Best of Brisbane 2021: Top 10 Brisbane bars revealed
Take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lime, and a shot of tequila. You nominated and voted for Brisbane’s best bars and we can now reveal the top 10.
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Let the good times be-gin as we reveal the best bars in Brisbane as voted by our readers.
10. Ballistic Beer Co, Various locations
53-55 McCarthy Rd, Salisbury
Instagram: @ballisticbeer
Grab your mates or get the family together and let the good times brew with a great beer or two at one of Ballistic’s Brisbane venues.
Their Salisbury venue houses their beer production, which features a cellar-door style bar where you’re able to sip on some of their 12 taps and even take a brewery tour.
With a beer in hand, listen to some live music and grab a bite from one of the local food trucks that are invited to keep everyone’s stomachs satisfied.
Ballistic Beer Co wants to be the place you know you can go to relax and enjoy on your own or in the company of others.
9. Suzie Wongs Good Time Bar, CBD
678 Ann St, Brisbane City
Instagram: @suziewongsgoodtimebar
This Hawaiian-themed dive bar serves grungy surf shack vibes and the coolest cocktails every Wednesday to Sunday.
8. Death & Taxes, CBD
36 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City
Instagram: @deathandtaxesbrisbane
With Brisbane’s largest curated cocktail menu, let Death & Taxes expert stirrers and shakers throw together one of their 30 cocktails so you can try something extraordinary.
7. Brooklyn Standard, CBD
Eagle Ln, Brisbane City
Instagram: @brooklynstandard
Paying homage to the borough of Brooklyn, this basement bar and live music venue gives you a taste of New York with their wide selection of American fare and tap beers and bottles.
Accessed via a secret laneway in Brisbane’s CBD, the folks in here like their music loud and love the casual buzzing atmosphere that fills the space.
Try one of their house favourites like the Greatest Of All Time with gin, grapefruit, apple, passionfruit, and IPA; the Illegal Margarita with mezcal, tequila, Cointreu, lime, and honey; or a Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned.
When it comes to food, think mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, dagwood dogs, wings, loaded fries and hot dogs, which you’ll be able to enjoy with a cold drink while being surrounded by American memorabilia.
6. The Terrace Rooftop Bar, South Brisbane
Emporium Hotel South Bank, Level 21/267 Grey St, South Brisbane
emporiumhotels.com.au/bars-dining/the-terrace
Instagram: @theterraceemporiumhotel
Located inside the five-star Emporium Hotel, Brisbane’s luxury rooftop bar and restaurant want to add a touch of magic to your experience so whether you pop in for cocktails during the day or enjoy a wine or a few premium spirits at night, you’ll have an unforgettable experience.
From signature cocktail and mocktail creations, to the finest champagnes, Australian beers, Spanish-Style Tonicas made with locally crafted and international gins, whiskeys, and aperitifs, if you can think of a delicious drink, The Terrace has got you covered.
Plus, nothing goes better with the perfect drink than unmatched views of the Brisbane River and City, so just sit back and enjoy.
5. The Walrus Club, Toowong
Regatta Hotel, 543 Coronation Dr, Toowong
regattahotel.com.au/eat-drink/the-walrus-club
Instagram: @regattahotel
Feel like escaping to an underground prohibition-style bar? The Walrus Club hidden under Toowong’s Regatta Hotel is the perfect place to go.
With over 150 different blends of rum, a large range of rare drops, more than 300 mid-range to high-end spirits from all parts of the world, and a menu full of specially created cocktails, there’s definitely a drink to delight you.
Sip on a tipple and listen to some live jazz on Thursday or visit on a Friday and Saturday for even more free live music.
The Walrus Club is open Wednesday – Saturday from 6pm until late and on Sundays from 5pm.
4. Savile Row, Fortitude Valley
667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
Instagram: @savilerowfortitudevalley
Take a trip to central London as you push through the orange door and pull back the curtain to reveal the speakeasy-esque bar that is home to around 900 spirits, 20 rotating wines, draft beer and a number of amaro and sherries.
Pull up a chair anywhere inside and admire their mammoth spirit collection as you watch their bartenders concoct and create one of their specialty cocktails.
If you’re unsure of what to order, have no fear as with your guidance, they’ll tailor your drinks to suit your taste and fit the mood.
Explore a world-class custom drinking experience suitable for any occasion whether it’s for a casual tipple with the work colleagues, an intimate drink with a lover, or a large party with your closest friends.
3. The Woods Bar, Mitchelton
37 Blackwood St, Mitchelton
Instagram: @thewoods_bar
With 10 taps on rotation, a list of top shelf wines and spirits, and a mouth-watering food menu, you’re bound to love this local neighbourhood bar.
You’ll find local and international brews alongside each other at the bar with groups of friends and family gathered around long handmade wooden tables at this warm and cosy bar where the service is second to none.
Food is no joke either with braised beef cheeks, tea smoked duck breast, and pub favourites like schnitzels, steaks and burgers to please everyone’s palate.
2. The Gresham, CBD
308 Queen St, Brisbane City
Instagram: @thegresham
Sip on some of Australia’s finest whiskeys, wines, and artistic cocktails crafted by the country’s best bartenders in the industry at Queensland’s only heritage licensed bar.
With their dark floorboards, framed pictures, chesterfield couches and polished tables, a visit to this award-winning Brisbane bar will take you back to the 19th century.
While some bars have a strict dress code, The Gresham has an attitude policy, which means your free to rock up in your shorts and sandals, your business attire, or dress up to the nines.
For those with a sweet tooth, you have to try the Sunnyboy made with coconut-infused vodka, butter, pineapple, passionfruit, and vanilla.
1. Cedar & Pine, Wynnum
139 Bay Terrace, Wynnum
Instagram: @cedarandpinebar
With their fast and friendly service, strong community vibe, and excellent range of drinks and food, when it comes to ticking all the boxes for what makes a great bar, there’s one that stands out – Cedar and Pine.
You’ll feel right at home at this groovy bayside bar, which has been voted Brisbane’s best watering hole for 2021.
With an excellent wine list consisting of mostly Australian and New Zealand wines and a handful from Europe, as well as a great range of fun cocktails and craft beers, this local favourite has been quenching the thirsts of visitors from near and far since opening in 2015.
Its success can largely be attributed to owner Mali Hannun who plays a very active role at the bar and greets her regulars and new customers as if they were old friends and values getting to know her patrons.
Ms Hannun has created a place of community where people love to gather for a cheeky beverage or few after work and on the weekend.
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