If the weather's warm and celebrations are in order, you'll want to enjoy the great outdoors. But what about that cute cosy bar down the road? What the heck, why not both? Today we look at nine indoor / outdoor Christmas party venues that effortlessly combine the the best of both worlds in their own unique way.
After wallowing in darkness and cold all winter, the summer in Melbourne means that every man and their dog heads for outdoor bars, restaurants, rooftops and car parks converted into a pop-up cocktail joint. When it comes to Christmas parties, it's much the same. The great outdoors is the ideal – but we need a contingency plan in case of our city's wonderful weather patterns, right? We listed a few of our favourite rooftop venues around Melbourne last week (some of which are excellent bets), but today we're focusing on venues that combine the indoor and outdoor in a way that's worth writing home about.
The General Assembly
Right on the banks of the Yarra River at South Wharf, The General Assembly delivers that classic Melbourne indoor–outdoor party vibe. The venue opens out to riverside terraces with city skyline views, while inside you’ll find a lively pub atmosphere with street art, great food and plenty of craft beer on tap. With sliding doors connecting the dining spaces to the outdoor decks, it’s easy for guests to move between sunshine and shade — perfect for a summer Christmas party that can handle Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather.
Casa Chino
Casa Chino blends bright flavours with an effortlessly relaxed setting right in the heart of Melbourne’s dining precinct. Inside you’ll find colourful interiors and a vibrant bar, while outside the terrace offers a breezy spot for cocktails and conversation. With bold Asian-inspired dishes and a lively atmosphere, it’s a fun choice for Christmas parties that start with dinner and gradually roll into drinks under the warm summer night air.
Greenfields Albert Park
Outside is a deck area that overlooks Albert Park Lake and the greenery of the golf courses. Inside? Huge windows, encasing the space. Think heaps of natural light during the day, elegant vibes by night. Plus, the interior takes its cues from the Scandinavian 'light timber and clean lines' school of designing beautiful function spaces.
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The Emerald Peacock
Hidden above Melbourne’s bustling CBD streets, The Emerald Peacock is one of those venues that feels like a well-kept secret. Step inside and you’ll find a stylish bar and dining room, but the real highlight is the rooftop garden terrace — a lush open-air space perfect for summer celebrations. With cocktails flowing and fairy lights glowing overhead, it’s an ideal spot for Christmas parties that want a mix of city energy and rooftop charm.
Hophaus
Perched above Southbank Promenade, Hophaus brings Bavarian beer hall energy together with sweeping views of the Yarra and Melbourne skyline. Inside, the venue has a buzzing bar and restaurant with long communal tables, while outside the spacious terrace is ideal for soaking up summer evenings by the river. It’s the kind of place where a casual Christmas catch-up can quickly turn into a lively celebration with steins, cocktails and plenty of festive cheer.
Ludlow Bar and Dining Room
If you're located along Southbank overlooking the Yarra, you might as well make the most of it, right? Ludlow Bar and Dining Room's enviable vantage point means that not only can guests do some seriously good people watching from the outdoor deck, but get one heck of a view during an event. Huge panes of glass slide away easily to seamlessly tie the indoor dining space and lounge bars with the outdoor spaces. Great for the summer months.
Terminus Hotel
The impressively designed Terminus Hotel (seriously, you canNOT tell how big it is from the outside) combines a number of spaces across a couple of levels – all of which circle back to the downstairs open air bar. This truly is an indoor / outdoor space. The night sky is above, but why does it feel like the interior of a stylish pub? I'm in the upstairs private bar, so why can I walk past treetops?
The Osborne
Located in the lively neighbourhood of South Yarra, The Osborne blends a stylish indoor bar with a spacious rooftop that’s made for summer celebrations. Downstairs you’ll find a relaxed restaurant, courtyard and cocktail lounge, while upstairs the rooftop opens out with sweeping views of the South Yarra skyline, comfy outdoor seating and a buzzing bar pouring contemporary cocktails, wine and beer.
Republica St Kilda
Another St Kilda venue that knows what the public wants: ocean views, a sea breeze, and plenty of space outdoors for enjoying the sunshine – and also maybe plenty of open indoor space for Melbourne's attempt at a heat wave. Republic St Kilda boasts a number of spaces for events, from long tables to sectioned off areas of the bar– all looking out onto that gorgeous vista.
End of year or Christmas party on your mind? On the to do list? Check out our list of amazing spaces, available for functions >>
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