Whether you’re going for the game, the drinks and footy snacks, queen Kylie, or all of the above, these are the pubs to flock to this grand final week, good times guaranteed (unless your team gets walloped).
asserted
team → go → above
For Lions and Dockers diehards
The Royal Derby, Fitzroy
The Royal Derby may be a little rough around the edges, but it’s got plenty of heart and soul and one of the ’hoods biggest beer gardens.
uncertain
it → get → gardens
As the official pub for Brisbane (and original Fitzroy) Lions fans, a great atmosphere and huge crowd is guaranteed, so don something red, yellow and blue and get among it for raffles, rousing footy and an almighty roar, no matter what the result.
asserted
result → guarantee → raffles
446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy royalderbyhotel.com.au
The Great Northern Hotel, Carlton North
It may already be booked out for Saturday afternoon (some walk-ins will be available from 9am Saturday), but all this week the grand old Great Northern beer garden will be heaving with Fremantle Dockers fans, enjoying a parma, a pint, and lots of purple-hazed wharfie time before, during and after the game.
uncertain
garden → book → game
On Thursday, the DJ who whips the crowd into a frenzy at Dockers’ home games will be on the GN decks from 2-5pm.
asserted
who → whip → 2
For free-flowing all-inclusive food and drink
The Waterside Hotel, CBD
This seven-storey CBD superpub is putting on a good show on grand final day with big screens and five hours of free-flowing food and drinks in The Balter Lounge, throughout level one and on the wraparound terrace for $148 per person.
asserted
superpub → flow → person
Or pay as you go and watch it on the big screens on the ground floor.
asserted
you → pay → floor
The Docklands destination pub is throwing a rooftop viewing party, and you’re all invited.
asserted
you → throw → party
With a mega screen showing the game, pre- and post-game entertainment, roaming canapes and siren-to-siren bottomless house wine and schooners for $110 per person (upgrade to spirits for $130), it’ll be a great spot to spend the last Saturday in September.
asserted
it → show → September
693 Collins Street, Docklands quarterhouse.com.au
Good Nature Hotel, CBD
The Fed Square watering hole formerly known as Beer Deluxe is now Good Nature, and it’s getting in on the action early, opening at 9am for breakfast, live music and face painting before the game.
asserted
it → know → game
For $109 per person enjoy bottomless beer, wine and roaming canapes from 2pm-6pm, or take things up a notch, literally, at the rooftop VIP viewing party where $210 per person will get you premium drinks, deluxe food stations and guaranteed seats.
asserted
210 → enjoy → drinks
Whichever you choose, there’ll be DJs to dance to from the final siren until late.
asserted
you → choose → late
120 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, morrishouse.com.au
Terminus Hotel, Fitzroy North
The Fitzroy North Terminus (not to be confused with the Abbotsford Terminus, which is throwing its annual sold-out block party) is throwing a tailgate party with a half-time handball comp, face-painting, big screens showing the match and the great-value beer garden package.
asserted
which → confuse → match
For just $75 per person you’ll get siren-to-siren bottomless Bodriggy Speccy Juice among other drinks, stadium food and VIP seating.
asserted
you → get → drinks
492 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North terminus.com.au
Walk-ins welcome
Transport Hotel, CBD
If you’re looking for a place to base yourself not too far from the footy, Fed Square is a strong choice.
asserted
Square → welcome → footy
There’s no bookings, just walk-ins at Transport Hotel, which opens at 9am Saturday, with the game live and loud on 13 screens and three mega screens to make sure you won’t miss a second of the action.
asserted
you → ’ → action
Celebrations kick on late into the night — wear your dancing trainers.
asserted
Celebrations → kick → trainers
Transport Public Bar, Federation Square, transporthotel.com.au
The Imperial Hotel, CBD
Just 700 metres from the MCG, the Imperial makes a top meeting spot before, during or after the game, kicking off with breakfast from 8am and five levels of big screen footy action.
asserted
Imperial → make → action
2-8 Bourke Street, Melbourne, bourkestreetimperial.com
The London Tavern, Richmond
Its proximity to the mighty ’G makes this grand old boozer the perfect spot for an Ashcroft or Serong debrief before or after the game.
asserted
boozer → make → game
But if you didn’t nab a ticket, it’s also a cracking spot to watch the action on the big screens.
asserted
it → nab → screens
For a bucket-list footy experience, jostle for a spot among the diehards in the main bar while sipping Carlton Draught and yelling at players who’ll never hear you.
asserted
who → jostle → you
238 Lennox Street, Richmond, londontavernhotel.com
The Duke of Wellington, CBD
Melbourne’s oldest pub is a mere 15-minute walk from the MCG, making it the perfect pitstop for lucky footy-goers before or after the match.
asserted
it → make → match
With taps pouring from 10am and several levels of revelry from ground to rooftop, it’s set to be a long and lively celebration.
asserted
it → pour → rooftop
It’ll also be showing the big match loud and live on multiple big screens.
asserted
It → show → screens
146 Flinders Street, Melbourne, dukeofwellington.com.au
For back-to-back Kylie hits
Cleo Rooftop, CBD
If the actual footy is more of a sideshow for you and your crew, head to Cleo Rooftop and celebrate Kylie Minogue’s much anticipated pre-game performance with three-nights of Kylie’s biggest hits, back-to-back, all weekend.
asserted
footy → head → back
The Aporia
