The bars leading a rooftop revolution across Brisbane
The hospitality industry took a dive three years ago but Brisbane has bounced back and reached new heights with a rooftop trend taking over the city. FULL LIST OF VENUES LEADING THE WAY
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Stunning city views seem to be a must for diners and partygoers across Brisbane these days with a revolution of rooftop bars helping take the city’s entertainment scene to new heights.
The hospitality industry hit never-seen-before lows during the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 and experts were pessimistic about how long it would take the industry to bounce back from a time, which saw venues across the country shut their doors for the final time.
But a transition to more sky-high bars has seen residents return in droves to areas such as South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley and the Brisbane CBD.
Although the inner-city’s entertainment precincts featured several rooftop bars before the pandemic, the past two and a half years has seen venues such as Soko, Lina, Cielo and more take the trend to a new level.
And there’s even more to come, with rooftop bars in the works in areas just outside the inner-city areas, including suburbs such as Bulimba.
One industry expert said a main reason behind the trend was that rooftop bars were a use for developers to chase because cause of the high return from rentals off food and beverage operators.
“It’s also just a great use of open air spaces which since Covid, I feel people are drawn towards,” he said.
See the bars leading Brisbane’s rooftop revolution below.
SOKO ROOFTOP – FORTITUDE VALLEY
Owned by Potentia Solutions Leisure, Soko Rooftop is one of the latest sky-high bars to elevate Brisbane’s entertainment scene.
Part of the mega development, which also saw the revamp of the historic Jubilee Hotel, Soko served its first cocktail in November last year and already has become one of the most popular venues.
Soko dazzles diners and partygoers with not only its live entertainment such as Latin music, dancers and bongo players but also with its Peruvian and Japanese style tailor-made tasting menu with a mix of Peruvian and Japanese.
The venue at 7 Symes St also boasts a cocktail menu filled with more than 40 flavours of Pisco Sours, delivering a contemporary twist on traditional flavours using a heavy sake and yuzu influence.
All of this food, drink and entertainment while enjoying spectacular Brisbane views of Fortitude Valley, the CBD and the iconic Story Bridge.
MAYA MEXICAN – FORTITUDE VALLEY
From the same owners as the site’s previous glamour bar, Eleven, Maya Mexican is a sleek venue from the Coats Group, which was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the heart of Fortitude Valley, Maya is a long-term passion project from The Coats Group, according to its website, which was inspired by a trip to the Mexican city of Guadalajara.
Despite the change in name more than two years ago, Maya is still where the city’s most glamorous crowd come to party at a stunning restaurant offering long lunches and late night cocktails with panoramic views of the city skyline.
A stylish alternative to the many Mexican eateries around town, Maya features share-style menu combining the usual tacos and quesadillas with other dishes with a modern Mexican spin, including flame grilled tequila prawns or squid with jalapeño and lime aioli.
At night Maya transforms into a bustling bar with live performances by musicians and DJs.
LINA ROOFTOP – SOUTH BRISBANE
Having celebrated a year since its opening on February 24, South Brisbane’s Lina Rooftop has helped redefine the rooftop bar landscape in the city.
Lina separated itself from other similar venues with 1500 sqm of luxe, elevated landscape with an open air terrace, flashy restaurant and a heated pool surrounded by day beds and a bar.
Another venue owned by Potentia Solutions Leisure, who also started Soko in November, Lina merged aspects of the world’s idyllic beachside and rooftop destinations with premium dining all while overlooking the South Bank and Brisbane City skyline.
Entertainment is taken care of as well with live music, including some of the city’s best DJs taking over the rooftop.
CIELO ROOFTOP – FORTITUDE VALLEY
A project from the award-winning crew behind Australasia’s best bar as well as a local hospitality guru, Cielo Rooftop joined the Brisbane entertainment scene more than two years ago.
The owners of Sydney’s Maybe Sammy, an icon of the global cocktail scene, in Stefano Catino, Vince Lombardo and Andrea Gualdi joined forces with Salt Meats Cheese boss Stefano De Blasi to open the Fortitude Valley venue in November, 2020.
The joint venture took over the space formerly known as Altitude by Foresters in the FV by Peppers building with the owners also having La Costa on the ground floor.
Cielo is an Amalfi coast-inspired rooftop bar, which means ‘sky’ in Italian, which De Blasi said was so diners could “elevate their night”, he told The Courier-Mail when the venue opened.
Cielo has full table service provided, along with premium bottle service, boasts views across the Valley to the Story Bridge, and serves light dishes such alongside a signature cocktail list.
DJs also play at the venue on Fridays and Saturdays while upbeat live jazz is a feature of Cielo’s Sundays.
