Overview
There is indeed a bell in one of The Belvedere Hotel's bars. When most folks at the northside pub say "The Bel", though, they're referring to the watering hole itself. A Woody Point mainstay since 1901, this waterside bar is back open and pouring drinks after a hefty makeover. If sips with an ocean view take your fancy — and with shimmering sunsets part of those vistas, too — then this grand old establishment has you sorted in its new guise.
Parent company Lewis Land Group has put more than $10 million into revitalising the historic spot, with the results now on display for patrons to enjoy. To make the most of its location, the vibe and setup alike are breezy and open. And all that space? It means being able to cater for 1000 people.
Perched on Bramble Bay, The Bel now features revamped dining spaces and terraces, plus a new first-floor bar area with shimmering sunset views. Expect a shady time if you're keen to have a beverage outside. On level one, there's also a new dining spot — and the public bar is also all new.
Fans of the venue's outdoor Pavilion bar and bistro will be hanging out in refreshed surroundings, and now sitting in booths.
"The Belvedere is a generational favourite, deeply entwined with the community spirit and the blissful outdoor lifestyle that defines Queensland," said Lewis Land Group's Queensland Regional Manager Chris Allison.
"Our redevelopment has been meticulously planned and executed to enhance and preserve historic elements while elevating the experience for today's patrons."
For those stopping by for a bite, you'll definitely have company. Allison advises that "more than 20,000 people come through the doors each week" and that the venue is "on track to sell approximately 270,000 schooners of beer and 40,000 parmys this year".
The Bel's all-day food menu now benefits from a pizzeria and gelato bar onsite, serving up everything from squid ink truffle salami slices to mango scoops. Elsewhere, the culinary range includes chilli scrambled eggs and lemon crepes for breakfast, salt and vinegar calamari and sticky chicken wings among the lunch and dinner starters, and hot and cold seafood platters to share as a highlight among the mains range.
Or, tuck into lobster three ways — in a pie, with prawns over pasta or as part of a surf 'n' turf special — as well four steak choices and a steak sandwich. There's also three types of oysters, fried chicken burgers, pork knuckles and crispy noodle salads on offer. For dessert, if you're keen for more than gelato, banana split parfait, a chocolate tart, deconstructed blueberry cheesecake and Biscoff crepes await.
And for entertainment beyond a meal, a drink, the mood and the view, trivia nights take place on the deck each Wednesday.
Find The Belvedere Hotel on the corner of Woodcliffe Crescent and Oxley Avenue, Woody Point — open from 8am–12am Sunday–Thursday and 8am–1am Friday–Saturday.
Images: Zennieshia Butts.