Bars & Pubs

Your new comfort corner bar has hit the ‘burbs just in the nick of time for summer. 

This sleek, moody lounge bar from the Stanley team is serving up expertly crafted cocktails with a fresh twist.

Montrachet is back, with a new French-born chef owner at helm, Clément Chauvin. 

This iconic riverside spot is reopening with a whole new look—and a new menu to go with it.

Taking over the upper level of Yoko, B-SIDE will be part vinyl bar, part dining experience, and all about the good times. 

A new bar and burger joint from a couple of hospitality legends has just hit Portside Wharf.

Hamilton locals can get excited for a new go-to spot, with the welcoming of Portside Social.

Expect fire-breathing, acrobatics, and classy cabaret numbers at this new theatre.

Whether you’re a fan of baseball or just like the idea of hitting balls really hard with a wooden bat, The Ballpark could be for you. This baseball-themed sports bar at Portside Wharf brings us Australia’s first virtual baseball experience. With actual batting cages complete with real bats and balls, you can test your skills thwacking balls into a virtual field of your choosing. The full game simulation tracks your speed, distance, direction and more, so get ready to verse your friends or just try and beat your highscore. 

It’s time to enter an alternate dimension, thanks to the new villain-inspired venue that has opened up alongside comic book-inspired eatery 1st Edition and cocktail bar Harley Quinn in California Lane. Poison Ivy completes the Valley laneway trio to create a multiverse of venues with a single menu that spans all three. 

Cocktail bars the city has a plenty, but breweries not so much—however now open in a prime spot inside 80 Ann Street is a Queensland-inspired bistro with its very own brewery. Scoring a huge space on the ground floor of the impressive building, Little Miss Sunshine is all about sunny vibes, house beers and local cuisine. 

Iconic Burleigh pizza slinger Justin Lane has come to Brisbane, taking over the historic old Queenslander that Alfred & Constance once called home. If you don’t know them, this long-time Italian institution is a Gold Coast stalwart, with diners coming from far and wide to tuck into their wood-fired pizzas and plentiful cocktails—and now, the Valley is getting a slice of the action. 

You know a venue has something special when it can simultaneously be a cafe, record store, bar and event space all at once, and that's just what you'll find at Brisbane hot spot Echo & Bounce. The folks here sling coffees and matcha until 2pm along with all day bagels and special limited edition sandwiches flavours swapped out every couple of weeks just to keep things exciting. 

Wondering how you’ll spend your next day out in Logan? The Distillery Road Market and Zarraffa’s Coffee founder Kenton Campbell might just be providing the goods with the launch of The F.E.D (The Food and Entertainment District), South East Queensland’s newest food and entertainment destination. 

The first of Andrew McConnell’s two new Brisbane venues is finally ready to open, with Bar Miette pouring drinks at 443 Queen Street from Monday 1 July. While Supernormal’s opening date is still to be announced, Bar Miette is here to whet our appetite for the iconic Melbourne spot with a menu that spans from breakfast to dinner. 

You might have heard of 1st Edition, Fortitude Valley’s superhero-themed bar and eatery—the theatrical spot has made a name for itself thanks to its creative cocktails, delicious share plates and of course, the iconic superheroes adorning every inch of the venue. Well, the team behind 1st Edition are intent on creating an entire comic book quarter, with a new cocktail bar behind it in California Lane and another eatery soon to come. 

If you’re familiar with the underground DJ scene in Brisbane you've probably stumbled upon this musical hub, which combines an DJ and production school, live-streaming DJ space and laneway bar. Proudly queer-owned, Hollee and Dara opened the iconic venue at the end of 2022 as an extension of their online forum and streaming hub next door, giving local musicians a new realm of possibilities and support in the local and online community.

Vicky Point residents, we’ve got some good news for you. Joining the Redlands ever-growing dining scene is Lakehouse Bar and Restaurant, a sleek new spot where you can spend an afternoon sipping cocktails and craft beers over water views, or book in for a sleek date night dinner without having to travel far from home.

The Ipswich CBD has scored a gorgeous new laneway wine bar and restaurant where you can enjoy a glass of red over Mediterranean-inspired share plates and wood-fired pizzas. With stunning interiors that wouldn’t look out of place on a cobbled European street and a cosy undercover laneway perfect for date night hangs, Monte Lane is worth a visit whether you’re an Ipswich local or not. 

Newly opened in Newstead, The Hive is one of those neighbourhood venues that’s a little bit of everything. Part cafe, part bar, part casual eatery, part takeaway haunt, even part co-working space, this once industrial warehouse invites one and all to become a part of their hive, whether you’re in need of a quick caffeine hit or a long leisurely lunch. 

