Melbourne’s best pubs to watch the footy finals

Food and frothies are just as important as the footy, so here are the top spots to kick goals on the plate and bring some class to the glass on game day — while screening the screamers, of course.

Mount Erica Hotel in Prahran is a great place to watch the footy this weekend. Picture: Rebecca Michael

When it comes to watching the finals this weekend, here’s where to get the best food and frothies on game day.

The sausage rolls at the Mt Erica Hotel are hard to beat.

EASTSIDE

For many footy isn’t footy without a pie, but for mine when it comes to meat wrapped in pastry a good sausage roll is hard to beat and Sean Donovan serves up an unbeatable plate of winners at the Mount Erica.

This revamped longplayer on the corner of Williams and High has myriad spaces to spend time in, from the raffish dining room for those grabbing a bite before the first bounce, through to the courtyard and public bar where screens for all screamers can be seen.

There are counter meals with class (minute steak with fried egg and chips; schnitzel with mozzarella and slaw) and hefty steaks to share (chateaubriand, anyone?) while a terrific wine list — and beaut brews on tap — keep the pan-generational crowd in good spirits no matter how the game goes.

Mt Erica Hotel, 420 High St, Prahran. mountericahotel.com.au

BAYSIDE

They’re the most coveted seats in the house so you’d better get in quick, but the new-and-improved Bleakhouse Hotel in Albert Park (it used to be known as The Beach) has a handful of booths that come with their own private TV screen.

Sitting six, they are the perfect spot to watch the Cats take on the Eagles tomorrow night.

There are screens throughout the public bar and out in the courtyard, of course, for everyone else and chef Dave Marshall’s menu of elevated pub fare takes care of dinner with style — crumbed chicken schnitzel with waldorf salad, 300g of Cape Grim hanger steak served with pepper sauce and a Goan prawn curry with kick a few highlights. Game on.

Bleakhouse Hotel, 97 Beaconsfield Pde, Albert Park. bleakhousehotel.com.au

The black pudding scotch egg is a signature snack not to be missed.

WESTSIDE

Publican Anthony Hammond has given a new lease of life to what was Footscray’s Hart’s Hotel. The Victoria Hotel is a handsome, unpretentious space dominated by a large island bar serving a dozen interesting beers from icy taps with the game on the big screen.

An easy pleasing roll call of hits take care of hungers big — bangers and mash, double cheeseburger with house relish — and small … mushroom popcorn with kimchi mayo anyone?

But either way, don’t miss the signature snack: a scotch egg that comes swathed in a mix of mince with a hit of black pudding.

Add a chunky apple and raisin relish and you have a Norm Smith winning snack.

43 Victoria St, Footscray. victoriahotelfootscray.com

The beef, cheek and tail pie from the Builders Arms in Fitzroy is a hearty mouth party.

NORTHSIDE

OK, so the Pies might be out of contention but at the Builders Arms the pies are in the oven, and Meatsmith’s master meat man has created one that’s worthy of holding a trophy aloft.

Troy Wheeler’s beef, cheek and tail pie — complete with marrow-stuffed bone poking through the pastry — is a hearty mouth party that’s filled with meaty treats (cheek and smoked bacon and marrow) seasoned with stilton and cooked in beer and stock.

Two screens have the game covered, as do a dozen taps pouring Carlton and crafties from around the hood.

And on Grand Final Day, $10 bacon and egg rolls served from 9am will sort out those heading to the G, while those sticking around will enjoy $2 pots of Young Henry’s from 1pm until first goal.

Builders Arms, 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. buildersarmshotel.com.au