Globally acclaimed bar Oriole comes to Brisbane

A regular on the list of World’s Best Bars, London’s Oriole will be making its Australian debut, opening in a flash Brisbane hotel.

ONE of the world’s best bars is coming to Brisbane, setting up home at a top city hotel.

London’s acclaimed Oriole, which has been named as one of the top 50 watering holes on the planet, is taking over Living Room Bar at W Brisbane, serving it’s unique range of theatrical drinks.

“We are feeling thrilled and honoured to have the chance to share with locals a piece of Oriole and we are hoping that the drinks which we have created for them will surprise their senses,” said Samet Ali, who is a bartender at Oriole alongside manager Ali Ali and head bartender Mihai Ostafi.

Ali Ali, Mihai Ostafi and Samet Ali from London's Oriole bar are part of a collaboration with W Brisbane.

To create this special offering in Brisbane, the East London-based team has been hosting extensive virtual training with the W crew, including some late night and early morning video calls because of the time difference. The training has also included pre-recorded videos to make sure the Queensland bartenders, including Andres Velasquez, can exactly replicate the Oriole drinks.

“The thing that makes this collaboration so special is the fact that we are going to be able to give Living Room Bar guests the Oriole experience without having to travel abroad,” said Mr Ali. “The Flight of the Senses menu was designed to take the guests on a journey around the world and give them the opportunity to discover new and unusual flavours.”

W Brisbane bartender Andres Velasquez preparing one of the signature drinks from the Oriole collaboration.

There will be an impressive 15 drinks on the menu inspired by different countries, including the exclusive Toowoomba cocktail, which is a take on the lamington featuring Belvedere pure vodka, Regal Rogue wild rose vermouth, cocoa falernum, Campari, berry blend cordial and wattleseed and coconut soda.

The Oriole x Living Room Bar collaboration kicks off on May 19 at W Brisbane and will run for a limited time, with the Oriole team not ruling out a permanent move to the Sunshine State.

“We always thought that expanding our brand overseas is a good idea, and who knows, maybe one day Queensland can be our second home,” Mr Ali said.