Came here for some drinks with friends. The service was friendly bad efficient. They still serve some good beers here and my white rabbit dark ale went down a treat lol
I also tried a white rabbit white ale whose was pretty good too.
This place had a band playing when we were there which was fun, and the punters are a friendly lot.
This place is fun.
Previous review March 2017
Went here today to meet a couple of friends. The service was excellent, really happy chatty staff. Good selection of dunks and they serve burgers n chips and pizzas upstairs on the rooftop bar.
I'm coming back here for sure haha
And I've just realised that that I only took 1 pic which is a pity as the rooftop views were good.
Fantastic roof top bar and pub. Packed for footie games and summer days. Many a good night has been had at Imperial. Big plus is that it’s super close to the station and other pubs so it’s a good time. Lots of good food options.
😱Lizzie’s first impression: I come here so often just because it has one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne - the vibes are great and theres always ample of space.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: the bartenders are usually really fast and drinks are delicious here - especially aperol spritz on a warm day. I’ve also had their parmas and let me tell you, it is one of the best I’ve had in my life! The portion is massive and it’s so tender and delicious.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: the place is quite dated but upstairs looks a little fancier.
🥇Lizzie rates overall: love coming here for a bite or drinks.
Always a good time at Imperial. The rooftop space makes it a great place to have drinks with friends on a hot summer's evening. It's a great vibe downstairs also, especially when there's a game on it can get quite loud.
I came here for dinner and drinks with a group of friends and ordered the fish and chips. It was a huge portion and I found the fish had a bit too much batter for my liking, but what can you expect from a pub style eatery.
It's also a great hangout for after a show or event, would definitely recommend Imperial!
Friendly customer service. The pub is large and there are private dining rooms upstairs.
Fish and chips is one of the best in the melb. Huge portions and the fish's batter is nice and crispy.
Brisket was ok. Bit tough but generously portioned.
Best Parma in Melbourne. Love, love, love this place. We go here often for work lunches and birthdays. Their rooftop has good food too and great ambience especially in summer! Highly recommend.
The rooftop is one of my go-tos for drinks because of the space and atmosphere.
Lots of tables and seating available, but I don't think they have any happy hour specials.
The food is not bad if you're after something to snack on while drinking.
Our pizzas were hot and fresh, bases were crisp with a good combination of toppings.
Kathleen Madafferi Di Rago
+4.5
We went to the Imperial for their Harry Potter themed roof top....
The service and food was amazing BUT the Harry Potter theme was lacking.
I had the chicken burger which was amaze and just the right portion size. The oysters were great on their own the gin & caviar topping was unfortunately scrapped to the side.
Hubby had the steak burger, which he said was great.
Tried the alcoholic version of the butter beer and it was horrible - LOVED the non alcoholic version though.
Would definitely love to go back and try the resturant!
If your a huge Harry Potter fan, there’s now a pop up Vertic Alley on the rooftop of Imperial Bourke Hotel. The non alcoholic Buttah beer is amazing and the kids loved the Siriusly black sliders. 🙌 🍻 🧙♂️ #Verticalley #imperialbourkest #cursedchildaus #harrypotterandthecursedchild #butterbeer
Organised a young professionals networking event here because of the lovely views and atmosphere.
A nice variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Great views of Parliament House and Collins street.
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Being a huge Harry Potter fan, how could I not embrace my inner-child at Vertic Alley (Diagon Alley’s boozey equivalent) while also indulging in a cocktail for my adult self!?
The magic begins as you ascend the stairs to the rooftop with a playful reference to the “Maruader’s Map”. Passing the famous disappearing brick wall entrance, a variety of magical stores act as seating booths including; WIZPAC bank and Wills and Bourke Wandmakers! How fun!
From the “Marauder’s Menu” we ordered the large Harry’s Platter - 6 dishes and a cocktail jug ($95) which was perfect for our group of four! We chose the Imperial Pumpkin Pasties, Bezeors (pea & mozerella aramchini w/ lemon aioli), Dragons Breath Chorizo Flatbread, Gilliweed Tacos (w/ kingfish ceviche, slaw & spicy mayo), Siriusly Black Beef Sliders and Black King Ora (salmon & yuzu on black rice cracker).
Stand outs would have to be the tacos and salmon crackers. The pastry on the pastie was also deliciously moorish, however I think a little extra salt would have given the dishes a little lift.
