Soko Rooftop Lounge
If you’ve cruised down St. Paul’s Terrace and peered skyward at the gleaming new Jubilee Place development and wondered what might be going on at the top of it, do yourself a favour and clear your Friday night schedule. The team behind hospitality hits Lina Rooftop and Evita Restaurant & Bar have opened Soko Rooftop Lounge – a sophisticated 500-capacity sky-high dining destination on the top floor. Though the concept’s tagline is ‘Expect The Unexpected,’ we can confirm that Soko boasts a bit of an Amazonian theme, with a mix of Peruvian and Japanese influences permeating the restaurant’s tailor-made menu. The kitchen (helmed by David Fernandez) is turning out dishes like ceviche, yuzu-saikyo miso marinated black cod, grilled wagyu ribeye with salsa verde, yakitori, bao buns (filled with the likes of crispy pork katsu and organic chicken with teriyaki sauce), yakitori and maki sushi rolls made with nori seaweed. Soko Brisbane’s bar will be something to behold, with a seven-metre-high back bar filled to tipping point with an assortment of spirits. A cocktail menu boasts 40 kinds pisco sour while a wine and sake list has been curated to be complementary to the flavours of Soko’s fare. Aesthetically, Soko Brisbane has diners feeling like they’ve stepped into the leafy surrounds of the Amazon rainforest, with a full irrigated ceiling draped in live greenery and Peruvian artefacts filling every nook and cranny. The atmosphere is electric, courtesy of Latin music filling the air, dancers moving about the space and bongo players creating an up-tempo energy.