These Are The Best Pubs In Melbourne To Watch The Footy
Nothing says winter in Melbourne like a weekend spent at the pub watching the footy (AFL, obviously). With plenty of venues to choose from, we’re very particular. We want big screens, friendly tipping, a bit of buzz in the air and a reliable selection of specials.
Whether you’re looking for an old-school retro setting or state-of-the-art screening, elevated footy snacks or simple pub classics, there’s a perfect game-day pub for you, and we've found it. Here are the best pubs to watch the footy in Melbourne.
The Hicken’s Hotel
127 Russell Street, Melbourne
Named after 19th century boxer Abe Hickens, Hickens Hotel is your newest CBD go-to for live sport. All kinds of fans will find a home here, with games and matches playing across multiple floors with upcoming games advertised online. They’re also home to the Arsenal FC and Manchester United fan base of Melbourne. If you’re a serious sports fan, grab a game day booth package for $55pp with drinks, snacks and a private screen.
The Retreat Hotel
226 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford
What makes The Retreat Hotel such a local fave for footy season? Aside from the old-school feel, the beers, the dog-friendly outdoor areas? Well, they’ve got 7 screens, game day drink specials, online footy tipping and a menu of pub faves like burgers, pizza, pies and grilled steaks. Need we say more?
North Fitzroy Arms
296 Rae Street, Fitzroy North
Melbourne’s favourite nostalgic gastropub, The North Fitzroy Arms Hotel, is also one of the best spots to catch a game. Tuck into elevated pub classics (and don’t skip the wine list) as the whole pub gets into the team spirit. Not only can you watch the game live, but during the season they run Stella Footy Tipping, where $25 gets you entry and a free Stella Artois. When the game’s done, stick around for some pool and an Appletini or two.
The Espy
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
St Kilda’s beloved seaside mega-venue, The Espy, throws the big game up on the big screen in the sunroom for eager punters who love a sea view, as well as having their dedicated sports bar for all-day sports coverage. Watch Aussie games and international sports (even baseball), order a few shares of fried chicken, croquettes, some dips and chips and a round of beers, you could lose a whole afternoon here.
College Lawn
36 Greville Street, Prahran
Proudly home to Prahran’s biggest beer garden, College Lawn is a stalwart of the southside sports bar scene, showing live games and fights and even hosting annual Superbowl parties. Invite the crew, see your team on the big screen, join in on footy tipping (with a free pot of Carlton every week you complete your tips), enjoy some happy hour bev specials with your burger or parma and repeat all season long.
Middle Park Hotel
102 Canterbury Road, Middle Park
Middle Park Hotel does sports live and loud. AFL, NFL, rugby, you name it, you’ll see it on the screens. Not to mention they’ll sometimes throw in a few half-time raffles. That plus the happy hour drinks and weekly food specials has you set up for a good session. And it’s not just any pub grub, this is seasonal, Vic-focused produce in your burgers, pies and salads. Tip: you’ll want to book a table to ensure you get a killer view of the screen on game day.
Anglers Tavern
2 Anglers Way, Maribyrnong
This local gem has been kitted out with a proper sports bar, big screens and all, making Anglers Tavern one of the best in the west for your footy viewing. Wear your colours, line up along the high-top tables with a few well-blistered artisan pizzas for the group (the spicy sausage is a fave) and feel the electricity of a room full of sports fans. With river views to top it all off, it doesn’t get much better than this.
The Sporting Club Hotel
27 Weston Street, Brunswick
It’s in the name. The Sporto, as it’s affectionately known, is one of the top spots in the northern 'burbs to catch a game. Book a table for the crew in the front bar or out back to see it live on the big screen. Grab a jug, some parmas and chippies and gravy and settle in. Even if your team doesn’t win, you can: Thursday nights mean the weekly raffle, where you can score a meat tray, veg box or beer slab, with proceeds to local causes.
Glenferrie Hotel
324 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
Hawthorn’s true local, the Glenferrie Hotel has all the warm pub vibes you want with the big screens to match. Definitely a spot for the die-hard Hawks fans (but everyone's welcome, of course): whenever the Hawks are on the field, you get the pot and parma deal for just $32. This is the footy pub for foodies, and your game snacks here are delightfully refined: duck spring rolls, chicken tacos, crab and salmon croquettes and a fancy steak sanga. Big screen, cold beer, great eats, what more could you want?
Goldy’s! Tavern
66A Gold Street, Collingwood
Watch the game at the friendliest tavern in town and sign up to footy tipping for $20 (with a pot of Love Shack pale ale for your efforts, and another every week you do your tips at the bar. You’ll want to spend a while at Goldy’s!. Settle in for the occasion with a classic schnitty, including a vego version for the plant-loving pub-goers, or tap into the weekly specials and a killer little mate’s rates happy hour with free pool.
Waterside Hotel
508 Flinders Street, Melbourne
This seven-level heritage building is more than just a pretty face. You can see every game of the AFL season at The Waterside Hotel on the Ground Floor Public Bar and Level One, as well as State of Origin, World Cup and more. The games you love, live on the big screen. Plus, Waterside offers a game-day feed with a little more pizzazz than your standard sports bar: fancy potato cakes, pork and fennel sausage rolls, fried chicken with hot honey and daikon and a big beef cheek pie with mash.
The Great Northern Hotel
644 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
This cosy, old-school pub is more than a dog-friendly hub for craft beer, cold Guinness and a game of pool. During a game, the entire beer garden out back of The Great Northern turns into a big screen. Not just footy, but soccer, basketball and even the big fights will make it onto the projector. Bring the pooch, order a pub feed and cheer on your team.
The Mona Castle
5-53 Austin Street, Seddon
The Mona Castle’s been serving the good folks of Seddon for 150 years and it still knows what the people want: steak, roasts, raffles and sport. They’ve got big screens in the bar and out in the beer garden, so you can take your pick. Set yourself up with dim sims and popcorn cauliflower, a couple of cold ones (or a classic cocktail, if that’s how you roll), maybe get a few tickets to the half time raffle if it’s happening, and get ready for a good time.
Rising Sun Hotel
2 Raglan Street, South Melbourne
Historic home of the Sydney Swans, the refurbished and reborn Rising Sun Hotel has kept its beating sports heart alive. They show every Swans game, without fail, and on game day a special area is set aside just for Bloods fans—The Swan’s Nest. You’ll also catch other footy games, of course, and with big screens, Wednesday steak night, footy tipping and a Punter’s Happy Hour, it’s one of the best places for sports fans to gather.
Main image credit: The Waterside Hotel | Supplied