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It’s a seasonal truth that Christmas parties are the bane of HR. Between coordinating Secret Santa and corralling everyone into an orderly mob, it’s an actual miracle that any of us actually make it to the designated location. Take some of the pressure off and outsource the particulars of your seasonal knees-up to one of Brisbane/Meanjin’s best party venues.
This year, we’ve done the hard yards for you and found 15 Christmas party venues in Brisbane that don’t suck. Whether you’re after casual drinks or a balls out celebration for 200, we’ve got you covered. Just make sure you get booking ASAP because the Christmas party game is lawless and these places will book out fast. Godspeed.
Kiff & Culture Tours
Various Locations
If staying at one venue all night sounds dull, and you've got less than 60 people to plan for, Kiff & Culture's new Artisan Food & Drink Tours are one hell of a good time. They'll pick up your whole team in a bus (size depending on your group) and drive you around for the afternoon, stopping off to eat and drink at some of Brisbane's coolest venues. We're talking Southside Restaurant for a five-course banquet lunch, City Winery for a wine tasting and then either Granddad Jack's Distillery for a gin tasting, or Stone & Wood Brewery for a beer tasting. Not for you? Maybe one of their other tour options will be.
Babylon Gardens
145 Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD
Private and exclusive function venues are great, but sometimes you want to be out amongst the festive buzz, and Babylon Gardens offers the best of both worlds, not to mention one of the best views in Brisbane. Depending on how many guests you’re booking for, you can book out one of their riverside deck areas, and feast on Middle Eastern-inspired bites as you gaze out over the river. They offer sit down options too, while the restaurant features private dining areas for smaller groups.
Howard Smith Wharves
5 Boundary Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Howard Smith Wharves | Facebook
Howard Smith Wharves is not just a staple for your Friday night—their incredible selection of function spaces is enviable too. There’s all the food and drink venues of course, including Yoko, Greca, Mr Percival's, Fiume and our personal favourite, Stanley, but you can also book out one of the boutique set-ups where you’ll have the whole place to yourself, whether it’s the riverside Bougainvillea House, the industrial-looking Rivershed or the cottage-like Green House. Depending on your choice, they can cater for anywhere from 30 to 310 people, and you can check them all out here.
Massimo
123 Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD
Riverside Italian spot Massimo gets Urban List’s highest level of approval possible—it was one of our own Christmas party venues. We couldn’t go past their bottomless lunch deal, featuring a nine-course banquet and two hours of wine and beer for $99, and frankly, we don’t see how you could either. The vibrant restaurant has room for up to 135 if you want to book out the whole place and dig into some canapes, or you can also take over individual (and private) sections for groups of 15-40. Check out their functions package and menus here.
The Prince Consort
230 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
With a choose your own adventure type energy, The Prince Consort has nine spaces for you to pick from, so you can create your ideal festive celebration depending on your preferred tone for the party. Whether it’s the outdoor Garden Gar perfect for cocktails, La La Land ideal for a boogie, or the underground Greaser built for those relaxed pub vibes, The Prince Consort has you sorted. While the menus vary across venue spaces you can be sure that each offers all your favourite feeds to see you through the silly season with everything from burgers and fries to oysters and burrata.
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Oche
111 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley
Image credit: Oche | Facebook
As well as having their electronic dart booths downstairs, where you can book out one or multiple spaces to play a few games with your crew, Oche has also transformed their upstairs loft into a vibing, industrial-style function room complete with it's own bar. With space for a hundred standing, you can spend the evening battling it out over the two shuffle boards. It's also open to the public when there are no events booked, if you want to scope it out beforehand.
The Gatsby
740 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
When the brief is 'glitz, glam and champagne,' you'll find all that and more at The Gatsby. This stunning cocktail bar was inspired by the illustrious soirees of the 1920s, and features plush velvet lounges, a whisky list that will impress even the most discerning amber spirit drinker and an even more impressive cocktail list. Spaces available range from private areas that seat 15 to full venue hire for up to 200—see what you can do here.
Victoria Park
309 Herston Road, Herston
If you like options, Victoria Park has quite the list for you. With no less than seven different dedicated function spaces, not to mention their garden bistro for smaller groups, you'll have a hard time choosing between them all. And we haven't even mentioned their golf simulator, driving range and iconic annual Christmas-themed putt putt course. See what we mean by options? Book an end of year party for 50 people or more before 31 October and they'll even throw in a complimentary Roku Gin Spritz for everyone on arrival.
