The team behind one of the year's best new restaurants is looking to go two-for-two in 2024. In September, Sarni – a new sandwich joint and bar from the Ach crew – will open on Racecourse Road, serving deli-style sandwiches, small plates, wines and craft beers. Here's what we know ... more
After many months of waiting, Naldham House – DAP & Co.'s landmark hospitality hub – is finally set to open to the public on Thursday July 18. Housing a European-style brasserie, a sun-soaked alfresco terrace bar and a late-night cocktail joint (plus one more venue still to be announced), Naldham House is poised to make a pivotal mark on Brisbane's dining scene. Take a tour inside before the venue launches later this week ... more
If you took a venue's name on face value, you might raise an eyebrow at the prospect of visiting Milquetoast. But the new inner-city wine bar, which opened last week inside a converted garage off Elizabeth Street, couldn't be further from its namesake. Offering a cracking collection of low-intervention wines, hyper-creative cocktails and a playful menu of British-inspired eats that’s available until late, Milquetoast is a one-of-a-kind addition to Brisbane's bar scene that is breaking the mould in the best ways. more
After a significant refurbishment, long-running James Street institution Cru Bar & Cellar is back and is better than ever. The cherished wine bar, restaurant and bottle shop softly reopened earlier this month, showing off a luxurious new look alongside a retooled menu and a bolstered cellar list weighing in at more than 2000 bottles. Though modernised and elevated, Cru Bar & Cellar's makeover maintains the service-centric spirit that has made the iconic venue a fixture of the scene for more than 20 years. Take a peek inside ... more
Earlier this year, we revealed that the team behind top-tier inner-city drink spots Frog's Hollow Saloon and Alice had taken over custodianship of The Alliance Hotel in Spring Hill. Well, after a few months of hard work, the team is now ready to show off a suite of exciting new elements, including a spruced-up bistro serving salivation-worthy game meat, a classically charming front bar, four versatile function spaces and a list of Australian whiskies touted as the biggest collection in the country. Take a peek inside ... more
In bad news for beer lovers, long-running Petrie Terrace boozer Brewski has announced its imminent closure. The Caxton Street staple, which has been slinging suds since 2013, is set to shut in August alongside its bottle shop offshoot My Beer Dealer. Though heavy news for Brisbane's hop-loving populace, there's hope that this isn't the last we'll see of the Brewski crew. We caught up with the brains behind the operation to chat about Brewski's legacy, its closing festivities and potential existence beyond Caxton Street. more
The team behind Gold Coast-born and family-run distillery Granddad Jack's has sold its Albion distillery to new owners ahead of a planned expansion to Europe later this year. Fans of the distillery's craft spirits and cocktail bar are encouraged to pop in for one last drink before the venue closes on Saturday July 6. more
In the final days of June, the team behind some of Brisbane's best beer-centric bars turned on the taps at its brand-new neighbourhood suds slinger, Clover. Taking over the former Suburban Social space on Holland Road, Clover is looking to settle in as a new go-to spot for pints of creamy Guinness and crisp craft beers, classic cocktails and low-ABV spritzes, cracking pub-style fare, and out-of-the-box snacks. Pop in and pull up a stool! more
As we approached the halfway point of the year, some of our most-anticipated openings finally materialised. Last month, we welcomed a European-inspired terrace bar from a Melbourne-based hospitality powerhouse, an orange-hued retro diner serving some of the best burgers in Brisbane, a French-style wine bar and bistro hybrid, a timber-clad bar specialising in vermouth and low-ABV sips, and a new neighbourhood joint from some suds-slinging stalwarts. Was June the biggest month of the year so far? You be the judge! Here's what we loved ... more
Gimlet. Supernormal. Cumulus Inc. Cutler & Co. Marion. These are some of Australia’s most lauded venues, all with two key things in common – their founders, Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann. The duo has made their mark in Melbourne with their dynamic and varied array of venues and now, luckily for us, they have set their sights on Brisbane. Their first venue, Bar Miette, is an entirely new concept for Andrew and Jo, and we were treated to a special preview ahead of its official opening. more
