Josie North gets so busy on weekends that sometimes it sounds more like a lively nightspot than a cosy cafe. The joint is one of those locales where regulars are known by name – its cups of specialty brew (made using Seven Seeds, Small Batch Roasting Co. and Wood and Co Coffee) have become a morning ritual essential for many, so it’s popularity is no surprise. “Saturday days are our busiest day for the cafe,” says owner Matt Roggenkamp, who opened Josie North in 2016. “It gets full in here, we crank the music and it gets really loud. Everyone’s laughing and having a relaxed time eating food and drinking coffee.” It’s not hard to imagine the cafe in Clements Arcade operating as a bar, seeing as it already sounds like one. So Matt and his team decided to pull double duty and extend Josie North’s trading hours, opening until late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as a wine bar, offering a vibe that’s different from most after-dark spots in the area. “That’s a part of the motivation as well,” explains Matt. “There’s quite a youthful demographic around here and I don’t see where they can go for this sort of experience. A lot of clientele have grown up and are looking for something a little bit more refined.” From 5:00 pm the lights dim and coffee cups are swapped for carafes, with the cafe’s communal tables, window bench and a scattering of low-set stools in the arcade offering room for around 17 to gather and chat over stiffer sips.

Josie North is taking the same ethos that drives its daytime trade and is applying it to its evening persona. Here, serving quality wine and food, and offering engaging customer service is top priority. The wine list, though tight, offers something for most tastes. Matt has linked up with suppliers like Lo-Fi Wines, Addley Clark Wines, Cork & Co and Giorgio Di Maria to source drops from small, quality focused producers – assembling a range of vino that sits under the umbrella of minimal-intervention wines. “I think another big factor was choosing wines that fit Brisbane’s climate,” adds Matt. “We wanted wines that are fresh and not too heavy, in that high drinkability range.” A rotating by-the-glass list currently features the likes of Sunny pet nat, Momento Mori’s ‘Fistful of Flowers’ vermentino, a red field blend by Ochota Barrels, Mayer ‘Bloody Hill’ shiraz and Les Errances ‘Topette’ chenin blanc. Another ten to 15 options in the fridge are available by the bottle, while a selection of other beverages – Peroni red, Aperol spritz, Brookie’s gin and tonic, a negroni and Mr Black coffee amaro – is also available for those seeking a non-vino sip. The venue’s evening food menu is similarly small, but packed with flavour. Sharable snacks like focaccia with cultured butter, sea salt potato crisps with parm dip and San Daneiele prosciutto with hot honey are appetite-whetting starters, while serves of market fish crudo, ‘nduja toast with ox-heart tomato, burrata with broad bean and herbs, and chicken cotoletta with Italian slaw and truffle hot sauce are also tantalising options to add into the mix.

Josie North is now open at night from 5:00 pm, Thursday through Saturday. Click over to the Stumble Guide for full operating hours and other important details.