Eating and shopping your way around Brisbane’s best restaurants and boutiques can be thirsty work. Luckily, our glorious city is also blessed with a bevvie of brilliant bars in which to wet your whistle. From raging rooftops to intimate wine bars, gin joints and whisky dens, here are some of the best bars in Brisbane that you really should have had a drink in by now.
Death And Taxes
Brisbane City, QLD
Death & Taxes is a moody bar with a mastery of cocktail mixing that will whisk you away from the buzzing Brisbane city outside and into one of its leather lined booths for a lengthy night out.
Maker
South Brisbane, QLD
A tiny laneway bar with room for only a few discerning patrons, Maker is a unique Brisbane bar experience with a hefty focus on local produce and craft spirits.
Cobbler
West End, QLD
Wet your whistle with a fine whiskey at Cobbler in West End. Cobbler is a stylish urban bar, with down-to-earth staff and zero pretension.
Gerard’s Bar
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Both a bar and charcuterie house, Gerard's Bar serve a unique drinks offering, designed to complement the artisan meats and salumi that are made-in-house.
Savile Row
Fortitude Valley, QLD
The younger sister of fave Brisbane bar, Cobbler, Savile Row is not just a whisky bar—you can expect to find all your fave tipples with a twist, plus some very delicious cocktail creations.
Canvas
Woolloongabba, QLD
A popular staple in the eclectic Woolloongabba precinct, Canvas on Logan Road sports the heritage-listed feel of its surroundings, along with great food, chilled vibes and creative drinks.
Mrs. Brown’s Bar & Kitchen
Newstead, QLD
Mrs. Brown's is Brisbane's newest neighbourhood kitchen: serving up some impressive share plates alongside a well stocked back bar it's been the talk of the town ever since opening day.
Mr Percival’s
Brisbane City, QLD
Sitting right below the Story Bridge, Brisbane’s first overwater bar Mr Percival’s takes complete advantage of the views from the river and city skyline and freshwater breezes from its prime location.
The Gresham
Brisbane, QLD
The Gresham serves up an epic selection of whiskeys, rums, and scotches, as well as amazing whiskey cocktails, to Brisbane's thirsty after-work crowd.
Dr Gimlette
Brisbane City, QLD
A second venue from the team behind Death & Taxes, Dr Gimlette is all about classic cocktails done well, served up in a cosy, heritage building lined with leather booths.
Super Whatnot
Brisbane CBD, QLD
Tucked away in the uber cool Burnett Lane, Super Whatnot offers a range of craft beers, boutique wines, cocktails and tasty morsels, and is iconic for the vinyl DJs hitting the decks weekly.
The Walrus Club
Toowong, QLD
The Walrus Club, a prohibition-style speakeasy, is hidden down a secret staircase marked only by a single walrus on an unassuming black staircase behind The Regatta in Toowong.
At Sixes and Sevens
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Beautifully decked out, with an industrial-'20s-meets-plantation-chic vibe, At Sixes and Sevens is the perfect place for a light feed washed down with a sophisticated cocktail or craft beer.
Brooklyn Standard
Brisbane, QLD
With a variety of musical genres hitting the stage six nights a week, a well stocked bar and a Brooklyn-approved vibe, Brooklyn Standard is a Brisbane bar you should definitely check out.
The Terrace
South Bank, QLD
Christened as South Bank's first rooftop bar, this stunning elevated setting will have you sipping on carefully crafted cocktails as you sit back and take in the views from the open alfresco area.
Maya
Fortitude Valley , QLD
A striking, Mexican-inspired rooftop bar adorned in cacti, Maya is where the beautiful people hangout, sipping watermelon margaritas over plates of ceviche and golden fish tacos.
Cielo Rooftop
Fortitude Valley , QLD
Cielo is a breezy, sun-soaked rooftop bar with bright yellow booths and view-facing seating that will have you feeling as though you’ve taken a trip to the Italian Riviera.
Will & Flow
Brisbane City, QLD
Brisbane's one and only overwater bar, Will & Flow is the place to drink spritzes over seafood as you take in the spectacular river views provided by its waterside location.
Iris Rooftop
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Boasting one of the best views in Brisbane, Iris Rooftop is a Middle Eastern-inspired rooftop spot where the food and drinks are just as impressive as the views.
Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Head through the old refrigerator door that marks the entrance to Suzie Wong's and you’ll find a Hawaiian dive bar adorned in vintage paraphernalia, where pina coladas are the drink of choice.
Bar Kazba
Fortitude Valley, QLD
At the Tel Aviv-inspired Bar Kazba, cocktails come in flasks hidden inside hollowed out hardback novels, Sazeracs are poured from smoke-filled glass bottles and shared sips arrive in disco ball-like punch bowls.
Riverbar & Kitchen
Brisbane, QLD
With a combination of uninterrupted views of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge, plus a killer food and drink menu, it's easy to see why Riverbar is one of Brisbane's best bars.
Stranded
Fortitude Valley , QLD
Winn Lane, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Brunswick Street, is now home to Fortitude Valley's very own punk and rock ‘n’ roll-inspired cocktail bar, Stranded. Envisioned by The Zoo’s co-owners, the venue boasts mezcal cocktails, creative share plates, and live vinyl DJs.
Dutch Courage Officers’ Mess
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Gin lovers should make a beeline for this Valley staple, where the signature sip is a gin bathtub (yes, it comes in a literal, though miniature, bathtub).
Cindy Chows
Fortitude Valley, QLD
While the interior is spectacular, the signature cocktails are by far the main attraction. Think concoctions like the Birdcage, with gin, passionfruit and peach liqueurs, orange juice and rhubarb served up inside a gilded birdcage.
Want more places to whet your whistle? Check out:
- Brisbane's Best Rooftop Bars
- Brisbane's Best Waterfront Bars
- Brisbane's Best Craft Breweries
- Brisbane's Best Wine Bars
- Brisbane's Best Bars With Activities Other Than Drinking
Image credit: Grace Elizabeth Images