And just like that, we're in the second half of 2024. Yep, the first six months of the year were a blur, but that was to be expected with the cracking pace of new openings we were covering every week. Before we commence our sprint onwards, we'd like to catch our breath and reflect on the good things the first half of 2024 has brought us, including striking French-inspired wine bar and bistro hybrids, cosy cafes serving Korean-style eats, cornetto-slinging Italian bakeries, fetching fire-powered restaurants and Instagram-conquering cafes. Here's what we loved, in alphabetical order. more
If you were left crestfallen by the recent closure of Black Hops Brewing's East Brisbane brewery, this bit of news will likely be the soothing salve you're seeking. The team behind Salisbury's Hiker Brewing Co. has announced it is taking over the site, transforming it into a satellite microbrewery and taproom. Hiker's range of killer concoctions are expected to flow from taps next month – here's what we know ... more
Ah, happy hour. There’s nothing like a little tipple at the end of the day to make us feel like a job well done. The Italians not just invented happy hour, but perfected it with the aperitivo – a glass of your favourite drink for a pre-dinner perk up. Now, there’s a new small-batch distillery in Tamborine Mountain embracing the Italian spirit – the amaro spirit in particular – and giving it a true Aussie taste. Here’s everything you need to know … more
It's a French affair at Petite, Fortitude Valley's striking new dining destination. The newest culinary concept from the team that brought you Happy Boy and Snack Man is riffing on French bistro culture, serving a free-wheeling menu of divine dishes alongside a keenly curated list of French wines. Come and take a look inside ... more
West End's bar scene is welcoming another player to its midst this week, with Bar Hugo officially opening to the public tomorrow, Thursday June 13. Boasting a warm timber-heavy aesthetic and a beverage list laden with artisanal vermouths, creative low-ABV cocktails and a wine list bursting with absolute belters, Bar Hugo is on track to become a local favourite very quickly. We got a sneak peek inside – come and have a look around ... more
Above the entrance to West End's newest bar is a vibrant neon sign that beams out into the night. The word DADDY shimmers outward onto Montague Road in a mix of luminous purple and blue hues, calling to everyone that passes by. This is Come to Daddy – a new inclusive hub that is already garnering buzz for its killer cocktails, raucous drag shows and dynamic roster of DJs. Take a peek inside ... more
One of the world's most creative bartenders is linking up with the crew at W Brisbane's Living Room Bar for a six-month cocktail collaboration. Matt Whiley of famed Sydney sipping spot RE is helping devise a seasonally changing cocktail menu boasting concoctions made with waste from W Brisbane's kitchens. Blackened pumpkin seeds, onion ash and burnt potato skins – it's all getting a second chance with these boundary pushing beverages. more
If you've cruised down Chatsworth Road in Coorparoo at some point in the past seven weeks, you've likely seen crowds clustered around an olive-hued shopfront. That's Snug, the new smash-hit cafe from rising-star chefs Leaham Claydon and Jianne Jeoung. The cosy venue has been consistently packed since it opened over Easter, with throngs gathering for cups of ST ALi coffee and silky hojicha lattes. The crowds are set to congregate again with the launch of Snug's Korean-inspired brunch offering, which boasts the likes of soft pretzels, scrambled egg-drop sandwiches and omurice with prawns. more
The comic-loving crew behind California Lane staple 1st Edition has given two of its laneway libation spots a supervillain-inspired sprucing. On Friday May 24, the team will officially unveil Harley Quinn – a colourful and cosy cocktail joint serving creative concoctions at night and a menu of light bites in the daytime. We got a sneak peek at Harley Quinn earlier this week – here's what we saw ... more
Brisbane is fast becoming an oenophile's paradise – blessed with a robust and diverse wine-bar scene that seems to be always growing. If you're searching for natural and biodynamic newcomers, tried and true old-world wines, or are simply looking to expand your rolodex of juice for your home cellar, then look no further than the following list of Brisbane's best wine bars. more
