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 27. 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 street 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.
The best pubs to watch the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne
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. Entry is free downstairs, but if you’re after something a little more special, opt for the VIP Package upstairs. Priced at $115 per person, this package includes bottomless house beers and wines, as well as roaming canapes and a BBQ buffet at halftime. Bookings at Beer DeLuxe are recommended.
📍Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Transport Hotel
Head to the ground floor of Transport Hotel and catch the AFL Grand Final on the big screen. If you feel like a pre-game drink, the Public Bar will open from 9am. Watch the match unfold live on one of their nine screens. Then, keep the party going afterwards with a late-night DJ.
📍Transport Hotel, Ground Level Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000
Richmond Club Hotel
Heading to the game? Stop by Richmond Club Hotel from 9am for a bite to eat on the big day. The game will be played live on every screen, and you can look forward to acoustic sets downstairs and DJs upstairs. Check it out.
📍100 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Nixie Nox
This small watering hole in Richmond will be open for Grand Final Day. Nixie Nox will be open from 12pm, and you can make a booking from 2pm onwards. There will be a different menu on the day, featuring a mix of favourites from the venue as well as Grand Final specials. This venue fits just 40 people in the Public Bar, 25 people in the Atrium and 25 people in the Upstairs Private Room, so you don’t have to worry about massive crowds. Learn more here.
📍141 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Harlow
Swing by Harlow for a pregame meal from 10am on Grand Final Day. You can treat yourself to the full menu, as well as bacon & egg sangas. After the match, there will be DJs playing in the basement. See more here.
📍447 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121
Fargo and Co
Fargo and Co are starting the party early with a pregame event on Friday night. Start the long weekend right with DJs from 3pm. Treat yourself to a two-hour session of bottomless drinks and a selection of share plates.
After that, turn up on Granny Day, watch the game live and enjoy three hours of bottomless drinks and roaming snacks for $99 per person. There will be DJs afterwards to keep the party going. Learn more here.
📍216 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Flour Child Richmond
Flour Child Richmond has a pre-game session for you to enjoy on the day. Get your energy up with two hours of bottomless cocktails and a party pinsa pizza from 12pm to 2pm for $89 per person. Or, stick around for the Siren to Siren package, which gives you three hours of cocktails, wine and beer, as well as delicious pizza. This package is $129 per person. Learn more here.
📍432 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121
Bridge Road Main Street
Bridge Road in Richmond will have a massive street party on Grand Final Day. Kicking off at 10am, there will be plenty of festivities before, during and after the game. There will be two street closures, and DJs and live music playing beats throughout the day. Pop by participating venues like The Sporting Globe, Richmond Republic, Bouzy Rouge and more for your game day feed. Find more details here.
📍Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121
The Posty
The Posty is celebrating with an AFL Grand Final Laneway Party. See the game live on a megascreen, and stick around afterwards for drinks and music. The Posty is open from 10am till late, and it’s just a 12-minute stroll from there to the MCG. See more here.
📍90 Swan St, Cremorne VIC 3121
Morris House
Morris House is serving up bottomless sips and roaming canapes for $109 on Level 1 on Grand Final Day. Head up to the Rooftop for bottomless drinks, roaming canapes and deluxe food stations for $210 per person. Both of these packages will run from 2pm to 6pm, with DJs playing until late after the game. Of course, they will be airing the game live. More info here.
📍120 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
The Hawthorn Hotel
The Hawthorn Hotel is playing the game live, and serving up bottomless beers and wines, along with classic footy snacks for $99 per person. More info here.
📍127 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hickens Hotel
There will be live music and DJs at Hickens Hotel on Thursday and Friday to kick off the celebrations. Then, doors open at 10am on Grand Final Day. Expect wall-to-wall screens in Abe’s Athletic Hall on Level 2, as well as booth packages and two private viewing rooms. After the match, there will be a band in Abe’s and a DJ on the rooftop. Learn more here.
