Bars
Pavement Whispers: set a course for Soma – a neighbourhood bar opening in Hervey Bay this October
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: set a course for Soma – a neighbourhood bar opening in Hervey Bay this October

Most of us have dreamed of instigating a sea change at different points in our lives, but few of us gather up the courage to ditch the big smoke in favour of a life of sun, sand and surf. Both Timo van Hest and Neil Yates relocated to Hervey Bay a couple of years back and haven't looked back since. In fact, the two hospitality veterans (boasting experience at venues like Cobbler, Maker, Longsong and Easy Tiger) are looking to plant more roots in the area with Soma, a soon-to-open bar and nosh spot serving an ever-evolving selection of natural wines, a similarly ephemeral range of cocktails and Euro-familiar eats with Southeast Asian twists (such as half lobster with curry butter and frites). It sounds like something worth trekking north for! Here's what we know ... more

Bars
Casa Chow, the colourful up-tempo sibling of Sasso Italiano, is introducing chifa cuisine to Brisbane at South City Square
Food & Drink

Casa Chow, the colourful up-tempo sibling of Sasso Italiano, is introducing chifa cuisine to Brisbane at South City Square

Ever heard of chifa? If not, don't worry. Pretty soon it'll be the cuisine on everyone's lips. Next week, the hip hospitality gurus behind Woolloongabba trattoria Sasso Italiano will cut the ribbon on Casa Chow – a neon-lit eatery specialising in Chinese-Peruvian (better known as chifa) cuisine. With kaleidoscopic interiors, a scintillating menu of Chinese-accented Latin fare, a dance beat-propelled atmosphere and enough pisco to fill the Brisbane River, Casa Chow is, undoubtedly, a vibe. It opens to the public on Wednesday July 27, but we're here to give you a preview look inside. Check it out! more

Bars
Pull up a chair at Bakery Lane's Italian-inspired laneway wine bar
Food & Drink

Pull up a chair at Bakery Lane’s Italian-inspired laneway wine bar

One of our favourite ways to spend our free time is cosied up with a good bottle of wine, sharing tales with mates over some tasty nosh. If you’re seeking a laidback locale to do just that, then let us whisper a hidden gem in your ear. Come closer, now ... have you been to uh oh italian wine store + bar in Fortitude Valley? An oenophiles dream, this Bakery Lane beauty is where you can pick out your bottle of choice before sitting down with mates or a good book for some truly Euro-inspired vibes. Add a few Italian snacks for good measure and we're in paradiso. more

Bars
Get the first look at Gastown – Ashgrove's cosy new cafe and wine bar from the Soul Revolver crew
Food & Drink

Get the first look at Gastown – Ashgrove’s cosy new cafe and wine bar from the Soul Revolver crew

Anyone that has visited Vancouver has likely paid a visit to Gastown, the storied precinct famed for its Victorian buildings, cobblestone streets, famous steam clock and vibrant dining scene. A new hole-in-the-wall cafe and wine bar from the brains behind Alderley's Soul Revolver Co. is looking to bring a taste of Vancouver (by way of Tasmania) to Ashgrove, opening in the day for coffee, pastries and toasties, and then at night for vino and small plates. Gastown is the name of this fresh-faced locale – read on to take a peek inside! more

Bars
Butler Wine Bar – the intimate drinking spot from the Lune Croissanterie crew – is now open
Food & Drink

Butler Wine Bar – the intimate drinking spot from the Lune Croissanterie crew – is now open

If you've ever bitten into a buttery croissant from Lune and wondered what the croissanterie crew could achieve if it put the same amount of care and thought into another culinary concept, then we'd like to introduce you to Butler Wine Bar. This long-awaited neighbourhood drinkery is The Lune Co. team's first foray into nighttime trade and they're looking to make a great impression on Brisbane's wine- and cocktail-sipping set. Anchored by a grounded approach that spotlights comfort, community and conscience, Butler packs a lot into a small package. Butler Wine Bar will officially open next Thursday July 7 – we were lucky enough to take its food and drink menu for a test drive. Read on to find out more ... more

Bars
Soak up the sunshine at Fortitude Valley's new social playground Summa House
Food & Drink

Soak up the sunshine at Fortitude Valley’s new social playground Summa House

It might be the middle of winter right now, but over on McLachlan Street in Fortitude Valley there's a place that parties like it' summer every day. Summa House is a 1100 square-foot open-air venue imbued with sunny vibes and balmy brilliance. With a kitchen dishing up elevated pub classics, bars turning out tropical cocktail jugs and a bottomless brunch that needs to be seen to be believed, Summa House is setting itself up to be a year-round, all-occasion celebration spot. more

