Pick up your pint glass, saddle those schnitty cravings, and settle in for the history lesson your teachers never wanted you to learn. Folks, it’s time to dive into Brisbane’s best pubs—the ones with hundreds of stories in their hallowed walls (and even more beer stains on their floors).
The Jubilee Hotel
Fortitude Valley
Fresh off the back of a $200 million revamp, The Jubilee Hotel is no longer your basic pub. A-frame structures covering maroon booths, glass walls and skylights, a microbrewery—the Jube is a classy bitch now. The pub grub doesn’t look too bad either—with stonebaked pizzas, maple bourbon pork ribs, and your classic pub parmi on the menu, these guys aren’t messing around. Add an ice cold bevvie brewed on site for some work drinks that’ll make you forget the 9 to 5.
The Regatta
Toowong
Much like a fine wine, this 146-year-old venue has the whole ‘aged to perfection’ gig down to an artform. In spite of our city’s historic floods, the Grand Lady of the Brisbane River has chaperoned nights out for generations. Today, crowds pour into The Regatta for top-tier steaks at The Boatshed, cheeky cocktails in the Walrus Club, and Friday nights dancing in The Courtyard.
The Breakfast Creek Hotel
Albion
You know a pub’s got game if they’ve been slinging beers since your great-great-great-grandparents were out on the town. Since throwing open the doors in 1889, the Brekky Creek Hotel’s staked its claim as an iconic Aussie pub. Between choosing cuts of beef from the famous steak cabinet, to one of the biggest rum lists in the world and XXXX "off the wood", you’ll wanna pencil in a whole night—and recovery morning—for this one.
The Prince Consort
Fortitude Valley
With events aplenty, there’s always something to do at The Prince Consort. We’re talking great food, trivia, meat raffles, drag bingo, screenings of UFC fights, and more. It really takes the classic English pub and adds like ten more layers of fun to it. Walk through the ground floor parlour to hit the Garden Bar, or chill in the Naughty Corner for some space to think about what you’ve done—or what you’re planning on doing.
Koala Tavern
Capalaba
Located in Brisbane’s most fun suburb to pronounce, the newly-renovated Koala Tavern is here for all your pub food needs. The family-friendly tavern even has a fenced off playground to chuck the kiddies in while you have an ice-cold bevvie in their gorgeous beer garden. It won’t break the bank either—their weekly specials include unmissable deals like $15 Sunday roasts, half a kilo of chicken wings for $10 on Thursdays, and free trivia on Wednesdays. Add on some live music, giant TVs playing the latest game, and a gaming room Vegas would die for, and you’ve got yourself a good night.
The Wickham
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane’s gayest pub is back, and it’s louder and prouder than ever. After a whopping $3.1 million renovation, The Wickham is open for business—and pleasure. The heritage-listed venue has a new menu and a new look, but—don’t worry—the exact same immaculate vibes. Chow down on some onion arancini, a grilled chicken drum lollipop with cucumber kimchi, and a chilli prawn woodfired pizza while your pup can peruse the doggy menu. Yep, you read that right, they have a four-item-strong menu dedicated to your precious pooch.
The Boundary Hotel
West End
Riddle time! What has ten beach umbrellas, five bars, and its own pizza oven? Yeah, alright, ya cheaters. After a Hollywood-esque makeover, West End’s oldest pub is looking fresh, fine, and ready for your dining pleasure. Whether you’re sinking those Sunday afternoon woes at the rooftop bar or settling in with a pizza in the open-air Backyard, The Boundary Hotel has learned more than a few new tricks.
Port Office Hotel
Brisbane CBD
Andddd… breathe. After a kitchen fire forced its temporary closure in 2019, locals waited with bated breath for this heritage pub to switch the lights back on, and thankfully for us, they're still able to provide us with the ideal spot for an after-work knock-off. The Port Office Hotel has long been a mainstay for city workers since 1864, and, after all, old habits die hard. After work crowds can now settle into chairs in the Public Bar, pair oysters with bubbly in the famous Office dining room, and raise a pint on the wraparound verandah.
The Morrison
Woolloongabba
Only a short walk from The Gabba and the perfect location for a pre-game meal or bevvie, The Morrison has been plating up man-sized pub grub since 1927. At the front, you’ll find the brick-built Fiasco's Steakhouse that could be transplanted into any rural Aussie town. Out the back, though, things get a little more trendy, with over 200 whiskeys, 22 craft beers on tap, and a collection of cocktails nestled in the Circa 27 Whisky & Cocktail Bar. Bottoms up.
Cleveland Sands Hotel
Cleveland
The Cleveland Sands Hotel is just plain cool. Light and airy aren't normally words that spring to mind when you think of pubs (more often than not it's the loud as pokies room and the somehow constantly sticky carpet), but in this instance, it just works. With a breezy outdoor beer garden adorned in white garden furniture and a stunning restaurant where you’ll feel more like you’re in a schmick, beachside restaurant, there’s a space for every occasion. The cocktails aren’t bad either, and of course, they do a mean steak and chips.
