Brisbane is fast becoming an oenophile's paradise, with a strong wine-bar scene growing year on year. 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
There's something to be said for going out while at the top of your game. Less than half a year from its debut, increasingly popular pizza bar West Side Pizza has shaken things up considerably. Now operating as West Side Burger, the cosy West End eatery is looking to elevate burgers much like it did Roman and Neapolitan pizza delivered in the New Haven style. Here, saucy smash-patty cheeseburgers are available alongside a cleverly constructed vegan and gluten-free number that'll impress picky plant-based eaters. Oh, and there are similarly smashable sides, too! more
Cuisines collide at Mi Raak, Fortitude Valley's vivacious fusion eatery from the team behind Jeon's Kitchen. Inside a character-filled space off Ann Street, diners are sitting down to serves of Korean-style spicy sashimi salads, kimchi pork stew, seafood-loaded ramen and premium wagyu barbecue. more
A new era is beginning for the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Venues like Mapleton Public House and Frank Food & Wine are elevating the local epicurean scene, drawing upon the local bounty and delivering considered and carefully crafted fare. Spill Wine, the new Maleny wine bar and bottle shop by the brains behind Alba Bar & Deli, is joining the wave. Showcasing new-wave wines from producers known for doing things a little bit differently, Spill has quickly established itself as a handy repository for residents and road trippers to source something sublime to sip. Take a peek inside ... more
When we heard that one of Brisbane's savviest hospitality groups was adding a Japanese-inspired vinyl bar to its portfolio, you best believe we preemptively penciled it in as one of the coolest openings of the year. Thankfully, Ruby, My Dear – the newest venue from the Happy Fat Group – has more than lived up to expectations. The venue opened last week, showing off a broad genre-spanning catalogue of vinyl records, a menu of izakaya-style eats where fun is a key ingredient and a jam-packed beverage offering encompassing creative cocktails and kooky wines. If you're keen to sip sake negronis with a side of soul, add a dash of disco to your dancing bonito-topped bone-marrow udon and savour Japanese matcha cakes as jazz plays through premium loudspeakers, we suggest planning a night out in Newstead ASAP. more
This time last year, the team behind Newstead Brewing Co. was in the midst of a titanic undertaking – getting its Milton production brewery and taproom back in working order after flood waters inundated the premises. These days you wouldn't even be able to tell that the brew hub, affectionately dubbed Miltonia, was partially submerged. In fact, it looks better than ever thanks to the addition of a brand-new tasting room, which is not only dispensing pints of its heralded craft beers, but also new-wave wines and quirky cocktails. Come and take a peek inside ... more
Brisbane’s always had a strong musical heritage, dating back to the days of The Saints and The Go-Betweens, through to the heyday of Powderfinger, Savage Garden, George, The Grates and the current crop of stars such as Violent Soho, The Jungle Giants, Mallrat and Cub Sport Brisbane’s live music scene is a melting pot of styles, with numerous venues dotted around the city hosting gigs on just about any given night. Our music scene is as healthy as ever, and if you’re keen to step out for a bit of rock‘n’roll, punk, jazz, blues or whatever catches your ear, have a look over this handy list of Brisbane’s best live-music venues and get amongst it. more
Like most Australian cities, Brisbane isn't short on bottle shops. Boasting a bevy of liquor stores stocking all types of drinkables from craft beer and spirits to all sorts of wine, there is always somewhere to go when you're in need of a takeaway brew. However, in recent years the city's oenophiles are feeling less inspired by the drops at their local bottle-o and more inclined to shop independently. In response to this, a welcomed wine trend has emerged in the form of boutique vino vendors, and we've got the scoop on the latest addition. Introducing Chasing Rainbows Wine Co, Brisbane's new cheery online natural wine store slinging only Aussie drops. more
It doesn't matter if the DJ's playlist is on point, it's hard to match the frenetic energy of live music. Rock and roll, soul or salsa – there's just something about a band tearing up a stage that gets our blood pumping and feet tapping. SuperFly Studios is Fortitude Valley's new live-music hub, a neon-lit and colour-soaked party spot that caters to riff-loving revellers and funk-frothing frolickers every Friday and Saturday night. Take a peek inside ... more
When it comes to top-tier dining destinations it's safe to say Brisbane City has a bunch of them. From laneway bars to intimate nosh spots there are so many places to sip and snack, but only a handful boast some of the best views in Brisbane. If you're looking to elevate your dining experience, why not seek out a restaurant by the river? After all, everything tastes better with a view. Here are six riverside venues serving up delectable dishes, curious cocktails and primo views of the Brisbane River. more
