It’s footy season, and the AFL Grand Final is fast approaching. This year, the match will kick off at 2:30pm on Saturday September 30. And if you can’t make it to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to watch the game live and in person, don’t worry. Melbourne is filled with heaps of pubs and restaurants that are airing the AFL Grand Final, live and loud on the big screen. These venues are having rooftop parties, opening for pre-game feeds, serving up special menus and more for the footy. So, get amongst the action and book yourself in to watch the Grand Final at one of these pubs around Melbourne.
1. Beer DeLuxe Fed Square
Watch the game live, stop by for a drink and more at this convenient spot between Flinders Street Station and the MCG. Beer DeLuxe Fed Square is open for pre-match meals and post-game drinks. Sip on beer, wine and cocktails, and feast on pub favourites like schnitzels, burgers and chips. Bookings are recommended.
πFederation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
2. Transport Hotel
Head to the ground floor of Transport Hotel and catch the AFL Grand Final on the big screen. Arrive early at Transport Public Bar and listen to live music from Michael Stangel from 11am to 2pm. Then, grab a drink, feast on pizza, and watch the game unfold live.
πTransport Hotel, Ground Level Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000
3. Richmond Club Hotel
Heading to the game? Stop by Richmond Club Hotel for their Grand Final Day Breakfast from 9am to 11am. Lunch bookings are also available from 12pm, and they will be showing the game on all their screens throughout the venue. Bookings are available between 2pm and 2:30pm, and walk-ins are available after 2:30pm. More info here.
π100 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
4. Prince Alfred Hotel
Enjoy a limited breakfast menu at Prince Alfred Hotel between 9am and 11:30am, or try their limited Γ la carte menu from 11:30am to 9:30pm. Bookings are available before 2pm, after that, it’s walk-ins only. Any booking made from 11:30am to 2pm will be extended throughout the game, and on into the evening, so you can watch the whole game live. See more here.
π619 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121
5. Harlow
Looking for an affordable feed? Harlow is serving up the pub classic, Pie & Chips, for just $15. While you eat, watch the Grand Final unfold on the big screen from pregame to postgame, from almost every angle in the venue. See more here.
π447 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121
6. New Quarter
New Quarter is opening early on Saturday for a Grand Final Brunch. Doors will open at 11am, with food and drink specials available throughout the day, like $10 tap beer and $50 XXL kaffir lime margarita carafes. Try out their Weekend Mess menu, and sample dishes like lemongrass pork cutlets, roasted turmeric chicken and more. Add on the unlimited drinks package for $60 per person, then have a leisurely stroll towards the MCG.
π79 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
7. The Posty
The Posty is celebrating the AFL Grand Final with bottomless brunch before the match. Feast on bottomless pizza, sangrias, spritz, house wine and beer. Then, walk it off on a leisurely 12-minute stroll to the MCG. Bottomless brunch is available from 11am to 1:30pm. It costs $59 per person, and bookings are recommended.
π90 Swan St, Cremorne VIC 3121
8. Morris House
Morris House is opening early on Grand Final Day to serve up breakfast bagels from 9am. Grab a quick brekkie before the game, or try their full menu from 11am and watch the Grand Final on the big screen from 2:30pm. Bookings are essential.
π120 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
9. The Crafty Squire
Visit the CBDβs only working microbrewery and cheer on your favourite team at The Crafty Squire. On Grand Final Day, they’re opening early from 9am so you can enjoy the pre-game energy. Then, take part in their Siren to Siren package, and enjoy bottomless craft beer, tap cider, select wine and bubbles, and halftime roaming snacks inside the Brew Bar. Watch the Grand Final live on all their screens, and stay after the match for some live music. Bookings are essential, and the drinking package costs $85 per person. Learn more here.
π127 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
10. The Hawthorn Hotel
The Hawthorn Hotel is also doing a Siren to Siren package on level one. This includes canapes before the game and during each break, as well as bottomless drinks. The package costs $89 per person. Meanwhile, all screens in the pub will show the game live. An Γ la carte menu will be available all day on the ground floor, with a live cover band playing after the game. Bookings available here.
π127 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
11. Imperial Hotel Bourke Street
Imperial Hotel are raising the roof with their Grand Final Day festivities. Pop by early for breakfast from 9am, and book a spot on the rooftop from 12:30pm for a pre-game atmosphere. They’ll have acoustic tunes from 6pm, and DJs from 8pm. Walk-ins are available downstairs all day long. Learn more here.
π2-8 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
12. Garden State Hotel
This pub in Melbourne is celebrating with live screenings, bottomless drinks and roaming canapes. The Grand Final Frenzy will start at 1:30pm and run until the final siren. Bookings at Garden State Hotel are essential, and cost $129 per person.
π101 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
13. Duke of Wellington
Doors open from 9:30am at the Duke of Wellington, so you can grab a bite and a drink before the game starts. There’s live music playing all weekend long, with tunes from 10:30am to 1pm on Grand Final Day. When the game is over, there will be a live 3-piece band downstairs, as well as a live DJ on the rooftop. There’s plenty of screens around, so you can enjoy a pub feast without missing a thing. More info here.
π146 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
14. Pullman Melbourne on the Park
Treat yourself to the AFL Grand Final Footy Feast at Pullman Melbourne on the Park. Close to the MCG, you can enjoy meat pies, arancini balls, beef sliders, sausages, fries and pizza from 12pm to 2:30pm and 5pm to 9pm on Saturday September 30. Prices start at $45 per adult and $22.50 per child. More details here.
