Budget Friendly Events Melbourne

Groove Dimension

Dog Friendly Bar 🐶 Casual Social Chats

✨ **The Angry Dog** is an unpolished gem where dogs, locals, music lovers and creative misfits collide. Come along to socialise and meet new people. Most people come along by themselves so don't worry if you don't know any of the other members. New people are always welcome 😊 😀 **Happy hours 3pm-6pm - a perk of being early:** $12 beer pints $10 basic spirits Half price select wines 📍 **Location:** The Angry Dog, 435 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, Vic 3003 This week's venue: https://www.theangrydog.com.au/ **📅 How often do we have events? Weekly!** Join us at a different bar/pub each week to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. **🥳 Events are also on:** Meet New People, Make Real Friends MeetUp [https://www.meetup.com/casual-catchups-and-cool-connections/](https://www.meetup.com/casual-catchups-and-cool-connections/) Bartopia Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/) Follow us on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/](https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/)

Round 2

Make Friends & Practice Languages at The Asian Beer Cafe

**Welcome to our Linguas Thursday Social + Language Exchange Meetup 🌍** We meet weekly at **Asian Beer Café** *Level 3, Melbourne Central* *211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000* **We ask that you purchase a drink at the bar or pay $6 at entry.** *** ### 💬 Find your people (New!) Looking to practice a specific language? Post in the discussion using: * **#LearnSpanish** * **#LearnEnglish** * **#TeachEnglish** * **#LearnJapanese** * etc. 👉 This helps others find you faster and makes it easier to connect. *** ### 📲 Join our WhatsApp Community Stay connected before and after the event, meet people, and find language partners: 👉 **Join here:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bi7FlhHP91e0eP7MfdeWcZ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bi7FlhHP91e0eP7MfdeWcZ) *** ### ⏰ What to expect We consistently have **200–320 attendees** every Thursday (across multiple Meetup groups/Eventbrite/Facebook). People arrive at different times — **best time to come is between 6PM and 9PM.** Come solo or with friends — most people come alone and join conversations naturally. *** ### 🌏 Who attends? A mix of: * Native & non-native English speakers * International students * Backpackers & working holiday travellers * Professionals & expats * Local Australians You’ll meet people from: Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and more. *** ### 🗣️ Why join? 👉 A relaxed, social way to practice English 👉 Meet people from around the world 👉 No pressure, no structure — just conversations *** ### 🍕 FREE DRINKS & FOOD FOR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS! We’re looking for **friendly volunteers** to help welcome newcomers and keep the vibe social. 👉 You’ll get: * Free drinks (beer/soft drink) * Food (pizza, wedges, etc.) * A fun team to hang out with No experience needed — many of our volunteers are **first-timers too**. Interested? 👉 [www.Linguas.com.au/Volunteer](www.Linguas.com.au/Volunteer) *** 📲 **More info:** [https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU](https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU) or **@Linguas.AU**

Dinner @ The Abyssinian

Ethiopian...it's been a while. There's not really a set menu, but rather a variety of [chef platters](https://theabyssinian.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/abyssianian-2023-dinner-menu.pdf) to order (meat and/or vegetarian), which are priced depending on how many people participate. But it looks like it would come out to approx $40 per person. There will be a $20 deposit to secure your spot. This will be returned to you on the night or if you change your RSVP with at least 48hr notice. See you there, Priscila

Fast Friends🤝 Meet New People & Make New Friends | All Ages| Happy Hours

Looking to make new friends, meet interesting people and actually have conversations that go somewhere? Join us for Fast Friends: Great Conversations Edition at Asian Beer Cafe, where host Tony will guide the evening through relaxed conversations, rotations and themed connection rounds designed to make meeting people easy and natural. ✨ The idea is simple: come as you are, meet different people, enjoy some great conversations and hopefully leave with a few new friends. 🎟️ Book early & save: [https://melbourne5thsept.eventbrite.co.uk](https://melbourne5thsept.eventbrite.co.uk) Early Bird: AUD $5 Regular: AUD $10 Cash at the Door: AUD $15 Booking ahead helps us plan the right group size and reserve the best space for everyone. ❤️ What You'll Experience 🤝 Hosted Fast Friends rounds — meet different people through guided conversations and rotations. 💬 Great Conversations Edition — themed prompts help you move beyond the usual introductions and discover shared interests. ✨ Interactive connection rounds — fun prompts woven throughout the evening to keep conversations fresh and flowing. 🙋 Come solo — you don't need to know anyone beforehand. Tony will welcome you and help everyone feel comfortable. 🍹 Stay & Socialise — continue chatting, grab some food or drinks and spend more time with the people you connected with. 🍻 Why Asian Beer Cafe? We're meeting at Asian Beer Cafe on Level 3 of Melbourne Central, right in the heart of the CBD, with a balcony overlooking Swanston Street and the State Library. And there's plenty to enjoy while you socialise: 🍕 $10 large pizzas 🍸 Cocktails from $12 🍺 $20 Tiger Beer jugs 🥃 $8 spirits The venue's Happy Hour runs 4–9 PM every day, so you can enjoy the specials throughout the evening. 🕖 Evening Flow 7:00 PM – Welcome & Drinks Meet Tony, grab a drink and settle in. 7:30–8:30 PM – Hosted Fast Friends Meet a new person every few minutes through guided conversations, with themed rounds woven throughout. From 8:30 PM – Stay & Socialise Keep chatting, grab another drink or some food, and spend more time with the people you clicked with. Good to Know 📅 Saturday, 5 September ✅ All ages welcome ✅ Most people attend on their own ✅ Friendly, hosted environment ✅ Easy Melbourne CBD location inside Melbourne Central ✅ Friendship and social event — not a dating event ✅ Everyone is welcome, whether you're new to Melbourne or simply looking to expand your social circle Come solo. Meet people. Have a great evening. Leave with new connections. ❤️ For over 10 years, Fast Friends has been bringing people together through professionally hosted social events in 30+ cities worldwide.