Bars
Milton Rum Distillery shows off its new state-of-the-art spirit-making headquarters in Albion
Food & Drink

Milton Rum Distillery shows off its new state-of-the-art spirit-making headquarters in Albion

Recent years have seen gin, whisky and even tequila score a spike in popularity, as craft distilleries instigate a golden age of spirit drinking. The team at Milton Rum Distillery is looking to set in motion a similar glow-up for the humble (and, these days, largely underestimated) cane spirit, creating a range of award-winning libations using innovative distillation techniques and a bounty of botanicals. After its Milton home was gutted by flood waters earlier this year, Milton Rum Distillery is now rising from the proverbial ashes, this week unveiling its new production space and distillery door at Craft'd Grounds in Albion. Here, the team will be using a custom distilling apparatus and an Australian-first hydroponic system to create a sustainable spirit-making operation from which the rum renaissance can truly blossom. It officially opens on Friday June 25 – here's what you can… more

Bars
Five cosy spots in Brisbane City where you can warm up this winter
Food & Drink

Five cosy spots in Brisbane City where you can warm up this winter

While there's a wealth of culinary gems dotted around The City, there's a handful that boast a particular charm – a cosiness, if you will. Walking into these locales is like being embraced into a warm hug – and that's exactly what we want in the midst of winter. If you're searching for somewhere cosy to wine and dine this season, we have rounded up five spots filled with cushy nooks, decadent dishes and belly-warming cocktails ... more


Bars
The round-up: Brisbane's best cheap eats
Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best cheap eats

Rent is due and you are still a few days away from getting your paycheque – but your stomach is growling and you need to feed as soon as possible for as cheap as possible. Instead of hitting the closest drive-thru and settling for fast food, there are plenty of places around town that offer cheap eats that are damn tasty. It’s time to get creative with how you spend your dollars – stretch your money by taking advantage of the following best value for money meals (and deals) in Brisbane. more

Bars
Voila, vino! Paddington restaurant NOTA unveils its new wine-bar extension
Food & Drink

Voila, vino! Paddington restaurant NOTA unveils its new wine-bar extension

Flexibility is a big part of the hospitality game, especially after two years of spur-of-the-moment pirouettes and pivots. No crew knows this better than the brains over at NOTA – Paddington's beloved modern-European eatery. After two-ish years of breakfast sittings, take-home packs and artisanal sweet making, the venue has seized the opportunity to acquire its next-door space (previously a clothing store) and convert it to a swanky new wine bar and function area. Now reopened as NOTA Restaurant & Wine Bar, the team is forging forward with a new outlook and operational scheme. Folks are now free to pop in for impromptu pre-game snacks and a cheeky vino or settle into a leather booth for a lengthier, more leisurely experience. more

Bars
Balter Brewing has reopened its Currumbin Waters taproom after an extensive renovation
Food & Drink

Balter Brewing has reopened its Currumbin Waters taproom after an extensive renovation

One of life's greatest pleasures is sinking a cold one amongst good company. That's why we're so excited about the reopening of one of our favourite places to practise this particular pleasure – Balter Brewing's taproom. After an extensive three-month renovation, the beloved brewery has once again opened its doors, revealing a bright and shiny bar space that’s a prime spot for knocking back a beautiful-tasting brew. more

Bars
Sip suds by the water at Redcliffe Peninsula's new beer maker Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co.
Food & Drink

Sip suds by the water at Redcliffe Peninsula’s new beer maker Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co.

Breweries come in all shapes and sizes – some are crammed inside industrial storage units and warehouses while some sit on rooftops. Moreton Bay's newest booze maker enjoys a primo perch on the water's edge at Scarborough Marina, where beer lovers can quaff frothies and snack on locally sourced seafood as the sun sets over the Glasshouse Mountains in the distance. Two-level brewery and restaurant Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co. opened last month and has already become one of the most popular spots on the peninsula. Read on to find out why ... more

Bars
Priorities – a slickly minimalist coffee, pastry and wine slinger – opens in Alderley
Food & Drink

Priorities – a slickly minimalist coffee, pastry and wine slinger – opens in Alderley

Getting a good cup of coffee is usually the first order of business in the morning and, depending on the day one's had, a glass of wine can be a necessity after a long day at work. Priorities in Alderley caters to both needs. The brainchild of a couple of seasoned hospitality veterans, this tasteful cafe-meets-wine-bar ambitiously looks to bridge AM and PM with a mixture of specialty coffee, natural Australian-made wine and artisanal pastries. more

Bars
The round-up: where to seek out Brisbane's best hidden bars
Food & Drink

The round-up: where to seek out Brisbane’s best hidden bars

Brisbane's small-bar scene is a trove of secret speakeasies and hidden haunts. While broadcasting the location of Brisbane's best hidden boozers might take the fun out of exploring, these incognito imbibing destinations are too good not to share. Here's our list of Brisbane's best hidden bars – see if you can find them all! more