For drinks, the Love Potion cocktail (pomegranate liqueur, hippocampus raspberry gin, cranberry juice, lime juice and sparkling wine) was light and refreshing, and while the Buttah Beers looked impressive and tasted quite nice (pineapple perhaps??) I’m not a big beer drinker so it wasn’t my drink of choice!
Overall, good food and drink in a playful, and dare I say ‘magical’ atmosphere. Absolutely a great way to spend an afternoon/evening with friends :) I would highly recommend it!
The imperial hotel is very smartly putting on a Harry Potter theme due to the Cursed Child play showing next door. As with a lot of the other patrons, we came here for the themed restaurant and food, we were not disappointed. The food is named really well and makes you feel as though you’ve transported into a new magical world! If you are seeing the cursed child, definitely check out the imperial prior!
I’ve Sooo been here a few times, and I’ve always enjoyed the vibe and the food. Food is simple but it’s just what you need for a good night out with some bevs! We also went during the Harry Potter themed rooftop bar which was really fun to experience! We had butterbeer, but it was literally beer with cream! They could have done a better incorporation, don’t know why they chose beer! But still a good night out!
Renee @thehappyorganicgirlau
+4
The “Harry Potter” set up was incredible! What a cool concept. I enjoyed the ceviche tacos and for $16 I thought they were a great size. I’d love to pop back and try the rest of the menu at some point as the dishes sound great and very creative!
It was our first visit to the Imperial Rooftop last night and this place was just going off. We arrived just after 8 and hadn’t anticipated the crowds and reserved areas. Lots of hens events it seems and plenty of Aus Open fans watching it in the big screens. We managed to eventually grab a table where we stayed through about four rounds of drinks. Kellies pick was the four pillars gin and tonic with a slice of orange while I was on the pints and refreshing pints they were too. Great to look out over the parliament buildings and colourful Melbourne skyline. We enjoyed their hot chips with a salt & vinegar seasoning... and the pizzas were good to. We had the cast and crew of the new Harry Potter musical come up and join the crowds after their first preview show. Recommended.
I have been a long standing fan of this place as I support a team that has active engagement with them. Nice bar reasonable price and good staff. Ordered the fish and chips for lunch and it was pretty descent . Next time I’ll go for Parma though it looked awesome.
We attended a social gathering here last weekend and enjoyed the relaxed ambience at the rooftop bar. It was not too crowded and the view of the city, in particular the Parliament House added a nice vibe.
What a great spot! Came here for lunch with some colleagues as the sky finally cleared in melb and some sun peeped out!! So rooftop bar it was!
The usual pub menu - burgers and chips. Prices are a bit dearer, there should be some happy hour or something as burgers averaged at $20-25 which did come with chips. My southern style chicken was delicious. Serving was quite generous.. as i had to be fancy and eat with a knife and fork haha... coleslaw mayo was tasty. Chips was crunchy. Colleagues had thr cheeseburger and they said it was tasty as well. You can add an extra patty for $5.
Plenty of spot upstairs. Still a bit quiet. Perhaps when it gets a bit warmer.
Drinks and service are reasonable for what they charge. They need to fix their elevators ASAP, I felt so sorry for few oldies struggling at the stairs who came with their children and grandchildren. On Friday nights the rooftop bar gets way to noisey, well! noise adds to the atmosphere.
How can you go past this view though.. one of the best rooftop in melbs big call but it is up there.
Great for after work drinks, weekend drinks, occasions what is going.
Chips were also delicious as was the wine.
Very popular spot, especially on a Friday night. Tucker is the usual pub fare but is always decent and brought out quickly. Very friendly staff which really commendable considering how packed the place can get. I’ve been here numerous times and it’s always good. Will continue to do so.
My cousin and I came here for dinner recently and were saddened to see it’s no longer in the entertainment book. Pricing is still reasonable though and our meals were enjoyable. We started with the trio of dips and bread to share and then each selected a Parma because that’s generally the most sensible choice in a pub. A wise choice it turned out as the parma was sizeable and utterly delicious. A quick google confirmed it ranked as number three in Victoria something I can certainly attest to. Atmosphere of a Friday night was lively too
You guys broadcast a live fifa world cup feed at the ridiculous hour of 4am, had heaps of staff on and served us drinks in a quick and efficient manner. What else can I say? Thanks for the hospitality
Great menu, especially for those with dietary requirements. Had the barramundi and it was delicious. The food is consistently above average pub-quality and the atmosphere is always lively.
