Southbank Beer Garden

If ever a place in Brisbane warranted its own beer garden, it is South Bank. The former site of Expo '88 turned riverside parkland aims to offer locals an inner-city oasis — and every peaceful spot needs an outdoor deck to hang out on and consume a few beverages, doesn't it?

Calling it Brisbane's only beachside location of its type might be a bit of a stretch given the man-made pools of sand and water it sits beside; however everything else about the airy new bar and restaurant fits the bill. First, there's the constant stream of breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Next, there's the combination of craft brews and seven-to-twelve-hour cooked steaks served straight off the chargrill.

Indeed, if you're after a meal with a chilled-out mood, this is the South Bank venue to head to. Slabs of meat upon bread provide a highlight, particularly the brisket and gravy roll or the open scotch steak sandwich. When it comes to something smaller, beer cheese fondue — with sliced charcuterie, vegetable crudité, and bread sticks — sounds too good to pass up. Of course, just grabbing a cocktail and gazing out over the city is a perfectly acceptable way to spend a few hours there, or a whole day, if you're simply too relaxed.