Review Imperial Hotel - Melbourne

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!

Good quality chicken Parma and good quality beer. Just average. A little bit expensive at $24-$26 for mains. That’s what you get here, it’s a good CBD pub that serves pub classics, it isn’t a normal restaurant or fancy schmack dining. The eggplant Parma was average. The burgers were just alright.

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.

Visited December last year.  I ordered my meal using the app, however when it arrived it was a vegan burger when I had ordered a steak sandwich.  The waiter proceeded to tell me that’s what I had ordered and that the receipt said so.  I couldn’t check because the app doesn’t have that function it only lets you see the monetary value spent not the itemised receipt.  The waiter stated that the kitchen would make me the steak sandwich. When the sandwich finally arrived it was with a burger bun not a sandwich style bread as depicted in the pictures and as I had seen with other customers orders.  It was as if the bun from the vegan burger I didn’t order was placed onto the steak sandwich. I thought this was okay but the bun itself was pretty much inedible, it was stale, chewy and unpleasant.  To make things worse when I bit into the sandwich some of the meat was pretty much raw. The waiter never returned to ask how I meal was.  We arrived at 1830 and our table was clear just before we left at 2300. When it finally was cleared the waitress asked if we were finished with our meals that had been sitting there for at least 2.5 hours. I have to say I was really disappointed with the food and the service I experienced at the imperial hotel.  I had privately emailed the hotel to express my concern shortly after our experience and nearly a month later I am yet to receive a response.

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<br/><br/>I also tried a white rabbit white ale whose was pretty good too. <br/><br/>This place had a band playing when we were there which was fun, and the punters are a friendly lot.<br/><br/>This place is fun. <br/><br/><br/>Previous review March 2017 <br/>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. <br/><br/>I'm coming back here for sure haha <br/><br/>And I've just realised that that I only took 1 pic which is a pity as the rooftop views were good.

I organised a group lunch here. Pre-order process not worth the hassle. You are required to email through, and then telephone them to make sure it has been received. When I called I confirmed the total booking number. But when I was called on the morning of the booking, the booking was still incorrect. Person who calls works for parent company I think, who then had to reconfirm with venue the correct booking number. Anyway. We turned up promptly on time, most meals cold so I guess they had been pre-prepared too early. My lamb salad was bland and dry, some pieces of lamb cooked well done and then some, some pieces medium. No inquiry into meal so we just paid and left.

I have been to the Imperial a few times for work lunches and it has generally been all right.<br/><br/>Yesterday we had our work Christmas lunch on the roof. Our meals were pre-ordered, and "pre-ordered" obviously meant "pre-cooked". <br/><br/>I ordered the parmigiana (with no onion on the salad). The chicken was well-cooked and tender - it was also stone cold. The melted cheese had set again. Clearly this had been prepared and left sitting out for some time. There was onion in the salad, although it was all right at the bottom, almost as though it was being hidden. I should have sent it back, but the staff all looked a bit surly. <br/><br/>The chips were OK.

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.

<br/>😱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. <br/><br/>🍩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. <br/><br/>🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: the place is quite dated but upstairs looks a little fancier. <br/><br/>🥇Lizzie rates overall: love coming here for a bite or drinks.<br/>

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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>It's also a great hangout for after a show or event, would definitely recommend Imperial!

Group of 7, first to order at the bar for table, for my wife and I. All other 5 guests served, after 5 mins one of the bar staff asked if everything was ok. Advised still waiting for our order. After a further 15mins we approached to bar, they radioed the kitchen and said another 6 mins (oops I guess they forgot again) Food came out under cooked (steak only looks brown due to the gravy otherwise raw, not medium rare), oysters not served with correct dressing. I dont mind a steak on the rare side but this was pushed my limits.

The pre-theatre beef brisket nachos were appalling. Very dry meat, 90% nacho chips, dodgy looking guacamole and gelatinous cheese added up to a waste of good money and calories that had been left under the heat lights too long. I gave it 2 as the beer was pretty good. and the rooftop inviting (but unfortunately full).

Friendly customer service. The pub is large and there are private dining rooms upstairs.<br/><br/>Fish and chips is one of the best in the melb. Huge portions and the fish's batter is nice and crispy.<br/><br/>Brisket was ok. Bit tough but generously portioned.