Friendly service, typical pub style menu.
I had the Chicken Burger which was Southern style chicken, the chicken was crispy , bun was nice there was only about a tablespoon of coleslaw on the burger and far too many chips on the side , the chips were very good though
I am yet to eat here but the rooftop bar is a great place to meet up with friends pre dinner. The view over Parliament House and the Gardens is wonderful on a sunny evening. And they usually have my favorite Charles Melton Rose. Otherwise the Nice & Sloe cocktail is the way to go.
The downstairs bar isn’t too much to look at but the rooftop bar is nice. If you are looking parma or steak, this place does the job. It’s in a good location, I usually go there for drinks before dinner elsewhere.
I had a tomato and lettuce burger with tomato relish and chips with mayo aioli and the meal was absolutely beautiful especially the burger which tasted really nice! I will definitely be having that again!
Big fan of the imperial for a casual pub style meal. The bar itself has a relaxed vibe and the food menu does the classics well. Being a hot day I went for the haloumi salad and added chicken. A really tasty dish. Very generous portion size too- I think there was an entire block of haloumi hidden under the other ingredients!
Pretty Sharp pub food. Had a Phenomenal lamb pizza but is also the best place in the CBD to catch your NFL/CFB/NHL/MLB fix. Will often be open earlier for certain sporting events.
Also the Parma is the size of a baseball mit. Good place to get your grub on.
The Imperial Hotel was our date night choice after our initial venue, didn’t present a overly fulfilling menu.
The pictures of our food are self explanatory. My glossy bun encapsulated nothing more than air and the burger patty was bone dry and cold, the chicken Caesar salad was served in a cardboard bowl... hmm not overly appealing to say the least.
However where the food fails the staff and venue deserve a mention. The open roof top bar with views of Parliament House and Mel CBD saved the dismal food experience. The venues myriad of rooms offered different mini events ie- open mic/ comedy night, a documentary viewing and another hosting some sort of meet up? Not to mention the plentiful tv screens for the avid sport fans. The Imperial is a diverse venue where there’s sure to be something of interest on. The staff were friendly and genuine which will definitely see us return (just for a drink)
Great for drinks on the rooftop in the sunshine! Had a really nice cocktail jug to share (gin and elderflower). Great views and comfy sofa type seats.
Great pizza & drinks on the rooftop yesterday! It's a lovely atmosphere up there on a sunny day and we managed to get a table in the sun which was a bonus.
Gorgeous rooftop! The food however, not so good. The lamb was full of fats and the salad just wasn't as tasty as other places. The pizza dough tasted so pre-made, we didn't even finish half of it, and the burger was so so only.
Service constantly took their own sweet time.
Went here for dinner last night and could not fault the experience at all! From the staff to the food, everything was top notch 👌
My friend and I came in at 7 needing to be at the Comedy Theatre at 7:30, and the lady at the bar (didn't catch her name) was absolutely awesome and made sure we'd get our food with enough time to get there.
We ordered the Parma and Sweet Potato wedges and they were brought out within 5 minutes of ordering. Both were very decent portions and we loved them both.
Thankyou to all the staff here for going out of their way to help get us there on time, we will be back.
Best valued Parma in Victoria. I consider myself a parmigiana enthusiast and this is the biggest - best value for money - Parma in Victoria, maybe even the world. Awesome rooftop bar as well, and good beer.
Fantastic place with the best Parmas in Melbourne! Incredible value for money.
The rocket salad that accompanies the Parma is to die for. Highly recommend!
I have A very very soft spot for the Imperial as I'm a Liverpool fan, not just a fan but one who would sell my first born in return for a first premiership trophy. Many nights (football) have been had here, good and bad. The amount of TVs they have here makes for easy viewing from any corner and with parmas the size of ones head allows for plenty of beer fuelling! The rooftop ain't too shabby either 👍
The Dear Luncher once walked the mighty halls of power in the buildings over the road from The Imperial and recalled fondly the pizzas that were named after politicians. This is no longer the case, as discovered on a more recent visit - but the pizzas are of a high quality. The deep sea pan (deep base) pizza is not only unique, it is delicious. Next on The Dear Luncher's agenda is The Atomic Imp Burger, hopefully smashed down upstairs on the fantastic rooftop.
