Where to watch the footy finals – and have a great meal – in Melbourne

If there’s anything Great Northern has sorted, it’s priorities: footy and beer.

The mega screen out in the garden keeps spectators glued to their seats while the bar inside pumps out a range of compelling brews.

With 22 rotating taps and a range of both local and international drops, hop lovers are spoilt for choice. How about a funky sour from Geelong or a hoppy DIPA (also known as a double India pale ale)?

For hungry groups, there’s classic no-nonsense pub grub like parmas, burgers, wings and 250g cuts of Victorian porterhouse. All of it does the job, but you’d be mistaken for thinking this is just any old pub.

The 1880s watering hole manages to strike the right balance of inner north cool and old-school charm, marking it a firm footy fan favourite.

Every game, the venue’s a magnet for big energy and even bigger emotions… so if you’re the kind who tends to holler and yowl in between kicks, you’ll be in good company.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Spicy chicken wings with buffalo & blue cheese dipping sauces ($16)

For a footy and feed that’s a bit more refined, Richmond’s Mt View Hotel is worth serious consideration.

The award-winning gastropub spans four spacious levels, lavishly hosting big TV screens, pool tables and plenty of drink options to keep your crew entertained into the late hours.

Head to the rooftop garden for great views and a crafty pale ale or if you’d prefer, huddle indoors to watch the game over a glass of Aussie red and a hearty steak sanga.

Or how about something else altogether? The menu here isn’t afraid to get creative. Think pork belly bites with whiskey lime caramel sauce, or fresh barramundi and zucchini linguini with pesto butter.

Meat lovers can gorge on melt-in-your-mouth BBQ baby back ribs or the juicy 300g slab of MSA Great Southern sirloin steak with sides.

Mt View’s jug of sangria contains a belly-warming blend of tempranillo, apricot brandy, orange and lime juice, and sparkling grapefruit soda – it’s perfect for three.

Dish Cult’s top pick: MSA Great Southern sirloin steak with triple-cooked potatoes, broccolini, roasted tomato and field mushroom gravy ($36)

Sports lover meets serious foodie at this upscale gastropub in Fitzroy.

This Grand Final day, the hotel is running a special set menu for $75 per head, serving multiple courses and magnums of rosé.

Less suburban pub and more inner-city bistro, footy fans can enjoy the game here over a genuine culinary experience. The Builders Arms is part of super chef Andrew McConnell’s empire and has long been a go-to for the luncheon crowd, with an elegant, seasonal menu and innovative takes on classic European dishes.

Seafood enthusiasts, the fish pie will steal your heart! Try the Ortiz anchovy on stracciatella toast and some lemony Merimbula rock oysters for starters, and then a creamy slice of rabbit terrine or curried prawns for your main. Half a kilo of local mussels with pork sausage and fermented chilli may reward more daring palates.

Feeling thirsty? The wine list here is a highlight – expect a thoughtfully curated selection of drops from mainly Aussie, French and Italian producers.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Fish pie of snapper, smoked ocean trout, prawn and sorrel ($39)

Richmond’s not short on iconic pubs with histories to match. This just happens to be another one of them.

Established in 1921, The London Tavern (affectionately known as “The Tav”) is a traditional English-style pub with classic pub fare and plenty of places to watch sport.

It has one of the biggest beer garden courtyards in Melbourne, warmed by cosy gas fireplaces in the colder months.

Fill up on old Brit standards like shepherd’s pie and chips. Or, if you’d like something a bit fancier, opt for the paella with confit duck leg and chorizo or the 300g Angus beef scotch fillet.

The latter comes with an onion and zucchini bhaji, blueberry bourbon puree and rocket salad – far more interesting sides than your usual chips or mash.

The produce is locally sourced and you can taste that this is a pub where food isn’t a second thought.

Ideal for couples to share, the smoker platter serves up slow-smoked chicken, pork ribs and beef brisket with buns, house slaw, rocket salad and a generous serving of BBQ sauce. Tuck in!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Smoker platter ($38)

It’s loud, it’s live and its steaks are lip-smackingly good. The Duke of Wellington is everything a city gastropub should be and then some.

Perched on the edge of Flinders Street, the bar and restaurant is in close proximity to all the footy hotspots: Fed Square (where the Grand Final’s set to be broadcast live), the CBD nightlife, and of course, the ‘G itself.

But what makes the Duke a sports lover’s classic isn’t just the location. It’s the sparkling cosmopolitan energy, the old-timers and happy hour crowds, and a bar team who know how to make decent cocktails.

But we’re here to shine a spotlight on the food.

Anticipate tasty morsels at The Duke a cut above your typical pub spread, such as hand stretched burrata on a delicate radicchio and herb salad, pork and pistachio terrine, and smoked trout rillettes with caperberries, witlof and lavosh.

The fried haloumi with wild honey, thyme and date compote is a decadent treat.

For bigger appetites, the steaks are where it’s at. Choose from porterhouse, wagyu rump or scotch fillet – each slathered in butter and your choice of gravy for maximum juice factor.

Dish Cult’s top pick: 250g Jack’s Creek wagyu rump with rustic fries, cafe de Melbourne butter, celeriac remoulade and your choice of sauce ($40)