Christmas Party Melbourne

Rooms around the city for a December party

• CBD: The Elephant & Wheelbarrow from $2,000 minimum spend, or Beneath Driver Lane from $65 per person.
• Inner South: Lamaro's Hotel in South Melbourne from $1,500 minimum spend, its private The Wine Room @ Lamaro's Hotel for 24 at one oak table, or Main Hall @ Bells Hotel.
• Inner North: Private Dining Room @ Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy, seating 20 at a single long table.
• Inner East: Skinny Dog Hotel in Kew from $40 per person, or City Bar @ Corner Hotel in Richmond.
• Bayside: Brighton Beach Hotel from $32 per person, or The Bridge Hotel Mordialloc.

Christmas with an activity

• Go-karts: Auscarts Racing Port Melbourne from $58 per person for groups up to 300.
• Cooking: Otao Kitchen in Abbotsford from $159 per person, finishing with a shared meal.
• Bowling and arcade games: Strike Bowling Melbourne Central or Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq Docklands, both from $23 per person.
• Distillery: Starward Distillery & Bar in Port Melbourne from $49 per person.
• Cocktail classes: Bar 1806 on Exhibition Street from $70 per person, Polly Bar in Fitzroy from $85 per person, or Eau De Vie Melbourne off Flinders Lane from $110 per person.
• Painting: Champainting South Melbourne from $50 per person, with the group bringing its own drinks.

Booking tips for end of year

• Ask whether the room is yours alone for the night or shared with other groups.
• Ask whether a minimum spend covers food and drinks together or drinks alone.
• For a backyard or office party, Neale's Spit Roast Catering starts from $23 per person.
• Add a DJ with Tim the DJ from $3,490 if the night runs late, or a host from PQ Talent from $440 to run games and announcements.
• A neon sign or backdrop from A Day to Remember Event Hire, from $100, gives the photo corner a festive centre.