Budget Friendly Events Melbourne

Social Buddhist Meetup (18-35)

The Sutta & Social Circle is a space designed for deep reflection, practical insight, and warm community connection. Held in a relaxed library setting, this gathering offers an easeful flow to explore Buddhist teachings, deepen your practice, and meet like-minded people. Flow of the Gathering: * **Interactive Sutta Study (Insight Practice)** We begin by looking at specific Suttas (Buddhist texts) and sharing our personal experiences. Together, we’ll uncover practical tools and mindsets to cultivate lasting inner peace. * **Guided Meditation (Developing Concentration)** Next, we transition into a calming guided meditation to quiet the mind. This practice focuses on building concentration, helping us ground and integrate the tools we discovered during our Sutta study. * **Breakout Social Circles (Sharing & Integration)** To the sound of a gong, we naturally shift into small breakout circles. This is a warm, supportive space to share your meditation insights or reflect on life in general. * **Tea, Biscuits & Community** We wrap up with an open-ended social time. Enjoy tea, biscuits, or any shared snacks brought by participants, with full freedom to chat, ask questions, or simply relax in good company at your own pace. Social Buddhist Meetup

FREE Bachata & salsa lesson! (plus: social dancing)

**IMPORTANT: Registration required!** Registration for free the free class is required! Without a registration, it's $20 per person. To register, please use the link below: Register here: [https://justeasiertogether.com/r/bs1y4j](https://justeasiertogether.com/r/bs1y4j) **Overview:** Join us for **Tromba Latin Fiesta at Ms Collins**, one of Melbourne's most popular weekly Latin dance nights. Everyone is welcome — whether you're completely new to Latin dancing or an experienced dancer. No partner is required, and the atmosphere is friendly, social, and beginner-friendly - it's also a great way to met new people. Enjoy an exciting night of **Cuban Salsa, Bachata, Salsa, Reggaeton, Merengue, and Latin party music** in the heart of Melbourne CBD. FREE **Dance Classes!:** All dance classes are FREE (if you have regsitered). **Class Schedule:** 🕗 **8:00 PM – FREE Beginner Bachata Class** 🕗 **8:00 PM – FREE Intermediate Cuban Salsa Class** 🕘 **9:00 PM – FREE Beginner Salsa Class** 🕘 **9:00 PM – FREE Intermediate Bachata Class** After the classes, stay for social dancing and meet new people while enjoying Latin music throughout the night. ⏰ **Classes start from:** 8:00 PM 💃 **Social dancing:** After classes until late **What to Expect** • Friendly and welcoming community • Beginner-friendly environment • No partner needed • Multiple dance styles and music throughout the night • Great way to meet new people and experience Melbourne's Latin dance scene **Dress Code:** Smart casual. **You will be refused entry if wearing:** • Gym wear • Singlets • Thongs • Athletic clothing Valid photo ID is required for entry. **Registration:** Registration is required for first-time attendees in order to get get a free class: [https://justeasiertogether.com/r/bs1y4j](https://justeasiertogether.com/r/bs1y4j)

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 $4 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 **100–120 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**

Vietnamese...

