Bars
Beer and cheer – Easy Times Brewing Co. opens in Woolloongabba
Food & Drink

Beer and cheer – Easy Times Brewing Co. opens in Woolloongabba

29 Oct 2020

After the year we've had, we all deserve a few cold ones. Woolloongabba's new two-level craft-beer brewery Easy Times Brewing Co. is has opened its doors, offering sanctuary for folks seeking a stress-free space to sink a few, encouraging guests to leave their issues at the door while they enjoy good drink, good food and good times. This beery newcomer is already receiving high praise from craft-beer enthusiasts and industry personnel alike, and with a seasoned barbecue crew on board providing some finger-licking fare and plenty of creative beers in the brewing pipeline, Easy Times has become the easy choice for relaxed revelry. more

Bars
Get cosy at The Valley's larder-meets-wine-bar Lloyd's General Store
Food & Drink

Get cosy at The Valley’s larder-meets-wine-bar Lloyd’s General Store

29 Oct 2020

In a perfect world, every street would boast some combination of three local essentials – a cafe, a bar and a delicatessen – of its own. It's wishful thinking, sure, but there's good news for locals that live on or closer to the northern end of Brunswick Street. Lloyd's General Store is a new three-in-one hotspot has just opened where Brunswick Street meets Gregory Terrace. Serving coffee and croissants by day and wine and charcuterie by night (as well as acting as a providore the entire time), Lloyd's is comfy, convenient and oh so charming. more

Bars
El Planta – Brisbane's best vegan spots
Food & Drink

The round-up: fill up on goodness at Brisbane’s best vegan spots

29 Oct 2020

Put your presuppositions in the bin – plant-based food is not just salad and steamed vegetables. Vegan cuisine is becoming increasingly prominent due to the rise of dietary requirements and a conscientious focus of what we put in our bodies. For those of you who can’t stomach the thought of canning the cutlets and trashing the T-bones in favour of salad, please relax – we aren’t here to sway you to veganism. What we will say is that dining as a vegan can be hard in our predominantly meat-eating society, but also very rewarding – even if you love bacon and eggs. We’ve chosen to point out Brisbane’s best vegan spots well worth sampling. more

Bars
Get a slice of the action at California Lane's new Kill Bill-inspired bar Kiddo
Food & Drink

Get a slice of the action at California Lane’s new Kill Bill-inspired bar Kiddo

23 Oct 2020

Of contemporary cinema's pantheon of visionary directors, Quentin Tarantino is perhaps the most singular of the bunch. His knack for crafting visceral filmic masterpieces has earned him a huge following, and his two-part saga Kill Bill is a cult favourite for many. A martial-arts epic that has endured thanks to its stylised cinematography, iconic action scenes and effortlessly cool aesthetics, the film's impact continues to materialise in unforeseen ways. Fortitude Valley’s newest bar and eatery Kiddo (named after Kill Bill’s lead character Beatrix Kiddo aka The Bride aka Black Mamba – played by Uma Thurman) is taking some cues from QT’s blood-soaked tale of revenge, creating a unique hospitality experience that channels QT's style through its vivid decor, menu of Japanese-fusion eats and selection of creative cocktails. more

Bars
Let's get loud – moody rock ‘n' roll-inspired boozer O'Skulligans opens in The Valley
Food & Drink

Let’s get loud – moody rock ‘n’ roll-inspired boozer O’Skulligans opens in The Valley

22 Oct 2020

It's been a weird year for Brisbane's nightlife, but as revellers gradually slink back to their favourite watering holes, Fortitude Valley's bar scene is starting to not only show signs of a bounce back, but also some growth. The Happy Horsemen, the hospitality collective behind bars like Black Bear Lodge, Blute's Bar and The Brightside has shaken up its portfolio, transforming understated cocktail joint Barbara into rough-and-tumble live-music bar O'Skulligans. If you're keen to take a walk on the dark side, don your battle vest or leather jacket and scope out Warner Street's new rowdy resident. more

Bars
Pavement Whispers: Lost Palms Brewing Co. heads north for new Brisbane bar
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Lost Palms Brewing Co. heads north for new Brisbane bar

15 Oct 2020

Summer is approaching, which means pretty soon we'll be flocking south for some sun, sand and, most likely, a sip at Lost Palms Brewing Co.'s Miami home. Well, the brains behind the popular pink-hued brewery are making it easier for Brisbane locals to put their lips to a pint of their killer brews, announcing plans to open a brand-new taphouse in the heart of Sherwood later this month. Here's what you need to know ahead of the beachy beer hub's arrival ... more