The iconic South Brisbane venue that used to be home to Little Big House has just had a very British revamp, reopening as The Rose & Crown, a London-style pub in the heart of South Bank. The two story Queenslander nestled under the Emporium still features those expansive wrap-around balconies and breezy beer garden you know and love, but now the interiors will transport you straight to a homely British pub, featuring rustic mirrors, antique furnishings and an authentic menu to match. 

The busy Brunswick Street strip just past the Fortitude Valley mall has seen a few boozy new additions to its lineup in recent months, one of them being Lang’s Lounge, a boutique spot for cocktails with a difference. Step into this cosy bar and you’ll find comfy lounges, exposed brick walls and a cocktail list just begging to be sampled. 

New Farm’s dining landscape just got a facelift with Common Vice stepping into the spotlight, taking over the reins from the legendary Bitter Suite. Dishing up bold and mouth-watering pan-Asian plates, this cosy neighbourhood bar and eatery is set to be your new local. 

Prepare to ‘buon appetito’ your way through the heart of Coorparoo with the arrival of Chef Ashley-Maree Kent’s latest creation, Bar Rocco. This lively Italian osteria is the younger, more laid-back sibling to Ramona Trattoria just next door and brings even more European charm to the neighbourhood—which was already becoming a mecca for Italian food thanks to Kent’s talents in the hand-shaped pasta department.

Brisbane certainly isn’t short of a good craft brewery, but if you want to sink a cold one somewhere so relaxed and cosy that it feels like your mates place, head for Hoppers Brewing Co. This Albion bar might be small, but they’re pouring some big, juicy beers, which you can spot being brewed up right there in the warehouse behind the bar. 

With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics coming up fast, Northshore Hamilton has been earmarked for the Olympic Village—and as such, we're beginning to see some promising spots pop up one by one in the area. One of the first to arrive is Ach Wine Bar, which you’ll find tucked away between office buildings along MacArthur Ave. Though the venue is as intimate as it gets–a humble 50-seater–this spot is worth seeking out for a bite to eat.

Wishing you were in Europe right now? Well South Brisbane’s newest restaurant will whisk you away to Lake Como, with its opulent interiors,  modern Italian menu and champagne-fuelled  party vibes. Como (because what else would you call a Lake Como-inspired venue?) comes to us from a trio of hospitality veterans—Enzo Esposito, Gianni Greghinni and Tony D’alessandro—who’ve transformed what used to be a sushi train into one of the most beautiful new restaurants of the year.

Ready yourselves to down a few cold ones, southsiders, because a brand new distillery has landed at Eagleby’s Distillery Road Market—and there’s 30,000 litres of beer in the tanks ready to be poured. Perentie Brewing Co. specialises in authentic lagers brewed on site in a huge architecturally-designed space, complete with a beer garden overlooking the Albert River. 

The bustling Fish Lane is home to the ever-iconic Julius Pizzeria, which has dished out wood-fired pizza goodness to hungry South Brisbane crowds since the beginning of time. But if you've ever tried snagging a table, you know it's like playing pizza roulette. Fret not, pizza lovers. The brains behind Julius have hatched Bar Rosa, a slick 35-seater Italian wine bar just a stone's throw away on Grey Street.

Unless you’re a far north sider, you’re probably not familiar with The Belvedere Hotel—but after its soon-to-be-completed mammoth renovation, we dare say you will be. This Redcliffe icon reopened after a year-long $10 million makeover, complete with five bars, a pizzeria, gelato shop, dining area and sweeping views of the bay—so it’s definitely going to attract patrons from near and far. 

Joining Fortitude Valley’s vibrant King Street precinct is Bar Gusto, a restaurant bar that brings the magic of Italian summertime to Brisbane. The menu boasts authentic flavours from chef Francesco Tucco’s hometown of Imperia, on the Italian Riviera—think crisp wood-fired pizzas, pastas (of course) and antipasti, paired with an extensive and expertly selected list of local and international wines—all to be enjoyed in their restuarant, or on their open-air, outdoor deck that wraps around a century-old, fairy-lit fig tree. 

Martini lover? Whether your usual order is a dirty, pornstar or espresso variation, you’ll find it on the menu at West End’s intimate new cocktail bar, Midtown. Set to open on 8 September, this 40-seater is joining the buzzing Fish Lane precinct, taking over the space where Butler used to reside. With Daniel and Amelia Miletic, owners of One Fish Two Fish, at the helm, you can expect to find evidence of their extensive international travels weaved through the venue, from atmosphere and branding to the dishes coming out of the kitchen.

There’s nothing we love more than an aesthetically pleasing venue with a dining menu to match, and the CBD’s The Wolf is ticking all those boxes and then some. Part deli, part providore, part wine store, with a restaurant and bar involved as well, the gourmet destination is owner Fabian Rebelo’s second foray into the Brisbane hospitality scene, the first being Queen Plaza’s Stanton Cafe & Bar. 

