You can’t miss the towering construction site that is Brisbane's Queen’s Wharf right now—with the massive building finally nearing completion, and the Neville Bonner Bridge spanning the river in front of it, it’s only the most watched building in Brisbane ever. And while the first stage of the grand opening has just been pushed back to August this year, we’re slowly starting to get more information on what we can expect from the precinct—including what's coming as a part of The Star Brisbane.
The latest update from the mega venue is a sneak peek into the live music bar that will be one of the venues opening in August, LiveWire. Taking its name from Treasury Brisbane's iconic LiveWire 24/7 Sports Bar, the new LiveWire will be dedicated to live entertainment, showcasing a lineup of local music and comedy acts (there'll be a slick Sports Bar alongside it, if you're wondering where you'll catch all the games). Bonus, the sleek space will also have panoramic river views, an expansive dancefloor and comfy lounges when you're ready to rehydrate with a cocktail or two.
If you've been paying attention, however, you'll know that's just the beginning of what's to come. The entertainment hub of Queen's Wharf, The Star Brisbane will feature multiple food and beverage options just on its own, along with a luxe five-star hotel, The Star Grand—but what we've been most excited to hear about is the Sky Deck. 100 metres up, this 250-metre long rooftop venue will feature not one, but three distinct venues, each more enticing than the last.
First, there's Aloria, a steak and seafood spot that will highlight fresh local produce and a dedicated martini menu. For those seeking a more relaxed dining experience, Babblers will be where it's at, dishing up share plates, craft beer and plenty of wines. Finally, Cicadu Blu will be the the bar to go to for those sunset drinks we're all dying to enjoy, with a lengthy list of exotic cocktails to sip your way through.
As for the venues lower down, Fat Noodle is making the move over to the new development, bringing celeb chef Luke Nguyen's iconic South East Asian flavours to a brand new setting. There'll also be The Star's signature cocktail bar Cherry, companion to the Sydney and Gold Coast venues of the same name, and Food Quarter, which will dish up fast and fresh café-style eats.
Also already announced is Cucina Regina, an authentic Italian dining experience fit for royalty. The only venue so far to be announced for The Terrace, a riverfront strip directly in front of the Neville Bonner Pedestrian Bridge, Cucina Regina will take its cues from the popular Cucina Vivo on the Gold Coast and Cucina Porto in Sydney. Dishing up elevated Italian fare, the 160-seater space will feature a mix of indoor and outdoor dining spaces, where you can enjoy a negroni over a woodfired pizza or homemade pasta, and flag down a dessert trolley for a sweet finish to your meal.
There’s plenty more coming to Queen's Wharf Brisbane to get excited about—including about 50 new cafes, bars and restaurants in total, three more world-class hotels, luxury retailers, public spaces and of course, the new casino. Details on all the incoming eateries are still to come, but we do know that those hotels will be The Ritz-Carlton, the Dorsett and the Rosewood, all of which will bring serious luxury to the city. Honestly, we’re already planning our staycations.
The open-air green spaces, meanwhile, will provide areas for moonlight cinemas, pop-up markets and other outdoor events, while a three-level T Galleria Emporium and laneway will host luxury brands (including Louis Vuitton) for when you win big at the casino. The entire precinct will also encompass seven heritage listed buildings across several blocks, all the way down to The Treasury Building, with plans for everything from a microbrewery and speakeasy bar to a cooking school and aboriginal art gallery in the works for the spaces once they are restored.
We’ll keep you posted when we know more about what’s coming to the precinct, but you can also stay up to date and get all the latest construction news on the Queen’s Wharf website.
Meanwhile, have you seen what else is heading for Brisbane soon?
Image credit: Supplied