Rooftop Imperial Hotel in Melbourne

Imperial Hotel: a pint opposite the Parliament of Victoria

A 19th-century pub crowned with a beer garden

On the corner of Bourke Street and Spring Street, right next to the Princess Theatre, the Imperial Hotel is one of Melbourne's oldest pubs: its history goes back to the mid-19th century, and its original red cedar doors still welcome the regulars. The pub spreads over three levels connected by a lift, with a bistro on the ground floor, private rooms and, at the very top, a vast rooftop terrace. Renovated and reopened in June 2026, the terrace has gained a new bar, new furniture, areas sheltered under a louvred structure and outdoor heaters. This is not a tower-top view: the colonnaded façade of Parliament stands directly opposite, while the city-centre skyscrapers frame the rest of the horizon.

Sport, music and happy hour

Here, sport is king: Australian rules football, Premier League, rugby, NFL or cricket are shown on the pub's screens and on the giant rooftop screen. From Thursday to Sunday, an acoustic musician plays on the rooftop from 6pm to 9pm, and a DJ takes over on Saturdays from 7pm to 11pm. At the bar, local and international beers on tap, wines, spritzes and classic cocktails; the rooftop menu focuses on sharing plates and snacks, while the pub kitchen serves the great classics, from schnitzel to burgers. On weekdays, from 4pm to 6pm, schooners, house wines and standard spirits are A$10, and on Thursdays and Fridays from 10pm to midnight, a classic cocktail costs A$16.

Practical information

Open daily from 11am, until 11pm Monday to Wednesday and on Sunday, until midnight on Thursday and until 2am on Friday and Saturday; kitchen from noon to 9pm (from 11.30am Wednesday to Sunday, until 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday). Online booking is recommended on big match nights; part of the rooftop can be hired exclusively for groups. Minors are admitted until 9pm if accompanied by a parent. Wheelchair access via the Bourke Street entrance, with a lift to the rooftop and toilets on site. Getting there: Parliament station is right outside the pub; trams on Spring Street and Bourke Street (routes 86 and 96), within the Free Tram Zone.