Overview
As Brisbane starts to cool down and you find yourself asking ‘do I even own a jumper?’ and ‘do I need to shave my legs?’ chances are you’ll start to feel even less like leaving the comfort of your doona. We’ve piled together the top 10 places to keep warm as the mercury drops.
Papa Jacks
Cheaper than a flight to New Orleans, Papa Jack’s is the new heart of Creole South. When the thick velvet curtains are drawn the space becomes warm and intimate, and if you’re as lucky as us a seven-piece jazz band will take the stage. My cocktail had a ginger syrup so zesty I swear the bartender dug it from the ground himself mere hours before – that’s sure to scare off any lingering cold.
PS. Papa Jack’s is celebrating cocktail week with a round-the-world drink tour until Tuesday
Fourth Wall
Velvet-covered padded crates, guitars, curtains, candles and wall art make up the interior and give this bar a comforting atmosphere. Fourth Wall uses the luxury of being a small bar to throw away the tangible cocktail menu, ask a few questions and tailor you a cocktail that fits like a glove. Drink in hand, jump up on one of the cushioned crates by the window to see throngs of very cold, semi-clothed women line up for the GPO – queue your own warm and smug feeling. Schadenfreude at its finest
Three Monkeys Tea Room
Nothing says warm and cozy like a hot drink the size of your face. Those seasoned with trips to Three Monkeys will have come across the breakfast-bowl-sized chai this iconic West End cafe serves up nightly. Though the line out the door can sometimes be intimidating, it is always worth the wait for that late-night slice of cake and hot drink of your choice. Three Monkeys is always done best in comfy clothes (they won’t judge you for trackies) and with friends.
Garuva
There may not be a sign over the door, but most Brisbane restaurant-goers know where to find Garuva. Through a narrow doorway on Wickham St, down a green-hued and tree-lined path lies a rabbit warren of curtained dining areas. The first time I walked into Garuva, I thought I’d accidently found a brothel or massage parlour – four walls of white curtains surround each table and diners are seated on the floor. Cosy up with crossed legs and enjoy a warm Asian fusion menu.
Cobbler Bar
From the street Cobbler Bar doesn't look like much, but open the door to this speciality whiskey and cocktail bar in West End and it's like opening the door to a world of Edgar Allan Poe. Inside are dimly lit tables, melted red wax candles and floor to ceiling wooden shelves filled with not books but every single genre of booze, malt and spirit imaginable. Pull up a leather padded bar stool, bop your head to the sounds of 50's rock and cast your eyes over the ever changing cocktail list, which stretches from the traditional to the tropical to the innovative and quirky.
The End
Never has the saying 'good things come in small packages' rung truer than at West End's boutique bar, The End. The deep, dark hue of the walls, interesting artwork, low hanging lights and pot plants make for a cozy interior. While the long tables with high stools and opposing comfy couches add to the snugness of the venue and make it almost impossible to not meet new people or run into friends at The End, mirroring the friendly West End vibe.
Death Before Decaf
New kid on the block, Death Before Decaf is a caffeine lover’s dream. Serving top quality grinds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we can guarantee DBD will keep you warm any time of day. With skate decks covering the walls, DBD is our only 24/7 espresso bar, and they play hardcore, metal, rap and hip-hop all day, every day. Make yourself at home.
Southside Tea Room
Cold weather calls for comfort food, and nothing says comfort food like grilled cheese and a taco plate. We’ve all dreamed of what it would be like to have rock stars for parents, and while there is no chance of that happening, you can let the South Side Tea Room temporarily adopt you. Owned by Brisbane band The Grates, this cozy space is fitted retro kitsch. Sit back on an old sofa, complete with crochet throw, and tuck into a Cuban sandwich.
The Gresham
There is something warm about rich mahogany. On the floor a large rug covering wooden floors is topped with custom-made Chesterfield couches, cedar tables and red leather bar stools. Behind the bar wooden shelves are lined with a wall of every premium whiskey you can imagine; a ladder is needed to reach the top shelf. The Gresham is a place to sit and savour, a place to be cozy, and (if smoking indoors was still legal) a place to smoke cigars.
Lefty's Old Time Music Hall
Mix velvet with nostalgia and a live band and Leftie’s has warmth down pat. Inside the cavernous building that used to belong to gentleman’s club The Velvet Cigar, you can now find a portal to an entirely different place and time. The first strains of country and rockabilly music will reach you as you pass through the first set of doors, and by the time you’re really inside, you’ll have well and truly forgotten that you just came from Caxton Street, Brisbane.