Melbourne’s historic Imperial Hotel on Bourke Street has evolved from an 1858 pub into a modern rooftop beer garden and sports bar with direct views of Parliament House. This review examines what real recent visitors say about the rooftop and sports bar experience—covering service, food and drink, atmosphere, and the practical details that matter when planning a visit. All claims are drawn from verified sources including the venue’s official site, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and independent editorial reviews.
Last checked: 2026-09-11
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Building age: One of the oldest pubs in Melbourne · Rooftop view: Overlooks Melbourne Parliament House · Bar count: Multiple bars on different levels · Smoking policy: Entirely non-smoking
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-09-11.
Sources reviewed: Official property website, City of Melbourne municipal listing, Tripadvisor reviews, Yelp reviews, Time Out editorial feature, Concrete Playground review, VenueNow event listing, independent blog coverage.
We did not conduct an on-site visit, staff interview, or independent price verification.
Imperial Hotel Rooftop & Sports Bar at a Glance
- 2–8 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, directly opposite Parliament House (City of Melbourne)
- One of Melbourne’s oldest continuously operating pubs, established 1858 (City of Melbourne)
- Large rooftop beer garden with sun-soaked seating, share bites, and live sports screens (Imperial Hotel Official Site)
- Entirely non-smoking venue, confirmed across multiple review platforms (official site and consumer reviews)
| Building age | One of the oldest pubs in Melbourne (est. 1858) |
|---|---|
| Rooftop view | Overlooks Melbourne Parliament House |
| Bar count | Multiple bars on different levels |
| Smoking policy | Entirely non-smoking |
Imperial Hotel Rooftop Sports Bar Menu
The kitchen at the Imperial Hotel focuses on classic pub favourites and social share plates, with rooftop menus built around snacks designed for leisurely drinking and socialising, according to Concrete Playground. Yelp reviewers report a limited but popular selection of burgers, chicken ribs, jalapeño poppers, chips, and pizzas available on the rooftop.
Beer and drink options
Beer selection receives strong marks from multiple reviewers on Yelp, while cocktails have drawn mixed feedback. One Tripadvisor reviewer in January 2026 noted that cocktails felt too small for the price paid.
Food offerings
Time Out Melbourne describes the winter menu as featuring Wagyu beef sliders on glossy milk buns, fried chilli-glazed chicken ribs, and an oversized chicken parma that reviewers call “one of Melbourne’s tastiest.” The official site confirms that kitchen hours generally run from about 11:30 a.m. to 9:00–9:30 p.m., with late-night menus on Thursday to Saturday evenings.
Imperial Hotel Rooftop Sports Bar Photos
The rooftop beer garden is described by reviewers on Tripadvisor as having “spectacular views of Parliament House and the city.” The official site promotes “Parliament views, sun-soaked seating, and share bites.”
Rooftop views
The viewpoint directly overlooks Victoria’s Parliament House across Bourke Street and Treasury Gardens beyond, as noted by Yelp reviewers. While the Imperial rooftop sits only two levels above street level, multiple guests rate the sightline highly. A Tripadvisor attraction listing gives the venue a 4.0 out of 5, specifically citing the rooftop beer garden overlooking Parliament and Treasury Gardens.
Interior ambiance
Blog coverage from parmapot.com describes the venue as a “beautiful building with multiple levels” featuring a “swanky rooftop bar.” User-generated video reviews on YouTube show marquee-covered seating in winter alongside open-air tables in warmer months.
Imperial Hotel Reviews
Aggregated feedback from multiple platforms paints a nuanced picture. On Tripadvisor, the restaurant listing scores around 3.8 out of 5, with reviewers praising the rooftop atmosphere and marquee heating in winter. The separate attraction listing holds a 4.0 out of 5.
Service
A January 2026 Tripadvisor review reported the rooftop bar as understaffed during peak hours. Yelp reviewers, however, describe staff as friendly, suggesting service quality may vary by time and day.
Drink quality
As noted in the menu section, beer selection receives strong marks across platforms. The cocktail criticism about portion size appears in only one verified review, so it should not be treated as a universal pattern.
Atmosphere and crowd
Multiple reviewers note that the venue attracts a mixed crowd—from after-work professionals to sports fans watching matches on the projector. The non-smoking policy, confirmed on Yelp, earns consistent praise from those seeking a smoke-free bar experience.
“The new Imperial Roof Top Beer Garden is one of the largest rooftop bars in Melbourne. It overlooks Parliament House, Treasury Gardens and other scenic views of Melbourne.”
— Tripadvisor contributor review of Imperial Hotel Bourke Street attraction listing
Imperial Hotel Melbourne Rooftop Experience
The rooftop bar at the Imperial is only two levels above street level, but its position at the “top end” of Bourke Street—facing directly onto Parliament House—provides a distinctive Melbourne vista that taller CBD rooftops cannot replicate.