Unbelievably bad. Went to the Imperial Hotel for lunch last Friday. Ordered half size Chicken Parma at 12.15pm and it was 1.45pm and still had not received it. Other customers that ordered meals after me received meals before me. After complaining to staff it was delieved in a takeaway box at 2pm as l had to get back to work. Very small portion. Would not return.

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.<br/>Lots of tables and seating available, but I don't think they have any happy hour specials.<br/>The food is not bad if you're after something to snack on while drinking.<br/>Our pizzas were hot and fresh, bases were crisp with a good combination of toppings.

I don’t generally write a review about food or restaurants. However, I feel an urge to write one after a very bad experience my partner and I had when we ate at the pub.<br/><br/>My partner and I booked a table for 8:15 pm last night to have dinner before continuing our big night at the pub to watch the UEFA Champions League Final. We were sat at a table on the 1st floor when we arrived. Having not been here very often for food, we didn’t know that there was no table service and that we had to order at the bar. No one had let us know about this before nor given us a menu. We only found out after asking someone after sitting at the table for a while.<br/><br/>We ordered chips and gravy, a salami pizza, and a steak and kidney pie for dinner which we really enjoyed. <br/>After the main course was finished we decided to order a treacle tart for dessert. About 15 minutes after, the tart was served. We thought it looked discoloured and a bit off but decided to have a bite to taste anyway thinking it might be a different kind of treacle tart. It turned out that the whole tart was still very raw, to the point even the crust was still very soft and doughy. We couldn’t help but believed that they most likely got it out of a package but forgot to bake it before serving!<br/><br/>We were rather surprised and confused but not too upset at that point. We took the tart back to the bar to inform a bartender that the tart was raw. She was very apologetic and said that a new tart would be served at our table soon. <br/>Back at our table, another gentleman who also worked on the floor came over to apologise once more, which we appreciated.<br/><br/>About 10-15 minutes later, it was 10 pm and we were aware that the dining tables would need to be removed to provide more space for standing on the floor around this time. We were, however, still waiting for the dessert. <br/>The original gentleman came over and acknowledged that we were still waiting for the dessert and that the table might need to be removed soon and then left.<br/>At that moment, we started to feel a little worried as we weren’t sure what was about to happen.<br/><br/>A few minutes later, another guy came over and kicked us out of the table - he was also being very rude about it. Even though we told him about our situation, he didn’t listen and told us that we needed to leave and then just started pulling the table away while we were still sitting there. <br/><br/>To be fair, we wouldn’t have been sitting there till 10 pm if we got our dessert sorted by then or at least if we were better explained of what was to happen with our situation.<br/><br/>We got pushed into a corner, just standing there unsure what to do. The original guy who apologised to us earlier came back to apologise one more time and then said that we would receive a refund for the tart, and then walked off to arrange the floor’s tables without elaborating on how we could be refunded.<br/><br/>We stood where we were for good 5 minutes waiting, as we thought he might come back to sort us out about the refund. However, there was no sign of him coming to talk to us. He just kept walking pass us and tending to the floor arrangement. <br/>After being very patient from the very start, we then started to feel very unhappy and frustrated.<br/>Couldn’t wait any longer, we went to speak with the bartender about how we could get a refund. She said that she had given some cash to someone to give to us but we were never approached by anyone at all. After explaining to her that we did not receive anything nor were explained about how to get refunded, she then decided to give us the money back.<br/><br/>It was safe to say that this was one of the worst restaurant/pub experiences we have had in Melbourne so far.<br/>It’s truly a shame that we experienced such unacceptable services from a place we thought was one of the best pubs in Melbourne CBD. Although the drinks and food (apart from the treacle tart) were quite good, sadly after this we won’t come back to eat here anymore.

Burgers were a bit dry and nothing special about them at all. Chips were passable but again nothing great. Great rooftop for a drink but I wouldn’t eat there.

Wheelchair accessible in most areas. Lift to roof top bar available. Accessible toilets available. From what we could see... The dining area is accessible if you bring your own small ramp.<br/><br/>We can for dinner on a Saturday night. No booking. Staff were great in trying to slot us inbetween bookings despite being booked out. Food came out quick with adequate vegan options. We loved the hot chips!<br/><br/>We loved the Harry Potter "theme" despite the obvious dislodging of copyright laws. The butter bear was a great gimmick<br/><br/>Overall a great location to drink a beer and watch the football/soccer

We went to the Imperial for their Harry Potter themed roof top....<br/>The service and food was amazing BUT the Harry Potter theme was lacking. <br/>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.<br/>Hubby had the steak burger, which he said was great.<br/>Tried the alcoholic version of the butter beer and it was horrible - LOVED the non alcoholic version though.<br/>Would definitely love to go back and try the resturant!