π192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002
15. The Exchange Hotel
This pub in Port Melbourne is serving up a Grand Final Package for $75 per adult. Enjoy chicken wings and chips on arrival, a half time footy sharing platter for the table, and bottomless drinks like schooners of Carlton, house lager, house wine or soft drink. The Exchange Hotel is showing the game live on their big screens upstairs and in the lounge, as well as on the TVs in the bar. Learn more here.
π39 Bay St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
16. Builders Arms Hotel
Builders Arms Hotel will play the game on the big screen, and serve up a special $85 set menu for the Grand Final. From the first bounce at 2:30pm, tuck into some O’Connor Beef, Spencer Gulf Prawns, a chocolate cake and more. See more here.
π211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
17. Terminus Hotel, Fitzroy North
Terminus Hotel is playing the AFL Grand Final live on the big screen. Opt for a table booking, and order food and drink throughout the day, or treat yourself to a VIP package in the Sports Bar. The VIP package includes bottomless beer and wine, as well as tasty snacks, prime seats and half time spin and wins. The package is $100 per person. Learn more here.
π492 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North VIC 3068
18. Terminus Hotel Abbotsford
Terminus Hotel is shutting down Flockhart Street for an epic Grand Final Day block party in Abbotsford. Watch the game on the mega screen, while enjoying bottomless drinks and roving canapes. After that, the party will continue with live music from 5:30am to 8:30pm, and a DJ will continue the festivities until late in the evening. This experience costs $99 for the VIP Package. There’s also General Entry for $15, which gives you a drink on arrival and the ability to watch the game across multiple screens. However, general entry doesn’t give you access to the street party. Bookings are essential, learn more here.
π605 Victoria St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
19. Abbots Yard
Abbots Yard is airing the Grand Final live on their state-of-the-art LED screens. Relax in the outdoor beer garden and reserve a picnic table with enough space for eight people. Tickets include a table, a jug of Furphy and 16 chargrilled skewers. Learn more here.
π329-341 Victoria St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
20. Howler
This Brunswick venue has a brand new LED screen, which will play the Grand Final live in their spacious garden area. Enjoy a bite to eat and a drink, then, once the final siren airs, the garden at Howler will transform into Danceflora, a night dedicated to house music. Celebrate the end of the footy season and dance the night away from 6pm.
π7-11 Dawson St, Brunswick VIC 3056
21. Hawker Hall
Hawker Hall is playing the game live across multiple screens from 2:30pm. Celebrate with specials all day, like selected $15 cocktails. You can choose to eat something from the Γ la carte menu, or relax with a Boozy Yum Cha feast with free-flowing drinks for $66 per person. Bookings are recommended. Learn more here.
π98 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
22. College Lawn Hotel
Visit College Lawn Hotel for a pre-game breakfast from 9:30am, and lunch from 11:30am. Tables for the Grand Final are available to book from 2pm, and the game will air live across 20 TVs and two projector screens. After the match, there will be DJs from 7pm. See more here.
π36 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181
23. Hop Nation Footscray
Hop Nation Footscray has renovated their taproom, with 17 brews on tap, a pizzeria and more. Check out the new space and check out the Grand Final at the same time, by going to their AFL Grand Final Party on Saturday September 30. The game will be projected live on a huge 4 metre screen with surround sound. Watch it and try some seasonal limited-edition brews while you’re there. Bookings are recommended, but walk-ins are ok too.
πUnit 6/107-109 Whitehall St, Footscray VIC 3011
24. The Victoria Hotel
The Victoria Hotel is celebrating with a Grand Final Package. Sit at a table with a view of the screen, and eat your way through a Footy Feast platter. You’ll also receive three hours of bottomless beverages. This package costs $75 per person, and runs from 2pm. There’s also a room for kids, so the little ones can stay entertained. Bookings are recommended.
π188 Hyde St, Yarraville VIC 3013
25. The Orrong Hotel
This historic pub in Armadale has plenty of TVs for you to watch the game. While you watch the action, enjoy a comforting bite from their menu, like mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes, Louisiana hot wings and a classic chicken parma. Pair it with tap beers, cocktails and local wines. Bookings are required for the bistro, but walk-ins are available too.
π709 High St, Armadale VIC 3143
26. Welcome to Thornbury
Welcome to Thornbury is showing the Grand Final live across four screens, as well as a massive five-metre truck screen in the beer garden. There will be food and drink specials throughout the day, and extended bookings from 12pm to 6pm. See more here.
π520 High St, Northcote VIC 3070
27. Meatsmith
Meatsmith has some tasty footy specials for you to try if you’re celebrating at home. Grab a Meatsmith BBQ Box and enjoy plenty of choice cuts, like beef short rib and lamb loin chop, as well as two favourite condiments. The box comes in two sizes, with a small option for $88 and a larger size for $140. If you feel like a classic pie instead, Meatsmith are also serving up a pack of 8 Lamb & Bacon Party Pies for $35. Pre-ordering is recommended. You can find them, and more footy favourites, here.
πFitzroy, St Kilda, Brighton and Balwyn
28. Healesville Hotel
Out in the countryside for the long weekend? Head over for classic pub dishes and elevated bites at the newly restored Healesville Hotel. They’ve got two great screens in the venue for you to watch the game. Feast on chicken schnitzel, braised Tuscan pork and more, while enjoying local wine from the Yarra Valley. Bistro bookings are required, but walk-ins for the public bar and beer garden are welcome. See more here.
π256 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777
29. The Continental Sorrento
If you’re in the Mornington Peninsula for the long weekend, swing by The Continental Sorrento to catch the game. The promenade, beer garden and bar in The Conti will play the pre-match show and the game live throughout these spaces. Find out more and make a booking here.
π1/21 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943