Six ways to celebrate the Melbourne Cup in Sydney

Do you have plans for Melbourne Cup Day yet? The Clock Hotel is putting on a three hour race day afternoon for $65 per person. Enjoy a drink on arrival as well as charcuterie and canapés throughout the event. It's the Melbourne Cup so of course there will be Champagne specials and prizes for the best dressed. There's only 250 tickets available so make like Makyby Diva and book your place ASAP. The Clock Hotel's Melbourne Cup Day festivities begin at noon. 

If you can't make it trackside for the Cup then you might as well be seaside. One of the perks of spending the Melbourne Cup at the Clovelly Hotel is that you can go for a celebratory/commiseratory swim at the nearby Clovelly Beach after the race. Melbourne Cup festivities at the Cloey mean a complimentary glass of Chandon or schooner of beer, roaming canapés and all the excitement (and tears) of the Cup on their big screen for just $50 per person. 

Cup Day drinks get all the attention but they'd be nowhere without the food (and we'd all feel a lot worse the next day). The Albion are celebrating Melbourne Cup Day with a three-course lunch. And yes there are drinks – like a free glass of Chandon or schooner of Pure Blonde for example. There's also a chance to win a mystery trifecta or lucky door prize on the day. Tickets are $55 per person

The Melbourne Cup lunches continue at the Bridgeview. This charming modern pub has a two-course menu on offer come Cup Day and includes a glass of Chandon Rose or a schooner of select craft beers. The damage comes in at only $55, or raise the stakes with a three-course meal (that means you get dessert) for $60. Make sure to wear your lucky socks  – there's a lucky door prize on offer. 

Those looking for a more 'low key' Melbourne Cup  have their day sorted at the Bank Hotel in Newtown. For $30 per-person you can book a space in the hotel's schmick and sunny beer garden to watch the race. Included in your ticket is a glass of Chandon on arrival and the Bank will be firing up their charcoal barbecue (head straight for the marinated ribs). 

The grand Quay Bar is offering Melbourne Cup punters a two hour canapé and drinks package for $85. That means wine, bubbly, Peroni beers and juice for two hours while you watch all the heart-clutching, nail-biting action of the Melbourne Cup. Book in advance for the big day and you'll get a free glass of Chandon or a Peroni on arrival.