As November rolls around, Christmas party plans become the number one topic of conversation in the office. If you’re still looking for a spot to host your end-of-year festivities then Eagle Street’s waterfront Asian eatery is a pretty fantastic option. Overlooking the river, Madame Wu offers some of the best views in Brisbane and some of the best bites to match. Catering for groups from 20 to 250, there is a unique space for every type of function, from private dining rooms to the alfresco deck. If you prefer to party underground, Brisbane City’s Japanese-inspired bar and restaurant The Boom Boom Room offers various one-of-a-kind function spaces. For a more intimate experience opt for an evening in the Trumpet Room, which accommodates up to 30 people cocktail style or seven people seated, or The Vaults, which caters to 30 standing and 18 seated. For a larger event you can hire the entire venue, which accommodates to 300 people standing and 80 seated. Food packages start from $55 per person and beverage packages start at $45 per person for two hours. Looking for a place to perch for a couple of festive tipples with friends? Babylon Brisbane – the three-level restaurant and bar set on the banks of the Brisbane River – is pretty hard to beat. Soak up some sun or watch the sun set with a cocktail in hand in the Babylon Gardens, or head inside to the restaurant or upstairs to the terrace – the sipping and snacking spots are endless. If a moodier setting is more your vibe, then take a step back in time and enjoy a tipple (or two) at The Gresham Bar. Located at 308 Queen Street, this inner-city gem offers some of the highest calibre rum, whiskey and wine in the country.

Nothing screams festive season more than a long lunch, and lucky for us Brisbane City has plenty of top-tier places to enjoy them. Opa Bar + Mezze is one of them, boasting a sun-soaked Greek Island-inspired aesthetic and a flavour-packed menu of authentic Greek eats. For $60 per person you can indulge in a feast fit for a Greek God available from 11:00 am every day. The mouth-watering menu includes flash-fried calamari with lemon, slow-baked lamb shoulder, Greek salad, lemon potatoes, pita bread, traditional dips and bougatsa (custard pie in filo pastry). A bunch of belly-pleasing bites are also available to add onto your feast. Book a long lunch at Banc Brasserie & Wine Bar and indulge in a sumptuous selection of French and Italian-inspired eats. Banc’s lunch menu kicks off with entrees including scallops with kombu butter, pangrattato, lemon and yarrow, roasted quail with calvados, apple, lardons and sorrel and duck parfait with blood orange, cranberry hibiscus and brioche. Large plates include the likes of streak frites served with shoestring fries, Moreton Bay bug and scallop ravioli and Tasmanian lamb back strap with charred radicchio and jus. Christmas dinner is sorted at Vintaged Bar + Grill, where you can indulge in a three-course festive feast featuring a sumptuous selection of fresh seafood, mouth-watering meats and seasonal fruit and veggies. Wash the food down with a glass of bubbles on arrival, or opt to add a 2.5-hour beverage package to keep the good times flowing. Kick back, relax and let Goldfinch take care of all of the food and drinks for this year’s Christmas feast. Savour a fabulous four-course dinner, paired with a glass of bubbles on arrival (of course!) and be transported back to those cherished Christmas memories with a menu filled with festive favourites, while enjoying a playlist packed with joyful jingles.

This article was written in partnership with our pals at The City.