MPavillon - Brimbank

Great little place hidden in the Botanic gardens. Perfect for families for coffee and a relaxing place to chill out from the Melbourne heat.

MPavilion is reopening at the start of October 2016 for its 2016-2017 summer season. This time around the pavilion design is by architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai.

I'm writing in late February: the MPavilion has just closed down after its summer season; watch out for its reappearance next spring. It's an innovative outdoor venture in the gardens opposite the NGV. Thanks to the far-sighted philanthropist responsible for co-operating with the City of Melbourne to bring it into being. It hosts a diverse program of small gatherings, workshops, conversations, and other creative doings. Architecturally speaking, the pavilion is interesting but derivative. There is a lot of potential here, and I'd never call the M 'average', however I don't know that it rates a lot more than 3 stars so far.

Inspired contribution to the life and culture of this city. In recent years it springs up in the Queen Victoria Gardens (across the street from the National Gallery of Victoria) around late October and blooms til well into February. Elegant, simple, unpretentious yet a focus for a dazzling variety brief amusements and delights. Wander in, join the throng of between one and several hundred. Find a seat or a cushion beneath the architectural whimsy or a grassy patch beneath the stars. Blankets on a chilly evening. Good, simple catering. The whole thing is very well done. I was there one evening last week and who should wander in but one of the world's finest classical violinists, Richard Tognetti with 3 highly talented buddies. After a joyous hour of Vivaldi, Bach and some more recent composers, they wandered off into the night with a wave. **** marvellous!

Just stop by in the morning and take a coffee while enjoying the birds. The MPavilon is a summer institution of Melbourne. Each summer a new pavilion is build, and the old ones get donated to the city to be used in other parks. Nice modern art project. They also organize many activities.