IRIS ROOFTOP – FORTITUDE VALLEY
Topping one of the Valley’s newest hotels, Iris features spectacular city views, lavish cocktails from an award-winning mixology team and delicious Mediterranean eats.
Opened on the rooftop of Hotel X in April, 2021 – the impressive venue is by The Ghanem Group, who are also behind popular spots such as Blackbird Bar and Grill and Byblos.
A Mediterranean inspired bar and restaurant, taking influences from Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon, Iris is headlined by a 200-capacity restaurant with the bar specialising in sangria.
Iris also included private dining space and poolside bungalows with the whole venue able to be booked out for parties and functions.
“[Iris] it’s a really cool place for people to come chill, have a few drinks, have some great food and listen to some cool music,” The Ghanem Group’s Nehme Ghanem told The Courier-Mail before the venue’s opening in 2021.
VALLEY HOPS BREWING – FORTITUDE VALLEY
Valley Hops Brewing joined the Valley skyline in late 2021, creating a new and flashy space on top of iconic Brisbane venue Cloudland.
On top of its six signature beers including a crisp, light-bodied lager called Diehards (named after a Valley rugby league team), a tropical ale, a fruity sour, a pale ale, an IPA and a hazy IPA – Valley Hops Brewing also has a tasty food menu.
Headlined by a stunning view of the Valley and the Brisbane CBD, the venue’s beers are made on site – adding variety to the area’s popular entertainment scene.
FIUME ROOFTOP BAR – HOWARD SMITH WHARVES
While the Howard Smith Wharves are headlined by the likes of Felons, Mr Percivals and more – diners and partygoers might be missing one of the precinct’s hidden gems in the Fiume rooftop bar.
Beneath the Story Bridge, Fiume has stunning views overlooking the Brisbane river and the city skyline.
It is also a place where people can escape the hustle and bustle from the Howard Smith Wharves below.
Fiume features a menu of sweet and savoury options, including a mix your own mimosas, bellini and champagne cocktails.
The venue also has three signature cocktails including a Bloody Mary, the Aperol-based “Sunday Bliss” or a martini made on Tamborine Mountain Distillery’s limoncello.
THE TERRACE ROOFTOP BAR, EMPORIUM – SOUTH BANK
One of the bars which kicked-off the trend of rooftop venues around Brisbane was the venue which sits atop one of the city and South Bank’s flashiest buildings in The Emporium.
The Terrace Rooftop Bar opened on Riverfire in 2018 in a baptism of fire for the glamorous venue.
Featuring a breezy rooftop dining, bar and function space, The Terrace is owned by Tony and Fran John and sits on the 21st floor of The Emporium South Bank.
With an elegant and flashy interior, The Terrace also boasts a 14-page drinks list, which covers most areas of the world with a Queensland flavour.
The restaurant’s all-day dining starts at noon, with the one-page menu’s share, small and large options covering many different types of food.
SPICERS BALFOUR HOTEL SECRET ROOFTOP BAR – NEW FARM
In the heart of New Farm with stunning views of the Brisbane skyline, the Spicers Balfour Hotel rooftop bar is truly one of the city’s hidden gem.
Sitting in just off Brunswick Street, the venue’s location suits both quiet cocktails with a few friends or a few drinks to start your night before venturing on to Howard Smith Wharves or the Fortitude Valley.
Different to many other rooftop hot spots, Spicers Balfour Hotel’s rooftop bar doesn’t accept bookings
DIRTY SULTAN – FORTITUDE VALLEY
A new addition with a Turkish twist was welcomed to Fortitude Valley’s entertainment scene in 2019 with the opening of Dirty Sultan on Constance St.
The Dirty Sultan opened more than three years ago on the rooftop of the TRYP hotel and features a modern Mediterranean/Turkish inspired bar, dance floor and menu as well as being Brisbane’s first Turkish shisha lounge.
Dirty Sultan is the brainchild of Dilan Ildes, who is half Turkish and wanted the venue to have an edgy Melbourne feel.
“When I saw the TRYP Hotel advertised the rooftop with that edgy, quirky glamorous vibe, I knew it was the right location,” he told The Courier-Mail in 2019.
EAGLES NEST – KANGAROO POINT
Relaunching next month is the Kangaroo Point rooftop bar, Eagles Nest, which sits on top of The Point Hotel.
Featuring spectacular views of the Story Bridge and the Brisbane River, Eagles Nest offers a tapas style bar menu complemented by a range of signature cocktails, champagne, wine and craft beer.
Add chilled music and there’s no better spot to catch the city’s stunning sunsets.
The spectacular rooftop views providing the ideal setting for both corporate and private events.
Eagles Nest reopens on March 9.
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