Fun and active
Trust us – sometimes the booziest option can be overdone at Christmas time. The entire season is dedicated to excess, so why not opt for a different vibe with your Christmas party ideas by kicking off celebrations with some good old-fashioned fun! If you haven’t heard, Holey Moley Golf Club recently opened in the Valley, offering patrons a chance to test their fine motor skills on two putt putt courses. Food and drink packages are on offer for big groups looking to make a night of it. The tried and true, classic option of barefoot bowls never puts a foot out of place – clubs such as Merthyr Bowls, New Farm Bowls, Bardon Bowls Club and Norman Park are great spots to spend an afternoon on the green. Those keen to test their brains can flex their most important muscle at one of Brisbane’s many escape rooms, while competitive types can opt for a twofer of bowling and laser tag at Strike in the Wintergarden. Your co-workers and friends can unleash their inner child with an afternoon at Bounce, or everyone can get dressed up in his or her finest duds for a sophisticated whack at the McIlwraith Croquet Club.

The longest lunch
As preparation for the belt-busting lunches we’ll experience over Christmas, a leisurely lunch is a great way to celebrate with the office. Brisbane City’s Bar 127 can cater to large Christmas functions with a range of packages for food and beverage offerings. Gather the crew and book in for plated, cocktail or buffet celebrations and let Bar 127 handle the rest. Don your stretchy pants and book a table at the likes of Woolloongabba’s craft beer haven Brewhouse, Brisbane City’s spacious Mr Edward’s Alehouse & Kitchen, Newstead’s The Defiant Duck or West End’s Brisbane Brewing Co. If you’d prefer to roam around instead of being confined to a table, the likes of Canvas, Fitz + Potts, The Catchment Brewing Co, Barcadia Kitchen + Bar, The Milk Factory, Darling & Co and Alfred & Constance are great spots to sip and nibble in style. For something a little bit different, book in a tour of the XXXX Brewery before winding up at the restaurant and bar for a bite and a pint. Also be sure to check out our list of Brisbane’s best beer gardens and outdoor bars for all of your daytime tipple needs.

Wining and dining
A celebratory dinner with good food and drink is a memorable way to wind down the work year, and Brisbane is positively stuffed with great restaurants that offer ample choice for dinner destinations. Fortitude Valley’s LONgTIME has a great mix of Asian eats to satisfy most tastes, while Nickel Kitchen & Bar is perfect for those keen to relax and dine in sophisticated surrounds. Brisbane City’s Chingon offers some great Mexican fare (with kick-on opportunities at Brooklyn Standard next door), while Fritzenberger on Caxton Street is an ideal spot to line your stomachs before continuing on to the likes of GreenHill, Brewski or Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall. Fortitude Valley’s Les Bubbles, Coorparoo’s California Native, Julius Pizzeria in Fish Lane, Happy Boy in Spring Hill, Woolloongabba’s Sorellina, Paddington’s Sichuan Bang Bang and Brisbane City’s OTTO are phenomenal venues that can cater to groups for an evening of scrumptious delight. 

Keep the night going
Let’s face it – there will always be a few members of each workplace that will be keen to keep the Christmas party cheer going. For those that really want to make a night of it, we suggest heading to popular spots such as Eleven Rooftop Bar, Alquimia, Prohibition, Soleil Pool Bar, Sonny’s House of Blues, Bloodhound Corner Bar and Kitchen, Barbara, The End or Jungle for a good time. Alternatively, use the opportunity to take in some of Brisbane’s newest drinking dens such as Fortitude Valley’s Tomcat, Brisbane City’s Sixteen Antlers, Paddington’s Hope and Anchor or Alderley’s Ploughman.