Brisbane’s hospitality scene is booming right now. Not much time passes by without a hot new restaurant, bar or cafe opening up – and it can feel overwhelming knowing which one to try next. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best with our pick of new Brisbane bars. Save this list if you need some inspo for your next tipple.
1. Harley Quinn Bar
Located down Fortitude Valley’s vibrant California Lane, this new comic book-inspired bar from the legends behind superhero-themed venue 1st Edition is a casual spot for cocktails in a fun setting.
Sip on signature cocktails such as The Harley Quinn made with gin, rose prosecco and lemon fairy floss, and savour tasty bites such as toasties, homemade pies, muffins, and savoury platters.
Harley Quinn Bar opens Friday, May 24. You can find it at 22 Mclachlan St, Fortitude Valley.
2. Bar Rocco
If your ideal night out consists of sharing Italian food and sipping vino with your pals, then this neighbourhood wine bar will be right up your alley.
Explore wines from European wine regions or stick with a local Australian drop as you taste your way through the delicious eats on offer.
You can find Bar Rocco at 131 Leicester Street, Coorparoo.
3. Augusta
After its success at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, this Brazilian bar has expanded to Brisbane, opening its doors by the river. Augusta heroes South American food and drink, with speciality cocktails like Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha, which is available in flavours of lime, strawberry, kiwi and passionfruit, alongside Brazilian eats such as Tapioca crepe pancakes, an assortment of pies and more.
This new bar also has arcade driving games you can have a crack at, as well as spots to play pool.
You can find Augusta at 293 North Quay, Brisbane City.
4. Nok Nok
Hidden behind a green door with a brass knocker, this intimate Fortitude Valley bar is perfect for those who prefer a drink in small but intimate spaces.
Tropical-inspired interiors such as leafy wallpaper and hanging ferns adorn the bar, and on the menu, you’ll find a range of refreshing cocktails and lesser-known wines.
You can find Nok Nok Brisbane at 362 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
5. Sunsets
Rooftop bars are god-tier when it comes to summer sipping in Brisbane, especially when our warmer months deliver one incredible sunset after the next.
For front-row seats to nightfall with a drink in hand, it’s hard to go past the appropriately named Sunsets, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the city, refreshing tequila-based cocktails such as coconut margaritas and palomas, as well as Mediterranean-inspired eats like grilled tiger prawns, custard tarts and more.
You can find Sunsets at 95 Linton St, Kangaroo Point
6. Aviary Terrace Bar
This new alfresco cocktail bar in the heart of the city is a choice spot for afternoon knock-offs, with stylish interiors and an impressive view of Story Bridge for good measure.
At Aviary, tuck into tasty signature cocktails (FYI: there’s a whole page of the cocktail menu dedicated to margaritas), excellent bar snacks like pacific oysters and wagyu beef croquettes, all the while soaking up a lively ambience soundtracked by DJs.
You can find The Aviary Terrace Bar at Level 4/480 Queen St, Brisbane City
7. Alice
Red mood lighting, 80s rock tunes all night long and 150 bottles of bourbon behind the bar — these are just a few of the reasons to visit Alice, a new late-night CBD spot for stiff sipping.
You’ll find this new dive-style bar hidden down an alleyway opposite the Hilton, where you’ll be welcomed with 80s bangers to the likes of AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, alongside a table, retro jukebox and a signature old fashioned. It’s open until 3am every night too!
You can find Alice at the laneway next to 195 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City
8. The Gatsby
Fortitude Valley’s GPO has recently unveiled a huge $9 million makeover, and is now home to three exciting new venues. Adding a touch of 1920s New York-inspired style to the Ann Street icon is The Gatsby, a stylish salon that specialises in whisky and champagne, as well as a build-your-own-cocktail option, where you get to choose the base spirit, dryness and garnish for your concoction of choice.
The bar has also paid homage to the heritage building of which it resides in by keeping the original 1887 vault for guests who buy a bottle of top-shelf liquor and want to keep it in the vault for their next visit.
You can find The Gatsby at 740 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
9. Antico
When it comes to Brisbane cocktail bars, Death & Taxes and Dr Gimlette are two of our faves. Something about the dark, moody interiors and highly creative cocktails make going out for drinks at these two venues a real treat.
Now, the mixology masterminds have opened a third cocktail bar, tucked away in Burnett Lane. Antico is inspired by the small, intimate bars that populate major cities in Italy, with a focus on classic cocktails alongside Italian bar snacks.
You can find Antico at 48 Burnett Lane, Brisbane City
10. The Copacabana Club
Brisbane is certainly not lacking when it comes to secret bars, where finding the venue is part of the fun. Woolloongabba is a choice spot to find bars hiding in plain sight, like behind wardrobes. A hot new favourite on the scene is The Copacabana Club, inspired by the famous New York nightclub where iconic movies such as Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The Irishman, and One Night in Miami were filmed.
Located inside the European-inspired deli and bar Mr Badgers, this secret bar is hidden behind Mr Badger’s Office Door, which can be found through the deli, and past the tram and locker room.
The office door says ‘staff only’, but don’t be fooled. Walk right on through to the secret outdoor bar and courtyard.
You can find The Copacabana Club at 24 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
11. Ardo’s
If you’re after all things vino in Newstead or Graceville, head to neighbourhood wine bar Ardo’s to find your next favourite drop. If you can’t choose, pre-book a wine flight to taste six different wines for $25, which can be paired with cheese.
The Newstead venue is also home to wine tap with rotating blends, where you can pour your own to take home, then bring the bottle back for a refill. The supplied bottles are $10 each, and $20 to fill it up.
You can find Ardo’s at 1/22 Wyandra St, Newstead & 335 Honour Ave, Graceville
12. Midtown
Midtown is Fish Lane’s new intimate 40-seat martini bar that focuses on two-sip drinks and classic cocktails, alongside small bites such as oysters and lobster croissants.
In the martini department, there are plenty of tasty options, from classics like French, Pornstar or espresso martinis to more exquisite concoctions, which include olive leaf, apple & rhubarb, and elderflower martinis.
Every Friday and Saturday night, Midtown also runs their Supper Club offering, where the music gets turned up for your weekend nights out.
You can find Midtown at Fish Lane, 15 Manning St, South Brisbane
13. The Tax Office
The second of two bars that’ve opened inside the Valley’s revamped GPO building is The Tax Office, a dynamic late night experience that has your party needs sorted.
On select nights over the weekends, The Tax Office hosts electronic artists such as Havana Brown and Late Nite Tuff Guy, who turn the bar into a bass-fuelled dance floor.
You can find The Tax Office at 740 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
14. The Reserve Cellar & Wine Bar
The Emporium is home to a scenic rooftop bar and restaurant we know and love, but it’s also recently scored a quaint wine bar on the ground floor.
Regarded as an oenophile’s dream that features over 100 of the world’s finest drops, The Reserve Cellar & Wine Bar is a fantastic spot to swirl, sip and savour on a visit one to South Bank’s most iconic hotels.
You can find The Reserve Cellar & Wine Bar at 267 Grey St, South Brisbane
15. Brew Baron Beer Company
One for the beer lovers, this new brewery and bar in West End is the perfect spot for a frothy and a burger.
Brew Baron, formerly Parched Brewing, boasts a number of excellent house-brewed beers, ranging from classics like a signature pale ale and lager, to more adventurous brews like the intriguing sour peach and raspberry.
You can find Brew Baron Beer Company at 391 Montague Rd, West End