Bars
Pavement Whispers: Eleven Rooftop Bar to transform into open-air Mexican restaurant MAYA
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Eleven Rooftop Bar to transform into open-air Mexican restaurant MAYA

02 Jun 2020

While the recent easing of lockdown restrictions has been a big win for small-scale restaurants and cafes, our bar and pub scene likely won't see relief for another month. Until locals can gather at our watering holes once more, Brisbane bars are being forced to adapt. One notable pivot comes from hospitality crew The Coats Group, which is implementing some massive changes at its crown jewel venue Eleven Rooftop Bar. Come July, the Fortitude Valley hotspot will be reborn as MAYA – a pop-up Mexican restaurant and bar not only offering incredible views, but elevated street eats and margaritas all night long. more

Bars
Greca
Food & Drink

How to support the local Brisbane hospitality scene during the coronavirus threat

08 May 2020

UPDATE March 23, 2020: We told you we'd be regularly updating this, as the coronavirus situation is rapidly evolving. As of midday Monday March 23, the federal Government has forced the closure of all pubs, clubs, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor places of worship, gyms and indoor sporting venues. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to operate, but only to offer takeaway and delivery services. Currently hotels can operate in an accommodation-only capacity, and supermarkets, convenience stores, banks, petrol stations, pharmacies, food delivery services, bottle shops, hairdressers, beauticians and freight and logistics services can continue to operate. COVID-19 is a serious virus, which means we need to take serious steps to overcome it. As you can see from the latest Government protocol, this usually comes at the expense of small businesses – especially our bars, cafes and… more

Bars
The round-up: Brisbane's best take-home tipples and DIY cocktail kits
Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best take-home tipples and DIY cocktail kits

16 Apr 2020

There's nothing like a global pandemic to make us feel like a stiff drink. The kicker is that while we stay inside to flatten the curve, our favourite watering holes have had to shut for the foreseeable future. That doesn't mean we have to rely on the dregs of our liquor stash for knock-offs – many of your favourite bars are still mixing, shaking and stirring, putting together home cocktail kits perfectly suited to help you set up your own social-distancing speakeasy. Fill up the ice tray – Friday arvo drinks are back on! more

Bars
The round-up: venues that are temporarily closing during the COVID-19 outbreak
Food & Drink

The round-up: venues that are temporarily closing during the COVID-19 outbreak

26 Mar 2020

As of midday Monday March 23, the federal Government has forced the closure of all pubs, clubs, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor places of worship, gyms and indoor sporting venues. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to operate, but only to offer takeaway and delivery services. That doesn't mean that every local business you know and love is going to magically switch to takeaway and delivery – for some, this is not feasible. The following is a list of Brisbane venues that will be shutting doors entirely for an indefinite period of time during the COVID-19 outbreak. We will be updating this list as much a possible to convey the closures as we hear of them. For more information on these listed closures, including a projected timeframe for how long they might last, be sure to visit the venue's website and socials. more

Bars
How the Cobbler and Savile Row crew are looking to support Brisbane's bar scene
Food & Drink

How the Cobbler and Savile Row crew are looking to support Brisbane’s bar scene

19 Mar 2020

UPDATE March 23, 2020: With the announcement of new lockdown measures closing all bars for the foreseeable future, the drink-it-forward scheme is currently on hold. However, Cobbler, Death & Taxes, Savile Row and Finney Isles are still selling vouchers (with an incredible 20-percent boost in value), which are available via each bar's respective websites. The operator of four of Brisbane's finest watering holes is getting proactive amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus crisis. Martin Lange – the brains behind venues such as Cobbler, Death & Taxes, Savile Row and Finney Isles – is hoping to incentivise drinkers to not only visit his venues, but also support bars in the same neighbourhood. more

Bars
Savour charcoal-grilled snacks and curious cocktails at Shishou Sake Bar
Food & Drink

Savour charcoal-grilled snacks and curious cocktails at Shishou Sake Bar

12 Mar 2020

In late 2019, a hole-in-the-wall space bridging Brunswick Street and California Lane was transformed into Brisbane's first omakase sushi-degustation restaurant Shishou. Earlier this year, the restaurant's ownership shifted gears, rebooting the concept and implementing a more casual style of Japanese-influenced dining, rebranding as Shishou Sake Bar. The cosy space now boasts eye-catching murals, a splash of vibrant neon, and an all-new menu of yakitori-style eats, bar snacks and cocktails to consume. more

Bars
Graze your way around the tasty new Middle Eastern-menu at Gerard's Bar
Food & Drink

Graze your way around the tasty new Middle Eastern-menu at Gerard’s Bar

12 Mar 2020

In news that should have your tastebuds tingling with anticipation, Adam Wolfers a.k.a culinary wizard and executive chef of Gerard's Bistro is unveiling a tantalising grazing menu at Gerard's Bar on Thursday March 19. The menu has been carefully curated to fortify its connection with its sister space across the lane and is set to offer a selection of pared-back Middle Eastern-style dishes that are perfect for sharing, or not. more

Bars
Dirty Sultan brings breezy Euro vibes, Mediterranean cocktails and shisha to The Valley
Food & Drink

Dirty Sultan brings breezy Euro vibes, Mediterranean cocktails and shisha to The Valley

27 Feb 2020

Good news for fans of rooftop bars, Fortitude Valley now boasts a lavish newcomer taking inspiration from the diverse nightlife scene of the Mediterranean. If you're keen to sample baklava-infused cocktails, snack on Turkish-style tapas or puff on scented smoke in a shisha lounge, seek out Dirty Sultan's incognito elevator entrance next to the base of TRYP Fortitude Valley. more

The Locals Next week:

