Gone are the days where Brisbane wasn’t a bar city. There have been incredible venues popping up all over the place for the last few years. Helping sift the ritz from the rabble, and in no particular order, here are the 31 best bars in Brisbane, any one of these places is the perfect prelude to Brisbane’s stellar evening entertainment.
Table of contents
- 1. Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar
- 2. Tetto Rooftop Bar
- 3. Canvas
- 4. Gerard’s Bar
- 5. The Gresham
- 6. Brooklyn Standard
- 7. Electric Avenue and Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy
- 8. Stone & Wood
- 9. Brewdog Taphouse
- 10. Death and Taxes
- 11. Mrs. Brown’s Bar and Kitchen
- 12. Cobbler
- 13. Finney Isles
- 14. Savile Row
- 15. Sixes and Sevens
- 16. Mr and Mrs G Riverbar
- 17. El Camino Cantina
- 18. Milton Common
- 19. Bar Pacino
- 20. WingHAÜS Edward Street
- 21. The Boom Boom Room
- 22. Mr Percival’s
- 23. Felons Brewing Co
- 24. The Wet Deck
- 25. Blackbird
- 26. Sea Legs Brewing Co
- 27. Alba Bar and Deli
- 28. The Woods
- 29. Hello Gorgeous
- 30. City Winery
- 31. Miss Demeanour
- General FAQs
1. Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar
Two Wong’s don’t make a right, but Three wong’s will make the night. Kicking off the best bars in Brisbane, Suzie Wong’s is the Hawaiian dive bar you’ve always dreamed of. Bringing live music, a pineapple fresh layout and cocktails for days it’s a great spot in the Valley for a late night Colada or two.
Address: 678 Ann Street, Brisbane
Phone: (07) 3252 0202
Hours: Wed-Thurs 8pm-1am, Fri- Sun 6pm-3am, Sun 6pm-1am
2. Tetto Rooftop Bar
The place is so nice they named it twice. Tetto’s (meaning roof in Italian) Rooftop Bar sets itself a simple task. To give you sun, drinks, and a taste of the Mediterranean. It smashes this goal and then some. Providing pizza, spritzes and plenty of arancini, it’s a little taste of Italy right at Brisbane’s door.
Address: 1/807 Stafford Road, Everton Park
Phone: (07) 3355 3319
Hours: Mon-Tues 5-9pm, Wed-Thur 5-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12-9pm
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3. Canvas
Canvas gives us what all cocktail bars should’ve realised we wanted a long time ago, espresso martini’s for breakfast. It doubles down on the good times with a solid list of classics, spirits, a cheeky cheese board or two and excellent Spanish-inspired food.
Address: 16 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Phone: (07) 3891 2111
Hours: Tues-Thurs 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-1am
4. Gerard’s Bar
Tucked behind St James St, in the self-styled Lebanese Quarter of the Valley, you’ll find Gerard’s Bar. Who is Gerard? We don’t know, you may have to pop in and ask to find out. What we do know is that here you’ll find an excellent selection of Mezze, snacks and smaller dishes, with a tagine thrown in for good measure.
Address: 13a/23 James St, Fortitude Valley
Phone: (07) 3252 2606
Hours: Tues-Thurs 5pm-12am, Fri-Sun 2pm-12am, Mon 5pm-12am
5. The Gresham
Sitting in a 140+ year old icon, The Gresham brings a taste of historical class to the CBD’s city bars. It backs this up with hundreds of whiskies from all around the world. Combined with an absolute avalanche of rums, gins and tequilas this is the ideal spot in the city to pop your smoking jacket on and reach all the way to the top shelf.
Address: 308 Queen St, Brisbane City
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Mon-Fri 11-2am, Sat 5pm-2am
6. Brooklyn Standard
Brooklyn Standard is everything you need in a late-night spot. Warm wood, a great back bar, and live music six nights a week, it’s the perfect place to find the funk, seek some soul or rock a billy. Fresh off of winning Australia’s Best Live Music bar in 2019 you’ll be bound to find good times.
Address: Eagle Ln, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3221 1604
Hours: Mon-Wed 6pm-12am, Thurs 6pm-1am, Fri 4pm-3am, Sat 6pm-3am
7. Electric Avenue and Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy
Electric Avenue and Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy is the clean mullet of good bars. Seriously (good) business up top in Mrs J Rabbits Speakeasy, the absolute classic bar, and party downstairs with Electric Avenue’s solid menu to provide a base for the good times. Old school pub grub with a no-nonsense attitude and drinks for days.
Address: 23 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
Phone: (07) 3891 2316
Hours: Wed-Thurs 5-10pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12-10pm
Electric Avenue and Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy
8. Stone & Wood
Stone & Wood took their time in setting up shop outside of Byron Bay, but they made sure they did it right with their Brewhouse and Feedhall (is that a word? It is now!) on Bridge Street. Offering 24 taps most of which will rotate through the S&W range, all of the Stone & Wood goods you’d expect and a solid canteen menu presented by William Wallace Catering.
