Brisbane’s best ‘hidden’ suburban bars, wine bars and live music bars revealed
We’ve rounded up 12 of the River City’s best ‘hidden’ suburban venues from intimate date-night drinks spots to wardrobe-entrances and vinyl bars. SEE THE FULL LIST
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It turns out, the CBD and the Valley aren’t the only spots in Brisbane where those looking for an intimate date-night drinks spot or a speak-easy experience can go.
In an effort to unveil those places off the trodden path, so to speak, we have rounded up 12 of the best hidden suburban bars to hit this weekend and every weekend after.
From complete prohibition-esque, secret-door venues to lesser-known live-music spots to quiet, cosy bars, check them out below.
The Walrus Club
The black trapdoor, 543A Coronation Drive, Toowong
The Walrus Club, tucked underneath Toowong’s Regatta Hotel, is one of Brisbane’s classic speak-easy-style bars, originally opened in 2012 and reopened in 2022.
Named after the SS Walrus, a floating rum distillery that called Queensland rivers home in the late 1800s, The Walrus Club specialises in rum and cocktails, stocking around 300 different spirits and echoing 1920s-era prohibition in every aspect, from the bartenders in braces to the ever-present jazz and vintage furniture.
This speak-easy, true to its name, is well-hidden, with entry through a trapdoor at the base of a set of stairs in a laneway behind the Regatta, signalled only by a small insignia at the top of the stairs.
The Tailors
The dressing room mirror, 16A Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
The Tailors at the Canvas Club in Woolloongabba is another of those secret spots in the suburbs that are just as fun to search for as they are to drink in, which is unsurprising when you consider the man behind the venue.
Dan Rodriguez is also the owner of several other hidden bars, including Electric Avenue, Mrs J Rabbits and The Copacabana Club/Mr Badgers.
The Tailors is named for the storefront it appears to reside behind, known as Rodriguez & Co Tailors on Logan Road.
Entrance to the bar is through a dressing room mirror, and once inside guests are delighted with a classic art-deco inspired speak-easy, featuring blue velvet banquettes, travel posters and, on a weekend, the rhythmical sounds of Cuban and Latin American musicians.,
The junk bar
720 Brunswick St, New Farm
Self-described as Brisbane’s finest hole-in-the-wall venue, The Junk Bar is a small, cosy, bar and live music venue, that is about to get bigger.
As exclusively reported by the Courier Mail, The Junk Bar at Ashgrove will be closing its doors on October 26, to reopen at the old Alibi Room venue at 720 Brunswick St, New Farm.
Fans of independent artists and the incomparable sound of a vinyl record will be at home in the new venue, which will retain all of its lovably grungy feel with much of the same furniture and decor, despite being double the size of its previous space.
The front bar at Ashgrove played classic vinyls, carefully selected by the staff, and the back room, or Skukum Lounge, played host to an endless stream of artists, from the known to the obscure and everything in between, and it is expected the New Farm venue will be the same.
Aside from a standard wine, beer and spirit menu, two pages of cocktails, plus a prompt to challenge the bartenders with special requests await gig guests on Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
When the New Farm venue opens in November, guests will also be able to delight in an epic menu provided by the team behind Brisbane’s double-decker burger buss- Bill’s Burger, who will be taking up residence in the kitchen.
Cobbler, West End
7 Browning St, West End
Established in early 2013 in a discrete spot in West End, Cobbler is a go-to for Brisbane’s whisky aficionado’s, stocking over 500 different whiskys and malted spirits from across the world.
The bar is backed by a shelving wall, reminiscent of a library, complete with a sliding wooden ladder and above that sits a mezzanine level with small booths tucked away for an even more secluded experience.
Cobbler is one of those rare bar experiences open seven days a week until 1am, and even celebrates Margarita Monday, featuring 13 distinct margaritas, in recognition of the previous venue that owner Martin Lange began with two friends, Sling Lounge.
Clover Neighbourhood bar Holland Park
109 Holland Rd, Holland Park
Owned by the team behind The Woods in Mitchelton, Clover is another cozy neighbourhood hotspot, albeit with a brighter, warmer feel than its northside sibling.
Clover is tucked away in Holland Park in the former Suburban Social building on Holland Road and radiates 70s vibes, with its autumnal-hued walls and tan leather chairs and booths.
Clover also specialises in on-tap beverages, featuring four taps each of rotating beers and constant favourites as well as two tap wines, a spritz and a cocktail.