Plenty options of beer on tap, bar food and live music at some nights of the week. Service was good and beer was cold, what is great. Great place for a happy hour.

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.<br/><br/>A nice variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Great views of Parliament House and Collins street.

Went to this rooftop Harry Potter themed bar before attending the show on review from Concrete Playground. I found it disappointing as it was a bit too boozy for two people coming together, as opposed to a larger group. A lot of people arrived and left at the same time as us feeling similar. We ended up eating downstairs in the loud dining room. The food was very good but the service was average. We waited by the “please wait to be seated sign” when a staff member asked us what we were waiting for. <br/>She then looked dismayed at having to seat only 2 people, as if the business was too good even though there were a few bigger tables they ended up splitting. <br/>I can now see why a colleague chuckled when I said we were coming here for dinner before the show, it is a very average, sticky pub, cashing it on HP.

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!?<br/><br/>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!<br/><br/>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). <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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!<br/><br/>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!

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.

The burgers here are proof that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. I ordered the Hawaiian burger, and although it was large in size, it was not large in taste. <br/> <br/>The patty was the size of my fist and about as misshapen too. This meant that all the beets and tomato were sliding everywhere; and not in a good “messy burger” way, but in a “how the fudge do I eat this” way. The largeness of the patty meant that it had to be cooked for about thirty years, which was reflected in the monumentally unpleasant dryness I had to endure in each awkward mouthful. <br/><br/>The chips were cold and sad looking; and my drink was forgotten. Partners steak came out about ten minutes after my meal. <br/><br/>If you are looking for a disappointing dinner that smears your makeup all over your face and leaves you wishing you had brought a sandwich, I recommend the imperial.

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.

⭐️3.5 stars⭐️ <br/>We love this place! Working right around the corner from here means we pop in often to enjoy the amazing rooftop vibes and views. This time we decided to eat!<br/><br/>What we ordered: pumpkin & corn arancini, chips & cheese, and chicken pesto pizza! We were very impressed, the food was delicious. Arancini were a clear winner and we would suggest them to all! Pizza was great, it has made us want to come back and try another topping.<br/><br/>Beauty about this place.. staff are always super friendly!

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!<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Plenty of spot upstairs. Still a bit quiet. Perhaps when it gets a bit warmer.

Came here a few days ago to celebrate a special occasion with my partner. <br/><br/>The rating I’ve given is a reflection of the service. The food itself was good and decently sized when it was served to us. <br/><br/>Firstly, we were seated to a table that was almost broken and constantly wobbling. Small thing to complain about but regardless, I expect better for a pub with such a high rep. <br/><br/>Secondly, after having to go up to the bar to order (which was fine) my meal and my partners meal was brought out at two very different times, resulting in one meal going cold while waiting for our second order to arrive to the table. Only to have the second meal brought out about 30 minutes after mine, with no apologies or anything from staff. Very disappointing. <br/><br/>Lastly, the upstairs area where we were seated was badly set up. There were a standard amount of tables for dining, but people were standing up everywhere which made the atmosphere die out a lot, perhaps a function room or seperate area for people who are there for a gathering, can be arranged? Very disturbing to be sitting down eating with people standing around you drinking and talking. <br/><br/>👎🏼

Came here for dinner with my partner for our anniversary. We heard that the parmas at the Imperial are incredible so we booked a table and were very hungry and so excited when we walked into the pub. From the start, the service seemed to be really good. We were shown to our table on Level 1 by a lovely waiter who showed us where the bar and toilets were. <br/><br/>Our table was in a room that was loud with lots of people who were standing watching the footy. Our table was also incredibly wobbly but we brushed both of those things off. Our garlic bread entree was delicious, but the plate it was served on was left on our table for a long time (even after a waiter asked if the plate was ours..?) and I had to give it to a waiter when my meal arrived. You go up to the bar to order here which is fine, however this lead to my meal being brought out more than 20 minutes after my partners. The guy at the bar asked if I was ordering from a table with someone else, so I suspected they would bring out both our meals within a reasonably close timeframe. We were going to ask about it before a waiter saw that I was frustrated and she seemed to go get it sorted out (she never came back so I’m not sure). A few minutes later my meal came out. There were no apologies. <br/><br/>My partner waited for my meal to come out and because of this, his meal was cold. He didn’t enjoy his as much as it was no longer warm. We really couldn’t be bothered after all of this to ask for it to be reheated. It’s a real shame because my parma was absolutely delicious, chips were beautiful and so was the salad! Maybe an off day, not too sure, but would be very reluctant to come back because of the service. Disappointed unfortunately.