Address: 99 Bridge Street, Fortitude Valley
Phone: 0476 446 336
Hours: Wed-Thurs 12-9pm, Fri-Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-6pm
9. Brewdog Taphouse
Using Brisbane as its big base in a roll-out over Aus, Brewdog Taphouse is the flagship location for the Scottish brewers known worldwide for their wild, delicious bevs. If you’re keen to try the world’s strongest beer at a ridiculous 55% I’m sure they’ll have some round if you ask nice. If not, they’ve got taps galore and a simple, yet succinct menu to soak it up with.
Address: 77 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Sun-Wed 11am-10pm, Thurs 1-10pm, Fri – Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-10pm
10. Death and Taxes
Taxes and Death? Bad time. Death and Taxes? An absolutely cracking time. An excellent selection of whiskies and a leather-bound set up tucked away under Burnett Lane makes this a certifiable cool bar in Brisbane, both for air temp and atmosphere.
Address: 36 Burnett Lane, Brisbane
Phone: 0428 964 197
Hours: Sun-Thurs 3pm-1am, Fri-Sat 2pm-2am
11. Mrs. Brown’s Bar and Kitchen
Mrs. Brown’s Bar and Kitchen is the canteen we all wish we had as adults. It takes the stress out of the dining experience through simplicity. You want a full roast chook? Got it. You want roast pork? Got it too. You want a deconstructed vegemite sandwich on 14 seeded bread and a half cup of water? Get out of town! The only thing missing would be Mrs. Brown roaming the lanes of her kitchen herself.
Address: 32 Commercial Rd, Newstead
Phone: (07) 3854 0834
Hours: Mon-Tues 4-11pm, Wed-Thurs 11.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12am, Sun 11.30am-11pm
12. Cobbler
Cobbler wants to get you drunk on a Monday. They provide Margarita’s to this end. Friends are optional but encouraged. Cobbler’s roots stem from the (sadly) now-closed Sling Lounge but have expanded. In addition to Margarita Mondays, they’ll take you on a whiskey world tour. Cobbler is a Best Small Bar winner and frequent contender. Bring your drinking boots for this amazing Brisbane cocktail bar.
Address: 7 Browning St, West End
Phone: 0455 686 968
Hours: Tues-Sun 4pm-1am, Mon 5pm-1am
13. Finney Isles
Hidden behind the big blue door on Ann st you’ll find Finney Isles, a solidly cool bar focusing on cocktails and wines. It’s an intimate vibe, perfect date place, and prebatch’s carafes of their signature cocktails. With just enough of a charcuterie and cheese board offering to tickle the taste buds. Head here for a nightcap, and the night’s yours.
Address: 702 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
Phone: 0438 886 809
Hours: Wed-Thurs 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am
14. Savile Row
Sister to the aforementioned Cobbler, Savile Row is an ex-butchers hidden behind an orange door. A classy affair with a 900-strong back bar and 20 curated cocktails for tippling pleasure. Vintage, candlelit and cosy are the names of the game here. With the late close time they’ll be there to see you off at the end of the night. Heads up, there’s no food offering, strictly libations only.
Address: 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
Phone: 0455 686 968
Hours: Sun-Thurs 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-3am
15. Sixes and Sevens
Sixes and Sevens is the exact umbrella-ed floral affair you’d expect from a James St bar self-defined as a ‘Uniquely Queensland Public House’. They’ve worked to protect the 1878 facade on the outside and carved out space inside for solo’s, duo’s and full squads to set up shop for the night.
Address: 67 James St, Fortitude Valley
Phone: (07) 3358 6067
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am
16. Mr and Mrs G Riverbar
Mr and Mrs G Riverbar is the perfect spot to sunbake in the CBD. Next time you find yourself wondering where a soothing waterside city bar is, you’ve just found it. Simple food + tasty drinks allow the setting to speak for itself.
Address: 1 Eagle St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3221 7001
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-12am, Thurs 8am-10pm, Fri-Sun 7am-12am
17. El Camino Cantina
El Camino Cantina is the latest instalment of one of the best chains to hit Australia. Bringing tex-mex to Aussies across the land at an affordable price, and margarita’s at an unavoidable one, it’s one hell of a spot to bring friends and have a night, day or arvo you’ll remember as a blur of huge martini glasses and never-ending nachos.
Address: Shop 2/45 King St, Bowen Hills
Phone: (07) 3708 3268
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11.30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-11pm
18. Milton Common
Milton Common is anything but. A craft beer & wine bar and an eatery smooshed together in glorious matrimony. They homebrew a small collection of beers to pour out to the thirsty public. Not overly fancy, but just fancy enough. Also boasts a wide selection of function spaces for any event.
Address: 35 Railway Terrace, Milton
Phone: (07) 3368 1608
Hours: Tues-Thurs 12-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12-6pm
19. Bar Pacino
Bar Pacino looks over the river and Story bridge. A beautiful balcony takes advantage of this fact and the place takes itself seriously enough to get service right, without being stuffy. Great for an after-work bev.
