Ooh La La Rooftop

Overview

Brisbane is a river city and always will be — but it's now a rooftop city as well. Only a few years ago, sky-high bars were rare across this town of ours; however, that's been changing. In fact, these days, we're spoiled for choice when it comes to drinks with a lofty view.

The latest watering hole that's asking you to look at Brissie from a different vantage: Ooh La La Rooftop, which has made its home in Woolloongabba. It's an upstairs offshoot of beloved French restaurant C'est Bon, and it's serving tipples and bites to eat three days a week — from Friday–Sunday.

First, when it comes to a view, you'll be peering over a different part of the city than usual — given that this sky-high spot isn't in the CBD or Fortitude Valley. The Mater Hospital and its carpark will be in your eye line, but so will the rest of this inner-city pocket. When the suburb's revamped Princess Theatre reopens in August, that'll just be around the corner, too.

So, you know what you'll be looking at after you climb up the rear steps from C'est Bon, with entry to Ooh La La Rooftop via the rear laneway and carpark. As for what you'll be eating and drinking while you sit at high tables — or in regular chairs — the French theme unsurprisingly travels upstairs.

Food-wise, both Siberian and Oscietra caviar is on the menu, including as part of a blini caviar set with potato rye blinis. From the seafood-heavy lineup, you can also tuck into Appellation oysters, Fraser Island crab, mussels, barbecued prawns and kingfish crudo. Or, there's duck liver parfait eclairs, angus tartare and confit suckling pig terrine, as well as a cheese and charcuterie selection for snacking.

On the beverage list, the vino hails from either France or Australia — and while there's only four signature cocktails on the menu, Ooh La La is clearly about quality over quantity. Warm up with a hot whisky grog, opt for passionfruit or elderflower-heavy concoctions, or drink your way through a Tasmanian pinot negroni.

Whatever you're sipping, you'll be doing so in a spot designed by Brisbane's JDA Co — who looked to open up the space, highlight its views and pay tribute to the building's history. Another key aspect of this makeover: ensuring that the structure's 1900s facade still has pride of place, too.