Bars
Get the first look inside Stratton Bar & Kitchen – Newstead's jaw-dropping arrival
Food & Drink

Get the first look inside Stratton Bar & Kitchen – Newstead’s jaw-dropping arrival

Our favourite bars and restaurants are the ones that make the most out of unique spaces – the more creative the better! Stratton Bar & Kitchen – the new venue from the crew behind the perennially popular Mrs Brown's Bar & Kitchen – quietly opened to the public last week inside a pair of World War II-era hangars on Stratton Street, immediately scoring top marks on the location front. Those lucky enough to snag a seat were wowed by the roomy eatery's eye-catching industrial-inspired interior and flavour-packed menu featuring items like cacio e pepe udon noodles, cheeseburger dumplings and bolognese-and-burrata-topped pizzas, not to mention a seriously impressive cocktail list to boot. We were lucky to get the first look inside – here's what we saw ... more

Bars
Frog's Hollow Saloon, Charlotte Street's new whisky-slinging barroom, is now open
Food & Drink

Frog’s Hollow Saloon, Charlotte Street’s new whisky-slinging barroom, is now open

Brisbane City in 2022 is a far cry from its identity in the latter half of the 1800s. The area now loosely ringed by George Street, Edward Street, Elizabeth Street and Alice Street was once a mangrove-filled swampland called Frog’s Hollow, a name that endured as this section of town evolved into Brisbane's first red-light neighbourhood. At this point the area was regarded as a hotbed of seedy action, with gangs of thieves and drunkards said to frequent gambling dens, brothels and boarding houses. It's this shady part of the city's history that Frog's Hollow Saloon takes its name. The new 60-seater whisky and cocktail bar opened on Charlotte Street on Thursday March 24, unveiling a sizeable selection of spirits dispensed by a team of hospitality hot-shots. Frog's Hollow Saloon has wasted no time injecting a bit of service-driven warmth (and a touch of roguish charm) into what has long… more

Bars
Meet Stranded – Fortitude Valley's new punk-inspired cocktail bar from The Zoo crew
Food & Drink

Meet Stranded – Fortitude Valley’s new punk-inspired cocktail bar from The Zoo crew

The Zoo on Ann Street has long been a beacon for Brisbane's music-loving set. Its hallowed stage has hosted numerous international and local icons – its floorboards marked by the stomping feet of thousands. This stalwart endures as one of The Valley's iconic fixtures and now its current ownership is looking to celebrate its legacy (and that of similarly storied rock 'n' roll hubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City) with its new sibling bar Stranded. This soon-to-open boozer has been conceived as a home for post-gig punters, a melting pot for like-minded musicians to connect and a tantalising tipple temple for the epicurious. More than anything, it's a hub of good times. Want a peek inside? We were granted a pre-opening look around – here's what we saw ... more

Bars
Bavay Distillery bottles the tastes of history at its heritage-listed Morningside home
Food & Drink

Bavay Distillery bottles the tastes of history at its heritage-listed Morningside home

If you had a time machine, what point in time would you visit? It's a tough question, for sure, but the brains behind Morningside's newly open Bavay Distillery don't have to think that hard. Ask them, and they’ll tell you they’d go back a century to visit famed brewer and bacteriologist Auguste de Bavay, who pioneered early brewing techniques right here in Brisbane. The small-batch distillery is all about bringing the past into the present, drawing inspiration from its location's history as an early hub of spirit making to shape and influence its range of gins, vodkas, whiskies and cane spirits. Its glamorous Gatsby-inspired cellar door and production space is now open. Take a look inside ... more

Bars
Sneak peek – Cartel Del Taco gears up to open its Hawthorne taqueria and bar next week
Food & Drink

Sneak peek – Cartel Del Taco gears up to open its Hawthorne taqueria and bar next week

We can't lie – even we have been guilty of rubbernecking as we cruise down Hawthorne Road, craning our necks to get a glimpse at the progress being made on Cartel Del Taco. We've been dreaming of melt-in-your-mouth al pastor tacos con todo, gooey birria tacos and sublime salt-rimmed margaritas since we announced the Mexican-inspired street taqueria's forthcoming opening back in September. Well, now we're happy to reveal that Cartel Del Taco will be officially opening its doors to the public on Friday April 1, giving taco-craving throngs a look inside its retro taqueria and bar. We were lucky to score a preview of the soon-to-open snack spot, including a glimpse at its tempting tacos and covetable tequila- and mezcal-infused cocktails. Here's what we saw ... more