Refreshed rooftop for World Cup fever in the CBD
The Imperial Hotel Bourke Street officially unveiled its new Rooftop, revealing a fresh open-air destination above Bourke Street that anchors a broader transformation across the iconic CBD pub.
Just in time for the 2026 World Cup, the revitalised Rooftop now features a striking new feature bar, fresh furniture, renewed styling and temporary covered areas for guest comfort, with a fully retractable roof set to complete the space in the coming weeks and create a true year-round rooftop experience.
The Rooftop sits at the centre of wider improvements across the whole venue, with refreshed finishes and updated interiors rolled out across the ground floor public bar, dining areas and dedicated function spaces. Together, the works deliver a renewed look and feel while retaining the Imperial’s classic pub character that local workers, residents, sports lovers and visitors to Melbourne love.
While the renovation leads the transformation, The Imperial is the Home of Sport and the 2026 World Cup and its preparing for a major program across the tournament, which is only days away, activating across all levels. The pub will operate for every world cup match, screening games live and loud across every space, including a mega-screen on the Rooftop and multiple screens throughout the venue.
Guests can expect live screenings of the opening ceremony, live band, halftime giveaways, full breakfast menu, and complimentary brekky sliders between 5am–6am. Walk-ins are welcome, with bookings encouraged.
Across the tournament, matchday dishes will include a Giant Yorkie Lamb Roast (with all the trimmings, gravy and matched with Three Lions Lager), Bratwurst Hoagie Rolls (with ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, fried onions and fries), and a Croque Monsieur (with mortadella, parmesan and Swiss cheese). Breakfast offerings include the Big Breaky Roll with bacon, egg and hash brown, and The Imperial Big Breakfast.
Beyond matchdays, The Imperial’s refreshed food offering keeps classic pub favourites at the centre of the table. The kitchen serves crowd-pleasing staples including schnitzels, burgers, steaks and seasonal mains, while the Rooftop menu is designed around share plates and lighter dishes suited to cocktails, spritzes and social grazing.
Winter highlights include a Sunday Roast (beef or lamb with all the trimmings), Beef Cheek (with red wine jus, chive mash and roasted carrot), and a Beef & Mushroom Pie (with mash, mushy peas and gravy).
Weekly programming across the venue includes:
- Happy Hour: Mon–Fri, $9 schooners, house wines and spirits
- Cocktail Happy Hour: Thu–Fri, $15 cocktails (10pm–12am)
- Mondays: Trivia Night – Shit Pub Trivia from 7pm
- Wednesdays: Locals Night – Spin The Wheel prizes
- Thursday – Sunday: Live Music – acoustic sets, 6pm–9pm
- Fridays: Meat Raffle
- Saturdays: Rooftop DJ, 7pm–11pm)
- Sundays: Roast – rotating beef and lamb, $38
With its newly completed Rooftop leading a wider refurbishment across the venue, the Imperial Hotel Bourke Street steps into its next chapter as one of Melbourne’s premium pubs – a year-round destination for dining, drinks, live sport and entertainment in the heart of the CBD.
Imperial Hotel Bourke Street
https://bourkestreetimperial.com.au
Image credit: @zennieshia-16