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.<br/>Great for after work drinks, weekend drinks, occasions what is going.<br/>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

Just had a couple of drinks here on Sunday afternoon and not impressed. We got the build your own hot chocolate menu and they had run out of baileys and marshmallows. Also got a coffee and it arrived stone cold after about 30 mins wait. They did try and resolve the issues like no skim milk and gave us a partial refund for the hot chocolate but was not impressed by the lack of stock, especially for a winter menu that came out 2 weeks ago.

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 rooftop especially in summer however even in winter good now as they have erected a marquee so the space can be used hear round. One tip for the pizzas they serve and I never thought I’d say this but go easy on the cheese... it was drowned in it and that’s coming from someone who loves cheese on a pizza. Had the chicken pesto and after scraping off mountains of cheese it was good

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.

Have been once, had a very rude bartender within the first 15 minutes of being in the venue. Might just be a one off, but wouldn't recommend. Melbourne is full of other incredible bars and cocktail venues around this area.

Friendly service, typical pub style menu.<br/>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.

Given its signature dish is the chicken parma, it was a let down. Parma was decent, chicken well cooked and not dry but ham on top was a thin slice and napoli sauce was under seasoned and too sour, topped off with generic cheese as per most parma. Chips were good but might I suggest changing the side Salad from being 90% rocket to mixed salad . The pork sliders were best dish of the night, well done . Pulled pork was perfectly moist and seasoned. Beef brisket was average, well cooked but very forgettable dish. The pizza was also very forgettable, overly cheesy and supermarket tasting base sadly. Service was decent. Good place for a drink and small meal but would opt for another place for me substantial meal

The Imperial Hotel is in the city on the Parliament end. It was the end of the year and I invited kristian.barker to join me. He was yet to receive a present from me. Here they were quite busy and it was quite some time before we got a table. They take the Entertainment book voucher. Here food is really big. Kristian had two glasses of coke and I had two different types of beer. One was from Little Creatures and the other one was a City lager. The City lager tasted like weed as it was bitter. Kristian did not like this and after one sip he decided no more. As for my non-alcoholic, it was water.

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.<br/><br/>Also the Parma is the size of a baseball mit. Good place to get your grub on.

This is food review rating. The kitchen really needs to step up their game. Chicken and leek pie was very dry, the gravy on the side was gooey thick. Chicken wings were overcooked. The beef cheeks were quite good, tasty but a little too salty. Best dish of the day was the sweet potato fries. Overpriced food for low quality food. This place is great for watching sports and beer. I understand why now most patrons don't eat there.<br/>

This is my 2nd time here. Had lunch with a group of 25. I had the chicken and leek pie with mashed potatoes and green beans. The pie was very dry. The gravy has an almost jelly consistency.  The mashed potato and green beans is ok. We found the servers to be friendly. The staff with the earpiece though wasn't too nice. She got a bit defensive when we asked if the food was coming out. We were literally just asking if they knew that our table was ready.

If you had to go to Imperial Hotel, it has to be for the rooftop bar and food. The parmas and pizzas are a perfect accompaniment to your drinks. Its a great place for after work drinks.

The Imperial Hotel was our date night choice after our initial venue, didn’t present a overly fulfilling menu. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.

Had dinner and drinks here last night to watch the game. Great service from the waitress from the dining area ( sorry didn't get your name), very hard to come by good service these days.<br/><br/>Had Parma and barramundi where both dish are good, average but good. If the Parma was not as thick, the sauce:ham:cheese ratio would be perfect, but oh well.<br/><br/>Nice rooftop area with a big screen and enough heaters to keep all warm. <br/>

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.<br/><br/>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 👌<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>The rocket salad that accompanies the Parma is to die for. Highly recommend!

