The best places to host your Christmas party

Olivine is a distinctive and stylish new wine bar housed in Pentridge’s stone-walled B-division, and the winner of an award for Australia's Best New Wine List at a national competion this year. The opulent yet mysterious space is packed full of alcoves, perfect for dates, wine tastings and intimate end-of-year festivities. If you're a small office or start-up who'd rather something a bit more elegant and low-key (with excellent wine to match), then check out the bar's group hosting offerings here.

​Fitzroy North’s favourite wine bar and bistro, Neighbourhood Wine is beloved for its beautifully simple approach to seasonal cooking, genuine hospitality from the heart and fabulous wine list. This year, it's offering a private dining experience for up to 120 guests – perfect for those wanting to celebrate over soul-warming French and Italian-inspired dishes and bottles of lip-smacking lo-fi vino. The private dining room is best suited to smaller groups of up to 12 people, while the sunset room is better for mid-sized events and corporate functions for up to 40 seated or 60 standing folks. There's room throughout the rest of the venue, too, so go here to look through your options. 

​Moonhouse is a Chinese-inspired bistro in Balaclava that boasts a 28-seater private dining room, perfect for a relaxed yet elegant Christmas work lunch. Sitting above the main restaurant within the heritage-listed venue, the space comes with a private entrance, toilets and fully equipped bar. On offer is Moonhouse's curated set menu of its most loved dishes, plus canapes, all of which can be customised to tailor to any dietary requirements. For more info, check out the restaurant's function pack.

The folks at Commune Group, responsible for fellow Southside gems Firebird, Hanoi Hannah and Tokyo Tina, have added to their collection yet another ambitious project: a two-level Italian dining and drinking space alluringly christened Studio Amaro.The multi-purpose venue isn't just another place to wine and dine, with a generous focus on music and DJ residencies. Think disco, funk and plenty of Euro nostalgia.On the food and drink front, expect no-nonsense aperitivo drops, a sharp selection of wines and beer, and classic Italian staples designed for sharing. Check out the venue's function pack here.

If Shane Delia (Maha East, Jayda, Providoor) is in charge, you know you're in safe hands, so step up your party game this year and host your Christmas event at his flagship restaurant, Maha. The intimate and elegant Middle Eastern-influenced restaurant has five different event spaces, including two private dining rooms. The Sultan Room is Maha’s premium private space equipped with audio-visual equipment, and has the capacity to accomodate up to 20 people seated. The luxurious Glenmorangie Signet Room can host up to 12 people seated. Alternatively, head to one of the two semi-private spaces which can fit up to 26 and 70 guests respectively, or go really bougie and hire out the entire venue, which can house 130 people seated, or 250 people standing. Your guests are sure to be impressed at Maha. 

Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub is also one of the top places to host your Christmas festivities. Whether you’re after a private or semi-private function space, you’re in safe hands with these event wizards. The Duke offers a series of spaces for hire right in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, making it a convenient and accessible spot for any end-of-year function. Consider the Wine Bar, the Dining Hall, the Duke Lounge or even the rooftop bar for your silly season celebrations. 

Go big and bold this festive season and host your Christmas party at Yakimono. Tucked inside the swank-fest that is the 80 Collins development, Yakimono is a love letter to the futuristic excess of Tokyo: dimly lit, suffused with the exotic glow of pink and purple neon and thrumming to a soundtrack that has every second person activating their Shazam app. Immerse yourselves in the sensory overload that is Yakimono, and indulge in the semi-private Corner Room which accommodates up to 14 guests, or head upstairs to the neon-lit dining room that can seat up to 70 people. Enjoy creative cocktails, flame-grilled dishes, an energetic atmosphere and an all-round fun time at Yakimono. Things are sure to get rowdy. 

Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca, which emerged in the thick of Melbourne’s 2020 lockdowns and gained a cult-like following for its meatball subs, is now home to a private dining space within its permanent digs on the quieter end of Gertrude Street. Slurp up spaghetti and sip on smooth drinks in the Ballroom, which brings old-world Italian charm and vibrancy to Fitzroy. The space can accommodate 30 people seated, or 45 standing, and offers a reasonable set menu starting from $70 per person (with the minimum spend dependant on the season and the sitting). With the option to add on the outdoor patio, Rocco's is set to become a go-to for silly season celebrations. Want something smaller and more intimate? Check out the newly opened Vince's Bar upstairs.

Perched on Port Phillip Bay’s picturesque waterfront, Pier Farm may not be an actual farm but the restored wooden boatshed still carries a whisper of rustic charm about it. Polished wood and azure blue tiling add to the nautical decor, making you feel like you’ve escaped on holiday. And the ocean makes a lovely backdrop for the diner, where you can enjoy fresh seafood and seasonal fare from the hand of chef-restaurateur Roberto Scheriano. Pier Farm’s main dining room is a light, open space featuring a hanging greenhouse, with panoramic windows of the adjoining marina and Melbourne's CBD. Check out the restaurant's event hosting offerings here.

Celebrate Christmas at one of Melbourne's favourite venues this silly season: the Darling Group's (Kettle Black, Top Paddock, the Terrace) Higher Ground. Head to the Loft which can accommodate up to 70 guests for exclusive private dining overlooking the main floor, and enjoy tailored food and beverage menus to suit any type of occasion. By virtue of an experienced team, consistently top-quality food and drink, excellent service, high energy and an unmatched atmosphere, Higher Ground personifies our city in the best way possible, and it will no doubt make for a memorable Christmas party this year. 