The Pineapple Hotel
Kangaroo Point
If you’ve never had a punt, a pint or a parmy (mass props to the trifecta crowd) at The Piney, are you even a Brissie local? The OG Golden Girl has been pouring cold ones for over 150 years, drawing onlookers with her famous Australia Day bash, footy nights, and—let’s face it—one of the best corner pubs in Brisbane history.
The Waterloo Hotel
Fortitude Valley
We couldn’t avoid the Waterloo, even if we wanted to. After a decidedly art deco-inspired refurb, this iconic watering hole is looking as timeless as Keanu Reeves. (Another mystery for another day.) Blending debonair class with a knack for the trendy, you’ll find everything from parmies to slow-cooked pork belly at the Waterloo.
The Crown Hotel
Lutwyche
Even though you have to travel slightly into the 'burbs to give this local icon a visit, it is definitely worth it. Lutwyche's local, The Crown Hotel has been serving schooners and pub eats for over 140 years but more recently, it has served up a transformation worthy of its' own makeover TV show with the development of a new beer garden, bistro, bar, and gaming room. So sit back, sip your beer and graze on prawn rolls, fried halloumi, or roasted pork belly as you soak up some afternoon sun (if you close your eyes long enough you can picture it too, right?).
The Alliance Hotel
Spring Hill
A small slice of London shimmied its way into town in 1864, and, like anyone with a British accent, Brisbane welcomed it with open arms, fell in love, and decided that it could never leave again. The rustic charm and award-winning fare of the Alliance Hotel is downright legendary, pairing your favourite tipples with the likes of crumbed pork cutlet, barramundi Thai curry, and beetroot tortellini (for all you vegetarians out there). Whew…is anyone else out of breath?
The Osbourne Hotel
Fortitude Valley
If these walls could talk … they’d probably be slurring pretty damn hard. The Osbourne’s been kicking for most of our river city’s history, but as of recently, it’s actually a pretty fresh face in the Brisbane booze scene. The whole space has been stripped back to the original brick, vaulted with sky-high ceilings, and reborn as a leafy beer garden pretty unique to the Valley scene. 10/10, would hangover again.
Salisbury Hotel
Salisbury
To say the Salisbury Hotel has had a reno and a half would be an understatement—it's more like a facelift, a sneaky nip and tuck, and a smearing of glittery lip gloss on top. Dated decor has been swapped out for a brand-new beer garden that is the place for a Sunday afternoon pint, and you can stay on well into the night in the festoon-lit outdoor space. It all goes perfectly with the live music line up and you can even enjoy it with your true best mate—your dog, of course. Unbelievably, kids eat free every Saturday and Sunday and there’s a playground outside to keep them entertained while you tuck into a parmy.
The Normanby
Red Hill
Okay, real talk: anyone who doesn’t have an iconic or outrageous story of The Normanby is almost definitely lying. Sitting around the bend from QUT, Roma Street and Suncorp Stadium, this city slicker has aided and abetted more than its fair share of saucy afternoons. But after a massive reno in 2019—including replanting the iconic fig tree that fell in 2016—it’s new beginnings for this old girl. We’ll cheers to that.
The Story Bridge Hotel
Kangaroo Point
Originally named The Kangaroo Point Hotel and changed when the Story Bridge was built in 1940, this stalwart of Brisbane's pub scene is best suited to those who want to enjoy a pint in the thick of the action. Located under Brisbane's famous bridge, The Story Bridge Hotel is known for always televising the local footy game, pumping out a juicy steak at Deery's Restaurant, and for restoring any damage done the night before with its hearty breakfast menu (and coffee too).
Royal Hotel
Nundah
Built way back in 1888, the heritage-listed pub is looking better than ever after a $1.1 million makeover, which has transformed its first floor into a new entertainment space, and given the bistro and terrace a new lease on life thanks to marble-look tables, checkerboard floors, wooden accents and pops of greenery. While the Royal Hotel's menu has also had a refresh, you can still expect a traditional pub dining experience filled with all your favourites.
The Transcontinental Hotel
Brisbane CBD
Take 130 years of experience, three bars, a restaurant, and a dash of Brisbane city charm, and you’ve got the recipe for an iconic local pub. (And probably a hangover, but we digress.) Folks have been pounding the pavement for over 130 years to pull up a pew at this inner-city gem. Just across from Roma Street and a quick stumble to Suncorp, The Transcontinental Hotel is a popular icon for footy nights, corporate lunches and that totally tax-deductible business meeting. Cough.
Prefer somewhere with a bangin' cocktail list and bartenders who sport man buns? Check out Brisbane's absolute best bars right here.
Image credit: Breakfast Creek Hotel, Boundary Hotel, Markus Ravik, Salisbury Hotel