Birthday Party Venues in Melbourne's Northern Suburbs

Choosing the Right Birthday Party Venue

From a 21st around the pool tables to a 60th at banquet tables, birthdays in the northern suburbs mostly happen in local pubs that keep a private room off to one side. Plenty Road carries two of them, in Bundoora and South Morang; Lower Heidelberg Road, Main Road in Eltham and Pascoe Vale Road in Essendon have the others.

Two quite different alternatives round out the region: the football club's function floor at Windy Hill in Essendon, and Manor on High in Epping, which runs three ballrooms off High Street. Which northern room suits which birthday:

A 21st with a DJ: Cross Keys Hotel in Essendon has two private upstairs rooms with built-in DJ booths, dance floors and balconies, from $2,000 minimum spend on a Friday
Slideshow, balloons and your own cake: The E.Bar @ The Old England Hotel in Heidelberg is yours alone, terrace included, with three flat-screen TVs and cocktail food from $26 per person
A casual night with a game of pool: The Sports Bar @ Bundoora Hotel has two pool tables, a private smoking area and a cake and present table in every package
A big crowd on a modest budget: The Function Room @ Commercial Hotel in South Morang holds up to 700 standing, with canapés from $22 per person
A family milestone at banquet tables: the Regency Room at Manor on High takes roughly 80 to 180 with a lounge bar, courtyard and fixed dance floor

Further down, the pubs are compared first, then the club and the reception venue, with answers on cakes, 18ths and finishing times at the end.

Eltham Hotel on Main Road, first opened as Watson's Hotel, has a Watsons Room entered from Pitt Street with a heritage bar for 40 cocktail guests, or its restaurant for 150 standing, with canapés also from $22 per person and a children's meal on the feasting menu.
The South Morang room splits with a dividing wall, so half takes about 110 standing, and its stage is there for your own DJ or band; the kitchen leans Italian.
In Bundoora, the Upper Bistro is the quieter choice, seating 50 beside tall windows, while the Sports Bar's five-hour packages bundle platters, a bar tab, a security guard and Bluetooth music.
The Old England can add its stone-walled lounge when the guest list grows, and also has a rooftop terrace for 80 to 110 and an upstairs gallery seating 30 to 40.

A footy club floor and a ballroom venue

On the Napier and Brewster Street corner, Windy Hill books three rooms looking over the oval; the Barry Capuano Room holds 50 among club memorabilia, from $2,250 minimum spend.
Its Hi Marque Room has a private bar for 90 cocktail guests, the Premiers Room takes 250 standing, and the club's staff will organise a jukebox, a DJ, linen or balloons.
At Manor on High, the Georgian Room has its own foyer and staircase and takes up to 270 for a seated milestone, and a barista works the lounges through the night.
Manor's per-head packages fold in canapés, a full menu, drinks and table styling, with weekday events from $3,000 minimum spend.

Common Questions About Venues for Birthday Parties

Can we bring a birthday cake to these northern venues?

Yes at most of them. The Old England welcomes your own cake and balloons, Cross Keys Hotel allows a cake even though BYO drinks aren't permitted, Windy Hill accepts one celebration cake, and the Bundoora Hotel's packages set up a cake and present table.

Are 18th birthdays allowed in the function rooms?

Not at the Cross Keys, which doesn't host 18ths in its function rooms. The E.Bar is most often hired for 21sts through to 50ths, so confirm the policy for an 18th with any of the pubs when you first enquire.

How late can a birthday in the north go?

Upstairs at the Cross Keys, an evening party can go until 1am (doors from 7pm). The Bundoora Hotel's packages cover a five-hour party, and Manor on High allows six hours at the venue, with an extra hour available.

Where suits a family lunch with young kids?

Eltham Hotel serves shared feasting menus with a children's meal, the Cross Keys has a Terrace corner of its bistro with a fireplace for seated lunches of 30 to 60 with no minimum spend, and the Bundoora Hotel runs a family bistro.

Birthday Party Venues in Northern Suburbs

Northern Suburbs Birthday Party Venues, Compared