7 Paintings Result in a Great Night Out
There’s no question in my mind that Melbourne’s food, art and innovation make it Australia’s top cultural destination. So the choice of the historic Rendezvous Hotel in Flinders Street for the first 7 Paintings dining experience is a no-brainer.
Launched in October 2025, this immersive collision of fine food, wine, technology and art has been a huge success, as witness the fully booked Mr Tompkins restaurant when we attend.
We were lucky enough to enjoy this fun dinner experience last week – as well as a ‘sleepover’ in one of the Perkins suites in the Rendezvous.
How the Seven Paintings Experience Works
Here’s how the Seven Paintings show works:
We’re invited to enter the Mr Tompkins restaurant at 7 pm, latest 7.10, so the show can start.
Our placemats – and an adjacent easel – are canvases for projections of famous works by Leonardo da Vinci, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and other iconic artists. We’re greeted by Leonardo, then Mona Lisa interjects to help guide us through the first course of tomato praline, with basil gel and watercress in a crostini.
Next, we’re surprised by Banksy’s iconic Girl with the Red Heart Balloon – the image that was famously shredded during an auction at Sotheby’s in 2018.
Further artworks follow with carefully coordinated courses – for Jackson Pollock’s ‘drip technique’, we are invited to paint our own canvas using vegetable puree of spinach, beetroot and pumpkin. For Vincent van Gogh, nothing less than a Starry Night will suffice, using chocolate as our medium.
Art, theatre and a sense of fun
Throughout this fun performance, staff are kept busy supplying and removing props of secret chests, paint brushes, ‘Warhol’ soup cans and ‘magic spray’. They also replenish generous servings of wine and cocktails.
And Mona Lisa continues to guide us as she picks up a machine gun or adopts a moustache – a reminder that art should be playful above all else.
All too soon, our adventure is ove,r and we are left to ponder the meaning of art and life! There are, of course, no answers, but the 7 Paintings experience raises all the right questions.
This would be a wonderful way for visitors to Melbourne to begin their stay, before visiting works by these same artists at the NGV or Ian Potter Gallery.
Not just for visitors
But 7 Paintings is not just for visitors. It’s also a fabulous adventure for those who live here. We travelled from home by tram, such an easy way to reach the Rendezvous.
The Rendezvous Hotel: A Melbourne Icon
The Rendezvous is an experience in itself. This heritage-listed gem was born before Flinders Street was even named! It started life as the accommodation for the Commercial Travellers Association (CTA) in 1899, six years before Flinders Street Station was constructed.
The hotel was relocated to 328 Flinders Street in 1913 when local architect Harry Tompkins won the competition to build the tallest building in Melbourne for the new CTA headquarters. In its heyday, it boasted a billiards room, hairdresser, grand dining room and cigar kiosk. Little wonder the long bar was where director Stanley Kramer chose to film ‘On the Beach’ with Ava Gardiner, Gregory Peck and Fred Astaire.
Under TFE ownership since 2013, this gem of a hotel has been lovingly restored. It now offers a perfect location in which to celebrate Marvellous Melbourne at your leisure.
A mid-week tip
My suggestion is that you plan your own 7 Paintings experience mid-week when rates are quite modest.
Hint: if you join the Rendezvous eclub an extra 30% discount will be applied!
At a glance: 7 Paintings at Rendezvous Hotel
Location: Mr Tompkins Restaurant, Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
Duration: Approximately 2.5–3 hours
Pricing (per person):
- Classic menu (7 courses): $179
- Vegetarian menu (7 courses): $169
- Children’s menu (up to 12 years, 7 courses): $99
Optional beverage packages:
- Free-flow beverage package (2 hours): $50 per person
- Free-flow beverage package for two guests (2 hours): $80 for two people
Accessibility: Step-free access to the hotel and restaurant; lifts and accessible bathrooms available
Getting there: Easy tram access along Flinders Street
Best time to go: Mid-week for better room rates
If you’re tempted to turn this into a relaxed overnight stay, the Rendezvous Hotel is easy to book online. Checking availability in advance is worthwhile, particularly mid-week when room rates can be surprisingly modest.
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The Seniors in Melbourne team was hosted by the Rendezvous Hotel. All opinions are the writers’ own.
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