Giddy up – here’s where to sip, snack and spend Melbourne Cup around Brisbane
Melbourne Cup is racing our way and we’ve put together your go-to guide for all the celebrations happening around Brisbane. It’s time to dust off your finest fascinator, suit up and get ready for an afternoon of live entertainment, gourmet bites and free-flowing bubbles on Tuesday November 4. Here’s what Brisbane has in store…
Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane: This Melbourne Cup day, Lina Rooftop presents Maison De La Course – a lavish French-inspired celebration set high above Brisbane’s city skyline. Guests will enjoy a three-hour premium beverage package featuring Laurent Perrier champagne, top-shelf spirits and cocktails, paired with roving French-style canapes such as duck-parfait tartlets with spiced marmalade gel, smoked ham-hock croquettes with honey-mustard remoulade, and cote de boeuf sliders with gruyere and truffle aioli. Tickets are available here.
OASIS Cruising, Brisbane City: Brisbane’s favourite floating entertainment venue is hosting its inaugural Melbourne Cup celebration, A Cup Voyage. Guests can enjoy a 3.5-hour cruise with ticket options spanning general entry, an all-inclusive food and beverage package, or the choice to upgrade to OASIS’ premium VIP booths and tables. Tickets include a drink on arrival and access to all three levels, and with a fully retractable roof for all weather, every guest will cruise in comfort. Tickets are available here.
Soko Rooftop, Fortitude Valley: Soko Rooftop is raising the stakes this Melbourne Cup day, blending Japanese-Peruvian flavours with rooftop glamour for a celebration that’s as stylish as it is delicious. With Brisbane’s skyline as the backdrop and an atmosphere to rival the thrill of the track, guests can expect an afternoon of live entertainment, dance-worthy beats and a feast of flavour as they revel in the race that stops the nation. Tickets are available here.
Victoria Park, Herston: Saddle up for Melbourne Cup day at Victoria Park Bistro, where leafy surrounds, city views and an easy-going atmosphere set the scene for a relaxed race-day celebration. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the thrill of the race without all the formality – just good food, great company and plenty of Cup Day energy. From 11:30 am the fun begins, with live music setting the mood and the races screened live and loud so you won’t miss a moment of the action. To keep the celebrations flowing, the Chandon Garden Spritz Bar will be pouring all afternoon, adding a refreshing sparkle to the day. Book your table here.
Queen’s Wharf, Brisbane City: Melbourne Cup day is galloping into Brisbane’s newest entertainment destination, Queen’s Wharf Precinct, bringing a dazzling mix of food, fashion and festivities to the riverside. The Star Brisbane Event Centre brings ballroom glamour and plenty of race-day thrill, with chilled seafood on arrival, a three-course menu, premium beverages and an exclusive live performance by RICKI-LEE. At Sokyo, executive chef Alex Yu presents a five-course Japanese feast paired with three hours of Veuve Clicquot, live entertainment and Fashions off the Field. Guests can also take in the Melbourne Cup buzz 100 metres above Brisbane at Sky Deck’s Cicada Blu or keep the celebrations going at LiveWire Bar. Details, menus and tickets are available here.
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Donna Chang, Brisbane City: Blush-hued inner-city neo-Chinese restaurant Donna Chang will be getting into the race-day spirit with a deluxe soiree, featuring a three-course banquet as well as a 3.5-hour beverage package boasting champagne, spirits, cocktails and premium wines. Secure your tickets here.
Emporium Terrace Rooftop Bar, South Bank: The Terrace Rooftop Bar will once again play host to its annual Melbourne Cup Luncheon, transforming into a glamorous race-day destination. Guests will be welcomed with champagne and freshly shucked oysters before settling in for four indulgent hours of food and free-flowing beverages. With lively entertainment, sweepstakes, fashion competitions and the race broadcast on a spectacular 5-m-wide screen. The event is held in support of the Mater Foundation – secure your seats here.
Greca, Brisbane City: Greca will be kicking off its cup day with a complimentary glass of Taittinger Champagne on arrival before serving up a delicious banquet menu and three-hour drinks package. The cup day feast is designed to be shared and stacked with Greca favourites like the saganaki with honey, lemon and oregano, a grilled lamb cutlets platter and an indulgent katoumari dessert. Tickets are available here.
Izakaya Publico, Brisbane City: This cup day it’s all about the heels as Izakaya Publico switches up the usual race-day formula. Guests will be treated to a plethora of entertainment including a drag show, drag bingo, fashions on the field and beats from DJ Sexy Kyle. Guests will enjoy a premium three-hour drinks package and a shared Japanese-inspired feast. Tickets are available here.
Opa Bar and Mezze, Brisbane City: Celebrate Melbourne Cup with a Greek feast by the river at Opa. With two banquet options available, you can choose to sit in the restaurant or by the bar and dig into a sumptuous spread including the likes of chargrilled octopus, fetta saganaki, flash-fried calamari, lamb shoulder and lemon potatoes. Gallop over here to book a spot.
