Some of the best bars in Brisbane are ones you never suspect – a Kill Bill-inspired Japanese bar hidden inside a restaurant or a low-alcoholic focused bar that also serves up tasty seafood.
We recently announced the best cocktail bars across Australia, so here’s a boozy spotlight on Brisbane.
Whether you feel like a fancy martini or something a little unusual, these are the spots that will make your night out extra special…
The best cocktail bar in all of Australia? It’s official. Don’t worry about how to pronounce the name (it’s ‘double-o’, by the way) and instead just hurry down here. Tokyo meets Brisbane at this dark and glam bar in Japanese restaurant Hôntô. The cocktails use only the best Japanese spirits and are inspired by Kill Bill.
It’s sophisticated without being snobby and consistently impresses.
Savile Row is a real Fortitude Valley treasure. This speakeasy-style vintage lounge bar is hiding in plain sight behind an orange door. The bar’s 20 long cocktail menu showcases slightly left of field flavours and unique serves, and changes with the seasons.
Fancy something that’s not on the menu? The skilled bartenders are also happy to create something unique to your tastes.
Say ‘hola’ to El Camino Cantina Bowen Hills, indulge in their amazing Tex Mex and sip away on some of their signature Margaritas.
It’s Las Vegas-style neon lights, jukeboxes that blast some great tunes and sombrero-splashed party vibes make it the perfect place to hang with friends or enjoy a fun date night!
The Gresham is a unique bar, creating a great cocktail menu with a nod to the heritage aspect of the bar’s building itself. While the bar’s Victorian fireplaces and deep wood might draw you in, the superb cocktails will convince you to stay.
Could this be the prettiest bar in Brisbane? We can already imagine the Insta pics. As well as being absolutely stunning, Hello Gorgeous has a hand-picked wine list featuring 40 wines and specialty cocktails, with plenty of vermouths, spritzers and distilled non-alcoholic Seedlip spirits.
There’s also locally-sourced seafood and other tasty snacks.
Woolloongabba’s bar scene got a boozy boost with this place – Electric Avenue is an eclectic bar and bistro with an old world, 1930s design. There’s zero stuffiness you might find in other cocktail bars of the same class, with good vibes only here.
Be sure to head upstairs for jazzy tunes in the secret whiskey and cocktail bar, Jack Rabbits.
Brisbane’s first arcade game bar is still going strong and ticks all the boxes. There’s heaps of games to play from the 1970’s until present day including 15 pinball machines, 25 arcade machines, classic consoles and countless board games. As for drinks? Choose from 24 local beers and ciders on tap.
Co-founder of Big 7 Travel, Sarah created the company through her passion for championing the world's best food and travel experiences. Before her career in digital media, where she previously held roles such as Editor of Food&Wine Ireland, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry in Dublin and New York. Contact [email protected]