Address: 175 Eagle St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3221 2397
Hours: Wed-Thurs 11.30am-8pm, Fri 11.30am-12am, Sat 12pm-12am
20. WingHAÜS Edward Street
WingHAÜS is a beautifully stereotypical American diner and beer house packed into a Brisbane city bar. Big open space, American signage wherever you look, a foosball table. It’s here to provide American-style good times with Australian-style great beer. The only thing missing are the roller skates.
Address: 1/144 Edward St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3053 5615
Hours: Mon-Wed 11.30am-10.30pm, Thurs 11am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12am, Sun 11.30am-9pm
21. The Boom Boom Room
The Boom Boom Room, situated in a heritage-listed bank vault, is a verified cocktail den. Filled to the brim with soul, jazz and blues with plush red upholstery and a hint of Asian flair on the walls. You’re able to ship the snackier food options down from Donna Chang for those second dinner stomach rumbles.
Address: 49 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3243 4800
Hours: Tues-Thurs 4:30-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 4.30-11pm
22. Mr Percival’s
Mr Percival’s is directly underneath the story bridge, they utilise this location to it’s fullest potential. Here you can loaf around all day, cheers the sunset and boogie away the night to live tunes, all while keeping the city skyline in sight.
Address: 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3188 9090
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-1am
23. Felons Brewing Co
Thought the CBD needed a microbrewery? Felons Brewing Co did too, so they gutted an old 13 Best Coffee Shops in Melbourne and set up shop to feed the hungry, and water the thirsty without having to travel too far after work. Sitting right on the river in Howard Smith Wharves, you’re a stone’s throw (literally, but don’t try) from the story bridge.
Address: 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3188 9090
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-12am
24. The Wet Deck
Finally, a venue that dares the Kiwis to say its name out loud. The Wet Deck is a luxury poolside bar with views of the river and the city. Want to make a statement? See how fast you can go from besuited in the office, to togs on, in the water.
Address: 81 N Quay, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3556 8888
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
25. Blackbird
Blackbird drinking in the dead of night. An opulent riverside spot with a prohibition theme brings the party to you with every ounce of razzmatazz you’re looking for. Lounge on a leather sofa, drink out of a goblet, bask in the sun, or moon.
Address: Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3229 1200
Hours: Sun-Thurs 12-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12-11.30pm
26. Sea Legs Brewing Co
Sea Legs Brewing Co is a mammoth 15 hectolitre brewer pumping out the 5 core beers of the Sea Legs Range on site. After a year kept in development hell, they’ve jumped from strength to strength and now offer nothing but great beers and good times. Well worth the trip.
Address: 89 main street, kangaroo point
Phone: 0480 178 695
Hours: Sun-Thurs 12am-9pm, Fri-Sat 12am-11pm
27. Alba Bar and Deli
Bringing a taste of NY’s club kids to a Brisbane city bar, the Alba happened when Jamie Fleming (Off of Masterchef) was given free rein to make what he wanted. It’s a cosy little spot with pintxos style food, think tapas, and a solid spread of Spanish varieties to drink alongside.
Address: 34 Burnett Lane, Brisbane
Phone: 0488 555 184
Hours: Tues-Thurs 12-10pm, Fri 12pm – 12am, Sat 3pm-12am
28. The Woods
The Woods is Brisbane’s answer to the Bull and Finch. They want you to feel like home, and to allow for that have squeezed all the house-liness you could expect into the space. Also expect 60 beers by the tinnie or stubbie, a solid back bar, and filling pub grub. Come for the shanks, stay for the friends.
Address: 37 Blackwood Street, Mitchelton
Phone: 0420 928 140
Hours: Wed 12-9.30pm, Thurs-Sat 12-10.30pm
29. Hello Gorgeous
Hello Gorgeous is a pretty spot. There’s no denying this. It backs up style with substance through the offering of some truly wild flavour combos. Coconut-crusted prawns spring to mind. There’s a whole heap of wines on offer, and some seriously special sparkling if you’re seeking to celebrate.
Address: 32A Chester Street, Newstead
Phone: (07) 3854 1536
Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12am
30. City Winery
City Winery made a bold move in setting a winery up slap bang in the middle of the Valley. They back this up by bringing primo grapes from across Aus into their space to make whatever they want. If you’re looking for something a little different, and are done with the sem sav’s, this is the spot for you.
Address: 11 Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley
Phone: (07) 3854 1392
Hours: Tues-Wed 12-9pm, Thurs 12-10pm, Fri-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-9:30pm
31. Miss Demeanour
Sonny’s house of blues is gone. It’s sad but we have to move on, and helping us to move past Miss Demeanour has slipped into the hole Sonny’s left behind. It’s everything you’d expect from a 140 seat underground restaurant and bar: a little bit of the future, a little bit of the past. It’s everything we need right now.
Address: Rowes Lane, Brisbane City
Phone: (07) 3221 0032
Hours: Sun-Wed 11am-10pm, Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am
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General FAQs
The bar you like the most. For real, Brisbane offers such a wide range we can't pick a 'best' outright. You'll find your second home, it just takes trying a place or two!
Yes. There are so many cool cocktail bars in Brisbane.
Fun bars in the city are everywhere. Savile Row is fancy and large. Have a look at the options!