View
Yelp reviewers call the Parliament House view “excellent.” The official site’s marketing copy reads: “We have all you need on Imperial Rooftop; Parliament views, sun-soaked seating, delicious share bites and of course, cold froths!”
Ambiance
Time Out details winter operations that include a cosy marquee, hot toddies, and mulled wine, while summer months open the rooftop to sun-soaked seating. The venue runs occasional themed activations—such as a Harry Potter-style overlay in June 2019 with specialty mocktails and themed sliders.
History
The Imperial Hotel has been on Bourke Street since 1858, making it one of Melbourne’s older continuously operating pubs. The rooftop addition is only a few years old, representing a modern reinvention of a heritage structure.
| Address | 2–8 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, opposite Parliament House |
|---|---|
| Established | 1858 |
| Rooftop bar hours (Fri–Sat) | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
| Kitchen hours (typical) | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00/9:30 p.m. (late-night menu until 10:00 p.m. Thu–Sat) |
| Average guest rating (restaurant listing) | 3.8 / 5 (Tripadvisor) |
| Average guest rating (attraction listing) | 4.0 / 5 (Tripadvisor) |
| Smoking policy | Entirely non-smoking |
Pros and cons from real reviews
What guests praise
- Excellent view of Parliament House
- Excellent beer selection
- Friendly staff (multiple Yelp reviews)
- Cosy winter marquee with heating
- Non-smoking venue
What guests criticise
- Rooftop bar occasionally understaffed (Tripadvisor, Jan 2026)
- Cocktails considered small for the price (single Tripadvisor review)
- Rooftop level is only two storeys high—lacks the height of some CBD alternatives
Location and getting there
The Imperial Hotel sits at the intersection of Bourke and Spring Streets, directly opposite Parliament House and a short walk from Treasury Gardens. The address is 2–8 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Parliament Station is the nearest train stop; tram routes along Bourke Street and Spring Street also serve the hotel.
Alternatives to the Imperial Hotel rooftop
For readers comparing other rooftop and sports bar options in Melbourne, the John Curtin Hotel in Carlton offers a heritage pub experience with live music, while Coogee Bay Hotel’s sports bar provides dedicated happy hour times and pricing. Both venues are covered in separate reviews on this site.
- Coogee Bay Hotel Happy Hour: Sports Bar Times & Prices
- John Curtin Hotel Review: Heritage Pub, Live Music & History
What needs verifying: Smoking policy at the Imperial Hotel
The venue’s entirely non-smoking policy is confirmed across multiple review platforms including consumer reviews on Yelp and venue marketing materials. This is a distinguishing feature for patrons seeking a smoke-free rooftop bar experience.
Our pick: Who should visit the Imperial Hotel rooftop and sports bar
Based on verified guest feedback and verified operational details, the Imperial Hotel rooftop is best suited for:
- Beer enthusiasts — the selection consistently earns top marks
- View seekers — the Parliament House vista is genuinely distinctive
- Sports fans — multiple large screens and a projector cover AFL, NRL, NBA, and more
- Non-smoking patrons — the entirely smoke-free policy is a rarity among Melbourne pub rooftops
The trade-off: the rooftop is only two levels high, and cocktail pricing has drawn isolated criticism. For a guaranteed table with uninterrupted Parliament views, arrive early on weekends.
Frequently asked questions
What are the kitchen hours at the Imperial Hotel rooftop bar?
The kitchen generally runs from about 11:30 a.m. to 9:00–9:30 p.m., with late-night menus on Thursday to Saturday evenings. Last food orders on weeknights are typically before 8:30 p.m., as confirmed on the Imperial Hotel official site.
Is the Imperial Hotel rooftop bar non-smoking?
Yes. Yelp reviews and the venue’s marketing materials confirm the entire venue, including the rooftop, is non-smoking.
What is the view like from the rooftop?
Reviewers consistently call it excellent, with direct sightlines to Victoria’s Parliament House across Bourke Street and Treasury Gardens beyond. The official site promotes “Parliament views” as a key feature.
How many bars does the Imperial Hotel have?
The venue operates multiple bars on different levels, including the rooftop beer garden, a main-level sports bar, and additional event spaces.
Is the Imperial Hotel one of the oldest pubs in Melbourne?
Yes. The Imperial Hotel has been operating continuously on Bourke Street since 1858, making it one of Melbourne’s oldest pubs, according to the City of Melbourne.
Sources
- City of Melbourne – What’s On Melbourne
- Time Out Melbourne – Imperial Hotel bar feature
- Concrete Playground – Imperial Hotel Review
- VenueNow – The Treasury Room / Imperial Rooftop Garden
- Imperial Hotel Kyoto – Bar THE ROOFTOP
- Imperial Hotel Beenleigh – Sports Bar page