8 Fun Group Activities In Brisbane That Aren’t Just Dinner & Drinks
RALLY THE CREW
By Cali Westmoreland | 9th March 2026It’s that time of the week again. The group chat is going off, someone’s sent the obligatory “so…what’s the plan?”, and suddenly you’re spiralling into the same old shortlist: dinner, drinks, maybe a card game if we’re feeling revolutionary.
But times have changed, and Brisbane has evolved into a buzzing city with vast activities. Nights are no longer confined to just grabbing a wine; now Brisbane has become equal parts culture and chaos, and we’re finding ourselves overwhelmed with options. Whether it’s date night, girls night, boys night – whatever the occasion – consider this your official sign to retire the predictable dinner and drinks booking, and do something that feels like a core memory waiting to happen.
Ahead: eight fun group activities in Brisbane that are going to seriously upgrade your social life.
Paint & sip
Did someone say painting and prosecco? Enter Sip & Sass, the elevated reimaging of your standard paint and sip. This isn’t just your usual art studio moment; it’s a fully hosted creative experience that comes to you. Living room? Your go-to wine bar? Your favourite café? Consider it transformed.
Operating across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Sip & Sass delivers everything – easels, canvases, brushes, step-by-step guidance – then packs it all away while you admire your masterpiece (and perhaps your third glass). Each artwork is released limited edition, with exclusive commissions available for private bookings, meaning your girls’ night canvas will be one of a kind, and not seen all over Instagram next week.
Think culture, creativity, and connection, with a side of sauv blanc. Could it get any better?
Dance classes
Life drawing
For those looking to get a little crafty, consider trying out life drawing at Studio Maverick.
This community-focused pop-up art studio in Brisbane transforms ordinary evenings into atmospheric, gently social, creative rituals. Think curated still-life installations, found and made objects layered into immersive story-led scenes, or life drawing sessions designed to be welcoming, encouraging, and quietly electric. You don’t need to be an artist; you just need to show up.
Founded by local artists Frances and Rhianna in 2021, Studio Maverick believes art is for all, and it shows. Come to chat, draw and connect. Leave with charcoal on your hands, and something far more interesting than a dinner receipt.
Salsa sundays
Ditch the brunch scroll and elevate your Sunday with Domingo de Salsa at Felons Barrel Hall. Every third Sunday of the month, 5pm sharp, the city’s most talented Latin musicians turn up the heat, filling the room with irresistible rhythms that make sitting still impossible.
It’s more than just dancing, it’s an energy, a mood, a reason to slip on your dancing shoes and move like nobody’s watching. Free to attend, endlessly exhilarating, and utterly contagious, Domingo de Salsa isn’t just a Sunday plan; it’s a monthly ritual your friends will thank you for.
Book club
Trade your usual Thursday night for something worth reading about: BNE Chapters Book Club. Hosted at different bars around Brisbane, it’s part literary deep-dive, part social soirée. Join next month’s book club with your friends for a fresh read and new faces.
Each ticket comes with a drink on arrival, and from there, the night unfolds with effortless conversation among like-minded Brisbanites, laughter that feels like a catch-up with your best friends, and the kind of energy that only a great night out can bring. Ideas flow as freely as the wine – consider it something to look forward to each month.
Cooking class
Ditch the takeaway apps and gather your friends for a night that’s equal parts hands-on fun and culinary glamour at Vanilla Zulu. Guided by Brisbane’s friendliest accredited chefs, you’ll roll, chop, stir, and sauté your way through cuisines from Italian to Thai to Middle Eastern.
Each class is immersive, interactive, and totally approachable – even if your idea of cooking usually involves a microwave. By the end of the night, you and your friends will take home not just a recipe book, but the skills (and confidence) to recreate restaurant-worthy dishes for your next dinner party. Vanilla Zulu is the ultimate friend group activity.
Roller skating
Brisbane’s nightlife is ripe for reinvention, and Roller Studio is proof that fun can be elegant, kinetic, and utterly addictive. Every Tuesday evening, this South Brisbane sanctuary transforms into a sleek playground for movement, music, and creativity. Here, roller skating transcends the casual glide, think choreography, dance routines, and moments where self-expression takes centre stage.
Open to beginners and seasoned skaters alike, Roller Studio fosters a vibrant community spanning Brisbane, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast. Casual sessions start at $15, or grab a Roller Studio Pass 10 for $110 to make it a weekly ritual. With skate hire available, all you need is a sense of rhythm and a dash of dazzle.