Bars
Felons Brewing Co. expands with a brand-new barrel hall at Howard Smith Wharves
Food & Drink

Felons Brewing Co. expands with a brand-new barrel hall at Howard Smith Wharves

15 Oct 2020

On Friday October 9, Brisbane's beer-loving community woke up to the news that sudsy riverside hub Felons Brewing Co. – a staple of Howard Smith Wharves' popular dining strip – had expanded, opening a massive new venue called Felons Barrel Hall right next door. Putting a modern-Australian spin on a classic German beer-hall concept, Felons Barrel Hall is delivering a fresh experience with the same adventurous spirit inspired by its namesake felons. Think unique barrel-aged beers, a selection of offbeat wines, a punchy new menu of eats and live music every weekend. This arrival is a whopper and a half – here's a look inside ... more

The Locals Next week:

Bars
Brisbane Distillery Company expands with a new-look gin school and cocktail bar
Food & Drink

Brisbane Distillery Company expands with a new-look gin school and cocktail bar

01 Oct 2020

It's been less than a year since Brisbane Distillery officially opened the doors to its West End HQ, but already the business has flourished – helping spearhead the ongoing homegrown spirit revolution. Today, Thursday October 1, marks a big step in the distillery's evolution – the crew has expanded its premises to include a swish 23-metre-long cocktail bar and an enhanced gin school, where guests can whip up a bottle of their own devising. This place is a serious gin lover's paradise – take a look inside! more

Bars
Boutique wine bar Honour Ave Cellars opens in Graceville
Food & Drink

Boutique wine bar Honour Ave Cellars opens in Graceville

01 Oct 2020

The verdant vineyards of France, Italy and Spain are heralded for good reason. We'll never be ones to knock a heady Bordeaux or a Tuscan chianti, but these titans of viticulture cast a long shadow, one that often masks the product emerging from some of the world's lesser-known wine regions. Graceville's newest boutique wine bar and wine shop Honour Ave Cellars is looking to change that. The intimate plonk parlour is going to bat for some of the world's best unheralded wine hot spots, serving hard-to-find labels from Hungary, Chile, South Africa and even drops from our own backyard. Pair that with some similarly obscure nibbles and you've got yourself one of Brisbane's most singular drinking destinations. It officially opens today – here's what you should know ... more

Bars
Uh Oh Spaghettio brings late-night pasta and party vibes to Bakery Lane
Food & Drink

Uh Oh Spaghettio brings late-night pasta and party vibes to Bakery Lane

24 Sep 2020

No shade to the 1:00 am burger, pizza slice or kebab (you've saved our butts many a time), but sometimes we wish we had a bit more of a culinary selection to choose from when it comes to our post-party feed. Arriving on Friday September 25, Uh Oh Spaghettio is a neon-lit late-night pasta parlour that's committed to keeping our stomachs lined all night long, serving up cacio e pepe, Peroni-infused mac'n'cheese, bolognese-topped chips, new-wave wines and signature cocktails until the wee hours. more

Bars
Boom! Shake the room – an inner-city bar transforms into a moody underground izakaya
Food & Drink

Boom! Shake the room – an inner-city bar transforms into a moody underground izakaya

22 Sep 2020

As many hospitality operators adapt to the demands of pandemic life, many restaurants, bars and cafes are evolving to meet the new normal. Fortunately for us foodies, many of these moves have produced incredibly tasty results. The venue formerly known as The Boom Boom Room has been given a new direction and a (slightly) different name. Introducing Boom Boom Room Izakaya – a concept blending Japanese-inspired morsels and cocktails with a luxurious jazz-bar aesthetic. more

Bars
Bites, beers and beats – Bao Bar unveils its slick South Brisbane home
Food & Drink

Bites, beers and beats – Bao Bar unveils its slick South Brisbane home

10 Sep 2020

If the recent coronavirus-related lockdowns were good for anything, it was for innovation – especially in our hospitality scene. Among the pandemic-inspired experiments to emerge from the first half of the year, Bao Bar's pop-up concept was far and away one of the most popular. When dine-in restrictions eased, the brains behind the idea figured continuing Bao Bar with its own standalone location was a no-brainer. This Sunday September 13, Bao Bar will unveil its new bricks-and-mortar joint in South Brisbane – showcasing a beefed-up selection of fusion-inspired baos plus ice-cold beers to wash down the goodness. more