If you are organising a Christmas party for 28 people or less, look no further than Tokyo Tina's private event space. Windsor's much-loved and always busy modern Japanese restaurant serves up DIY baos, crunchy corn balls, sweet and sour cocktails and a guaranteed good night out. Now you can translate all that fun into a private event with Tokyo Tina Private, a cosy, intimate and chic space perfect for sipping on sake and slurping up ramen. And the best part? After you've all had a couple of drinks, you can fire up the complimentary karaoke machine, ensuring some unforgettable Christmas party moments.  

Get footloose and fancy-free with your colleagues this Christmas at Chapel Street's Hawker Hall. This large, vibrant and dynamic food and beer hall is the ideal location to celebrate the end of the year with your equally excited colleagues. You can book out the back section of the restaurant for up to 56 guests, or if you are catering for a larger group, you can book out Hawker Hall exclusively, accommodating 144 seated guests, or 250 standing. Have a blast customising your event with roaming canapes, food stations and curated beverages.

For a glammed-up, unforgettable Christmas event this year, look no further than Melbourne institution Grossi Florentino. The grand Mural Room is one of Melbourne’s last bastions of lavish European dining charm, where the lighting is set to dim, and the mood set upon arrival by the proffering of a handbag stool. There are a number of options on offer, with intimate eight-person experiences available, or space to accommodate up to 70 – either way, an event at Grossi is sure to be an upscale affair. 

Stalactites, that iconic, open-24-hours-a-day Melbourne establishment, also happens to be a top spot for hosting events. The Greek eatery boasts a warm and inviting upstairs area with a cave-like roof that sets the scene for a fun, relaxed and seriously delicious Christmas party. Feast on giros, souvlaki, chips, salads and more; the menu is designed to be shared and is great for large groups. With coeliac accreditation and plenty of vegan and vegetarian menu items on offer, everyone will feel included at Stalactites.

If you want to step things up a notch for your Christmas party this year, book the private bluestone cellar at Agostino. With an extensive wine list and tasty Italian fare on offer, this is the perfect spot to celebrate making it through another year. The cellar can cater to 40 guests seated, or 60 guests standing, and this upscale venue is sure to make a lasting impression on your colleagues. And when you're done eating, head upstairs for a rooftop spritz at Johnny’s Green Room.

Head to Bay Street in Port Melbourne to lock in this versatile venue for your next office event. Choose between the dining room (which can accommodate 40 guests seated), the lounge (which can accommodate 40 guests seated or 80 guests standing) or head upstairs to a space that can accommodate 50 guests seated or 130 guests standing, and boasts its own high-quality audio-visual equipment, a convertible dance floor and private bar. For a venue that will tick all the boxes, book the Exchange Hotel today. 

Tucked inside Collins Street’s heritage listed Olderfleet building, Freyja is a unique Nordic-themed restaurant offering an elevated dining experience and environment to match. The private basement dining room can be booked out for special occasions to accomodate small groups, while the entire venue can be hired for larger events. With a Michelin-starred chef on the pans and an intriguing drinks list, Freyja promises a Christmas party to remember. Get the full details at the website.​

Be the best in show this year, and host your Christmas party at Poodle – Fitzroy's chic and effortlessly cool, art-deco-inspired venue. The cosy and intimate private dining space can accommodate 20 people seated, while other spaces within the multi-storey venue can seat up to 42 people. Set menus start at $85 per person, and the minimum spend is dependent on the seating and the season. Poodle has become well-loved for its intimate booths and its always-delicious bistro menu. Go retro-chic this year at Poodle, and your colleagues will be sure to thank you. 

Everything tastes better charred – and Firebird got the memo. A restaurant dedicated to smoke, flames and fire that opened on the brink of the pandemic, with every dish in some way, shape or form having been licked by the fire, and it’s all the better for it. You’ll find the 110-seater space on Prahran’s High Street, which is the ideal capacity for end of year celebrations involving larger businesses (think 100-plus colleagues) and the need for hearty set menus that will line everyone's bellies for the drinks to follow. For more details, have a read of the restaurant's function pack.

For a no-fuss, guaranteed-good-time event, look no further than Baby for your Christmas party this year. The popular Richmond destination is forever filled to the brim with those seeking an Aperol Spritz, thin-crust pizza and fun vibes. You can book for up to 80 people for lunch or dinner, dining inside on Baby's Bancheto menu, with an accompanying curated beverage package showcasing a selection of Italian wines and inspired cocktails to level up your party. You can also book out Baby exclusively for 125 people seated, or up to 220 standing. Or keep your fingers crossed for good weather, and check out Baby’s outdoor area at the front of the restaurant, which can accommodate up to 100 guests.

Large open front windows offering front-row views of all the Chapel Street action, cosy function spaces and friendly staff – what’s not to love about this South Yarra joint? Contact the friendly and experienced team today to plan your ultimate office Christmas party. And being on Chapel Street, there are plenty of options for kick-ons after if your team is that way inclined. 

Cocktail parties, sit-down dinners, large corporate functions – it’s all possible at the Golden Gate Hotel, which has sat on the corner of Clarendon and Coventry streets in South Melbourne since 1853. Check out the esteemed venue for your Christmas party this year, and work with the team to create an event that suits your budget, theme and food and drink requirements.