Bars Brisbane | The Weekend Edition

Feasts worth flying for – the year’s most exciting interstate openings

11 Jan 2018

The new year has well and truly arrived, and we are more than ready to embrace all that it will bring – especially to our stomachs – with open arms and mouths. While it’s already set to be an exciting year of food in Brisbane (refer to our list of upcoming openings), it should also be a year of expanding our culinary horizons. This year our resolution is to explore more of our own country – you know we’re going to be doing a whole lot of eating everywhere we go and we implore you to do the same. Here are some of the top new Australian restaurants of 2017 outside of Queensland that we just can’t wait to try. more

Food & Drink

Constructive hospitality – The Brick Bar set to pop-up in Brisbane

10 Jan 2018

We love hearing about new bricks-and-mortar watering holes, but this one really takes the ‘brick’ aspect to a whole new level. A new building block-themed pop-up bar is slated to arrive in town this autumn and while details are scarce, the inner child within us is already jumping with excitement. more

Food & Drink

Scope out Libertine’s new outdoor cocktail and snack nook Bar Jardin

04 Jan 2018

Have you seen Libertine lately? The Petrice Terrace mainstay has got something new going on. No, the acclaimed fare is the same, as is the seductive and sophisticated interior. Libertine has entered the new year with a brand-new outdoor bar area that is catering to the late-night snack set with aplomb. Bar Jardin at Libertine whipping up stellar cocktails and cooking up bar snacks that are just as appetising as the main fare – though with the added benefit of outdoor dining regardless of weather. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on New Year’s Day 2018

22 Dec 2017

We’re more than ready to see the end of 2017 – the year that seemed to hang around like a bad smell. We never need an excuse to party, but New Year’s Eve is set to be a particularly big one. That means we’ll need somewhere to rest our sore heads on New Year’s Day. Perhaps you had an early night and are keen for a well-rested start to the year, perhaps you haven’t been to bed yet – regardless of how you rang in the New Year, you’re going to need to eat at some point. These spots will be open and willing to help you shake off the dust from your night of revelry and start the year properly. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on Boxing Day 2017

21 Dec 2017

The presents have been unwrapped, the fridge is full of Christmas lunch leftovers and the food coma has subsided – that must mean it’s Boxing Day! The oft-forgotten member of the festive holiday family is great for rest and relaxation, catching the Boxing Day blockbusters at the cinema, shopping up a storm at the sales and for watching the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race, but it’s also a great day for dining. We’ve assembled a list of venues that are trading on Boxing Day if you are keen to keep the festive cheer going a little while longer. more

Food & Drink

The year in review: what you loved in 2017

21 Dec 2017

What. A. Year! Although 2017 has flown by, we’re still amazed by all of the fantastic things we got to experience throughout the year. Brisbane boomed with all sorts of happenings, from new bars and eateries to killer events to some massive news-worthy bombshells that already have us looking ahead with anticipation. We figured the best way to recap the year that was is to list what resonated with you the most over the past 12 months. Without further ado, here is the best of 2017! more

Food & Drink

The round-up: our 300 favourite eats and drinks in Brisbane

14 Dec 2017

Pull out those party poppers friends – this week marks 300 issues of The Weekend Edition: Brisbane. Woot! Over those 300 issues we’ve sipped on a lot of craft beer, munched on a whole lot of delicious food and Instagrammed more avocado on toast than we care to admit. To celebrate, the team has come together to compile our 300 favourite bites and sips across our fine city. Not since Gerard Butler lead a fearsome procession of scantily clad spartans to war have we been this amazed by 300 of anything. We’re not going to suggest you go through and eat everything listed below (we’re also not not suggesting it), but it’s a pretty good indicator of the strength of our food scene, from tasty cheaps eats through to the finest of dishes and most delectable cocktails. What’s more, this list is not even close to exhaustive – there’s always more out there to try. So let’s raise a… more

Food & Drink

Clapham Junction Wine Bar Provisions brings a touch of classic charm to Banyo

14 Dec 2017

After a long commute home, sometimes it would be nice to step off the bus or train and into a local speakeasy for a quick post-work tipple. We’re going to hazard a guess that commuters getting off the Shorncliffe train at Banyo station have felt this way before, and now their prayers have been answered. Clapham Junction Wine Bar Provisions is a cosy and cheerful nook for locals to sip from a worldly selection of wines, boutique Australian spirits and an ever-evolving selection of bites. more

Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Volume 152 December 12

12 Dec 2017

From whispers of new modern Chinese restaurants coming to The Valley to plant-based dinners, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more

Food & Drink

South Bank’s Little Big House is your new summer house-party destination

07 Dec 2017

There's no denying that house parties are an absolute ball, but the effort needed throw them (and clean up after them) can make ‘em a real chore. Well, what if we told you that there is a new venue in town that is bringing the house party vibes and is taking care of the hosting duties? Brisbane, allow us to introduce you to your new favourite hang – Little Big House. This Southpoint-based venue is a cheeky and charming chateau brought to us from the team behind Riverbar & Kitchen and Aria. Little Big House promises quintessential Queensland quirkiness, far-out feasts, cocktails in cans and sun-soaked fun all party season long, so stop putting fairy lights and goon sacks on your Hills Hoist – summer party hosting duties have been sorted. more

