’s “Longest” Lunch – Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Kicks Off at Month’s End

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

Just after the Australian Open concludes, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival will take center stage at the end of February this year. With the theme of “water,” the festival features over 200 diverse celebratory events spanning 17 days to welcome foodies from around the globe.The highlight — the World’s Longest Lunch (World’s Longest Lunch) — will be held at Alexandra Park by the Yarra River.

Held from February 28 to March 16, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival takes inspiration from water — the source of all life — as its theme. The Yarra River will feature creative water-themed structures, an endless array of gourmet delights and fine wines, exclusive masterclasses led by global culinary and wine experts, mouthwatering aromas wafting through hidden laneways, and a series of vibrant festivities that promise a feast for the senses.


▲ The highlight of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is the world’s “longest” lunch, where “long” refers to the length of the table. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Victoria)

The Highlight of the Festival – The World’s Longest Lunch

As the opening highlight of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, the World’s Longest Lunch (World’s Longest Lunch) will take place at Alexandra Park by the Yarra River. The event features top-notch chefs from Melbourne’s vibrant food scene, including Jacques Reymond — who has earned the prestigious three chef’s hats from Australia’s Good Food Guide — innovative traditionalist Chef Adam D’Sylva, and celebrity chef and Italian cuisine master Stefano de Pieri. Together, they will present a perfect pairing of gourmet delights for a grand thousand-person feast. The event runs from February 28 to March 2, with a single ticket priced at 155 AUD.

Tailor-Made Experiences to Ignite Your Culinary Imagination

Queensbridge Square by the Yarra River serves as the main venue for this year’s festival, featuring an exclusively designed immersive three-tiered space open exclusively to food lovers during the celebration. Top chefs will demonstrate various water-based cooking techniques, drawing inspiration from the concept of Chinese morning tea, showcasing globally inspired flavors with exceptional culinary skills. On the Yarra River, floating bars on boats gently sway with the ripples, exuding the aroma of fine drinks. Melbourne’s rising mixologists have crafted special festival cocktails inspired by the three states of water. The Rain Garden shares eco-friendly knowledge on water collection, filtration, and recycling, adding a green touch to the festival. Meanwhile, a cloud-shaped canopy suspended above a disused railway bridge parallel to Sandridge Bridge, adorned with drought-resistant plants, decorates the third level. Lush vegetation covers the sky-like structure beneath the floating clouds, adding depth to the entire immersive space.


▲ Queensbridge Square by the Yarra River is the main venue of the festival, featuring an exclusively designed immersive three-tiered space open to food lovers during the event. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Victoria)

Langham Culinary Masters Bring Classic Flavors Back to Life

This year’s Langham Melbourne MasterClass continues to shine with star-studded participation. Innovators such as Rodolfo Guzmán, dedicated to revitalizing Chilean cuisine; Ángel León, acclaimed worldwide for his seafood dishes and named Spain’s Best Chef; and Christopher Kostow, celebrated as America’s most creative Michelin three-star chef, will share their culinary secrets and passion with food enthusiasts. The classes take place on March 8 and 9 at The Langham Melbourne, with a fee of 320 AUD.