The news that Super Whatnot was closing was a shock to us all—but perhaps especially to those who regularly stopped by on a Friday afternoon for a post-work tipple. Well, while the Super Whatnot team just opened their new venue over in West End, the empty space left behind in Burnett Lane was a cause for excitement for some—specifically, the cocktail-loving crew behind Death & Taxes and Dr Gimlette. 

Ardo’s is Hawthorne’s new Spanish-influenced wine bar from the City Winery team, and their third Ardo's in Brisbane, with several more to come—a win for vino lovers all over town. As with their first two locations in Newstead and Graceville, the bar is fashioned as a neighbourhood spot for a few wines, some friendly banter with the knowledgeable staff and a bottle of something special to take home.

Taking over the old home of Welcome To Bowen Hills on King Street is Claw, the latest offering from Potentia Leisure, who you may know from their other venues, Soko, Lina Rooftop and the recently opened Carmen. Inspired by classic California crab shacks, this 1000-seater eatery is seriously massive, with endless seating both outside in the laneway and inside underneath an array of Americana on the walls.

From the team behind Merci Event Space in Hawthorne comes Sunsets Rooftop, a rooftop bar in Kangaroo Point that will have your jaws to the floor from the moment you step out of the elevator. It’s not just the desert-inspired interiors that will have you oohing and aahing—there’s also the location.

Featuring enviable views of the river and the Story Bridge thanks to its prime location at 480 Queen Street, The Aviary Terrace Bar is the perfect spot for a post-work glass of bubbles and plate of fresh oysters—or even better, a pre-dinner libation before heading next door to BÔS for a date night steak. 

No, your eyes do not deceive you—this cafe and bar in the Valley is only in 2D. Sure, it may have been cleverly achieved using plenty of white paint and many black paint pens, but this ‘illusion’ is worth stepping into—and not just for the ‘grammability. Coming to us from the team behind No 5 in Winn Lane, who Illusion shares a kitchen with, the venue was inspired by similar cafes in Japan, but is the first permanent eatery of its kind in Australia. 

One of three ultra-sophisticated venues that just opened inside the new GPO, The Gatsby is a 1920s-style speakeasy on the upper level that is perfect for everything from intimate date nights to post-work drinks. Being inspired by the illustrious soirees of the golden age, it’s also the spot to enjoy a good martini—which you can build yourself with your choice of vodkas, gins, vermouths and garnishes from the martini menu.

One of three venues inside the all new GPO, which has reopened after a mammoth $9 million transformation, The Tax Office will wipe all those old memories of the GP-No right out of your head. This casual but sophisticated eatery and bar features an incredible centre bar that rises up until it meets a mirrored ceiling, giving the illusion of never ending bottle-filled shelves—just what you want on a Friday night.  

Yet another iconic Brisbane hotel has scored a million dollar revamp, with Royal Hotel in Nundah the latest to get the treatment from Australian Venue Co. 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. 

French for ‘kiss kiss,’ Bisou Bisou comes to us from the Ghanem Group, the team behind the likes of Donna Chang, Boom Boom Room and Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events. The interiors are seriously luxe, all the way from the cocktail bar at the entrance, which features red velvet bar stools and a curved bar, to the moody, Parisian dining area, where marble tables, floral lounges and art deco tiling come together to create a cosy, vibrant space. 

Libertine at The Barracks, from Brisbane restaurant prodigy Andrew Baturo, has been on the scene for well over 10 years, and they do fusion like nobody's business. In fact, they are Brisbane's only French Vietnamese restaurant and they are on a serious mission to bring this refined cuisine to the masses.

Just got back from Greece and longing for more of that rich, hearty, homestyle cooking? Well Woolloongabba’s newest eatery is here to sate your cravings, with a menu of classic Greek dishes that have been passed down for generations. 

If you like your cocktails with a side of spice, you’re going to want to check out Bar Kazba, ZA ZA TA’s Tel Aviv-inspired side bar in Fortitude Valley. Take a seat, either in the vibrant, Queenslander-inspired bar area or the glamorous, 1940s style lounge and prepare to peruse the menu for a while—you’re gonna struggle deciding what to order, especially with the recent drop of their new winter menu.

Calling all wannabe Picassos and lovers of a good old fashion party—a new entertainment venue has opened up in the heart of Milton, with activities to tickle everyone’s paintbrush. Bringing paint and sip with a twist to Brisbane, Paint  Juicy is a new entertainment hub with activities to suit everyone, including inclusive paint and sips for any skill level (with a bottomless brunch option), nude models for those wanting to work on their still life portrait skills and drag queen shows galore. The party doesn’t stop at Paint Juicy, with banging tunes throughout your sessions to help get those creative juices flowing. Paint Juicy is the perfect space to explore your artistic side with your friends, and maybe even meet some new ones...

