Quench Your Thirst At Brisbane’s Best Bars

If you find yourself thirsty on Brunswick Street – look up! Cielo Rooftop is where you go to forget your worries and mingle with Brissy’s most sociable. Brought to our humble city by the crew behind Salt Meats Cheese, this Italian-inspired sun-soaked rooftop joint is serving up Amalfi Coast vibes poured straight into your glass. Cranking out cocktail after unique cocktail created in collaboration with Australia’s number one bar, Maybe Sammy, you’ll be floating on cloud 9 thanks to the skyhigh tastes delivered here. But the drinks aren’t the only thing on the menu to brag about – featuring fresh seafood bites too good not to pass up, Sunday bottomless lunches, plus some of our iconic Italian faves like burrata and bruschetta, a visit to Cielo is an absolute must for the ‘gram. 

Talk about setting the mood! This hidden bar on one of Brisbane’s oldest laneways can be discovered behind large double wooden doors. Their dark intimate space is filled with leather lined booths and grand chandeliers, making you feel as though you have just stepped off the streets of New York. The sophisticated venue will keep you there all night long, as you attempt to sip your way through their masterful cocktail menu. This is one bar you won’t regret visiting – until the next day, of course!

Say it with us: Girls. Night. Out. Maya Mexican boasts panoramic views of Brisbane and serves up thirsty cocktails like their killer chilli marg. The striking venue embraces white earthy tones perfect for the ‘Gram feed, while offering tasty Mexican treats like fish tacos, and guac. Sip your way through their Mexican-influenced cocktail list, featuring tequila as the main character. With regular DJ performances, watch the day turn to night at BNE’s ultimate good-time venue.

After some casual drinks with your friends this weekend? Sixes and Sevens has you covered! From delectable bar eats to crafty cocktails, ciders, wine, and craft beer, this iconic location is frequented by those who love a good time. The chic heritage public house is located on James St and is a go-to for locals, offering an everyday experience and relaxed atmosphere.

Bar Tano is the little brother and neighbour of Gemelli Italian by the Carney brothers slinging cocktail after cocktail to thirsty patrons. The sensual space follows Milanese interior, showcasing green marble benches, polished concrete and a mirrored bar. Serving up a range of classic Italian cocktails, wines, and bespoke house tipples to keep you there all night-long. If you’re feeling a little peckish, treat your tastebuds to the delightful Italian flavours of house-made focaccia, ricotta dip, and an assortment of cheeses and salumi. Grab your girls and book a table, pronto!

The street bar-style venue is the best spot to indulge in a nibble and a tipple! Be spoiled for choice by Cru Bar’s extensive wine list boasting over 450 wines – you’ll be sure to find your favourite drop. Pair your wine with one of their delectable cheese boards while observing bustling James Street from your very own front row seats. An ideal spot to unwind in the afternoon with your besties or your beau, no? Keep the good times rolling at home with a quick trip to the cellar and pick up a bottle or two to enjoy on the couch at home.

Beneath the streets of Brisbane lies an opulent basement bar featuring red velvet booths, vaulted arches, and hanging circular chandeliers. The luxuriant venue is a Japanese restaurant and bar, boasting authentic Japanese street food and spectacular cocktails to boot. Experience the taste of Japan with the finest beer, wine, and sake imported from the region. Sip the night away in one of their intimate booths on your next date night or dinner with friends.

Sitting pretty beneath the Storey Bridge lies a glamorous location not to be missed! Be seen poolside at the LA resort-inspired rooftop of Crystalbrook Vinvect hotel, Fiume, that captures breathtaking views of the Brisbane River. The stylish outdoor bar and terrace serves up a killer cocktail list, as well as boutique wines, craft beers and bar bites, so you won’t go hungry. Fiume is walk-in only, so be sure to get in quick to claim your exclusive seat along the balcony!

Tucked inside the 1000 Ann Street precinct, you’ll find a slice of Tel Aviv at ZA ZA TA, swirling in mystery and flavours of the Middle East. Taking inspiration from the produce, sodas, and unique garnishes that are served in the region’s boulevards, this cocktail bar is a late-night fortress – a place to escape the ordinary. Complemented by a late-night bar snacks menu with charcoal and woodfire to ignite the senses, you’ll be greeted by both familiar and foreign tastes inside a moody and lavish haunt lined in velvet, with drinks served from alluring vessels sourced in markets and bazaars across the world.

Forever serving the thirsty lunch-goers of James St, LOS (Land.Of.Smiles) bar is the perfect place to perch and people watch. Located above their sister restaurant, sAme sAme, you’ll discover a green world where Brissy’s most social come to drink. Serving up spicy concoctions alongside staple faves, LOS bar brings the good times a plenty. But you gotta be quick – as a small space that’s extremely popular, finding a seat can be tricky over weekends!

What pairs perfectly with delicious house cocktails? Breathtaking views from the river banks, and that’s exactly what this iconic bar is all about! Eagle Street’s Bar Pacino is the elevated yet laidback riverside venue that effortlessly takes patrons from beautiful days to glorious nights. With tipples named after Drake songs and their signature Nutella shot that’s a thrill for party people and chocolate lovers alike, Bar Pacino certainly is the place to be when thirst strikes. Their Italian influences can be seen in their hearty fare and wine list, while the space has cemented itself as a Brisbane institution thanks to its position overlooking the Story Bridge. Grab the crew and treat yourself to their famous blossom cocktail tree – your Insta feed will thank you later!

Hit refresh in Brisbane City’s resident poolside oasis, sitting pretty above the bustling Queen Street Mall. Head skywards and kick back on the terrace of this fabulous rooftop bar, where the cocktails are invigorating and the bites are irresistible. All are welcome at Hibiscus Bar & Terrace with its location in the heart of the action making it the perfect spot for your next round of after-work drinks. Whether your go-to is cocktails, premium wines or local, craft beer, there’s something for every palate. For a bite, bar snacks, small plates, and grill dishes are available, where you can get a taste of everything from juicy grilled morsels to mouth-watering burgers and stonebaked pizzas on the menu. Pop in on a Friday to enjoy live music, or simply follow the sunshine for good vibes in the summer, or cosy up fireside in winter. Any season, you’re guaranteed good time at Hibiscus! 

The sunlit laneway at the entrance of The Calile Hotel is home to Lobby Bar: a contemporary locale for continental favourites and modern experimentation. Utilising fresh produce from the rooftop garden, Lobby Bar’s menu of earthly delights allows each ingredient to shine across breakfast, lunch, and bar bites. Let the expert sommelier help you find the perfect drop for watching the folk of James St pass you by, before letting the seasonal menu whisk you away to flavour paradise. 

Meet you under the disco ball? Brisbane’s favourite overwater bar takes cues from iconic European beach clubs, so you can watch sun-soaked afternoons turn into glittering evenings with a spritz in hand. From the pulsing DJ on deck at the heart of the bar to the refreshing selection of riverside aperitifs, Mr Percival’s isn’t just a place to get your groove on; the shared plates are worth snagging a table to munch on the flavours of the season in decadent seafood and crispy pizzas.

A whisky bar with origins in impromptu rooftop performances by The Beatles? Savile Row is one of Brisbane’s finest hidden gems and is perfect for those seeking a sip – just look for the orange door on Ann Street. Inspired by the iconic London Mayfair strip, Savile Row is a cocktail and spirit bar that sure knows how to charm! With an exciting new menu featuring 16 unique cocktails on offer, each sip will encapsulate the experience of walking down Savile Row.  And if cocktails aren’t your thing, you can choose from their endless supply of spirits, rotating wine list, or draught beer.