Bars Brisbane | The Weekend Edition

New peach-hued nosh spot Camber is turning out Mediterranean-inspired tapas in Milton

23 Mar 2023

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

Food & Drink

Pop the cork on some fizz – Naïm’s Euro-inspired bar sibling The Hamsa Room is now open

23 Mar 2023

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

Food & Drink

Gastown, a cosy coffee spot on Waterworks Road, is now open at night for wine, cocktails and snacks

21 Mar 2023

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

Food & Drink

Hip, hip, HOOray – Hoo Ha Bar is now open at night for new-wave wines and scrumptious snacks

16 Mar 2023

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

Food & Drink

Maleny meets Merthyr Road – Brouhaha’s New Farm craft-beer cafe turns on its taps

16 Mar 2023

If you check the New Farm community page on Facebook, you'll notice that the posts with the most interactions were those tracking the progress of Brouhaha Brewery's temporary craft-beer cafe. Such is the anticipation of the Maleny-born brewery's pop-up spot, which is adding some mirth to a neglected corner of Merthyr Road. Well, now the wait is over. Brouhaha New Farm has tapped the kegs and its lauded ales are flowing freely. Pop in for a pint, a pie and a pizza, or swing by swiftly for a cup of coffee from Clandestino Coffee – it might not be around for a long time, but Brouhaha's pop-up is certainly here for a good time. more

Food & Drink

Two years in the making, Felons Barrel Hall launches its first range of barrel aged beers

16 Mar 2023

While most of us love a crisp lager or a hazy pale ale, there's a thriving fandom for more experimental styles of beer. Barrel-aged beers are a subset of brewing that is surging in popularity, and riverside brewing juggernaut Felons Brewing Co. is popping the top on its debut range of creative and experimental sips. Felons Barrel Hall's barrel-aged beauties use traditional techniques to make out-of-the-box potables, from black imperial stouts to cherry-infused sour ales. Keen to try? This limited-edition range is available now – here are the details ... more

Bars

Food & Drink

Say hello to Lūla Rum – the female-forward rum brand taking over the Brisbane spirit market

16 Mar 2023

If you've checked out the cocktail menu at some of your favourite restaurants and bars around Brisbane lately, you've probably introduced your taste buds to the super-smooth sensation of Lūla Rum without even realising. After making its soft launch in early 2022, Lūla Rum has taken Brisbane's spirit market by storm, making its way to the at-home bars of Queenslanders, as well as the shelves of top-tier dining destinations such as Maya, Yoko and Hellenika. Now, Lūla is ready for its hard launch and we're here for it. more

Food & Drink

Take a trip to The Doonan – a garden-themed pub nestled in the Sunshine Coast hinterland

09 Mar 2023

Described as more of a plant nursery than a pub, The Doonan makes greenery a major drawcard. With sprawling lawns, lovingly maintained garden beds and olive trees sprouting up all around the 2-ha property, The Doonan feels like an oasis, even amongst the leafy surrounds of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The newest concept from the Comiskey Group is pairing its lush setting with a paddock-to-plate menu showcasing the best local produce, a drinks list that will have the cocktail cravers and beer seekers satisfied, and plenty of places to seat a group of friends or family. Take a look inside ... more

Food & Drink

Get the first look inside Bar Rosa, the Julius team’s new Fish Lane wine bar

02 Mar 2023

Having already added a hugely popular trattoria and an aperitivo bar to its portfolio, it was only a matter of time before the team behind Julius Pizzeria in Fish Lane opened a wine bar. Bar Rosa isn't just any wine bar though – in addition to serving a sterling list of Italian vino, the swish sipping spot is also dishing out plates of classic snacks like pizza fritta with oozy globes of burrata, hearty veal and pork polpette, grilled calamari, and fried zucchini flowers. It's open now – take a peek inside ... more

Food & Drink

Ardo’s, City Winery’s new cellar door and wine bar, delivers primo vino and pintxos to Newstead

02 Mar 2023

Newstead is quickly becoming known for its wine bars. A cluster of cosy hideaways can be found within a few blocks, each offering something different. Ardo's, a fresh-faced newcomer from the City Winery crew now open on Wyandra Street, is weaving traces of Basque country hospitality into its operational style, pairing a broad array of minimal-intervention wines with toothsome pintxos. more

Food & Drink

The Nixon Room, ESSA’s concealed 70s-inspired laneway bar, is serving snacks, martinis and intimate vibes

23 Feb 2023

Low lights, luxurious 70s-inspired decor and a libation list that hits the sweet spot between classic and creative – The Nixon Room is one heck of a bar. ESSA's cocktail bar sibling is an understated and elegant addition to the James Street area, channelling the restaurant's detail-oriented approach to dining into a sophisticated sip and snack lounge with style to spare. Have a look inside ... more

Food & Drink

Say sláinte to Hiker Brewing Concern, a bang-on beer maker now open in Salisbury

23 Feb 2023

Ever hiked through Toohey Forest Park and wished there was a cold beer waiting for you at the end? Well, if you trek through the bushland and end up near Pentex Street in Salisbury, Hiker Brewing Concern is perfectly positioned to offer you refreshments. Though its range boasts brews named Hitchhiker, Bushwalker, Backpacker and Wanderer, the beers aren't just for outdoorsy types. Hiker Brewing Co. is open to the entire community, with room for all comers to knock back a jar or two. more