Had a work lunch at The Imperial Hotel where it's been at least 5 years since we last visited. It sports one of Melbourne's most scenic rooftop bars, in this case a view of protesters outside of parliament house. But we sat in the main dining area where portrait paintings (most likely politicians) line the walls.<br/>My parma was huge, a bit overcooked around the edges but the centre was succulent. Very filling. My workmates got the calamari (sharing portion) for themselves, definitely not large enough for one. Although they enjoyed it they weren't full from it. The chicken and leek pie was also unsubtantial and lacked filling. Burgers were average/above average from the feedback I got. Risotto was undercooked but they kindly offered a replacement or full refund. Some of the meals do need a bit of a tweak so I hope they take on the feedback.<br/>The meals here can be pricey for what it is, for example burger with chips above $20. I'm sure if you wanted a burger or pizza you'd go to a place that specializes in it. I'd come back here because the rooftop looks amazing, just not when it's middle of winter.

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 👍

Dined here on a Friday lunch after a crap filled week of work, I was looking forward to a good friday lunch with the lads. After eating salads all week I was willing to fork out $24 of the hardest earned dosh you can find on the imperial burger. The description read like a burger lover's dream but when it came out I can honestly say my soul was crushed. I opened up the bun to find none other than a Kraft single aloft 2 Coles patties, with a slice of tomato to top it off. You read right folks, they are using COLES PATTIES on their burgers and I'll tell you something for free, I wasn't happy. Don't get me wrong, a Coles Pattie is alright when you're cooking them up yourself with the lads over a few tins or a $4 burger down at the local magoos footy game, but when you're forking out $24 I'm expecting something prepared by the establishment's cooks and not something mass produced from rat meat. If you're looking for a dry, tasteless and over crap burger you've come to the right place. If you want an edible burger I reckon there's about 1000 other places in the city you could go to. I'll leave by saying management should be fired. Cheers to all

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

Food is good but unfortunately, the service is unacceptable! We found a table to sit at which was cleared by a waiter, however he never came back to wipe it down! We poured water on our napkins and wiped it ourselves.... we then had to wait almost 40 minutes for a simple ($32 over priced) 250g porterhouse steak and beef brisket and when we questioned the amount of time it was taking, we were told "we said there will be a 30 minute wait"!!

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.

I know this is a pub, so most people order pub food, burgers, parma etc. I ordered the prawn salad - not available, so moved to the lamb salad, minus the yogurt dressing (as lactose intolerant).  $21....should be ok.... No. its Lamb (cooked well) lettuce, raw red onion and a few cubes of beetroot - my substitute dressing, pure balsamic vinegar. It was not worth $21, lamb cooked well but the most unexciting salad I have ever had - apart from last time I visited, I got the calamari salad - calamari (cooked well) lettuce, raw red onion and RAW GARLIC - Whaaaat!? lesson learnt, never go to the imperial for a salad. Overpriced and very unexciting. Judging by my colleagues plates if you want massive servings of deep fried stuff, this is your place.

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!

Went for dinner on a Wednesday night with my boyfriend. <br/><br/>I had the lamb salad. It looked and tasted average. It consisted of lettuce, small cubed beetroot, diced cucumber and literally one piece of capsicum. The dressing wasn't very flavorful and the ingredients didn't add much either. The lamb itself was nice was a bit tough. I wouldn't be excited to have it again. <br/><br/>My boyfriend had the fish and chips, which looked and tasted much better.

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

As if it wasn’t a trying journey of trials and tribulations when your friends attempt to decide on a place to eat, try organising a group lunch for 12 work colleagues. Fortunately, I am a tragic when organising large groups and would like to thank the extremely lovely Victoria for putting up with us! It felt like it was only just last year when we had our last team lunch, time sure flies when you’re hungry. We did so well last time at the Metropolitan, so we figured hotels were the way to go this time round again. Our experience last time was fantastic and it’s hard to find a place in the CBD that caters for large groups during the lunch time rush.

Huge serving of fish and chips. Chips were nice and crispy but I thought the fish was a bit too battered and greasy for my liking. My colleagues had chicken parma and the Imperial burger. They all demolished their meals. Overall a decent lunch, no surprises here.

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.