Went for a late lunch. Quiet but still a good atmosphere. A good variety of 'pub meals' to choose from. The meals were massive and came out quickly, hot and tasty
I always enjoy the roof top bar for afterwork drinks. A couple of G&Ts along with with some delicious sweet potato wedges which were delish. This place is not pretentious and most nights we have not had a problem finding a place to sit and enjoy the roof top bar. We then headed down for dinner where we enjoyed a mix of chicken wings (which were a little spicy) arancini balls, meat pizza and chicken parma. The parma here was a massive serve it was delicious and juicy with a side of fries and salad too.
We came here for after work drinks and it was awesome! The rooftop is a lovely place to enjoy a drink and soak up some afternoon sun. The crinkle cut fries were amazing- the chicken salt on them was addictive!! We also got some calamari and the mac & cheese croquettes, which were both a pretty tasty afternoon snack. We ordered a side of loaded fries and did not enjoy them, though. The bacon tasted fake and the cheese was almost solid!
Decent place for a night out. Very lively and lots of available seating. Rooftop bar was lovely but sadly I didn't find the service super friendly which was the only let down
Outstanding view. Great seating arrangement. Tantalising bar food. Is there a better rooftop bar in the city? Tough ask. If you have contenders do let me know. This place goes off for after work drinks, and has that elusive classy yet unpretentious vibe about it. Take your colleagues or Client and head down to unwind.
Eaten at both the pub downstairs and the rooftop bar. Different menus for each. Had the chicken parma in the pub and it was huge but tasted pretty meh. The crumb-to-meat ratio was too high. And the crumb was a bit underdone on the inside, rather then crispy all the way through. If you value quantity over all else it will hit the spot though.
On the other hand the cheeseburger I had on the rooftop was excellent, really one of the best I've ever eaten. And $16 w/ chips was reasonable. Great ambience on the rooftop too, but it gets really busy and you still struggle to get a table.
Above average selection of draught beer to choose from.
The Imperial Hotel is a quality pub with some classic favourites as far as pub meals go. They also have a great little rooftop bar, which seems to be all the rage in Melbourne. For a quick lunchtime meal, we ordered the Chicken Parma and the Mushroom Risotto. The Chicken Parma was bigger than Jase's head and chicken was beautifully tender and juicy. The mushroom and taleggio (a soft cheese similar to brie) risotto was the standout for me. A simple yet elegant dish with the risotto cooked just right. Can't wait to return and spend some more time on the rooftop.
THIS is how a Parma should be done. Apart from the size, which at first site suggests food sweats ahead, it is perfectly proportioned with Napoli, Ham and cheese. After the initial shock I tried to finish the beast but was beaten. DO NOT have entree, you won't need it and it takes away vital stomach room for the Parma....I have a personal Parma quest and this hits a 9/10.... I just wished I could have forced in a chip or salad, both of which the others on the table loved, demolishing the bowls!!...
Friendly as hell were all the staff, and plenty or servers, staff and even on New Years Eve we waited no longer than 30 minutes for the meal...
Great value, great vibe.....coming back, I must defeat the beast!....
Really nice pub for a drink. I haven't tried their food, but it looks good. Nice selection of beers on tap. Good wine menu. Really nice atmosphere and staff are always friendly and helpful.
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SADISTS!
They know they have a great rooftop terrace. But you have to get up to it.
They probably giggle as they see you struggling up the steep flights of steps to get there.
We were behind a group of Chinese tourists, desperate for a drink and the perfect view of Parliament House. Clutching his chest, the leader said, "***? I've run the Great Wall. That was a piece of p!ss compared to this."
Eventually, dodging the poor Chinese lady who rolled back down the stairs, we made it to the rooftop bar. Amazed to see the poor buggers who had lugged their prams and wheelchair-bound relatives up there, we ordered several rounds of drinks and a pre-emptive ambulance for Grandma.
"Can we have an ashtray, please?" I asked the waitress.
"Sorry. No smoking up here. But you can go back downstairs and smoke on the street."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Take the lift. It's just there."
Staff are cool. Not expensive for the location (we had a great view of a taxi driver protest on the steps of Parliament). Take the lift when you arrive.
Great pub, especially during Comedy Festival season. The roof top bar had a decent view and was decked out well with blankets and heaters. We went on a Monday so it was nice and quiet, good place for a chat. We each had chips and a burger which weren't priced too bad. The vege patty needs a bit of work as it got a bit sickly after a few bites but it was nice to not be given a basic, bland vege burger for once.
