10 places to celebrate Cup Day (and the long weekend) in Melbourne

As Melbourne readies for its most normal Cup Day in three years, hospitality venues are stepping up to the occasion with garden-themed bars, zesty cocktails, boozy brunches and DJs. Others are simply embracing business as usual: unlike the previous two years, there will be no restrictions on diner numbers or requirements to keep guests seated or socially distanced.

Victorians who are using the public holiday to create an unofficial long weekend are also well catered for, with beachside gigs, margarita bars and more fun.

Pre-Cup

Patio Party at Poodle, Fitzroy

Seafood snacks upstairs, charcoal-kissed bites in the courtyard, a margarita bar, DJs and fresh natural wines: the crew at Poodle know how to make the most of a quasi long weekend. They've also invited their chef pal Jack Short from Bar Romantica to get in on the fun.

Sunday, October 30. Tickets $10 (food and drink additional) via Eventbrite

Cup Day Eve at Tetto Carolina, South Yarra

Embracing the public holiday and Mexico's Day of the Dead, this upstairs bar on Chapel Street will be offering a suite of tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails, Mexican-leaning bites, and DJs Max Vegas and Juan Martinez for a late-night party.

Monday, October 31. Book at tettodicarolina.com.au

Client Liaison at Portsea Hotel, Portsea

The tongue-in-cheek retro pop of duo Client Liaison kicks off the live acts that will play at this seaside pub all summer. If that doesn't feel like the start of the silly season, we don't know what does.

Saturday, October 29. Tickets from $70. Book at portseahotel.com.au

Cup Day

Yarra Botanica, CBD

If there's one thing more Melbourne than Cup Day, it's a floating bar on the Yarra. This one is doubling down on the festivities with a brunch of bacon and egg tartlets, trout bagels and more, paired with Chandon sparkling (what else?). Chandon is also jumping aboard for lunch, a fizz-fuelled affair of flatbread, burrata with Warrigal greens pesto, and more.

Breakfast $45 (food and one drink), lunch $95 (food and two drinks), yarrabotanica.com.au

Public House, Richmond

One of Richmond's best rooftops is open, with atmosphere by the truckload, a swag of prizes and plenty of wow-factor photo opps. Canapes and grazing boards are included in the ticket price, as is free-flowing wine, beer, G.H. Mumm champagne and cocktails. Fashions on the rooftop and other prizes will be drawn; races will be shown live.

$160 for 4 hours of food and drink, publichouse.com.au

Albert Park Hotel, Albert Park

With a restaurant that shares a name with Hong Kong's racecourse, Happy Valley, it's no wonder Melbourne Cup Day is a big deal here. A garden bar has been erected for the carnival, sticking around until November 6, serving snacks and spring-inspired cocktails. Or you can book for the full Cantonese banquet inside at the restaurant, with sparkling wine and a sweep ticket included. A DJ will up the tempo from mid-afternoon.

Walk-ins for garden bar, $149 tickets for Happy Valley, albertparkhotel.com.au

Stomping Ground, Collingwood, Moorabbin

This local brewer's northside and southside beer halls will be open the entire long weekend, offering a no-fuss formula for those who like things low-key: craft beer, kid-friendly areas, wood-fired pizzas and other hand-held food – minus the hefty ticket prices or a sea of fascinators.

Walk-ins or bookings from 11.30am, stompingground.beer

Garden State Hotel, CBD

Sure, you can up the ante and splurge on tickets to this pub's race-day spectacular: four courses of likeable Italian food and three hours of spritzes at trattoria Tippy-Tay. Or you can sprawl in the public bar or beer garden, both open for walk-ins with the usual line-up of char-grilled steaks, fried chicken burgers or other pub grub.

Walk-ins for public bar, $185 tickets for Tippy-Tay, gardenstatehotel.com.au

Half Moon, Brighton

If you want your very own postcard of cherry blossom season, you'll want to get to Half Moon's bloom-strewn courtyard early. Running with walk-ins all day, the space has been transformed into a spring vision, with a Japanese undercurrent. Roku Gin, yuzu and prosecco cocktails join spanner crab on brioche, spiced buttermilk chicken tenders and more snacks. It's open until November 5.

Walk-ins only from noon, $150 menu (for 2 people), halfmoon.com.au

Old Palm Liquor, Brunswick East

Spend your day off at this northside hangout, kicking back with a glass of something delicious from the extensive wine list while vinyl crackles over the speakers. Good times are bolstered by snacky plates, with many dishes touched by the fire, such as pork chop with grilled pear. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a leisurely afternoon away from the desk.

Walk-ins or bookings from noon, oldpalmliquor.com