Running a small bar comes with a number of challenges, but for Hannah Wagner, owner of Fortitude Valley-based wine dive bar Dark Red, she didn’t expect her joint becoming too popular would be one of them – at least no so quickly. Not long after officially opening, the Bakery Lane haunt was abuzz on a nightly basis as locals became increasingly enamoured with Dark Red’s perfect balance of vibe, offering and service. It came at a cost – seats were constantly at a premium and Hannah often found herself having to turn down function enquiries, such was the bar’s day-to-day popularity. This juggling act continued for a few months until an opportunity to take over a similarly poky next door space presented itself. It was a no brainer, if only to help accommodate Dark Red’s flourish community of regulars. But Hannah also saw an opportunity to dip into her background in cocktail making and add an extra dimension to the bar’s offering.

A quick fit-out process has transformed the second tenancy into a standalone bar. Connected to its sibling via a newly installed internal archway, Dark Red 2.0 is a decidedly moodier locale. The space is dark, illuminated mostly by candles, the back-lit bar and a number of orb-shaped pendant lights that give off a deep blue hue (at one point Hannah contemplated calling the new spot ‘Dark Blue’). Furthering the intimate vibe, Dark Red 2.0’s seats extend to a strip of two-seater tables along one wall and a larger table for groups at the back, while extra seating has been added to the laneway. Mirrors along one side help to create a sense of space and Dark Red’s signature wallpaper (depicting Benjamin Franklin blowing bubble gum) coats the walls, alongside portraits of Hannah’s dog Daisy (who is often spied receiving belly rubs from Dark Red’s regulars – something many of which likely see as enticing a drawcard as the wine list).

When it came to filling Dark Red 2.0’s back bar, Hannah has elected to stock it almost exclusively with small-batch spirits from independent distilleries. These drops have been funnelled into a tight cocktail list boasting a just-perfect mix of quirk and creativity. One early stand-out is the refreshing It’s Not A Date, which mixes Applewood Distillery’s Alpine gin with strawberry, blackberry, coconut, pineapple and hibiscus. In addition to the cocktails, Dark Red 2.0 is also serving fruit-forward mixers using rotating seasonal produce – think freshly juiced apples, oranges and watermelons infused with a nip of a small-batch spirit. With an entire trove of wine next door (all Italian imports and Italian varietals), guests sitting in Dark Red’s cocktail bar can still enjoy a vino, if desired. A by-the-glass list is scribed on the mirror, but if you’ve got your eye on something pouring next door, just ask for it!

Dark Red 2.0 is now open. Head to the Stumble Guide for updated operating hours and other details.