The Jetty

Overview

South Bank is alive and buzzing with the beat of Brisbane Festival. The month-long event has brought the area alive after dark with Wunder Bar and the Garden Bar keeping Brisbane up-late. Right now these pop-up bars are a bit of fun, but come October they'll be shut down and those looking for a drink post-dinner are caught between a cab ride elsewhere and a jug of sangria.

It's safe to say South Bank is the restaurant hub - certainly not known for its bars - and so when you go looking, where are they? Sometimes the thirsty have to get creative, and it pays to look inside. With views that could kill and a relaxed coastal vibe, The Jetty's bar sits within the heart of the busy restaurant.

For those who like it long - the Pining Lilli takes vodka, ginger liqueur and lillet, throwing in tropical flavours of lime and mint, topped with pineapple juice. Served martini style, the Semi Royal goes down a treat. Vodka is aided by the sweetness of peach and apple liqueur and cut by sour fresh grapefruit and lime.

Served with a lime sugar rim, 'The Don' mixes tequila and pomegranate liqueur against the sharp tastes of pink grapefruit and passionfruit. Most interesting was the 'Jack Sparrow' - a mix of rum, ginger wine, frangelico and mandarin topped with iced tea. Think hazelnut meets citrus in a strange twist on jaffa. The Jetty also serve steins on Asahi on tap, and offer a range of craft beers, and of course wine.

Serving up modern Australian cuisine with an Indonesian influence, The Jetty has won a place in the hearts of many for its open and warm atmosphere and tasty Australiasian dishes. Bar snacks don't disappoint, and the piping hot tempura prawns ($6) top our list. Also on offer are the classic sourdough and oil combo, warmed olive, oysters, edamame and almonds all given a Jetty twist. For something more substantial, fresh rice paper rolls, fish cakes and calamari round out a very coastal list.