Mrs J Rabbits
23 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Another of those secret, speak-easy spots that Rodriguez is infamous for, Mrs J Rabbits inside Electric Avenue is one for the books.
Guests armed with a password can head inside Electric Avenue on Logan Road and head up an antique staircase and recreate their wildest Narnia dreams as they head through a wardrobe spilling out into the Mrs J Rabbits speak-easy.
Oozing art-deco charm in every inch of the space, from the leather couches and chandeliers, to the tiniest details adorning each vintage spoon.
The Narnia-esque entrance to the bar is not where the fantasy ends though, with the cocktail list featuring whimsical illustrations and quotes from everything from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Grimm’s Fairy Tales to the Bible and the 2003 kids film, Boundin’.
The bar is a must-visit for fans of top-notch whisky and gin, alongside seasonal cocktails and ‘elevated classics’.
The woods bar
37 Blackwood Street, Mitchelton
Sibling venue to Clover in Holland Park, The Woods is your classic local watering hole, strong on community spirit and quality food and drink served with a smile.
The Mitchelton suburban-fave has become a staple on Mitchie’s hospitality scene, and for good reason, with a rotating selection of six tap beers, limited edition cans and bottles and a lengthy wine list, all served up alongside a full menu of snacks, sharing-plates and classic mains.
Accompanying the bar is the venue’s very own bottleshop and providore, which sources top-quality snacks, beer, wine and spirits from across the globe.
Cardigan Bar
5/198 Seymour St, Sandgate
Sandgate’s very own live-music venue, Cardigan Bar is an unexpected delight in the outer-north, regularly showcasing incredible independent talent, without charging for tickets.
Guests of the bar are treated to a show most Thursdays through Sunday’s, either by a scheduled artist or for one of their open-mic nights.
The bar asks visitors to consider donations to help them pay their artists, as they are not able to be ticketed, and otherwise offers up
Blue Nose Betty
73 Rainbow St, Sandgate
With a spirit list featuring more than 200 bottles and a menu as eclectic as it is varied, this little spot truly is a hidden gem of Brisbane’s northside.
Another epic spot in Sandgate, Blue Nose Betty is an adorably casual space that encourages guests to make the place home, sporting a lack of both uniforms and table service, adding to their laid-back vibe.
If that’s not enough to make you feel completely comfortable in sharing a few drinks one-on-one, Sundays are also the bar’s live music nights.
Adelita Wine Bar
32a Glenora Street, Wynnum
Bayside locals and those from further out of town flock to this multifunctional wine bar in Wynnum, where it offers an extensive, and top-quality a la carte and set dinner menus and as of recently, weekend breakfast.
Adelita’s specialty though, is as a wine bar where guests can while away an evening (or long lunch!) sipping on some fabulous drops, advised by ever-helpful staff.
The space is as beautiful and cosy as their menu is, from its forest green features to black marble countertops and copper light fixtures.
ACH Wine Bar
389 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton
There’s nothing that makes a space feel more cosy and intimate than a fire, and this Middle Eastern-inspired wine bar is built around the traditional methods of wood-fired cooking.
Along with an extensive Middle Eastern food menu, ACH boasts an extensive wine list, championing producers from Turkey, Lebanon and Israel, as some of the oldest wine producers in the world, alongside local and interstate wines.
The space reflects the wood-fire that takes pride-of-place in the venue’s kitchen, with warm low lighting and stone features.
Ruby, My Dear
12 Longland St Newstead
Ruby, My Dear is certainly a must-visit in Newstead, with a vibe unlike any other in the city.
This bar is where Japanese-inspired cuisine and classic vinyl records meet and create an incredible mood, where the atmosphere and the food and drink offerings are just as good as each other.
The drinks menu boasts an impressive cocktail list, featuring many flavours of Japan as well as several low and no alcohol options alongside wines, beers and a range of sake and shochu.
The izakaya menu is extensive, or guests are able to choose from two set menus.
Noir, Paddington
216 Given Terrace, Paddington
Under brand-new guiding hand of Chris Higgins, the man behind Press’d Wine Co in Milton, Noir is set to reinvigorate its offering in Paddington over the coming weeks, to become similar to Higgins’ other venue, while retaining some of the charm of the former wine bar.
One thing is for sure, this cozy corner spot will be a must-visit for Brisbane’s inner west.
Watch this space for updates.
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