Christmas Party Venues in South Yarra

What to Know Before Booking Christmas Party Venues

Two Chapel Street pubs, at numbers 426 and 462, cover most South Yarra work Christmas parties. The Temperance Hotel has been on the street since 1868 and keeps a private lounge upstairs; Bridie O'Reilly's is an Irish pub with a covered beer garden behind it and two private areas for events, end-of-year celebrations included.

The choice tends to come down to whether the team wants a room to itself indoors or a garden with space to spread out.

What each pub offers an office party:

Up to 100 standing – The Lounge @ Temperance Hotel, with red velvet, floor-to-ceiling drapes and its own mirrored bar.
Up to 200 standing – the beer garden at Bridie O'Reilly's, which also seats 120 for a sit-down meal.
A whole-venue takeover – the Temperance can be hired entirely for up to 500, subject to a minimum spend.
Rain or shine – Bridie's garden has a retractable roof and heaters.
A small leadership dinner – the Temperance's curtained dining room seats 14.

Both handle food in-house, so the brief to each events team is simply your date, headcount and budget.

Canapés at the Temperance start from $38 per person, six to ten pieces each, once the group reaches 20.
Seated teams there can take a two- or three-course dining package.
Bridie O'Reilly's kitchen does Irish dishes such as bangers and mash alongside steaks, burgers, share plates and desserts, with vegan and gluten-free options marked.
Drinks at the Temperance run on standard, premium or non-alcoholic packages for two to four hours, or a capped bar tab.

Getting the booking in

The Temperance confirms menu choices and dietary needs two weeks before the event.
Its events sales manager handles function bookings.
At Bridie O'Reilly's, the function enquiry form starts the conversation, and the team tailors the set-up to the group.
Trams on Chapel Street and Toorak Road, and South Yarra station, are close to the Temperance.

Venues for Christmas Parties: Your Questions Answered

Which South Yarra pub suits a Christmas party for 150?

Bridie O'Reilly's beer garden takes up to 200 standing. The Lounge @ Temperance Hotel tops out at 100, though the whole Temperance can be hired for up to 500.

Can non-drinkers on the team be looked after?

A non-alcoholic package is on the Temperance's drinks list, and Bridie O'Reilly's pours non-alcoholic beers.

Will an outdoor Christmas party work if the weather turns?

Bridie O'Reilly's beer garden is covered by a retractable roof and has heaters, so it's used through the year.

What goes on at these pubs on a regular night?

Bridie O'Reilly's has live music on Friday nights and live sport on its screens; the Temperance runs trivia, live sport and weekly food nights downstairs.