They may make you work for it, but Brisbane’s laneway bars boast service, style and a menu selection to rival the likes of Melbourne.

Whether you like to savour your sip or would rather lose yourself to the night, there’s a place for you hidden down every lane.

Here are our picks for some of Brisbane City’s trendiest, booziest and best laneway bars.

ALICE BAR, ELIZABETH ST

Off the beaten track, down a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Elizabeth St alleyway lies 80s rock‘n’roll themed basement boozer Alice Bar.

The bar boasts itself as the after hours option for Brisbane’s rowdiest, serving drinks and good vibes until the wee hours of the morning.

On the menu is a wide array of bourbon with the likes of Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve and Maker’s 46 alongside a tight selection of cocktails, including their signature Ramos Gin Fizz.

Inside, red neon lights tint every surface, giving the space a moody, if not slightly salacious, feel where you can headbang along to 80s rock and hair metal.

Alice Bar is open daily from 5pm to 3am.

ANTICO BAR, BURNETT LN

Inventive cocktail creation is the bread and butter of Burnett Lane’s glamorous Antico Bar.

Dripping with class, the space is designed to feel like an old-school Italian hotel lobby with black and white mosaic tile flooring, impressive art deco lighting, green leather stools and a grandiose back bar.

The menu is small but mighty, focused on reinvigorating classic flavours for the modern day and incorporating fresh, local ingredients where possible.

Feeling peckish? Nibble on classic Italian snacks like burrata and bruschetta.

Antico Bar is open from 4pm to 1am, Sunday to Thursday and 4pm to 2am on Friday and Saturday.

BEFORE + AFTER, GEORGE ST

With its unassuming facade, you’d be forgiven for overlooking one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets.

Before + After, nestled down a historic carriageway on George St, is Brisbane’s only specialty amaro bar with the classic bitters flavour injected across their entire menu.

“We have one of the biggest amaro collections, not just in Brisbane, but in Australia,” owner George Curtis said.

“People come here for the whole experience.

“We spend a lot of time guiding people and they may not even look at the menu.

“It’s not just another bar that serves drinks and that leaves you alone; we’re not in your face, but we’re very willing to spend time with tables,” he said.

Inside, the venue’s moody interior clashes against its grungy exterior, creating a home away from home for patrons.

“The whole concept is to be completely hidden and we try to be true to that,” he said.

“We rely on candlelight for most of our lighting; it’s something that we wanted to bring in, obviously, you come down this kind of dodgy laneway and we wanted to make sure, at the end of it, there’s something that’s really interesting, really cosy, really homey for people, and that they feel really comfortable here.”

Before + After opens from 4pm to late, Tuesday through Sunday.

BREW CAFE & WINE BAR, LOWER BURNETT LN

Brew Cafe and Wine Bar on Lower Burnett Ln is the perfect hangout at any hour of the day, proving laneways aren’t just for the night.

As Brisbane’s oldest laneway bar, Brew Cafe has solidified its reputation as a down-to-earth, charming venue.

The team serve up breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night drinks daily, offering everything from smashed avo to burgers and craft beer, boutique wines and cocktails.

In classic laneway style, the entrance is adorned with vibrant street art featuring stylised Aussie critters.

Brew Cafe and Wine Bar is open from 6.30am to 10pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to late on weekends.

DEATH AND TAXES, BURNETT LN

A favourite of those in the know, Death and Taxes is in the heart and soul of Brisbane’s laneway scene.

Head to Burnett Ln and enter through double doors flanked by the grim reaper himself to an intimate grand bar reminiscent of London or Paris.

Pull up a seat along the main bar and watch the mix masters at work or head outside to take in the laneway on their teak-stained deck.

The popular haunt boasts an expansive whisky and cocktail menu designed to excite and entertain.

In April, they released their newest offerings, featuring flaming cocktails and delicious concoctions such as the aptly named Kath and Kim.

Death and Taxes is open daily from 3pm to late, Sunday to Thursday and 2pm to late on Friday and Saturday.

MISS DEMEANOUR, ROWES LN

Located in the basement of the historic Rowes and Rothwell building is trendy eatery and bar Miss Demeanour.

A neon pink sign and colourful murals extending from the exterior through to the underground entrance makes this bar hard to miss.

Inside resembles a chic wine cellar with plush black leather booths lining the sandstone walls and industrial-style lighting and decor.

Feast on a menu designed to enliven the senses, packed with choices from mozzarella-filled jalapeño poppers to loaded burgers, rich pastas and fresh salads.

Cocktail enthusiasts will not be disappointed with an extensive menu of classic and house-made mixes.

Miss Demeanour is open from 11am to 10pm, Sunday to Wednesday, 11am to 11pm on Thursdays and 11am to 12pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

MR. WABI, BURNETT LN

Mr Wabi on Burnett Ln is the perfect place for those looking to dine while they wine.

Experts in Asian street food, the restaurant bar fills a niche under-serviced in the city centre.

“There’s some really good Asian restaurants in the city, like Donna Chang and all those guys, but there wasn’t really anything in the mid-price market,” owner Sabastian Swann said.

“There was that fine dining set up and everywhere else was sort of takeaway style.

“We just wanted to sort of sit in the middle.”

For Mr Swann, creating the right atmosphere was paramount.

“We wanted to have something funky, industrial, sort of Melbourne, in Brisbane, down a dodgy laneway,” he said.

“We play hip-hop, R‘n’B, you know, we’re pretty casual, we make sure that you have a good time.”

Theatrics are in no short supply at Mr. Wabi with smoked, fizzing and flaming specialty cocktails such as their best-selling ‘Blood Flower’.

“It’s got vodka, peach, lychee liqueur, a little bit of sugar to sweeten it up, and it comes bubbling with some dry ice – it’s pretty funky, pretty cool.”

Mr Wabi is open from 12pm to late, Monday to Saturday.