Food & Drink

Lunch ahoy! Banter Bar & Seafood makes landfall in Kangaroo Point

30 Nov 2017

The neighbourhood fish and chip joint is a staple of Queensland summer snacking. Let’s be real, there’s nothing like picking your way through a freshly cooked batch of goodness, wrapped tightly in butcher’s paper on a sunny afternoon. These days it’s rare that you’d encounter a fish and chippery with a bar attached, but if that’s the way of the future then we’re not complaining. Banter Bar & Seafood in Kangaroo Point is a new breed of venue that blends a sumptuous range of fresh and locally sourced seafood with a short and sharp selection of boutique wine and craft beer, and a coastal vibe that has us dreaming of sea breezes. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: The best spots to watch Brisbane light up on New Year’s Eve

30 Nov 2017

Can you believe that 2017 is almost over? It feels like only yesterday we were farewelling the year that was 2016 – time is flying! If there is any silver lining to this situation, it’s that the biggest party night of the year is back again. New Year’s Eve is always a cause for celebration – a night of endings and beginnings, so you really should get it right. If you are looking to paint the town red on the evening of December 31, have a squiz at this handy list of Brisbane’s must-attend parties and ring in 2018 in style. more

Food & Drink

Views, brews and chews – Eagle Street’s Riverland opens to the public

30 Nov 2017

While not completely certain, we’re fairly sure that there’s a scientific correlation between the taste of a cool beverage and your proximity to a killer vista. Our hypothesis – everything tastes better with a great view. Just when you thought all of Eagle Street’s riverside real estate had been snatched up, a new venue arrives to give us another option for peeping a ripper sunset over the Brown Snake and the Story Bridge – just in time for summer sessions. Riverland is a brand-new dynamo drinking and dining destination that will offer something different each visit. Except for the view, of course. That will always be primo. more

Food & Drink

Shake, rattle and roll on in to The Valley’s new beer and cocktail bar The Rattler

30 Nov 2017

If you’ve heard a ruckus emanating from a new watering hole on the corner of Ann and Warner Streets in The Valley, we have some info as to what the deal is. The Rattler is a new (and aptly named) saloon that imbues late-90s rock'n'roll-bar aesthetics with a killer selection of beer, cocktails and eats. The Rattler quietly opened its doors to the public last week, but now the crew is kicking out the jams and proclaiming its arrival on the scene loudly, for everyone to hear. more

Food & Drink

It’s hip to be square – Coorparoo Square unveils its first wave of openings

23 Nov 2017

Folks, it’s here! It’s finally here! One of the most highly anticipated developments has come to life after some perspiration-soaked anticipation. Coorparoo Square has gradually ascended above Cavendish Road over the past few months, swelling with the promise of hip new bars and eateries and a host of other quality retailers. Well, this week marks the first wave of openings in the centre, ranging from tantalising taquerias, choice coffee spots, gorgeous gelaterias and beautiful bars. Before you flock to chock your mouth full of goodies, have a closer look at what Coorparoo Square is bringing to town. more

Food & Drink

Enjoy gin high tea in the leafy surrounds of West End’s Covent Garden

16 Nov 2017

It was a sad day when Lock'n'Load announced it was closing its doors. The West End institution brought the good times for more than a decade, however with the promise of big things ahead, we couldn’t help but be excited about what the team was planning for the venue. All has now been revealed – Covent Garden has taken over and the space's past identity is a mere memory. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s ten best cocktail bars as voted by you

16 Nov 2017

We’re sure you’d agree that cocktails are serious business. Beer and wine selections aside, a top-flight bar’s reputation is staked on the quality of its cocktails, which is why we can’t abide by a negligently made negroni or an ordinary old fashioned. At the beginning of the year we asked The Weekend Edition readers to vote for their favourite (read: best) cocktail bars in town for the 2016 EAT/drink Awards, and you responded en masse. Now we've got a near definitive selection, so if you are as serious about your cocktails as we are, make sure you’ve sipped from every entry on this list – the ten best cocktail bars around. more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: the beer lovers guide to boutique brews from Brisbane, Gold Coast and beyond

16 Nov 2017

We are experiencing a golden age for locally brewed craft beer. Several spots in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the surrounding regions are creating some fantastic frothy beverages that are earning acclaim around the country. This week marks the start of Queensland Beer Week, which runs from November 16-25. We really don't need to give you a reason to enjoy some of the best brews in the state, but in the spirit of making the most of Queensland Beer Week why not take a trip to some of our top-notch tipple temples. more

Food & Drink

Woodfired pizzas and rock ‘n’ roll combine at Caxton Street’s Enzo & Sons

02 Nov 2017

The surname Webb has pretty darn instrumental in the rebirth of Caxton Street – bar tsar and restaurateur Jamie Webb is who we all thank for Lefty's Old Time Music Hall and Seymour's Cocktails and Oysters. Caxton Street's latest addition, however, is not the handiwork of Jamie, but rather his clever wife Siarah. This weekend Siarah will present us with the gift of Italian food and a whole lot of spritzes, with her new bar and restaurant Enzo & Sons. more

Food & Drink

Make a little mischief at new Coorparoo bar and eatery Beyond the Pale

02 Nov 2017

You may have heard the phrase 'beyond the pale'. In modern language, it refers to behaviour that ventures outside of the bounds of what is considered acceptable – behaviour that's a little bit naughty and mischievous. You know, the kind of cheeky debauchery you might get up to with a little Dutch courage. What you may not know, however, is that the origin of the phrase dates back to 14th Century Ireland. The part of the country that was under English rule was marked by a boundary of stakes or fences, know as the English Pale. Those who travelled outside that boundary, or beyond the pale, were considered uncouth and unacceptable amongst civilisation. more