Having a Flutter on Melbourne Cup Day

Photography: Tim Grey

Having a Flutter on Melbourne Cup Day

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Food & Drink

By Hayley Inch,
5th November 2012

If you can't make it to the track this Cup Day, try one of these alternative venues for a celebration of your own.

hink of Melbourne Cup Day and images of champagne, lavish colourful hats and stumbling home from Flemington clutching your shucked heels immediately come to mind.

Should you wish to avoid the traditional trackside Cup Day this year – but still want to celebrate the day – the following venues offer a diverse range of alternatives that should entertain all the colts and fillies no matter the odds.

The Builders Arms
If the Cup Day holiday seems like an impediment to enjoying a nice, stately meal, never fear. The Builders Arms will be offering a three-course Cup Day menu for $55 per head, including such race day favourites as oysters, prawns, lamb shoulder and strawberry shortcake. buildersarmshotel.com.au

The Smith
The Smith can always be relied upon to offer an elegant option, and their Cup Day festivities are no different. They are encouraging their race day visitors to get frocked up, with the ‘best on the ground’ awarded a prize or two. There will also be champagne giveaways and of course The Smith’s impeccable menu of fine food.
thesmithprahran.com.au

The Standard Hotel
For a relaxed Cup Day in a pub atmosphere, The Standard should be your port of call. Watch the horses go round on The Standard’s big screen, enter into their sweep and munch on the kitchen’s wide variety of meals and snacks.
thestandardhotel.com.au

The Boatbuilders Yard
If you like a bit of scenery with your horseracing, The Boatbuilders Yard has it in spades. Their large outdoor screen has a view of the Yarra as its backdrop, which sounds perfect for testing out their new range of summer beers.
theboatbuildersyard.com

Red Bennies
Head to Red Bennies’ Pink Slipper Ball for a jolly queer ol’ time this Cup Day. Frock up in your saucy best and prepare for a day of cabaret performances, burlesque babes, drag kings and the wild stallions serving the good French bubbly. Giddy on up!
redbennies.com

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