Bars
Get a sneak peek inside Butler Wine Bar, the intimate drinking spot from the Lune Croissanterie crew
Food & Drink

Get a sneak peek inside Butler Wine Bar, the intimate drinking spot from the Lune Croissanterie crew

30 Jun 2022

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
Brewdog Fortitude Valley
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: craft-beer powerhouse BrewDog set to expand with a new three-level venue in Fortitude Valley

30 Jun 2022

Three-and-a-bit years on from the official launch of BrewDog's Murarrie headquarters, the globe-spanning craft-beer giant is poised to build its Australian presence. Later this year the Scottish-born brand will open a new standalone venue in Fortitude Valley, showcasing BrewDog's widely beloved range of punk-inspired and attitude-loaded ales alongside a host of pub-style eats. Here's what we know ... 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

30 Jun 2022

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
The round-up: the biggest food openings of the year (so far)
Food & Drink

The round-up: the biggest food openings of the year (so far)

23 Jun 2022

While it's hard to get our head around the looming threshold that is 2022's half-way mark, once we take stock of all that has happened this year it becomes easier to see why time has moved at such a blistering pace. Rain, floods and election campaigns aside, the first half of 2022 has been filled with a host of hospitality openings, from ultra-luxe sushi restaurants and resort-style rooftop bars to punk-inspired boozers and sandwich-slinging general stores. We've decided to take a beat and reflect on the past six months, collating a list of what we think have been the biggest foodie openings of the year so far. more

Bars
Pavement Whispers: amaro takes centre stage at Before + After, a new laneway basement bar opening soon in The City
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: amaro takes centre stage at Before + After, a new laneway basement bar opening soon in The City

23 Jun 2022

Amaro, the bittersweet Italian herbal liqueur known to many as a post-dinner digestivo, has seen a sharp spike in popularity in recent years. The stomach-settling sip is becoming increasingly more common on the shelves of Brisbane's best bars and restaurants, moving from unheralded elixir to the in-vogue drink of choice for discerning drinkers. George Curtis is funnelling his own love of amaro into the mortar of his own bar, Before + After – a low-key libation spot opening in The City later this year. Here, expect to find an assortment of amari – from the seductively sweet to the boldly bitter – as well as a range of amaro-infused snacks like shrimp rolls with Fernet Branca mayo and affogato-style amaro floats. Here's what we know ... 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

23 Jun 2022

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

16 Jun 2022

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 recap: the best new Brisbane restaurants, bars and cafes this month
Food & Drink

The recap: the best new Brisbane restaurants, bars and cafes this month

02 Jun 2022

Finally, it’s starting to get cold. The mercury is dropping and the winter jackets are emerging out of the depths of the closet – and there's no better way to warm up than by getting amongst Brisbane’s dining scene. We're not going to lie, May was a big month. We saw the opening of a new retail-meets-hospitality hybrid on James Street, a charming general store in the heart of The Valley and a fresh craft-beer brewery slinging frothies bayside. Here are the new arrivals we loved this month ... more

The Locals Next week:

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

The round-up: Brisbane’s best cheap eats

26 May 2022

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

12 May 2022

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

12 May 2022

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.

04 May 2022

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
Brendale scores big with two-in-one beer and barbecue spot Tannins Brew and Meat Me BBQ
Food & Drink

Brendale scores big with two-in-one beer and barbecue spot Tannins Brew and Meat Me BBQ

28 Apr 2022

It's said that good things come in pairs. While we can't gauge the universal accuracy of that statement, we can confirm it absolutely rings true when referring to Tannis Brew and Meat Me BBQ – Brendale's buzzy new dual-concept locale. The result of a perfect pairing, this nanobrewery, coffee spot and casual eatery is wasting no time enticing the Moreton Bay community with craft cold ones, smoked chilli beef-shin tacos and brisket toasties. 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

21 Apr 2022

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: what's open on Anzac Day 2022
Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on Anzac Day 2022

21 Apr 2022

After the hectic Easter long-weekend festivities, it’s easy to forget that we have another public holiday right around the corner. Anzac Day is here, so it’s a good idea to plan accordingly. If you plan to spend your long weekend catching up with family and friends, it’s handy to know that there are places around town that will be open. We've found the spots around Brisbane that are trading on the Anzac Day public holiday this Monday April 25 – so if you need a coffee, some brunch or an arvo tipple, this is the place to find it. 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

06 Apr 2022

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
The round-up: what's open in Brisbane this Easter long weekend
Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open in Brisbane this Easter long weekend

01 Apr 2022

We don't know about you, but we're craving a long weekend. Not just any long weekend – we want one filled with good food, good drink and good times. If you share the same mindset as us and want to fill every second of Easter with tasty things, you'll want to bookmark this round-up. Here's our constantly updating list of bars, cafes and restaurants that are open this Easter long weekend! 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

31 Mar 2022

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