13 bars in Brisbane you must drink in before you leave

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Whether it’s whiskey or wine, Coors or cocktails that gets you going, you’re bound to find the perfect establishment for all your drinking needs in Brisvegas.

From the glittering rooftops to the graffiti-covered alleyways, Queensland’s cosmopolitan capital is serving up some of the best nighttime entertainment and intoxicating delights in Australia.

Get your drinkin’ boots on, cowboys, because here’s 13 of the best bars you can’t miss when going out in Brisbane.

Bitter Suite

Home to 7 tap beers, over 55 bottled beers, hearty made-from-scratch pub grub with a sophisticated twist, and all with a relaxed local vibe. As they say at Bitter Suite, ‘Life is Beer’ and we couldn’t agree more.

You’ll find them at:

75 Welsby St, New Farm

Opening hours:

Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30am – 11:00pm

Friday: 11:30am – 11:30pm

Saturday: 8am – 11:30pm

Sunday: 8:00am – 10:00pm

Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall

Old time whiskey bar meets country hootenanny and grassroots music scene. Serving up Brisbane’s best live music with a side of burgers and beers. BYO guitar and laidback hipster attitude.

You’ll find them at:

15 Caxton Street, Brisbane

Opening hours:

Wednesday – Sunday: 5:00pm – 3:00am

UP on Constance

Rooftop cocktails at its finest. Buzzing atmosphere, extensive menu of boutique cocktails [including the mouthwatering ‘Popcorn Thief’ with real popcorn garnish], and stunning views of the Valley. Get there early to grab a comfy seat and watch the lights of Brisbane sparkle in the twilight.

You’ll find them at:

20 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours:

Thursday: 5:00pm – Midnight

Friday – Saturday: 4:00pm – 2:00am

Sunday: 5:00pm – Midnight

Alfred & Constance

How can you not love an establishment that has awesome tunes, cocktails in pineapples, tropical leis for everyone, and is right next door to the best pizza joint in town [as one local confided to me]? Not just content with setting up a stock standard bar, the A&C Team have a multiplex of nighttime entertainment all under the one umbrella, which includes a beer garden, restaurant, Tiki Bar, late night dessert café, alcoholic smoothie station, and even a new disco downstairs. If there’s a better place to party in Brisbane, then we haven’t found it yet.

You’ll find them at:

Corner of Alfred and Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours:

Monday – Sunday: 7am – late

Greaser

Retro American-style diner meets basement dive bar hidden at the back of an alley. If Budweiser, burgers and blues are your idea of a good time, then this is your joint.

You’ll find them at:

259A Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours:

Wednesday – Friday: 5:00pm – late

Saturday – Sunday: 6:00pm – late

The Scratch

Craft beer enthusiasts will love this refreshingly modest hole in the wall, where beer reigns as king and pretentious bullsh*t is forbidden. You won’t find greasy pub grub here, just cheese boards and alcoholic ice cream spiders and milkshakes [a surprising but unique combination], or take advantage of their BYO food policy. Check out their website for today’s brews on tap.

You’ll find them at:

8/1 Park Road, Milton

Opening hours:

Monday – Sunday: 12:00pm – 12:00am

Buffalo Bar

Specialising in American craft beers and food. Frat Night Wednesdays are a must for lovers of the American college culture, with wing-eating challenges, beer pong, red cups, pumping tunes, and [no doubt] some drunken students ready to party. It’s a piece of the USA in Brisvegas.

You’ll find them at:

169 Mary Street, Brisbane

Opening hours:

Monday – Sunday: 12:00pm – late

Elixir Rooftop

A hidden gem above one of the city’s busiest streets, Elixir is guaranteed to make those mid-week blues melt away. Looking over the nearby Chinatown precinct and drawing inspiration from Chinese folklore, this exclusive rooftop paradise serves up delicious cocktails and even tastier tunes.

You’ll find them at:

646 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours:

Wednesday – Friday: 4:00pm – late Saturday – Sunday: 1:00pm – late

Iceworks

Up-market version of a good ol’ local bar with some modern and urban twists. Stylish décor, lounge bar and awesome pub food served with a smile. The perfect place to catch up with mates, watch a game, and have a few beers without any fuss.

You’ll find them at:

Corner of Given Terrace and Dowse Street, Paddington

Opening hours:

Monday – Sunday: 10:00am – late

Sixes & Sevens

The name may be a British idiom to describe confusion, but the only thing that will perplex you at this funky establishment is which cocktail to order first. Sixes & Sevens is all about the laid-back, communal culture of drinking and is perfectly complimented by a rustic backdrop that feels like hanging out at a rich (but slightly eccentric) friend’s home, complete with astro turf. Cool just doesn’t do it justice.

You’ll find them at:

67 James Street, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours:

Monday – Sunday: 11:00am – Midnight

Cobbler

Understated urban bar in Brisbane’s funky West End with over 150 whiskeys on offer. The crowd is laid back, the atmosphere is unpretentious, and the staff knows their shiz. Definitely worth a look if you’re a whiskey aficionado or lover of inventive cocktails.

You’ll find them at:

7 Browning Street, West End

Opening hours:

Monday: 5:00pm – midnight

Tuesday – Thursday: 4:00pm – midnight

Friday: 12:00pm – midnight.

Saturday: 3:00pm – midnight

Sunday: 4:00pm – midnight

The End

Hipster hot spot complete with all the urban bohemian trademarks: vintage furniture, dim lighting, records spinning, boutique beers, signature cocktails, and bearded men. Worth a visit for the extensive range of spirits alone.

You’ll find them at:

73 Vulture Street, West End

Opening hours:

Monday – Sunday: 3:00pm – late

Wooly Mammoth Alehouse

Top headlining music acts and frosty beers collide hard at this banging entertainment venue that is taking the Valley’s live music scene by storm. Big name indie artists on the gig list, international touring artists, tap and craft beers, mouth-watering menu, indoor bocce, giant Jenga and a giant shuffleboard table, all spread across three impressive spaces…what more could a muso/beer lover ask for in a pub?

You’ll find them at:

633 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours:

Tuesday – Thursday: 4:00pm – late

Friday – Sunday: 12:00pm – late

 
(Feature image: Rae Allen)