Dinner at Hecho en Mexico - $20 deposit required.

Feel like a Mexican night out? Why not join us in Thornbury on a Thursday night. Loved by locals, their quality of food and options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options means they cater to all tastes. Why not check it out with us? Please note there will be no split bill at this venue. Not sure? Why not check out their menu. https://hechoenmexico.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SAMPLE-MENU-2025.pdf A $20 non refundable deposit is required for this event and will be refunded on the night. The deposit will be required 48 hours from RSVPing to the event or you will be moved removed from the event. Please make payment to the following account only if you are on the going list. Please note the bank details. BSB 013125 Account 150808654 Please let me know once payment is made. Please use your name and venue as reference. And don't forget to check out our Facebook page. https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Northside-Explorers-113121036867952/?__nodl&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Ffbrdr%2F274%2F113121036867952%2F&_rdr

Filipino feast at Serai

Are you ready for a Filipino feast? Serai replicates the spirit, vitality, passion and sense of fun of the Phillipines, offering Filipino dishes reimagined and cooked over a wood-fired grill, fun cocktails and an all-natural wine list. I’ve eaten here before had have been dying to go back for their mouth-watering cabbage (it’s soooo good!) I have booked for 6 Fine Diners to enjoy the chef’s Feed Me menu at $105 per person for dinner from 6.30pm on Wednesday 26 August. Check out a sample menu here - price and menu items subject to change - https://seraikitchen.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Chefs-Tasting-Menu-Card-3_6.pdf 

Join the waitlist to express interest. After the first day or so of posting, once I have names in the waitlist, I’ll send you a ‘Meetup Message’ to confirm you have a spot and how to pay. You’ll need to send me $50 to secure your place (equivalent to the cancellation fee - this will be deducted from your bill when we settle up). Once paid I’ll move you from the waitlist to ‘Attending’. As these are small group events, there are often more Fine Diners interested than there are seats available. My approach to hosting an event is to share seats around amongst members of the group in as fair a manner as I can, including mixing Fine Diners regulars with newcomers. Please be respectful if there are events when you miss out on a spot. I will always message you so you know if you have secured a seat or are still waitlisted in case a seat opens up. Please check that you don’t have your settings blocking messages; if I can’t contact you, I’ll have to move on to the next person. Also if you don’t respond to my message offering you a spot within 3 days, I’ll let you know that I’m offering the seat to another person on the waitlist. 

I look forward you experiencing this amazing cabbage with me!

Free Run Club (Carlton/CBD)

IMPORTANT!: Registration required! Without registration, attendance is: $10 per person. For free entry, please register below: [https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/9r50vr](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/9r50vr) Overview: We're a friendly, welcoming community of runners in Carlton/CBD, and everyone is welcome - from complete beginners to advanced runners, we all train together. First-timers are always welcome, so if it's your first time, come along and say hi! Training type: Our focus is interval training, and we keep it fun and social. Free stuff for members! We sometimes line up sponsorships that align with our comunity, someties it's stuff like: free protein drinks and shakes, or discounted meals - and we often head out for dinner together after a run, or for special events. Exact location: The exact meeting location will be emailed to you once you register, so be sure to register beforehand. Training format / structure: 1: Easy 800m warm-up lap 2: Dynamic stretching and strides (20min) 3: Main workout — this rotates each week (sometimes hills, but most often it invovles intervals) Length: The whole session runs for about 50 minutes, followed by around 10 minutes of social talking. Register for you first attendance: First timers are required to register: [https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/9r50vr](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/9r50vr) See you there!

Taking Cover MLSC

Steak night at the Woodlands Hotel $20 deposit

Coburg’s oldest hotel has been transformed into a hidden wonderland, including a massive dog-friendly beer garden out the back. Featuring a range of curated craft beers on tap, delicious pub meals and friendly staff. Thursday night is $25 steak night, so why not join us for some food and laughs over dinner. Still not sot sure? Why not check out their menu. https://thewoodlands.com.au/eating/ A $20 non refundable deposit is required for this event and will be refunded on the night. The deposit will be required 48 hours from RSVPing to the event or you will be moved removed from the event. Please make payment to the following account only if you are on the going list. BSB 013125 Account 150808654 Please let me know once payment is made. PLEASE USE YOUR NAME AND VENUE AS YOUR REFERENCE. Please only RSVP to an event if you fully intend to show. Pulling out of a dinner or another booked event (with a venue) on the day is a kick in the teeth for both the venue and the organiser. I understand there are instances where this is unavoidable, but you are short changing the venue on the revenue they are reliant upon, especially when it comes to paying their staff. It may be too late to rebook those tables with other patrons. Not to mention the stress this puts the organisers under. Please be considerate.

Pasta Night at The Tippler & Co, East Melbourne