Top 10 ways to celebrate Melbourne Cup in Brisbane 2015

While it's not an official day off, Melbourne Cup has become a bit of a pseudo public holiday in Queensland, with most workplaces resigning themselves to the bare minimum of work on the first Tuesday in November. If you haven't got out of the starter gate when it comes to sorting a venue, book in to one of the following, dust off your fascinator, don your best frock and set your email to "out of office".

City dining

Free-flowing Louis Roederer champagne and a three-course shared banquet with dishes including whole roasted lamb shoulder and prawn and chorizo risotto, and a trifecta of desserts are part of the deal at E'cco Bistro. The cost is $185 per person and there's a not-to-be-sniffed-at $10,000 prize pool, including sweepstakes and best dressed awards.

E'cco Bistro,100 Boundary Street, Brisbane, 07 3831 8344, eccobistro.com.au

Chef's choice

Whether you're a large group or small, Sake's seating options cover it all, with a choice of main dining room, private rooms and an al fresco deck. A nine-course omakase (chef's choice) menu is on offer for Melbourne Cup, and includes steamed prawn dumplings, kingfish jalapeno, gyoza and wagyu teriyaki, plus a glass of Veuve Cliquot bubbles ($99).

Sake, Eagle Street Pier, Eagle Street, Brisbane, 07 3015 0557, sakerestaurant.com.au

Hats and high tea

Take an elegant high tea with a glass of sparkling wine or champagne on arrival at the five star Stamford Plaza. Savoury and sweet selections are accompanied by equally sweet tunes from resident piano man Josh Rush. The high tea buffet is $75 with sparkling wine or $125 with Moet.

Stamford Plaza Hotel 39 Edward Street, Brisbane, 07 3100 5749, stamford.com.au/spb

Riverside

Canapes, seafood and substantial food stations created by Black Bird's executive chef Jake Nicolson are matched with champagne, cocktails, premium spirits, and beer in an inclusive 4.5 hour package for $199. There's also a Fashions on the Field competition, live coverage of the day's races, DJs and entertainment.

Black Bird Bar and Grill, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane, 07 3229 1200, blackbirdbrisbane.com.au

Charitable

Up your karma quotient with a ticket to Moda's Endeavour Foundation Melbourne Cup lunch at Portside. The two-course lunch ($110 per person or $1000 for a table of 10) includes beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as sweeps, raffles and silent auctions, prizes for Fashions on the Field and entertainment. Live coverage of the action at Flemington will be broadcast on the big screens.

Mos Events, Level 2 Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton, melbournecup.endeavour.com.au/tickets

Luxe

Champagne is de rigueur on Melbourne Cup Day and Stokehouse has a four-hour all inclusive package of premium beverages including Veuve Cliquot champagne and a three-course menu for $250 per person. There are prizes for the best dressed, as well as live entertainment from 11.30am, sweeps and the big race on the big screen.

Stokehouse Q, 1 Sidon Street, South Brisbane, 07 3020 0600, stokehousebrisbane.com.au

Champagne and oysters

Enjoy a flashy start with Louis Roederer and oysters on arrival at Public, followed by a four-course lunch ($95). Punters can choose to upgrade to the beverage package ($155), with last drinks called at the end of the big race. There is also a sweepstake, lucky door prize, prize for best dressed and entertainment.

Upper Level 1, 400 George Street, Brisbane, 07 3210 2288, lovepublic.com.au

Under $100

Put your dollars on a horse instead. For just $99 the Pineapple Hotel has a three-course menu with favourites such as tiger prawn cocktail, Bangalow Farm pork belly with caramelised apples, and Ranger Valley eye fillet, with a sweet finish of petit fours and chocolate. Includes a three hour drinks package and prizes for the best dressed.

706 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, 07 3393 1111, pineapplehotel.com.au

Trackside

It's not Flemington, but the Brisbane Racing Club at Doomben Raceway is as close as you can get. There are still spots left in various marquees (packages start at $80). Or go no-frills with a general entry ticket ($20).

Brisbane Racing Club, 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot, 07 3268 2171, brc.com.au/melbournecup

Just open

It's a baptism of fire for the crew at new Paddington venue Darling & Co, who throw open the doors on the former Iceworks site on Melbourne Cup Day. There's a choice of cocktail party ($85) or sit-down three-course lunch ($90) with a DJ continuing the post-race party.

Darling & Co, corner of Dowse Street and Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, 07 33679800, darlingpaddington.com.au