[LUNCH CRAWL] As if it wasn’t a trying journey of trials and tribulations when your friends attempt to decide on a place to eat, try organising a group lunch for 12 work colleagues. Fortunately, I am a tragic when organising large groups and would like to thank the extremely lovely Victoria for putting up with us! It felt like it was only just last year when we had our last team lunch, time sure flies when you’re hungry. We did so well last time at the Metropolitan, so we figured hotels were the way to go this time round again. Our experience last time was fantastic and it’s hard to find a place in the CBD that caters for large groups during the lunch time rush.<br/><br/>Whether you want a burger, chicken nuggets or even a steak, pub grub'll leave you with bellies filled and you can easily food comatose into oblivion.

Decided to take a drink at the rooftop bar in the imperial. Great view spot to take in the rays of sun that melbourne was pumping out. Smashed down some $14 mojitos and aperols. Beautiful. Decided to have some pork belly nuggets. Putrid. It was small pieces of belly that had been deep fried. No flavour at all. We didn't even finish them. Go for the drinks, not for the food

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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!!...<br/>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...<br/>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.

Some serious work needed here. The business needs a good overhaul. Our meals took over an hour to be brought out today downstairs, almost a record. And mine was a salad! I politely enquired about their whereabouts after 51 minutes. They were so embarrassed that a server returned my $50, so that part was nice and appropriate and done very well and without fuss. But, there’s obvious concerns for anyone against the clock coming here for lunch. Meals were coming out really slowly and everyone was affected, so a serious review of the kitchen operation is essential to make sure meals get out in much better time. While they’re at it they should review the way the lamb and Greek salad is put together because mine was mighty bland and needed some spice and seasoning. The dish needs a serious lift because you expect much more for $24. But, the good thing is all I had to pay for was my drinks. A shout out to the young servers here too. They were very polite despite the issues in the kitchen. They were nice to me and other customers and were diligently lined up waiting to get meals out. The fact they didn’t get them out in good time is not their fault.<br/><br/>Initial review<br/><br/>(This review is for the downstairs bistro). Nearby places were busy. Had to eat here or go hungry. I had hoped that the food would have improved since the renovation. It hasn't. I had a very ordinary steak sandwich. It had little to recommend it sadly. The bistro needs a major improvement.

Can't stand bar staff who constantly include tips in their prices. But guess they're trained to do so, as they all do it. $13/pint rip off.<br/>Would only return for the roof top if with friends from outter state or overseas.

Great roof top bar - if you can find it! Very relaxed atmosphere and some nice small plates/snacks. The pork belly bites could have been rendered down a little more, but overall - adequate

I don't like being ripped off and $14 for a glass of ordinary chardonnay was a joke. Also ordered cheesy chips with bacon and brought me ones all covered in spicy sauce. Not impressed - wouldn't go back.

SADISTS!<br/><br/>They know they have a great rooftop terrace. But you have to get up to it.<br/>They probably giggle as they see you struggling up the steep flights of steps to get there.<br/>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."<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>"Can we have an ashtray, please?" I asked the waitress.<br/>"Sorry. No smoking up here. But you can go back downstairs and smoke on the street."<br/>"Seriously?"<br/>"Yeah. Take the lift. It's just there."<br/><br/>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. <br/>

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! <br/>Great views over the city and good atmosphere.

The 3 meager miniature scallops were buried in a fiery bacon (I think) topping that destroyed any chance of tasting the scallops. The name of the dish on the menu " pan fried scallops (GF)" would easily breach the ACCC false advertising laws. The USA ribs looked appetising, nice colour and presentation with an abundance of nice tasting wedges but was soured by the rib's dryness. The night left shivers in my body when a small brown flying cockroach landed on my shoulder which went plummeting to the floor with a thrust of my hand. Wouldn't go back that's for sure

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. <br/>My only tip would be to tackle this on an empty stomach，as the parma was pretty massive.

Butter Chicken Pie = AMAZING!!<br/><br/>Great service too, awesome/friendly crew - didn't have to wait long for anything, they were all over it!<br/><br/>Perfect CBD pub dining experience.

This was rated the #1 parma by a blog a few years back, so I was very excited to give it a go.  Unfortunately I found it a bit disappointing - the napoli sauce was severely under-seasoned, the schnitzel itself was a bit soggy, and at $26 it was definitely on the expensive side.  On the positive side?  The quality of the chicken breast was good, the chips were decent, and the salad was good.<br/><br/>Still yet to find an amazing parma in the CBD - the hunt continues.

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...

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.<br/>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.