Book most function venues in Melbourne and you get a room, a price list, and someone else’s idea of a good time. The Emerson runs three distinct spaces under one roof in South Yarra, so the room fits the event instead of the other way around.
As one of the more flexible function rooms Melbourne has, capacity here scales from an intimate group of twenty through to a full building buyout, with an event coordinator, custom menus and AV all handled in-house. Compare all three spaces on our event spaces page, or read on for the room-by-room breakdown.
The Rooftop
Offers skyline views, a retractable roof and a seasonal menu that feels more like a night out than a standard function. The Rooftop suits anything from a relaxed afternoon function to a full corporate mixer, seated or standing. Half Rooftop hire holds up to 250 guests, a full buyout stretches to 350, with dedicated bar staff and your own entry point included at that scale. Ask our team for the floor plan and a 3D walkthrough before locking in a date.
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The Lounge
A step down in scale but not in atmosphere, The Lounge holds up to 250 guests and suits a function that wants a dance floor without needing the whole building. It comes with its own bar and enough room to run a semi-formal seated dinner earlier in the night before opening the floor up later on. It’s a popular pick among private function rooms Melbourne groups book for milestone birthdays and work celebrations that want dancing to stay part of the plan. Floor plans and exact availability are confirmed once our team knows your date and guest count.
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The Club
For anything leaning further into nightlife, The Club holds up to 250 guests with its own sound system, dedicated bar setup and a dance floor built for standing crowds rather than seated dinners. It’s built for functions that are really just a party with a guest list attached. Corporate teams occasionally book it for an end-of-year send-off that doesn’t feel like a work event at all. Our team can also help arrange a DJ if you want someone else handling the playlist. Enquire with your headcount and preferred date, and we’ll confirm the space and floor plan.
View MoreEvery enquiry comes with access to a 3D walkthrough of the space, so you can see the room properly before committing to a date. It’s a small thing that saves a lot of back-and-forth once you’re comparing The Rooftop against The Lounge or The Club for the same event, particularly for anyone booking without the chance to visit in person first.
Enquire Now Take 3D TourTypes of Functions We Host
Corporate offsites, client dinners, product launches and end-of-financial-year wraps all run through the same team that handles birthdays and hens weekends, which is why packages flex rather than lock you into one fixed format.
If your event is strictly business, our corporate function venues page covers AV, catering and boardroom-style setups in more detail.
Celebrating a birthday instead? Our birthday venues page breaks packages down by milestone, from an 18th through to a 40th and beyond.
The location does a lot of the work too for function venues in South Yarra, close enough to trams and parking that clients and interstate guests don’t need directions twice, and central enough that nobody’s stuck finding a taxi home afterwards.
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Engagement Parties
There’s usually a ring, a speech and a lot of hugging before anyone even thinks about a dance floor. Among engagement party venues in Melbourne, The Rooftop tends to suit that moment particularly well, with an unhurried dinner, a proper drinks list and a skyline backdrop that does a lot of the styling work for you.
A half buyout suits a smaller guest list of family and close friends, while a full rooftop buyout works for a bigger celebration that still wants the option of moving downstairs later in the night. Catering runs the same way as any other function here, built around the group rather than a set menu, and our events team can talk through seating, styling and timing once they know roughly how many guests to expect.
Why Book With Us
Most function venues hand you a room and a price list and call it a day. The Emerson assigns an actual event coordinator to every booking, someone who handles run sheets, vendor coordination and the small details that usually fall through the cracks on the day itself. Custom menus are built with our chefs rather than picked off a laminated card, and AV, from microphones to screens, is handled in-house, so external hire companies don’t have to be part of the equation, though our team is just as happy to coordinate with your own suppliers if you’d rather bring someone in.
Function Room FAQs
Read through our most frequently asked questions, if you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out to our team for more information!
Where can I book an exclusive event?
Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, private celebration or marking a special day, The Emerson offers 3 versatile function room spaces suitable for any occasion! Enquire here to find out more about our tailored packages, menus and spaces for your next event.
How far in advance should I lock in a date?
