The top 10 birthday venues in Melbourne for every kind of celebration
Everyone deserves a memorable birthday celebration at least once in their life. And when you finally have that chance, you should look for a place with enough room to dance around, laugh, and even play.
This city is stacked with venue options that can make your special celebration happen, whether you’re a blooming teen or a full-grown adult.
If you’re planning an epic celebration and looking for the best birthday venue in Melbourne, you’ve got options here!
1. Imperial Hotel
– Media credit: The Imperial Hotel
Website: https://www.bourkestreetimperial.com/
Address: 2-8 Bourke St.
Phone: +61398100062
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Thursday 11:00 am – 12:00 am
- Friday to Saturday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
The Imperial Hotel was once known for hosting horseback riding shows and concerts. This iconic place is now a premier venue for parties with many options to choose from.
They offer the Parliament, Treasury, and Cabinet rooms — each with its own charm and can cater to 35 to 100 guests.
If you’re looking for a space that’s big enough to accommodate up to 240 guests, you can exclusively hire their entire first floor. You get your own private bar, bathroom, and a beautiful view of the Parliament House.
Or you can even aim higher with the rooftop bar. It can accommodate up to 270 guests and is equipped with relaxed lounge seating, perfect for cocktail parties and dining under the stars.
However, this one is only available for exclusive and limited hire throughout the year.
Catering and bar services are all in-house, and while they have fixed packages, you’re free to work with the coordinators to create your own.
Pro tip:
The place is also a known sports hub, so it can get packed during AFL or cricket matches. As such, if you’re planning something intimate or chill, avoid these big game days.
2. Yarra Botanica
– Media credit: Yarra Botanica
Website: https://www.yarrabotanica.com.au/
Address: Southbank Promenade, Southbank
Phone: +61388404824
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Thursday 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Friday 12:00 pm – 1:00 am
- Saturday 11:00 pm – 1:00 am
- Saturday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
If you’re more of an al fresco person, having your celebration at Yarra Botanica is something you should try at least once. It’s not your common outdoor birthday venue, as the place is a two-level floating bar and eatery.
The place is designed to look like a beautiful garden — glass ceilings, lush vines, and just plants all around.
Although you won’t be sailing across the Yarra River, you’ll have a full view of the skyscrapers, which become more beautiful at night.
For events, Yarra Botanica offers four different venues catering to different group sizes, from 30 to 550 people.
The lower deck section is a semi-private place where you can have an intimate celebration with your loved ones. But if you want to go all out, you can book the whole place exclusively!
Pro tip:
The best time to schedule your event is during sunset until nighttime. The transition from the golden hour to the city lights from the deck’s perspective is an experience that you shouldn’t miss.
3. Little Ginger
– Media credit: Little Ginger
Website: http://littleginger.com.au/
Address: 4/10 Akuna Dr, Williamstown
Phone: +61399429585
Operating hours:
- Sunday, Tuesday to Friday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 am
For something a little intimate, Little Ginger is an indoor venue with polished floors, high ceilings, and even a patch of synthetic lawn. It’s fair in size and can host up to 100 guests.
They have a catalog of designs that you can choose from for your party’s theme, but if you want something more personalized for yourself, Little Ginger is happy to do that, too.
To add, they have an additional outdoor breakout area, which is suitable as a smoking area, or if you just want a quick break from the party inside.
It’s well regarded as a place of convenience since the location can be easily accessed via private car and public transportation.
Pro tip:
While Little Ginger allows external catering and styling, you might score a great deal if you book everything in-house. For example, you’ll get a discount on the venue fee for a minimum spend of $2750 on the bar, catering, and styling.
4. Harbour Kitchen
– Media credit: Harbour Kitchen
Website: https://www.theharbourkitchen.com.au/
Address: Shop 1/800 Bourke St, Docklands
Phone: +61396706612
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday 11:30 am – 6:00 pm
- Friday 12:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Sunday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Harbour Kitchen is located in the Docklands, which offers the most stunning waterfront views and a birthday experience that’s made just for you.
The place has a sophisticated lounge room, a sunlit glass pavilion, and two beer gardens. Each one of these spaces has its own charm to match different celebration styles and can host anywhere from 20 seated guests to 200 for cocktails.
The Glass Pavilion, in particular, is a crowd favorite. It has floor-to-ceiling glass windows where you’ll be overlooking the waters and the city skyline.
All packages include catering options, from grazing stations to full-plated meals; it all depends on your selection.
Pro tip:
If you want to maximize your spending on the venue, listen to this: both beer gardens are complementary if you book one of the function rooms. It’s perfect if you’re hosting a party for more than 200 guests.
5. Little Party House
– Media credit: Little Party House
Website: http://littlepartyhouse.com.au/
Address: first floor, 574/a North Road, Ormond
Phone: +61425238400
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 am 11:30 pm
If you’re looking for that ideal venue to celebrate your kid’s themed birthday party, Little Party House is worth checking out. The place can accommodate up to 20 adults and 30 kids, which is pretty fair for small parties among friends.