Chicken Parma awesome! Large and quality, the chips I loved, they were thick and crunchy, also fluffy inside. Salads these days are crap, let down by a lack of care, as I think it would not be to hard to allow a little effort on the sides!! Cheers
After 4 days in Melbourne desperate for an honest pub meal where you get exactly What you order. Had the parmy not as big as I expexted but thick and very tasty. Hubby had a steak which was he was happy with.
Headed to the rooftop bar for a cocktail and some small plates. The nuggets and fried pickles were great!
Great views over the city and good atmosphere.
Actually quite good pub food. Much higher standard than the average pub. I also quite like the atmosphere. I've been here many times and would highly recommend
Came here for a Friday lunch with thw workmates. Went for the traditional parma option and wasnt disappointed， as the parma was better than the parmas you would get at most other pubs around town.
My only tip would be to tackle this on an empty stomach，as the parma was pretty massive.
Butter Chicken Pie = AMAZING!!
Great service too, awesome/friendly crew - didn't have to wait long for anything, they were all over it!
Perfect CBD pub dining experience.
When I read that the Imperial was gaining a rooftop bar, I was rather keen to see what it would be like. Downstairs, the pub is all about sports, tourists, hugging your pint perched on a traditional bar stool, or scoffing a parma as quickly as possible before a show. The rooftop has a much younger, fresher vibe, but is still a casual drinking space frequented by all walks of life. The evil three-storey climb is worth it when you come out onto the large, simple wooden deck, with a full-frontal assault of Parliament House to your left, and a pleasant vista down Bourke Street directly ahead...
MelbourneFoodPaparazza
+3.5
Went to the Rooftop for drinks and snacks. Prices were pretty standard for both, with fairly standard food offerings such as as burgers and chips. There were some slightly nicer wine offerings however, like the d'Arenberg Roussane, and the portion of the crinkle cut chips was generous given the $8 price tag. The service was also fairly fast. And of course, the view was excellent.
The pub is nothing to write about but the new Roof Top is fantastic. A great use of space with a stunning view over the top end of town. There's an assortment of seating (if you're quick) and decent food.
Would be great if the umbrellas were larger as it's hard to catch the shade. So unless you love the sun you may want to avoid on a hot day.
Big bonus points for the view from the rooftop bar. The menu is middle of the road but once you settle in with a beer everything feels great about this place.
Popped over for lunch - great spot. Been here a few times. They have an awesome rooftop also. Cater to a large group for events.
Food menu is extensive and has all the usual pub grub. We grabbed a burger and a margarita pizza which were both delicious and good portion size!
Good place. The rooftop was filled and unavailable but the curbside tables out the front was fitting enough with good views of Parliament House.
Order via QR code with good wait times for food.
I liked the Australian shapped Parmagan. A little dry, but overall not bad. The serve of vegetables is questionable, single not plural.
I tried my friends slider and they were tasty plus. If that's the quality of the beef burger, I know what I will get next time.
Price consistent with Melbourne prices.
Rooftop was full, so we opted to dine in the outdoor setting along the footpath. It's fun to people watch here. Order is via QR code on the table; food came out pretty quickly. Sliders presentation can definitely do better, but the juicy and delicious patty made up for it. Wish we got the bigger version. Parmi was juicy and soft, liked that too. The chicken tenders, however, was dry and tough, the batter tasted burnt.
Had a good time here on the rooftopbar. Booked a table for 2 hours, thankful that we did as it was super busy both in the pub on the bottom aswell as on the rooftop bar.
Atmosphere was great, people were having a good time and there was also some live music at some point. Staff was very friendly and attentive, constantly doing rounds to clear tables of empty glasses and plates. Drinks and food both came out fast after being ordered through the QR Code even though it was a super busy Friday night.
Food was delicious, had the parmi, beef sliders (super yum!) and the steak sandwich.
Would come here again 😊
Booked my team Christmas party here and was so fun! We only had 2 hour booking and the guy was a bit curt on kicking us off. But he redeemed himself by organizing another table for us. We were ordering so many drinks so think that might have helped. They even let us stay there and moved another booking. Great service! Drinks and food was solid. A great spot for a group gathering, but book ahead!
Would have preferred the pizza to be a bit more crispy for 5 stars but that’s just me. I liked the curried lamb salad too.
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