The closest thing we have to modern-day alchemists might be craft-beer brewers. A contemporary form of mad scientists, these malt-mad hop heads are constantly coming up with zany ingredient combinations and far-out flavour profiles, and the crew making some of the most ambitious ales in Brisbane has just opened a new brewpub to call its own. Working Title Brew Co., the brainchild of a cellular biologist and a graphic-design guru, has been pumping out bold and uncompromising beers since 2021. Now it has its own tipple temple where beer lovers can sip from the source while nibbling on similarly out-there eats like ox-tongue toasties and pig head and blue cheese croquette baos. Take a look inside ... more
The local bowls club can be many things – a meeting place, a spot for a casual drink and a simple feed, or a location for special celebrations. Few bowls clubs are destination eateries, but The Bowl in Boonah is one bowlo that is well worth a drive. The brainchild of a creative-minded events guru and one of Queensland's best chefs, The Bowl is taking an outdated community nexus and turning it into a cracking chow spot for locals and road trippers. Offering a menu of elevated pub fare made with Scenic Rim produce and Italian inflections, and a drinks list showcasing some sensational sips, The Bowl is worth making a stop at next time you're cruising through Boonah. more
We might be biased, but we think the Brisbane River is one of the most picturesque waterways in Australia – why don't we take better advantage of it? That's the exact kind of thinking behind OASIS, a new entertainment vessel setting sail next month. This floating three-level party spot will boast VIP tables, a number of cocktail-slinging bars and a rotating roster of local and internationally renowned DJs. It'll be cruising up and down the river day and night from late April – take a peek at the ultra-cool vessel before it takes the water ... more
More than just a Barry Manilow song, the Copacabana is a special name in hospitality. The iconic New York City nightclub was known for hosting the likes of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, The Supremes and Sam Cooke, earning a reputation for showcasing hip-swingin' tunes and delivering good times. The team behind Mr Badger's is looking to evoke a dash of the historic club's old-school charm with its new sibling sip spot The Copacabana Club – an open-air speakeasy that's showcasing live jazz and blues every weekend, while also dispensing some exceptional cocktails and deli-style fare. more
The Valley has been quieter than usual ever since The Wickham closed its doors for refurbishment. But now, after seven months of major renovations, the beloved pub and LGBTQIA+ community hub is back and – dare we say it – better than it has ever been. With doors now open, we've been given a look at the substantial revamp, which has transformed several of The Wickham's main spaces, upgraded its amenities and elevated the pub's experiential aspects. Throw in a brand-new disco-inspired drinks offering and a rebuilt menu headlined by drool-worthy stone-baked pizzas, and the new-look Wickham looks primed to make its end of The Valley come alive once more. more
There's something about an underground bar that makes us feel a certain type of way. Maybe it's the mood lighting or the feeling of mystery as you make your way towards the neon-lit entryway. Whatever it is, we are here for it. When it comes to underground sip and snack spots, no one does it quite like the hospo hitmakers behind Miss Demeanour – Brisbane City's go-to crew for top-tier laneway bars. more
If you've disembarked the train at Milton station and noticed a new open-air eatery on the corner of Railway Terrace and Manning Street, then you've caught a glimpse of Camber. This breezy wine bar and tapas spot opened under the radar in late February, luring in curious chow hunters with a menu of world-spanning vino, serves of hand-knotted burrata and a lengthy list of piquant cheeses. Take a look inside ... more
The western end of Latrobe Terrace gets quiet at night, as most of Paddington's post-dusk partiers make tracks for the livelier strips of Given Terrace and Caxton Street. That might be changing, though – The Hamsa Room, Naïm's cosy private-bar sibling is injecting Latrobe's lagging nighttime offering with a bit of vivacious energy, courtesy of bottles of bubbles, platters of slurp-worthy oysters, imaginative cocktails and a menu of plates that'll have you wondering why you ever went anywhere else. Take a peek inside ... more
When Gastown opened to the public halfway through 2022, it did so with the promise that it would not only serve coffee and toasties in the morning, but wine and snacks at night. After a few months of patient waiting, Gastown's wine-bar identity has launched. The Vancouver-inspired locale is dimming the lights and dropping the needle on some vinyl records, transforming the cosy cappuccino slinger into an intimate vino joint on Friday and Saturday evenings. Come in for a glass of Australian wine or a classic cocktail, then stay for small plates of comfort food like meatballs and brie toast with caramelised apple. more
While revellers visiting South Brisbane are usually drawn to the action happening on Fish Lane, those seeking a post-sunset sip are encouraged to look one street over, where Melbourne Street locale Hoo Ha Bar is now open for after-dark trade. Boasting a cannily curated wine list spotlighting Australia's best small producers, a food menu that elevates snacks with old-school touches and a softly intimate setting in which to relax, Hoo Ha is now a spot you can frequent for morning pick-me-ups and nightcaps. more