Persone, Brisbane City: Immerse yourself in opulent Italian elegance for this year’s Melbourne Cup as Persone welcomes you to their glamorous race day dining experience. The riverside restaurant is dishing up an exquisite three-course menu full of authentic Italian flavour, from fresh focaccia to wagyu eye fillet, paired with a premium three-hour beverage package for prime race day refreshments. Dress up in your spring best for fashions on the field while the big screen livestreams all the action on the track. Tickets are $199 per person and can be secured by trotting over here.
Phoenix Brisbane, Brisbane City: Phoenix Brisbane is bringing the fun to Melbourne Cup this year, offering all the thrilling action of the field from the comfort of its intimate and sophisticated interior. Phoenix will be serving up a sumptuous a la carte feast of fresh seafood, yum cha and Chinese classics, with two luxurious private dining rooms available for hire for those celebrating with a larger group. Head over here to make your reservation.
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sAme sAme Restaurant, Fortitude Valley: Ada Lane’s favourite pan-Asian eatery is raring to go for the Melbourne Cup this year. The celebrated venue’s race day offering includes a slew of champagne, signature cocktails, beer and wine, paired with a decadent feast. The sAme sAme shared banquet features delicacies including grilled wagyu beef brisket, Moreton Bay bug and the sAme sAme chicken burger for feasting as you watch the race on the big screen. Bookings can be made here.
Stanley, Brisbane City: Join Stanley Restaurant and its head chef Louis Tikaram this November for an exquisite riverside celebration and four-course Cantonese banquet. Expect an afternoon of feasting on Yellowfin tuna, oysters and grilled wagyu and sipping on a selection of champagne, spritzes, beers and more while you kick back and watch the show on the big screen. Get a ticket here before they’re all snatched up.
The Aviary Terrace Bar and BŌS Brisbane, Brisbane City: Set your sights on an exciting collaborative celebration as BŌS Brisbane and The Aviary Terrace join forces to take on the biggest race day of the year. By booking in for a premium lunch at BŌS, guests earn complimentary access to The Aviary Terrace party, where cocktails, DJs and best-dressed competitions await. Dine on delicacies from the Punters Board and get involved in charity sweepstakes while all the race day excitement is broadcasted on screen. Head here to secure your spot.
Gusto da Gianni, Hamilton: Gusto Da Gianni celebrates authentic Italian cuisine with a spectacular riverside setting. The restaurant provides the ideal backdrop for race day revelry with live screening of the races, live music, a la carte menu and drinks on consumption. Tickets can be booked here.
Bisou Bisou, Fortitude Valley: French-inspired restaurant Bisou Bisou will be hosting a race-day soiree like no other. Experience Bisou Bisou’s three-course banquet with an optional three hour beverage package that’s perfect to enjoy while taking in every moment of the trackside excitement. Grab your tickets here.
Blackbird Bar & Grill, Brisbane City: If you’re itching to be in the centre of the action this Melbourne Cup, you can’t beat Blackbird’s two-level riverside locale as your party spot. The venue is hosting two events, both offering stunning views of the Story Bridge and the Brisbane River, as well as free-flowing champagne, cocktails, spirits, wine and beer. Find out more here.
The Regatta, Toowong: One of Brisbane’s most iconic venues invites you to take your race day celebration riverside with two events on offer. The Regatta Hotel will be offering a three-hour degustation in the Winterford Room on the ground floor, complete with roaming canapes, seafood station and live broadcasting of the race. Head upstairs for a three-course crafted menu paired with premium beverages for a taste of refined elegance, which you can book here. The Boatshed is also offering their yearly Melbourne Cup Luncheon, where sweepstakes, best dressed prizes and live race broadcasting can be found – all with stunning river views. Find out more here.
Yoko, Brisbane City: Head on down to Brisbane’s favourite riverside precinct for a choice of two vibrant gatherings at Yoko for Melbourne Cup. Settle in and celebrate with sweeping river views, the energy of Tokyo, electric DJ sets and the big race on broadcast all afternoon. Take your choice of seating with the Indoor Package or the Premium Outdoor Package – both will see you greeted with a glass of champagne, sweepstakes, access to the official B-side afterparty and a full izakaya banquet, offering tempura soft-shell crab burgers, grilled king prawns and wagyu scotch fillet steak. Book your spot here.
The Glo House, Roma Street Parkland: Brisbane’s brand new fully transparent venue is finally here and ready to take on the biggest race day of the year. The Glo House will host an indulgent afternoon complete with a three-course lunch by Emporium Hotel and a premium four-hour beverage package featuring Perrier-Jouët Champagne. While the race is live broadcasted, guests can also enjoy entertainment, prizes, sweeps and raffles – which support the Children’s Hospital Foundation – to keep the energy high long after the finish line. Secure your spot here.