Cicada Blu

Overview

In spots dotted across the globe, including in New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris and Sydney, the best way for tourists to get a full glimpse of bustling cities is to head up. We've all seen the photos. If you've ever been to one such destination, you've likely taken more than a few. Now, you can enjoy a killer view — and an excellent place to take sky-high snaps — in Brisbane as well.

Over the past decade or so, rooftop hangouts have joined the River City by the dozens. But only Cicada Blu and Babblers since late August 2024 — plus Aloria from October — are part of Brisbane's new Sky Deck. The towering attraction on level 23 at the Queensland capital's just-launched $3.6-billion Queen's Wharf precinct, the viewing platform sits 100 metres above the Brisbane CBD. Cicada Blu is its resident openair bar and Babblers is its all-day dining haven, while Aloria will give Sky Deck its signature restaurant.

Unsurprisingly, Cicada Blu takes centre stage on the lofty deck, in prime position for cocktails with a stunning vista from 3pm Wednesday–Thursday and midday Friday–Sunday. The menu here focuses on drinks with botanical infusions, which can be paired with an array of bar snacks. As the sun sets, live tunes also help set the mood.

While gazing outwards is the drawcard across Sky Deck, Cicada Blu wants patrons to notice more than the vantage. It sports a lighting installation to give the bar even more of a glow than its sun- and star-lit perch is already does, with the luminous setup taking its cues from cloud formations and summer storms.