Oasis
Botanic Gardens River Hub, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Oasis | Facebook
Why party on the land when you could party on the water? Tell everyone to bring their sealegs, because Oasis has options for every party size, whether you want to nab tickets to one of their weekend events, book out their upper VIP deck for larger private parties or go the whole hog with a private charter—their massive floating venue can host parties from 10 to 450. Honestly, the options are endless, and obviously include plenty of booze—check them all out here.
Boom Boom Izakaya
49 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD
Down below Donna Chang, the Boom Boom Izakaya is so named because it’s built on the site of a bank vault. They offer a few different rooms and packages for various events and for an office shindig we recommend The Vaults. Playing off the history of the building, this luxe space can provide cocktail style service for up to 30 guests. For larger groups, you can book the Trumpet room for 40 or the Bankers Lounge which can serve up to 60 guests. Christ do we love options.
B Lucky & Sons
315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
If you’re after something a little different, tackle drinks and entertainment in one fell swoop and have your Christmas party at B Lucky & Sons. Located along Brunswick Street Mall in the TCB Building, B Lucky is an arcade bar that’s flush with games and libations of all varieties. Their event packages cater to all group sizes, featuring food and beverages and the freedom to run wild in their arcade. Giddy up.
Rothwell’s
235 Edward Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Rothwell's | Facebook
If your colleagues enjoy the finer things in life, Rothwell’s will take excellent care of you. Celebrate another successful year in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, where this charming heritage building offers two underground event spaces, seating up to 12 the moody private dining room and 40 seated or 65 standing in the cellar. If you’ve got a small crew, the private dining room is where it’s at—here you can dine on an exclusive menu that you won’t find in the restaurant upstairs. The menu options for the cellar are equally as impressive though, whether you want canapes, shared style or a three-course fine dining feast. Check out the options here.
Summa House
43 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley’s Summa House is the perfect place for an outdoor holiday party with its groovy backyard-inspired vibe. Indulge in a sun-kissed afternoon with platters of goodies and canapes and banquets on offer too. With multiple levels provided by their shipping container design, Summa House has the space and the menu to cater to your crew big or small, and those ready to party into the wee hours can stay and hit the d-floor once the sun is well and truly down.
ZA ZA TA And Bar Kazba
1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
The Middle Eastern-inspired ZA ZA TA and next door Bar Kazba definitely take out the award for the most eclectic party spaces in town, with options from just 18 guests right up to 300. From sit down dinners in the private dining rooms at ZA ZA TA to cocktail parties in the luxurious Library and Harem or even a whole venue situation, they’ve got the room for you. Plus, they’re dishing up some of the best party eats in town, and will happily cater for the carnivores as well as the vegetarians.
Naldham House
33 Felix Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Naldham House | Facebook
Options, options, we love Brisbane Christmas party venue options and Naldham House has them in spades. This heritage building has been transformed into a whole universe of function space venues (and, you know, a restaurant and bar when it’s not party season), every one of them as stylish as the last. First, there’s the outdoor terrace, with its own private bar, while inside the brassiere can host 24 in the elegant private dining room. Upstairs, meanwhile, you’ll find Club Felix, the sultry younger sister of the trio, which you can book out for cocktail parties of up to 70 guests.
Pawn & Co
680 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
One of the Valley’s newest venues is also bound to be the most in demand for silly season this year. Pawn & Co defies description, but if had to put it in words we’d say it’s a pawn shop-inspired bar that also boasts a perfumery and insane cocktail list. When it comes to private events, they’ve got two levels and multiple spaces available, from a private room behind a vault door to the entire upper level which features a literal piano bar and a dance floor. You can opt to just eat, drink and dance the night away or take up to 30 guests on a journey with a perfumery cocktail experience.
Lina Rooftop
74/80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane
If last year is anything to go by, December is going to be hot—so cool things down with a little poolside action at the sky high Lina Rooftop. You might need to get a few rounds in before anyone is willing to mess up their hair and make up by hopping into the pool, but it’s bound to happen. Dining options include sit down banquets, alternate drop, canapes and our favourite, live stations for everything from oysters and poke bowls to paella and charcuterie.
Just planning an epic long lunch for your Christmas do? Check out our favourite spots to do just that here:
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Image credit: Babylon Gardens | Markus Ravik
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