Bars
Get a look inside Newstead's Commercial Road Public Bar ahead of its forthcoming opening
Food & Drink

Get a look inside Newstead’s Commercial Road Public Bar ahead of its forthcoming opening

10 Sep 2020

Peter Gabriel's 1986 smash-hit single 'Sledgehammer' is a quintessential example of the quirky, maximalist fun that was commonplace in the late 1980s. More than 30 years on from its release, the song's influence is still manifesting in unexpected ways. Commercial Road Public Bar is a soon-to-open drinkery shaped and inspired by the bold aesthetic of the decade's music, art and fashion scenes – think New York Fashion Week circa 1989, SMPTE colour bars and tasteful splashes on neon. Combine that with a contemporaneous selection of natural wines and a menu of Italian-inspired bar food and you've got a singularly stylish spot for serendipitous sipping. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek inside CRPB ahead of its official opening on Wednesday September 9 – here's what you can expect ... more

Bars
Fonzie Abbott set to release a guava and mango-flavoured sour beer so that's our summer sips sorted
Food & Drink

Fonzie Abbott set to release a guava and mango-flavoured sour beer so that’s our summer sips sorted

10 Sep 2020

After winning over the caffeine-loving populace with its brilliant brews, Fonzie Abbott turned its attention to brews of a different kind and launched into the craft-beer game in 2018. Since then, the crew have turned into a one-stop libation shop slinging Monday-morning hits of energy through to Sunday arvo sundowners but friends, there's a new beer on the horizon and we're told it's the stuff of dreams, sour dreams to be specific.  more

Bars
The round-up: what's open on the Queen's Birthday public holiday
Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday

01 Sep 2020

With everything that's been happening this year, public holidays seem like a bizarre anomaly that we don't quite know what to do with. Well, thankfully Brisbane has returned to a semblance of normalcy, and the same goes for our dining scene. The Queen’s Birthday long weekend is upon us, which means next Monday is free and clear to do with as you please. It’s not up to us to say what you should do with your extra day off, but if you’re inclined to get out of the house, we’ve assembled a list of eateries that will be open on the day. more

Bars
Find your beery bliss at Stafford's Happy Valley Brewing Company
Food & Drink

Find your beery bliss at Stafford’s Happy Valley Brewing Company

27 Aug 2020

The 13-kilometre stretch between Newstead and Northgate is known for being a mircrobrewing black spot. Thanks to tighter council restrictions, few upstart brewing operations have managed to secure a spot, leaving a considerable chunk of Brisbane's craft-beer-loving population without a local brewery to call their own. Well, now that's finally changed. In early August, Happy Valley Brewing Company opened its brewery and taproom on Wolverhampton Street in Stafford after a year-long process of applications and approvals. The response from the community has been immediate – hop heads eager to sample the crew's range of small-batch beers have flocked to the newcomer in droves over its first two weekends of trade, sampling Happy Valley's freeform range of debut drops and soaking in the venue's laid-back and welcoming atmosphere. more

Bars
Bald Hills icon Bonny View Hotel gets a spiffy makeover
Food & Drink

Bald Hills icon Bonny View Hotel gets a spiffy makeover

27 Aug 2020

On Thursday August 20, the beloved northside pub and bistro formerly known as the Bonny View Tavern reopened with a new look, new menu and new name. Now known as the Bonny View Hotel, the establishment has been treated to a luxurious makeover to the tune of $1.3 million, which has significantly spruced up the 85-year-old locale with some improved amenities that'll impress, and some new culinary tempters that'll get folks drooling. more

Bars
The round-up: Brisbane's best new restaurant and cafe openings of the year (so far)
Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best new restaurant and cafe openings of the year (so far)

27 Aug 2020

Look, we get it. Since March there has been a lot happening at home and abroad that has understandably required our attention and shifted our priorities. It's been easy to miss things such as new foodie arrivals, especially when we've been forced to stay inside as much as possible. Seeing that restrictions have eased somewhat, now is a great time to acquaint yourself with these newcomers. We've compiled a handy list of some of the best new restaurant and cafe openings that have occurred over the past few months. more

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

13 Aug 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