As early as you can, particularly for Fridays and Saturdays. Some slower weeknights can be booked with less notice if your event has flexible timing.
Do you offer a menu tasting before the event?
For larger functions, yes, our chefs can arrange a tasting ahead of time so there are no surprises on the night. Ask your event coordinator to set one up once your menu is close to confirmed.
Can I split my event across more than one room?
For bigger events, yes. A combined buyout across multiple levels is possible if your guest list or event format needs more than one atmosphere in the same night.
What's the difference between booking a function room and just booking a table?
A function booking means exclusive or semi-private use of a space, your own entry point in some cases, and a package built around your event rather than shared seating alongside regular walk-in guests.
Can I organise entertainment like a drag queen or live performer?
For exclusive bookings, yes, organised performances are welcome. Shared bookings on a regular trading night can’t accommodate this, since it would disrupt other guests using the same space at the same time.
What is the capacity?
Our venue offers 3 versatile function room spaces. You can find our venue capacity details below…
The Rooftop
Whole Rooftop | Maximum capacity of 350
Half Rooftop | Maximum capacity of 250
The Lounge
Maximum capacity of 250
The Club
Maximum capacity of 250
How much does it cost to book a function?
To book a function in any of our Melbourne function rooms, we require a minimum spend. All minimum spends will vary in pricing depending on the day, time and scale of your event. To enquire about pricing, please email our team at sales@theemerson.com.au.
Do you offer packages available?
Yes, we offer various packages to cater for different types of events, functions and occasions.
Function Packages
To find out more about our exclusive function packages, please enquire here or email our team at sales@theemerson.com.au.
Birthday Packages
To find out more about our Friday & Saturday birthday packages, send a DM to the team on @theemerson Instagram page.
Hens Packages
For hens packages, please email our team at sales@theemerson.com.au.
Can you help me book a DJ?
Yes, we can definitely assist with booking a DJ for your next exclusive funcg! Please reach out to our team at sales@theemerson.com.au for more details.
Is there parking available?
There is street parking and parking lots nearby to the venue. Public transportation options are also close by, with trams stopping right next to the venue.
Can I bring outside food or drinks to my function?
Generally no, our kitchen and bar handle catering for every function, though exceptions can sometimes be made for dietary or religious requirements. Flag anything specific when you enquire.
Is the rooftop bar open year-round?
The Emerson rooftop bar in Melbourne is fully enclosed and climate-controlled, allowing us to host your functions, events & parties all year long. We also have a balcony where you can enjoy the fresh air!
Is the rooftop bar undercover?
Yes, the Emerson rooftop bar in Melbourne is fully enclosed and climate-controlled. No need to worry about your hair getting wet in the rainy season as our rooftop is completely sheltered from the elements.
I have a Hens coming up - Do you have any Hens packages?
We love celebrating hens and have a few different offerings. Get in contact with our sales teams about what packages and offerings we can send your way!
Can I have a bar tab on the rooftop bar?
Groups over 10 require a minimum spend to be met, this goes towards a pre-paid bar tab for your table sitting on the rooftop. Enquire with our team here to book!
Do you provide audiovisual equipment for presentations and events?
From microphones to flat screens, we can cater to the needs of any event. If we can’t cover your AV wants and needs with our in-house systems, we’re always happy to help organise and work with external companies to bring your vision to life.
Can I customise the menu for my event?
It’s your event, of course you can! We’ve worked closely with our chef to create functions packages for any occasion, that we can customise to suit your events style.
Is there a minimum spend for booking a space at The Emerson?
There is a minimum spend for booking our spaces, which varies depending on the timeframe, date, and size of the event. Our sales team are always happy to field any enquiries and steer you in the right direction, be sure to ask them about our mid-week deals!
Can you help with decorations or theming?
Yes, we work with a handful of trusted suppliers for styling and decor, so you’re not sourcing balloon arches and centrepieces yourself. Let our team know what you’re picturing, and they’ll point you toward the right supplier.
Is there a dedicated person helping plan the event?
Every function gets an event coordinator from our team, someone who handles run sheets, timing and vendor coordination in the lead-up, not just on the night itself.