Brisbane Powerhouse restaurant Vertigo requires diners to be breath-tested before dining 17m in the air
A restaurant promising to bring diners to “new heights” requires that they strap in and be breath-tested before enjoying a $500 meal.
Brisbane residents now have the option of visiting a daring “vertical restaurant”, with diners having to undergo challenges in order to eat four storeys up in the air.
Vertigo has opened on the rooftop of Brisbane’s Powerhouse, inviting foodies to hang above a 17m drop on the side of the building’s industrial facade.
Though the meal may be daring, those who want to enjoy the fine dining experience with views of the city skyline must jump through a few hoops.
Diners must be kitted up with a full body harness and breath-tested before being taken to the top of the building for the daring meal.
While diners must be sober before making their way up to the restaurant, alcohol can be ordered with the meal.
“Getting into my seat was probably the scariest part, I don’t think I really realised how high up we would be,” Brisbane influencer Ebony said about the experience on TikTok.
Customers are given a lanyard for their phones to avoid them being dropped and even the cutlery has to be secured to avoid any mishaps.
Diners can choose to descend through the Powerhouse after their meal or take a jump off the side of the building, with their harness to slow them down before reaching the ground.
Though there has been some excitement about the “daring” meal, some foodies have baulked at the $500 couple’s price tag for the dining experience, calling it “ridiculous” and “outrageous”.
“$500 dollars tho? So much more we could do over two days with that,” one person said.
“I don’t like having to wear a harness for work let alone paying for the pleasure,” another wrote.
It’s hoped the new restaurant will attract more tourists to the Sunshine State according to Lord Mayor Adrin Schrinner.
“This new experience is perfect for Brisbane and combines all the attributes we’re renowned for – great food, a beautiful city, a cutting-edge cultural scene and a sense of adventure,” Mr Schrinner said.
“I have no doubt Vertigo will draw visitors from across the world to sample the best of Brisbane.”
The restaurant is one of the initiatives supported by the Queensland government’s $15m Tourism Experience Development (TED) Fund, according to Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.
“This is one of 50 new and reimagined visitor experiences we’re investing in through TED to grow the visitor economy and deliver more than 900 good construction and tourism jobs,” he said.