For the adventurous type
Do you have a taste for adventure? If that’s a big, fat yes then it’s lucky Brisbane has plenty of fun-filled activities to get your blood pumping on a Friday night. Kick off the evening with an escape room – there are a few you can test out your problem solving skills at in The City including Fox in a Box, Escape Manor and Arcadium Adventures. After all of that excitement, you’re going to need some nourishment. Tantalise your tastebuds with a spicy Fire Bird Burger or serve of wings slathered in Devil’s Delight Death Sauce from Fat Angel. If your adventurous streak doesn’t extend to your stomach, fear not, Fat Angel has a delicious selection of much tamer American-style eats to satisfy you. After washing that down with a few ice-cold brewskis, head over to Strike at Wintergarden for a late-night session of laser tag or bowling. Talk about right up your alley.

When you want to ignite the romance
Friday night is the perfect evening to turn things up a notch in the romance department. Sip cocktails with your sweetheart at Alba Bar and Deli in Burnett Lane or spend happy hour at hideaway watering hole Brew Cafe and Wine Bar. Nothing says romance like a lavish feast, so treat your senses to flavourful fare and killer views at Eagle Street Pier restaurant Naga Thai or devour delectable bites and brews at beloved inner-city restaurant Donna Chang (we suggest tucking in to the Chinese roast duck with plum sauce). Continue to charm your lover with a wine flight at City Winery’s Edward Street Cellar Door, or if you want to get a bit more hands-on (no, not like that) try out a Clay and Sip pottery class.

When you want to feast your way into the weekend
It’s clock-off o’clock and your tummy is grumbling, which begs the question – where are you headed to fill up? We suggest stopping off at Coppa and kicking off Friday in style – with a glass of wine and a selection of spuntino, such as warm focaccia with tomato and ricotta, or Sicilian olives with orange and thyme. You won’t want to fill up too much – the next stop is Walter’s Steakhouse for dinner, where the grain-fed porterhouse is the hero of the menu, sitting alongside alluring picks like maple-bacon oysters, prawn cocktails and lobster linguine, and sides including fries, roasted pumpkin and creamed spinach. For dessert, make tracks to W Brisbane to dip delicious delicacies into a pot of melted chocolate at its Living Room Bar fondue activation. Imagine heavenly churros, mouth-watering macarons and jumbo marshmallows as well as fresh fruit, stacked waffles and marbled brownies – all dripping with Valrhona milk chocolate. Plus, you can top it all off with a decadent cocktail served in a cute teapot. 

When your wardrobe is in need of an overhaul
Are you spending 20 minutes each morning just staring at your wardrobe, waiting for inspiration to strike? Sounds like you’re in desperate need for some new threads. There is no need to schlep around town or restrict yourself to one shopping centre – The City has everything you desire, from high-street luxury labels to much-loved Australian brands and local boutiques. Plus, The City’s retailers are open late on Friday nights, so you can weave a few cocktails and snacks into your shopping spree! It makes sense to begin your expedition at the George Street end of Queen Street Mall, allowing you to work your way down through the sea of stores – expect everything from Seed and Zara to Chanel and Christian Dior. Be sure to look up, too – above the mall sits Double Double store, a beautifully curated boutique showcasing some of the world’s forward-thinking designers. Over on Charlotte Street you’ll find a considered selection of emerging and independent streetwear designers at Contra, while further down on Edward Street you’ll discover the flagship store of internationally loved local jewellery designer Christie Nicolaides. Be sure to spend some time in QueensPlaza too – not only is it home to iconic Australian labels such as Aje, Scanlan Theodore, Viktoria & Woods and Aesop, but also to Stanton, the perfect spot to perch, people watch and perk up with a pizza and prosecco after a long stretch of purchasing. Just when you thought the night couldn’t get better, your evening of retail therapy will be set to the dulcet tones of some talented local talent – City Sounds takes over the Queen Street Mall every Friday night.

If you need to score some brownie points with your oldies
Have plans to catch up with your parents or grandparents and keen to try something out of the box? Kick off your evening with a Brisbane Greeters Brisbane Twilight Tour and see The City in a new light. As the sun sets, these friendly greeters (who are proud and passionate volunteers) will share with you some fun facts about our town, interesting stories and even show you some new bars and restaurants to check out! After you’ve walked up an appetite, impress your family with lavish libations and delightful dumplings at Mei Wei Dumplings at Treasury Brisbane or enjoy sky-high sips at rooftop bar Sixteen Antlers, which boasts uninterrupted views of the City Hall clock tower and the skyline beyond. Finish your evening by catching a flick in the heritage surrounds of the Elizabeth Picture Theatre for some golden-age cinema charm.

Care to make a weekend of it? Extend your Friday-night fun well into the evening with a cheeky staycation – our picks are the W Brisbane, Hyatt Regency and Treasury Hotel.

This article was written in partnership with our friends at The City.