What’s more Queensland than sitting on a patio in the afternoon sun nursing an ice cold beer? Not much, and that’s just what Paddington newcomer Patio wants to recreate in their al fresco neighbourhood bar. Being from the team behind Newstead’s Range Brewing, they of course have the ice cold beer part nailed—but there’s plenty more reasons to make a beeline for the leafy beer garden here. 

Upstairs from Same Same on James Street, you will find LOS, a cosy, cocktail bar oozing sophistication, with a dark green tiled bar inside and plenty of couches for lounging on outside on the patio. Overlooking Ada Lane and The Calile Hotel, the bar has a 140-bottle strong wine list, over 110 tequilas behind the bar and plenty of Thai-inspired cocktails.

Say hello to Holland Park West newcomer, The Ukrainian Club Brisbane. Officially opening on 12 May, this eatery has been a long time coming—and is much, much more than your usual neighbourhood restaurant. After delaying their launch for 14 months to focus on assisting the thousands of displaced Ukrainians that have settled in Queensland recently (which they are still doing), the team behind this humble establishment are eager to welcome one and all to their little slice of Ukraine here in Brisbane. 

Brisbane City's Riverland has just reopened with a massive three-tier expansion perfect for afterwork drinks with a stunning riverside view. Whether you’re looking for a place to bring in the weekend or host an event, the new extended deck offers eight unique spaces bound to match your vibe. 

Walk down the fig-lined alleyway off Robertson Street in Fortitude Valley and you’ll come across a concealed brass door surrounded by vines. There's no sign to indicate what's inside but push the door open (careful, it swings both ways) and you'll find the The Nixon Room, a sophisticated bar from the team behind neighbouring Essa. Given that this secret lounge bar has no signs or windows, you have to know about it to find, but that's all part of the appeal. Sitting only 25 people at a time, it doesn’t get more exclusive than this.

Kiki does it all. Head down to Fish Lane in South Brisbane and check out this coffee and bahn mi kiosk by day, and savvy cocktail bar by night. Step into a leafy, urban oasis with wooden and marble seating surrounding a central, open bar. At Kiki you can sit down and enjoy a coffee, or pop in for lunch and taste a range of quality Vietnamese bahn mi.

Iconic Brisbane pub The Wickham Hotel has had a bit of a facelift of late and been transformed into a thing of beauty. Still staying true to the LGBTQIA+ community who hold her dear, the grand old watering hole’s $3.1 million makeover makes it one of the most stylish spots in Brisbane, with a revamped beer garden, refreshed bar spaces and a new kitchen. 

A breezy, outdoor beer garden, the Copacabana Club is tucked away at the back of Mr Badgers in Woolloongabba—but don’t expect a single sign leading the way. Just head down the back of the deli and cafe and you’ll find yourself in what looks like a rundown locker room.

Rosé on tap—need we say more? Ardo’s is Newstead’s new Spanish-influenced wine bar from the City Winery team, and yes, they’ve got a wine tap where you can pour your own wine—but we’ll get to that in a moment. First of all, let us tell you about the bar itself, which is fashioned as a neighbourhood spot for a few wines, some friendly banter with the knowledgeable staff and a bottle of something special to take home. Take a seat at one of the pink stone tables and you can peruse the wines lining the walls, taking your pick from minimal intervention, up-and-coming Australian and European drops.

It might be an hour north of Brisbane across the way from Bribie Island, but Sandstone Point is worth the drive, and if it was only just a little further south we'd class it as Brisbane's best pub—it's that good. With multiple dining and drinking spaces, an epic playground and endless world-class concerts, festvials and other events on the calendar, the waterfront venue covers all the bases, no matter what you're looking for.

Joining the CBD’s stunning Middle Eastern restaurant, Babylon Brisbane, is Babylon Gardens, a breezy, Mediterranean-inspired bar perched right on the river. Located just in front of its sister venue, Babylon Gardens features two al fresco terraces overlooking the Story Bridge, and is the ultimate spot for a pre-dinner cocktail or after work drinks. 

Brisbane’s craft beer scene is on the up and up, and the latest newcomer to the scene is Future Magic Brewing Co, which has just taken over a massive, brick-lined warehouse in East Brisbane. After crowdfunding to both get the brewery off the ground and start building a community of beer lovers pre-opening, the brewery (from beer-loving mates Sean Astill and Rhys Pike) already has a legion of fans hitting the venue regularly for knock-off drink and a casual feed. 

Straddie Brewing Co is a must-visit on your next North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) adventure.