Midtown Is Fish Lane's Luxe New 40-Seater Martini Bar From the One Fish Two Fish Team
Butler Wine Bar's former digs is welcoming in a cocktail joint that will whip up any type of martini you like — and pair it with "seacuterie".
Were Daniel and Amelia Miletic always destined to set up shop in South Brisbane's Fish Lane? As the owners of fish 'n' chippery One Fish Two Fish in Kangaroo Point, they're certainly keeping the ocean theme going. Midtown, their newest venture, isn't just about dishes from the sea, though. What the Miletics have dubbed "seacuterie" is on the menu, plus mini versions One Fish Two Fish's lobster croissants; however, this is venue is a martini bar.
Opening on Friday, September 8, Midtown takes over an already-luxe space: the site previously home to Butler Wine Bar, Lune Croissanterie's boozy sibling, which launched in July 2022 but closed in March 2023. There must be something about the location playing host drink-focused offshoots to beloved eateries, given that that's what the Miletics are serving up as well.
Loving martinis is the number-one thing on offer at Midtown, with nine set alcoholic types available, such as olive leaf, elderflower, apple and rhubarb, espresso and pornstar varieties. There's actually a tenth option, too, that lets you tell the bar how to make it your way — so anything is possible.
If you're having trouble choosing, that's where the three-drink flights come in. They're designed to share, and include half serves of elderflower, espresso and the signature Midtown martini (made with Patient Wolf Pink Lakes gin, Cinzano dry vermouth and red onion).
And, if you're not partaking in the hard stuff, go with a no-booze espresso, lychee or French martini.
The sips do extend past James Bond's favourite drink (that said, we assume that the vesper martini comes shaken, not stirred). Two types of margaritas, plus a negroni, old fashioned, daiquiri, spritz and Charlie Chaplin sit on the rest of the cocktail list, but the bar will whip up anything it's able to if you ask.
Beer-wise, the range is highly curated with Australian brews from Balter, Moondog and Little Creatures. Wine devotees will find a page of choices, from sparkling, amber and rosé to whites, reds and even a fortified drop to go with cheese.
And for snacking while you drink, the seacuterie (oysters, prawn croquettes, salmon sashimi and more) and lobster croissants are joined by charcuterie, cheese plates, caviar, and a raw bar that also does steak tartare cigars. Gildas, octopus and subs made with cevapi pork sausage are on the menu as well, while Fraser Isle spanner crab tortellini and ten-hour barbecue bourbon brisket are among the mains. For dessert: yuzu brûlée with walnut biscotti and a pina colada tartlet.
The whole place is called Midtown, and its digs are firmly on the intimate side, but the Miletics have split it into three areas. The main space that shares the watering hole's name is a 20-seater bar, Uptown is a 6–8-seat dining room and Downtown takes patrons outside for a tipple.
Another drawcard: a late-night supper club from 10pm–12am every Friday and Saturday night, doing live music and its own food lineup.
Find Midtown at 15 Manning Street, South Brisbane from Friday, September 8 — open 4pm–late Tuesday–Thursday, 12pm–12am Friday and 4pm–12am Saturday.
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