Imperial's Wizards Brunch

Overview

On the top floor of a CBD pub a magical wizarding rooftop awaits. Located atop Bourke Street's Imperial, it's filled with alcoholic potions, wintry booths, an owlery and a supernatural sweet store. And while it's open daily, and it isn't new, it's now serving up boozy brunches once a week.

The rooftop was originally called Vertic Alley — aka the CBD watering hole's equivalent of Diagon Alley — and originally popped in February. Then, just last month, it suddenly disappeared. While the pub declined to comment on why it vanished, the Age reported that Warner Bros had ordered the themed rooftop's removal, because it used Harry Potter intellectual property.

Now, thankfully, it's back. The pub has also declined to comment on whether it has struck a deal with Warner Bros, but it's confident that the wizarding wonderland will stick around for winter, hence the combination of magical books and fashion, wands, a mid-morning feast and many boozy concoctions. At the Imperial's Wizards Brunch, you'll get comfy in sheltered booths (newly installed for winter), practice saying "accio cocktail!" and enjoy an all-round boozy celebration of the Boy Who Lived.

Running from 10am–12pm on Saturdays from July 20 to August 31, the brunch will set eager attendees back $60 per person, with reservations required. The cost covers one edible item from the menu, plus two hours of potions, wine and beer. To eat, you can choose between smashed avocado on sourdough with peas, pickled onion and poached eggs; a breakfast salad of kale, squash, heirloom carrots, broccolini, soft boiled eggs, pumpkin and chia seed; or ricotta hotcakes with vanilla mascarpone, puffed rice and berry. Potions-wise, you an't go past a Wizard's Cauldron (aka mulled wine), Tod's Twisted Teapot of Fortunes (a hot toddy) or a Bewitching Fizz (yes, it's a mimosa).