The Waterside Hotel

Pro

Capacity: 300 guestsPricing: From $88 per personCategory: VenuesLocation: 508 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Highlights

Seven event spaces over six levels, from a 40-guest corner of the public bar to a 300-guest event floor
Open-air Level 3 rooftop with a DJ set-up, dance floor and disco ball for up to 260
Banquet menus from $88 per person and no venue hire fee

About The Waterside Hotel

The Waterside Hotel stands at 508 Flinders Street on the King Street corner, a site that has held a hotel since 1853 and carried the Waterside name since 1910. Melbourne hospitality group Sand Hill Road runs it as a seven-level venue: a classic public bar and beer garden at street level, the Past / Port South-East Asian restaurant above, and function floors and terraces stacked all the way up to a fifth-floor penthouse lounge. Each level books on its own. Tank Bar is a semi-private pocket of the public bar with booths, high tables and its own bartenders for about 40. Waterside Events on Level 1 is a 320 square metre room with a wraparound balcony, holding 300 for cocktails or 120 seated. Past / Port Rooftop on Level 3 takes 260 standing or 124 seated, with an indoor bar, a large outdoor terrace and skyline outlooks. Level 4 seats 40 or holds 80 for drinks and opens onto a private terrace, while FIVE is a lift-only lounge for 50 with butler-style service. The Full Experience puts every floor at your disposal. Waterside Kitchen handles canapé packages, party platters and banquets from $88 per person, and Past / Port's share-style menus cover dinners on Levels 2 and 4. Beverage packages are offered, and menus can be adjusted to the event. AV varies by floor, from projectors and wireless microphones on Level 1 to a DJ set-up and integrated sound on the rooftop. There is no hire fee, but a food and beverage minimum applies depending on the date, space and format.

Inclusions & amenities

Venue type

PubBarRestaurant

Budget

$$ (Average)

Food & drinks

Catering AvailableDrink Packages

Features

Cocktail/StandingBanquet/Sit-DownParty VibeRooftopCity ViewsIndoorOutdoorPrivate SpaceExclusive Venue Hire

Facilities

Dance FloorDJ FriendlyMicrophoneSound SystemTV/Presentation Facilities

Pricing

There is no venue hire fee; a minimum food and beverage spend applies and varies with the date, space and event style. Banquets on the Level 1 and Level 4 event floors start at $88 per person, and the semi-private dining room on Level 2 serves a $125 per person banquet.

Food

Waterside Kitchen cooks modern Australian food for functions, including roving canapé packages, party platters and banquets. Past / Port's kitchen serves South-East Asian share dishes drawing on Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cooking, with snacks and small plates on the rooftop. Menus can be adjusted to suit the event and dietary needs.

Beverages

Each event floor works from the venue's beverage list and drinks packages, which can be tailored to the group. Tank Bar, Level 1, Level 4 and FIVE each have their own bar, and the rooftop has an indoor cocktail bar.

Availability

Monday11:30AM – 11PM

Tuesday11:30AM – 11PM

Wednesday11:30AM – 1AM

Thursday11:30AM – 3AM

Friday11:30AM – 3AM

Saturday11:30AM – 3AM

Sunday11:30AM – 1AM

Spaces are available seven days, from midday until late. Download the events package, send an enquiry and the events team will follow up to plan and confirm the booking; the phone line has a dedicated events option.

Frequently asked questions

How many guests can The Waterside Hotel hold?

It depends on the level. Tank Bar suits about 40, Waterside Events takes 300 for cocktails or 120 seated, the Level 3 rooftop takes 260 standing or 124 seated, Level 4 holds 80 standing or 40 seated and FIVE takes 50. The whole building can also be booked across every floor.

Is there a venue hire fee?

No hire fee is charged. A minimum spend on food and drinks applies instead, and the figure changes with the date, the space you choose and the style of event. The events team quotes it on enquiry.

What food is available for functions?

Waterside Kitchen provides canapé packages, party platters and modern Australian banquets from $88 per person, while Past / Port serves South-East Asian share banquets. Packages can be tailored to the group, and the semi-private dining room has a $125 per person banquet.

Can we have a DJ and dancing?

Yes. The Level 3 rooftop has a DJ set-up, integrated sound, an indoor bar and a dance floor under a disco ball. Waterside Events on Level 1 is also set up for late-night dance floors as well as presentations.

Is there lift access to the upper levels?

Yes. Levels 1 to 4 are reached by lift or stairs from the Flinders Street entrance, and FIVE on the top floor is accessed by lift only. Tank Bar is on the ground floor with entries from Flinders Street, King Street and the corner.

Where we are

Suitable occasions

30th Birthday Party 40th Birthday Party 50th Birthday Party Birthday Party Christmas Party Corporate Event

Reviews

See all reviews for The Waterside Hotel on Google

Tim Albers

a month ago

My new favorite pub in Melbourne. Only a short walking distance from Southern Cross Station. Huge dining area, great service, amazing food and great atmosphere with live DJ on the Friday night. Steak was cooked to perfec…

Dale Alexander

2 months ago

Love this recreation of an Historic Melbourne venue. We had a lovely meal in Past Port followed by a cleansing drink on the mid level beer garden. Staff were super friendly and helpful. The prawn dumpling and chicken wi…

Emma Lastrina

2 months ago

I celebrated my 30th Birthday on Level 5 and the experience from start to finish was extraordinary. We had several requests that went outside the general party packages, both Rischelle and Grace were so adaptive and comm…

Suarie Rodrigo

5 months ago

My sister and I just planned to have a nice Saturday together, but it turned into such an extraordinary experience because of the whole team. Special mention to the Executive Chef Sarah and her team — the food was absol…

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