Much like how X marks the spot of pirate hoards and untold riches, Brisbane City’s newest late-night haunt harbours a bounty of culinary treasures worth seeking out. Trove is the brainchild of Norton Hospitality Group, a crew that currently operates nine venues across Australia – including long-running pub Irish Murphy’s. Just over a year ago, the Norton’s head honchos started to consider the possibilities of Irish Murphy’s heritage-listed multi-level structure, which long had been given over completely to beer, pub grub and quintessential Irish craic. In anticipation of the arrival of the Queen’s Wharf development a stone’s throw away, the group decided to transform a portion of the Irish Murphys’ space (accessible from George Street) into a new standalone venue, angling towards a more sophisticated take on hospitality. Early in 2019, work commenced on overhauling a section of Irish Murphy’s second-floor space, adding a moodier colour scheme while still retaining heritage elements such as original joinery and pressed-metal ceilings. The resulting makeover boasts an aesthetic conducive to low-key late-night revelry – lights are dimmed, ties are loosened and cares set with the sun. A black-and-gold interior palette is offset by pops of colour – evident on the muted olive-green booths, hanging artwork and patterned wallpaper – while the building’s original brick adds a warm texture to the main dining area and private dining rooms. Trove also boasts its own balcony, allowing guests to catch some breezes while overlooking Queens Gardens across George Street.

With the aesthetics settled, it was time to craft Trove’s true treasure – its food and drink menu. Here, the kitchen operates on a foundation of local produce, sourced from local suppliers from Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Mount Tamborine, Toowoomba, Moreton Bay and beyond. With some of the best produce in the state represented, the team is proudly calling its cuisine ‘modern Queenslander’ fare. Guests can opt to split share plates with friends, sampling gin-and-tonic-cured ocean trout, slow-cooked duck and shellfish pots filled with mussels, pipis and clams. However, if you’re geared up for a feed, entrees such as wattle-seed damper, pineapple ‘Waldorf’ salad and spanner crab tian will whet your appetite for the main affair. Lunch mains include the likes of hoisin duck wraps, grilled Tuscan-chicken paninis and rib-eye steaks, while the dinner offering boasts dishes such as herb-crusted lamb backstrap, 13-hour braised Riverina beef cheek, sorghum salad and lemon-and-herb spatchcock. The bar offers a killer selection of tipples, including a gin-heavy back bar, 13 tropical Queensland-inspired cocktails, Australian wines (with a strong focus on Tasmanian wineries) and tap beers.

Trove is now open to the public. For opening hours and contact details, head to the Stumble Guide.