📍127 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Imperial Hotel Bourke Street
Imperial Hotel has a pretty great day planned for the Grand Final. Pop by for breakfast from 8am, or enjoy the full menu from 11:30am. Watch the games on screens from the ground floor to the rooftop, and have fun with a live band on the rooftop from 5:30pm and a DJ from 8pm till late.
📍2-8 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Quarterhouse
Journey up to the Rooftop of Quarterhouse for an exclusive screening of the Grand Final. Watch the match on a four metre screen, and enjoy roaming canapes, bottomless drinks and live entertainment. This package costs $110 per person, or you can upgrade it to include bottomless spirits for an extra $20. Find out more.
📍693 Collins St, Docklands VIC 3008
Melbourne Public
There’s a few packages for you to choose from at Melbourne Public on Grand Final Day. Watch the game across 13 screens, and listen to live music before the game, and DJs after the final siren. The packages have something for everyone, with brekkie burgers, meat platters, beer towers and more. See more here.
📍11 Dukes Walk, South Wharf VIC 3006
Boatbuilders Yard
The Boatbuilders Yard is playing the game live on the jumbotron in the beer garden, as well as on eleven other big screens around the venue. Entry is free and they’ll be open from 8am. There will be food specials from 12pm to 10pm, including a kilo of Creole spiced grilled wings. Find out more.
📍23 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf VIC 3006
Albert Park Hotel
Albert Park Hotel will open from 12pm. Catch a great view of the game across multiple screens, and tuck into snacks from Happy Valley’s Cantonese menu, like prawn toast and kung pao chicken. On the day, there will be Carlton Draught specials, including $5 pots, $10 pints and $20 jugs. Plan your visit here.
📍85 Dundas Pl, Albert Park VIC 3206
Harvey’s Sports Bar & Grill
Harvey’s in St Kilda has got a massive 4-metre screen for you to watch the game on, as well as an additional 17 other screens around the venue. Treat yourself to the four-hour bottomless food and drinks package for $110 per person. This package will run from 2pm to 6pm, and includes roaming canapes and free flowing beers, wines and soft drinks. From 6pm, there will be a live band, DJ and drink specials. Learn more here.
📍169 Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC 3182
Hotel Esplanade
The Espy has a couple of cool things going on Grand Final Day. Pop into the Gershwin Room for three hours of drinks and roaming canapes for $110 per person. Or, head to the Sunroom for drinks, a hearty lunch and canapes at half-time for $150 per person. You could also go into Mya Tiger upstairs for a three-course banquet for $80 per person. See more here.
📍11 The Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182
The Terminus Hotel Abbotsford
The Terminus Hotel in Abbotsford is throwing an AFL Grand Final Block Party. Watch the game on a Mega Outdoor Screen, enjoy roaming canapes and a siren-to-siren drinks package, as well as live entertainment. This party is $154 per person. See more here.
📍605 Victoria St, Abbotsford, VIC 3067
Abbots Yard
Abbots Yard is airing the Grand Final live on their state-of-the-art LED screens. Secure your spot in the outdoor beer garden with a food and drink package. A sausage sizzle and bar snacks will also be available to purchase on the day. See more here.
📍329-341 Victoria St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Builders Arms Hotel
Wander over to Builders Arms Hotel from 11am on Grand Final Day. Kick things off with bacon & egg rolls, and $3 pots until the first goal. Unwind with a long lunch from 1pm, or opt for handmade sausage rolls in the Public Bar. Learn more here.
📍211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Welcome to Thornbury
Welcome to Thornbury is showing the Grand Final live across the venue. Doors open from 12pm, and there’s plenty of food trucks for you to choose from. There will be adult oranges at half time, and you can book a four-hour drinks package if you’re interested. See more here.
📍520 High St, Northcote VIC 3070
Half Moon
Half Moon will have multiple screens airing the game, and will be open from 12pm. Quench your thirst with Carlton Draught on tap, and fast on shared plates, pasta and pub classics from the à la carte menu. Check it out.
📍120 Church St, Brighton VIC 3186