For the party, you can hire in-house professional entertainers who will be dressed according to the theme — whether it’s a hero, a princess, or any character that your child loves.
Some packages even include interactive activities and stations for the kids like high teas, an ice cream station, a candy cart station, and more.
And the best part about this venue is that your event is entirely private, meaning the entire place will be closed to non-attending guests throughout your celebration.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning to host a weekend party, we suggest booking months in advance as their weekend availability is limited.
6. Party Higher
– Media credit: Party Higher
Website: https://www.partyhigher.com.au/
Address: 43 Levanswell Rd, Moorabbin
Phone: +61 1300 734 726
Operating hours: 24 hours
If you want the ultimate birthday bash packed with music, strobing lights, smoke machines, and more, Party Higher will surely give you an awesome time.
Here’s the catch: if you choose Party Higher, it means you’re up for the silent disco theme. It’s perfect for any age starting at 13.
Their birthday packages can cater to group sizes from 25 to 100 — complete with a professional DJ, individual headphones, and licensed music playlists.
It’s the kind of party where you can have all the music you want, minus the neighbor complaints and gate crashers. It’s fun, safe, and extremely entertaining.
Pro tip:
Since all the packages come with three transmitters (music channels), you can have the playlist arranged to suit different music tastes. For example, channel 1 can be for disco, channel 2 for rock n roll, and channel 3 for R&B.
7. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
– Media credit: Showtime Event Group
Website: https://www.visitsealife.com/melbourne/
Address: King St
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
As operated by Merlin Events, you’ll get to spend your birthday at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s event space, where you’ll be spending time inside a space surrounded by incredible sea life.
They offer three areas for events: the Coral Atoll, Antarctica, and the Oceanarium. These venues can accommodate groups of 60 to 240 guests.
If you want a full view of the beautiful sea life, the Oceanarium offers a 360-degree tank surrounding the whole dining space.
Regardless of your choice, the sure thing is that it’s truly an immersive experience that can catch the attention of both kids and adults.
Just a heads up, though, all the venue options are only available to be booked at 6 PM onwards. It’s something that must be aligned with your plans.
Pro tip:
You can upgrade your catering to include themed desserts. SEA LIFE’s catering services can craft ocean-themed desserts, which are a nice and fun touch.
8. River’s Edge Events
– Media credit: River’s Edge Events
Website: https://www.riversedgeevents.com.au
Address: Level 1, 18/38 Siddeley St
Phone: +61385630072
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The River’s Edge is perfect for birthday parties that demand both elegance and energy. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows that let the sweeping Yarra River views in, it’s a sight that you wouldn’t want to miss.
The venue is pretty flexible when it comes to capacity, as it can scale to fit intimate or grand celebrations. So you can have a cozy dinner with 30 people or have a cocktail-style bash with up to 450 guests.
The in-house catering is led by an executive chef and all the equipment, including the furniture and centerpieces, is complimentary. The room can even be extended further toward the river with two Juliet balconies, with canapés upon arrival.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning an all-out celebration, request a floor plan including the dance floor. This will give you an idea about the flow so you can ensure that guests are seated comfortably.
9. Schnitzel n Tits
– Media credit: The Big Boys Club
Website: https://schnitzelntits.com/
Address: 585 Lonsdale St
Phone: +61 1800 808 998
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday 10:00 am – 9:30 pm
- Friday 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm
For something wild, (the adult-ish kind of wild), Schnitzel n Tits is a place where you won’t regret turning 40-something.
Being one of Melbourne’s cheekiest restaurants, you’ll have your food served by flirty, topless waitresses while enjoying burlesque performances.
And if you’re thinking that it’s all about stripteasing throughout the celebration, it’s not! They’ll also run stage games pitting the guests against each other. Winners get free merchandise, drinks, and even body shots from the waitresses.
The place welcomes groups of various sizes, perfect for birthday parties with chaotic friend circles. This isn’t just a night for the boys, ladies will surely enjoy it, too.
Pro tip:
If you want a themed-night party, check their events calendar and book your spot during a night that would complement your party’s character.
10. LOLA St Kilda
– Media credit: LOLA St Kilda
Website: http://www.lolastkilda.com.au/
Address: 60 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
Operating hours: Wednesday to Sunday 9:00 am – 2:00 am
At LOLA, the place channels a light, resort-like style with palm tree canopies, terracotta tones, and a completely classy look.
LOLA can host up to 400 guests if you book the entire venue. However, the sections can also be hired as individual spaces: the champagne garden, the main ar, and the terrace.
Everything is designed with function in mind. The finishes, floorplan, and the lighting — everything is ready for any event.
Their licensed bar can operate until 2 AM, and while in-house catering is available, the venue allows external catering with prior approval.
Pro tip:
Bar tabs are available. You can choose this option instead of a beverage package. If you’re feeling a little generous, you can also choose to have an open tab.