Bars
The Scratch | Brisbane's best craft-beer bars
Food & Drink

The round-up: knock back a few at the best craft-beer bars in Brisbane

27 Feb 2020

These days you can find craft beer at just about every bar, bottle shop and barbecue in Brisbane. It's an undeniable fact that craft beer is now a crucial part of Australia's booze culture, with our country's boutique beer flourishing over the past decade. One of the biggest factors contributing to craft beer's increase in profile is the proliferation of top-tier craft-beer bars – you know, the haunts and hideaways that champion the hoppy, malty, fruity, sour and chocolatey drops we've come to love. Brisbane boasts a stellar collection of craft-oriented boozers across town – we've decided to list some of the best! more

Bars
Caxton Street's Americana-inspired icon Lefty's Music Hall reopens
Food & Drink

Caxton Street’s Americana-inspired icon Lefty’s Music Hall reopens

27 Feb 2020

Don your dancing shoes and affix your spurs – Petrie Terrace's beloved honky-tonk saloon Lefty's Music Hall is reopening this week! If you've been craving some combination of American-style snacks, a refreshing whisky apple cocktail and some raucous rockabilly-laced revelry, be sure to present yourself suited and booted at Lefty's today, Thursday February 27. more

Bars
Devour breakfast doughnuts and sand-crab benedicts at Toowong's Hooch & Co
Food & Drink

Devour breakfast doughnuts and sand-crab benedicts at Toowong’s Hooch & Co

27 Feb 2020

The brains behind beloved Toowong Italian restaurant Barolos have been busy to start 2020, taking over the space once home to Covet Bar & Restaurant and transforming it into brand-new eatery and bar Hooch & Co. The 60-seater is quietly earning some buzz thanks to its canny infusion of Asian flavours across brunch and lunch bites, not to mention its grounded and warm neighbourhood appeal. more

Bars
Gan bei! Sip and sup at The Valley's new late-night hang Ling Ling
Food & Drink

Gan bei! Sip and sup at The Valley’s new late-night hang Ling Ling

20 Feb 2020

The true indicator of a city on the rise is the health of its late-night dining scene. Ling Ling's – Fortitude Valley's new neon-lit Hong Kong-inspired party spot – is giving the entertainment precinct a much-need boost in these stakes, with a menu featuring a tantalising array of pan-Asian eats (dumplings, anyone?), colourful cocktails and the kind of social atmosphere that warrants regular visits. more

Bars
Savour mixed-Asian cuisine at Fortitude Valley newcomer Stone & Copper
Food & Drink

Savour mixed-Asian cuisine at Fortitude Valley newcomer Stone & Copper

20 Feb 2020

Anyone that has travelled through Thailand, Malaysia and India can attest to the gastronomic wonders that abound in each country. Curries, stir-fries, breads – it's no wonder why such culinary delights have become so popular in Australia. Though each country has its own unique set of go-to ingredients and distinct flavour profiles, there is a shared DNA that runs through much south-Asian cuisine. Stone & Copper in The Valley is a new bar and eatery that looks to highlight this crossover by plating up a mix of Asian cuisine, showcasing a range of distinct but complimentary dishes made using authentic techniques and recipes. more

Bars
Get loud at Brunswick Mall's new two-level music haven The Sound Garden
Food & Drink

Get loud at Brunswick Mall’s new two-level music haven The Sound Garden

13 Feb 2020

Since the arrival of the Fortitude Music Hall last year, The Valley has become the epicentre of live music in Brisbane. Yesterday, the Brunswick Street Mall scored an impressive music-oriented bar and eatery in the form of The Sound Garden. Stretching over two levels, this gargantuan bistro is not only a spacious spot for punters to drink and dine before or after a gig, but it's also a handy spot to catch up-and-coming artists. more

Bars
Rack city – Big Roddy's Rippin' Rib Shack expands to The Valley
Food & Drink

Rack city – Big Roddy’s Rippin’ Rib Shack expands to The Valley

13 Feb 2020

If you've never savoured the saucy goodness at South Brisbane ribs, burgers and wings hotspot Big Roddy's Rippin' Rib Shack, then there's a few things you should know. First, it's okay to get messy – in fact, it's encouraged. Second, a healthy appreciation of The Simpsons is recommended, but not mandatory. Third, last week the barbecue crew expanded north of the river, opening a new location in Fortitude Valley. If you've been meaning to try Big Roddy's locally sourced, tender, melt-in-your-mouth ribs, then now you've got a great excuse to indulge. Remember to don a bib! more

Bars
Surf's up! Suzie Wong's Good Time Bar opens in The Valley
Food & Drink

Surf’s up! Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar opens in The Valley

13 Feb 2020

Suzie Wong. It's a name that been on the lips of Brisbane's party scene for almost a month. Who is she? Where did she come from? What's her deal? These are just a few of the questions we've asked ourselves ever since it was revealed that Suzie Wong was making her home in the heart of Fortitude Valley's entertainment precinct. Suzie Wong's Good Time Bar is her domain – a Hawaiian-inspired boozer that's less a tiki-themed tipple joint and more of a grungy surf shack serving up cocktails, live music and, well, good times! It's open now – come inside and say aloha ... more

Bars
California Lane welcomes corner cocktail and tapas joint Poco
Food & Drink

California Lane welcomes corner cocktail and tapas joint Poco

06 Feb 2020

There's been a shake-up on the corner of McLachlan Street and California Lane – pink-hued dessert joint The Stand has transformed into a pint-sized tapas and cocktail bar. Poco – Spanish for 'little' – packs a lot of goodness into its compact corner space, from mouth-watering cheese platters to cocktail jugs and beyond! more