Melbourne Cup Entertaining

Hosting a Melbourne Cup lunch at home or a sweep at work on Tuesday 3 November? This page brings together what we stock for race-day entertaining: cocktail shaker sets, decanters, ice makers and an ice mould, outdoor bar tables with an ice bucket, cheese and charcuterie boards, a cake stand, and tablecloths, napkins, runners and placemats to dress the table.

Drinks and the bar

For mixing, the cocktail shaker bartender kit stands in a bamboo frame with 12 stainless steel bar tools. The Boston 23-piece cocktail shaker set is the bigger kit. Pour from the 1500ml Iceberg crystal decanter or the Globe whiskey decanter set. For ice, two ice makers (a countertop portable model and an X-BULL benchtop machine) make cubes as you go, the Artiss mould makes large 5cm square cubes, and the whiskey stones come as a set of 9. Outside, the Gardeon 2-in-1 outdoor bar tables combine a bar table with a 15L ice bucket, in blue or black. The CARLA HOME wine rack has a glass holder, and the Artiss tabletop rack holds 16 bottles. Paper straws come in packs of 50, in white or red and white.

Serving food

For a grazing table there is a bamboo cheese tray with an acrylic lid, a CARLA HOME bamboo charcuterie board with a lid and 6 compartments, and a Kitchee 30cm bamboo cake stand with an acrylic dome. The Alston 2-tier acrylic display case shows off cupcakes and pastries, and the 5-Star Chef stainless steel servery holds 6 food pans with lids. For a bigger office lunch, the 175-piece disposable tableware set is a pack of 25 dining sets with plates, napkins and gold-edged plastic cutlery. Add a salt and pepper grinder set, either electric with a charging base or stainless steel, and a thermal coffee carafe with a pump.

Setting the table

The Rans pure cotton hemstitch tablecloth comes in white in five sizes: 150 x 230 cm, 150 x 260 cm, 150 x 300 cm, 160 x 420 cm and a 180 cm round. For a lacier look there is the Anya Flowers white embroidered cutout tablecloth at 152 x 228 cm and the Chapel Gate Sophia cream jacquard cutwork lace tablecloth at 180 x 270 cm. For a runner, choose the Trendbay champagne gold sequin tulle runner, the self-striped cream satin jacquard runner, or the Rans hemstitch runner in black or white. Napkins come as Rans cotton sets of 4 and 8 in black or white, and a set of 6 bright white damask napkins. Finish with an 8-piece Clevinger set of placemats and coasters with a gold border, Choice Diamonds Gold placemats in a set of 4, and grey Artiss stretch dining chair covers, 6 to a pack.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Melbourne Cup in 2026?

The Melbourne Cup is run on Tuesday 3 November 2026.

When should I order to have things in time for race day?

Orders are packed within 48 hours and delivered in 3 to 5 business days, so allow up to 7 business days from order to door. Orders placed after Thursday 22 October are still packed and sent, but we cannot promise they will arrive before race day.

How can I keep drinks cold at an outdoor race-day party?

The Gardeon 2-in-1 outdoor bar tables each hold a 15L ice bucket, and the two ice makers keep making cubes, so you can top up during the afternoon.

What size tablecloth should I buy?

Measure the table and add the overhang you want on each side. The Rans hemstitch tablecloth comes in sizes from 150 x 230 cm to 160 x 420 cm, and in a 180 cm round for round tables.

What is there for an office sweep lunch?

The 175-piece disposable tableware set gives 25 dining sets of plates, cutlery and napkins, the 5-Star Chef servery holds 6 food pans with lids, and the thermal coffee carafe with a pump looks after the coffee.

Delivered Australia-wide in 3 to 5 business days. Orders with a total value of $100 or more qualify for free shipping.