Should I book: Ish
10 Feb 2023
10 Feb 2023
Not invited to the Birdcage? Who cares! We've found some fab places to watch the race that stops the nation in style...
After the uncertainty of the last few years, Melbourne Cup Day 2022 is shaping up to be a day to remember. Celebrate at these fab venues where you’ll not only get to wine and dine, but there’s fashion competitions, prizes galore, sweepstakes, live music and more.
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The Shed at Terindah Estate
Winery, High tea, Modern Australian
Image credit The SHed
It’s a public holiday so if you’re not going to Flemington, head out of town for a Melbourne Cup Day with a delicious difference.
The Shed at Terindah Estate on the Bellarine Peninsula is hosting a sophisticated high tea with a side of spectacular winery views. Expect a menu of sweet and savoury favourites from smoked salmon pate with sourdough crisp bread and lemonade scones with jam and clotted cream to lemon curd meringue and chocolate mousse choux.
That way even if your horse doesn’t make it first past the post, you won’t really care!
Dish Cult’s top pick: Melbourne Cup Day high tea ($55 pp)
Botswana Butchery
Steakhouse, Seafood, Fine dining
Image credit Botswana Butchery
Put on your finest race day outfit and head to Botswana Butchery to watch the big race in style.
The restaurant at the top end of Flinders Lane celebrates the meat, fish and game of Australia and New Zealand, and this Melbourne Cup Day is offering a four course share-style menu that does exactly that.
It includes oysters with caviar, Bass Strait dry aged bistecca T-bone and Roaring Forties slow roasted lamb shoulder. There are also elegant entrees, including a venison tartare, and a trio of desserts to end the day a winner (even if your horse isn’t).
If you do find yourself in the winner’s circle, you can upgrade to vodka shots and caviar bumps for $30 each, or even a Magnum of GH Mumm Grand Cordon for a cool $294.
Dish Cult’s top pick: Four-course Melbourne Cup lunch ($180 pp includes a glass of GH Mumm Grand Cordon on arrival)
If a pint, a parma and a punt sound like a good way to spend Melbourne Cup Day head on down to the Station Hotel in Footscray.
The Main Bar and Beer Garden will be playing the races live so you can catch all the action, but you should know the food here is far better than your average pub and you can even enjoy one of the best steaks the city has to offer.
We love the New York strip with the bone in from Rangers Valley or the Murray cod, if steak isn’t your thing.
And if your horse comes in, you should definitely get the 1.4kg tomahawk. We’ll come share it with you!
Dish Cult’s top pick: 1.4kg MS2+ Tomahawk ($163)
Ludlow Bar & Dining Room
Pub, European, Modern Australian
Image credit Ludlow
Gather your friends and head to the banks of the Yarra to celebrate the race that stops the nation at Southbank’s Ludlow.
There’ll be big screens to watch the race, a best dressed competition and a three-course set menu which includes share platters of tasty treats like oysters and fried padron peppers, as well as mains including pressed lamb shoulder and char grilled yellowfin tuna steak. Top it all off with dessert – an all Australian affair featuring summer berry pavlova and Ludlow’s take on the lamington.
Settle in for the afternoon and make a night of it – the DJ starts at 4pm.
Dish Cult’s top pick: Melbourne Cup Day lunch ($95 pp)
At the top end of Bourke Street you can catch all the live action of Cup Day from the salubrious surrounds of the Imperial’s sunny rooftop bar, a favourite for sports fans.
You can book a table for you and your crew, with doors opening at 12pm, and while there’s no set menu, the full a la carte menu is available so you can dine on pub classics like burgers and steak sangas while you watch your horse come in (we hope!).
Dish Cult’s top pick: Fried chicken burger ($26)
