Birthday Party Venues in Fitzroy North

Choosing the Right Birthday Party Venue

Two pub beer gardens make up the birthday choice in Fitzroy North, and both let a group take a section or the whole space. Beer Garden @ The Empress Hotel sits behind a corner pub at 714 Nicholson Street, while Beer Garden @ The Terminus Hotel is on the corner of Queens Parade and Brennand Street.

The Empress suits a 30th or a relaxed drinks catch-up, but it doesn't host 18th or 21st birthdays. For one of those, ask the Terminus team about your plans when you send an enquiry.

Picking between the two gardens:

Weather-proofing – the Empress courtyard is heated and covered by a retractable roof, so a winter birthday works as well as a summer one.
A casual section with no hire fee – the Empress ropes off part of its garden for 20 to 80 guests without a minimum spend, hire fee or deposit.
Speeches, decorations or your own music – book the Empress courtyard privately for up to 120, since a roped-off section can't offer them.
A headcount in the hundreds – booked exclusively, the Terminus garden takes 200 standing or 120 seated, with a private bar.
A smaller corner of the Terminus – its small beer garden holds 50 standing or 40 seated, and the large one 110 standing or 80 seated.

Food is where the two differ most on cost. Empress finger food packages start from $20 per person for groups of 20 or more, while Terminus canapé packages run from $30 per person.

The Empress kitchen covers pub bites for groups of 20 or more – cauliflower bites, zucchini fritters, chicken wings, sausage rolls, sliders and mini parmas – and pizzas can be pre-ordered for a big group.
At the Terminus, canapés come in packages of four, five or seven pieces, with heartier bites such as wagyu sliders, mini fish and chips and Philly cheesesteaks.
A seated birthday dinner of 20 or more at the Terminus can share a two or three course banquet, or go for the backyard barbecue cooked on the Josper grill.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices are marked on the Empress menu, which helps when the guest list has mixed diets.

Drinks and the feel of each garden

The Empress pours a carefully chosen wine list and a weekly-changing tap list, and catering is optional on a section booking, so drinks alone are fine.
Terminus drinks packages run for two, three or four hours at standard or deluxe level, with soft drinks, juice and light or alcohol-free beers included.
At the Terminus, the garden is hung with greenery and string lights, mixes banquettes with tall leaners, and is wheelchair accessible.
Guests arriving by tram can take the number 86 to the Queens Parade pub, and the Empress opens every day from midday until late.

Common Questions About Venues for Birthday Parties

Can I hold an 18th or 21st at a Fitzroy North beer garden?

Not at The Empress, which takes 30ths and other birthdays but not 18ths or 21sts. For an 18th or 21st, talk to the Terminus team when you send an enquiry.

Is there a birthday option here without a minimum spend?

Yes – a roped-off Empress section for 20 to 80 carries no minimum spend, hire fee or deposit, and catering is optional. Function bookings at the Terminus carry minimum spends, with the events team building a package around each group.

How many birthday guests can sit down for dinner in Fitzroy North?

The whole Terminus garden seats 120, its large section 80 and its small section 40. The Empress courtyard suits sit-down lunches or dinners too, privately for up to 120.

What if the weather turns on the day?

The Empress courtyard is heated and has a retractable roof, so it works in any season. At the Terminus, ask the events team which section suits your date when you enquire.