Food & Drink

Get a sneak peek inside D.Vino, Woolloongabba’s intimate new bistro and vinoteca

16 Feb 2023

A piece of northern Italy has found its way to Woolloongabba's back streets. D.Vino – a newly minted bar and eatery from the brains behind Arcade Wine in Ashgrove – is showcasing a mix of regional Italian fare alongside a well-built wine list totalling 200 tipples. It launches on Monday February 20, but we were invited to take a gander inside before it opens to the public. Here's what we saw ... more

Food & Drink

Good times, good beers and Good Chat – Caxton Street Brewing Co. has it all

16 Feb 2023

If you could open a bar with your mates, what would it look like? Caxton Street Brewing Co., Petrie Terrace's fresh-faced watering hole, is the result of that exact thought process. The brainchild of four beer-loving buds recently opened inside one of Caxton Street's most iconic buildings, adding an approachable option to the party strip. The Caxton Street Brewing crew is looking to imbue a bit of fun into every aspect of the building, from its beer taps to the sandstone foundations of its subterranean event space. Take a look inside ... more

Food & Drink

Feel the rhythm at Rumba, Fortitude Valley’s colourful Latin American-inspired arrival

09 Feb 2023

While those with two left feet might balk at the idea of dining at a venue called Rumba, you don't need to know how to cut a rug in order to enjoy Fortitude Valley's new Latin American-inspired locale. While you can put your hips to work on the dance floor if the mood strikes, Rumba is perhaps best experienced seated. Here you can trace a line through Latin America's culinary regions with plates of mussel escabache, tuna poké tostadas and birra tacos, or succumb to the rhythms of live bands and DJs if you're feeling footloose. Take a peek inside this lively new opening ... more

Food & Drink

Future Magic Brewing Co. is East Brisbane’s new brewery built for (and funded by) the people

09 Feb 2023

Though Australia's craft-beer boom has seen the number of active independent breweries spike across the country, building a sizeable suds maker from scratch is still a prohibitively expensive exercise for all but a few avid beer makers. Future Magic Brewing Co., an East Brisbane froth maker and tap room newly opened on Manila Street, proves that it's possible to break into the brewing scene with a dream and the support of the wider drinking community. The brainchild of two mates, brought together by a mutual love of craft beer, is putting this community at the core of its identity – celebrating a communal love of craft brews by creating a spot that's part local clubhouse and part ambitious ale maker to watch. more

Food & Drink

Cleared for takeoff – Archer Brewing unveils its hangar-style brewery in Newmarket

02 Feb 2023

It's been taxiing on the runway for a little while, but Archer Brewing is now finally ready to accelerate for lift-off. The craft-beer maker is lifting the cloche on its brand-new brewery on Newmarket Road this week, tapping kegs of its enhanced core range of awesome ales made with 100-per cent Australian ingredients. We took a sneak peek inside – here's what we saw ... more

Food & Drink

Albion’s Adela Wine Bar is stoking curiosity for experimental and unheralded drops

25 Jan 2023

As Australia's wine scene has expanded in diversity and scope, our drinking tastes have increased in complexity. More often are we seeking unconventional sips and experimental options. We hunt for vino from small-batch makers and growers that employ regenerative farming practices. Funky is no longer a frightening word, neither is natural (or sediment, for that matter). We crave a closer connection to the wine we drink, most often through hearing the stories behind each label. While it's not always feasible to visit a winemaker in person, places like Adela Wine Bar in Albion not only make it easier to source curious wines, but also learn a bit more about them. The cosy wine bar is open now, with a 150-strong selection of bottles from an assortment of makers available alongside Euro-inspired food made with fine-dining flair. more

Food & Drink

Fortitude Valley wine dive bar Dark Red is a treasure trove of Italian vino

25 Jan 2023

What small bars lack in size they often make up for in personality. Brisbane's tiny tipple temples come in all kinds of flavours, from the minimalist cocktail caves to the chic natural wine bars. Dark Red in Bakery Lane is a cosy repository that's filled to the brim with Italian wines – some familiar and some hard to find. No matter what you're drinking, though, expect to be brought into the bar's friendly fold. Dark Red is intimate, approachable and pouring now! more

Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: The Wright House, a new brewpub concealing a secret American-style steakhouse inside, takes shape in Woolloongabba

19 Jan 2023

Is there any restaurant crew on a hotter streak than the Talisman Group? After opening three well-received venues in 2022, the hospo hit maker is set to make 2023 another banner year with the opening of its biggest concept yet. The Wright House, 300-person brewpub with sleek mid-century-inspired design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, will open near the year's mid-point. Here, guests can expect a family-friend menu of woodfired pub-style cuisine as well as bright tanks dispensing freshly brewed beers from Aether Brewing. That's not all – the venue will also be home to The Office, a swanky 30-seat steakhouse perfect for Mad Men fans eager to do their best Don Draper impression. It's going to be a big one – read on to find out what's in store ... more