Rooftop Fast Friends | Meet New Friends | Ages 25–45

Looking to meet new people without the awkwardness? Fast Friends is a professionally hosted social experience that helps you meet like-minded ladies and gents through fun, guided conversations—making it easy to build genuine friendships in just one evening. Whether you're new to Melbourne or simply looking to expand your social circle, you'll enjoy a relaxed evening of great conversations, rooftop views, and new connections. ❤️ Most guests come on their own, so you'll be in great company from the moment you arrive. 🎟️ Tickets – Book Early & Save: [https://mel8thaug.eventbrite.co.uk⁠](https://mel8thaug.eventbrite.co.uk⁠) Early Bird: AUD $5 Regular: AUD $10 Cash at the door: AUD $15 (pay your host, Ivy) Any debit or credit card is accepted at checkout. A PayPal account is not required. Advance bookings help us reserve the right space and create the best possible experience for everyone. ✨ Why You'll Love It 🤝 Meet lots of like-minded people in one evening. 💬 Hosted conversations that make meeting new people easy and natural. 🌇 Enjoy one of Melbourne's most popular rooftop bars with beautiful city views. 🙋 Friendly, welcoming atmosphere for solo attendees and first-timers. 🍹 Stay afterwards and continue chatting with the people you connected with. 🕖 Evening Flow 7:00 PM – Welcome & Drinks Meet your host, Ivy, grab a drink, and settle in. If it's your first event, arrive a little early and we'll happily introduce you to a few people before we begin. 7:30 PM – Hosted Fast Friends Meet a variety of new people through a series of short, guided conversations designed to help you skip the awkward introductions and discover genuine connections. From 8:30 PM – Stay & Socialise The hosted conversations finish, but the evening doesn't. Continue enjoying the rooftop atmosphere and get to know the people you connected with. 📍 Venue We'll be meeting at Good Heavens Rooftop, a spacious rooftop venue in the heart of Melbourne with fantastic city views and a relaxed atmosphere that's perfect for meeting new people. If you'd like more affordable drinks or food after the hosted session, Springrock Public House on the ground floor is a great option to continue the conversations. Good to Know ✅ Designed for ladies and gents aged 25–45. ✅ You're welcome to bring a lady friend free of charge if it helps you feel more comfortable. ✅ This is a friendship and social event, not a dating event. ✅ Members from our other Melbourne Meetup groups may also attend, creating an even more vibrant mix of people to meet. Why Tickets? Your ticket helps us reserve suitable space, support our hosts, manage group sizes, and create a welcoming, professionally organised experience. About Fast Friends For over 10 years, Fast Friends has been helping people build genuine friendships through professionally hosted social events in 30+ cities worldwide. Come solo. Leave with new friends. ❤️

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/ga1dhc](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/ga1dhc) 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/ga1dhc](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/ga1dhc) See you there!

Introductory Buddhist Talk & Group Meditation

Are you looking for an opportunity to learn more about Buddhism and meditation? Come and join us for our regular Buddhist meditation sessions every Tuesday. Every session will start with a short introductory and will be followed by a guided, 20 - 30 minute meditation. Feel free to join us after the session for some social time and questions and answers. The evening is free of charge, but donations are always welcome. More info can be found here: https://diamondway.org.au/centres/melbourne

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!

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

BeSocial. Brunch and New Friends

Meet new people over good food, easy conversation, and a relaxed weekend brunch. This event is designed for anyone who wants to make new friends in a warm, low-pressure setting. Instead of a loud or overwhelming social event, we’ll keep things simple: a small group, a welcoming table, and friendly conversations that help everyone feel included. You can come alone — most people will. We’ll use a few light BeSocial prompts to make introductions easier and help conversations move beyond the usual “what do you do?” small talk. Whether you’re new to the area, rebuilding your social circle, or just looking for more genuine connection in your week, this is a simple and enjoyable way to meet people who are also open to friendship. The goal is to leave feeling like you shared a good meal, had real conversations, and maybe found someone you’d like to catch up with again. Perfect for: brunch lovers, first-time attendees, people new to the area, young professionals, and anyone wanting an easy weekend way to meet new friends. To help you get the most out of the event, we ask that you download our app before you arrive (or upon arrival). The app will be used throughout the event for prompts, activities, and other interactive content so having it ready will ensure you can fully participate. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/besocial/id6759604739 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appetiser.besocial&hl=en Event photography and videography may take place at this event. Images and footage captured may be used in future BeSocial promotional materials. If you do not wish to appear in promotional materials, please notify Nexaro Group Pty Ltd before the event by emailing support@besocialapp.co, or let the event hosts know on the day.

Dinner at The Great Northern Hotel - $20 deposit required

We're back at the Great Northern for again for another great night. Wear your best frock. It's $20 burger night. Their classic GNH burger, Peri chicken or the love buds vegan burger. All for $20. Come join us for dinner and a chat in the heart of Carlton North (is there a heart of Carlton North?). Why not check out their menu. https://www.gnh.net.au/foodmenu A $20 non refundable deposit is required for this event and will be returned back to you on the night. This is to negate no shows. 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 contact me for bank details 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.

Music Bingo