Overview
Summer has finally rolled around, and what better time to catch up with your mates than when the sun is shining, the wine is flowing and the silly season is in full swing? If you've been so focused on getting through the year (ditto) and you haven't made a booking yet, we've thrown together a list of excellent catch-up ideas to (not) plan, with help from our mates at Jacob's Creek. Don't miss out on the friends-mas party everyone forgot to organise with one of these ideas.
AGNES, FORTITUDE VALLEY
If you're looking to impress some out-of-towners or perhaps a new boo with the very best of Brisbane, you must put Agnes on the list. Touted as one of the best new openings in Brisbane in 2020, it's a little bit fancy, a little bit intimate and very suitable for a rendezvous with your favourite humans. The menu is centred around one thing: fire. This means every single dish on the menu has been cooked over woodfire. What better way to prove to your interstate besties that Brisbane really does measure up in the fine dining department?
Grace Smith
PIG 'N' WHISTLE, FORTITUDE VALLEY
There's nothing better than a cheek Sunday sesh during summer. Throw in a stunning Brit-style pub, a glass of vino (or two) and all your best mates, and you're onto a winner. You can't beat Pig 'N' Whistle for a relaxed-yet-classy pub atmosphere, especially the heritage-listed Fortitude Valley location. If the crew is hungry, there are plenty of classic British dishes on the menu, as well as contemporary Australian pub grub.
LEFTY'S MUSIC HALL, PETRIE TERRACE
Aah, Lefty's. We've all had a night out to remember at this Brisbane institution. So, it was a sad shock when we learned the old-time music hall and its prized whisky sours were going to be leaving us for good last year. Luckily for you and your mates, the hospitality gods have spoken and Lefty's is back up and running again. That's one major win for 2020, and one you should celebrate with a beverage with your besties.
Emily Davies
RIVERSIDE GREEN, SOUTH BANK
South Bank may feel like a bit of a tourist location to some locals, but we want you to put that idea aside for just a moment. Riverside Green and River Quay Green are two of the most idyllic spots to experience our beautiful river city and, on a summer evening, there's no place that gets a better breeze this side of the Gold Coast. Settle in for a takeaway picnic from one of the nearby eateries, including the likes of Burger Urge, Brooklyn Depot and Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers. The best part is that you're permitted to drink alcohol at Riverside Green between 10am and 8pm. So, grab a bottle of Jacob's Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir and toast some bubbles to getting through 2020.
SAME SAME, FORTITUDE VALLEY
Do you love Southeast Asian cuisine? Same. One of the brand new restaurants to grace the beautiful Calile Hotel development is here to treat you and your friends to the fresh, fiery and flavoursome tastes of Thailand. If you're heading in with a group of seven or more, we recommend ordering the banquet menu. At just $65 per head, you'll receive seven dishes, from a betel leaf, sticky pork and prawn entree to a coconut panna cotta, watermelon sorbet and peanut dessert. After dinner, head upstairs to Los, the stunning bar serving tasty cocktails. It's the perfect place for you and your mates to shoot the breeze.
PASTA CLUB, WEST END
When everyone in your group is hankering for big bowls of pasta, Pasta Club in West End is your go-to. By the team that brought you the super popular CJ's Pasta, this Boundary Street joint is all about heroing local, seasonal produce. As a result, the menu changes daily, which means you can't scope out the menu in advance (though you may get sneak peeks on its Instagram). But, in better news, it's BYO. Just grab a bottle of Jacob's Creek — we recommend the Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Shiraz — and tuck into some pasta with your crew.
TETTO ROOFTOP BAR, EVERTON PARK
We may not have been able to enjoy a lavish European holiday this year, but Tetto Rooftop Bar is bringing the best of the Italian Riviera straight to you instead. Located above Corbett & Claude in Everton Plaza's Park Lane precinct, Tetto is a lovely spot to meet with friends over the summer. Combine a striped umbrella, bougainvillea bushes, a cool tipple, a glorious view and all your best mates and you've got the recipe for a Positano-inspired good time. Our sneaky tip? Head in between 4–6pm from Monday to Thursday to watch the sun set with a glass of $5 house beer, wine or sparkling in hand.
Reconnect with your friends and family this summer with a bottle of Jacob's Creek. Discover the Jacob's Creek range and purchase a bottle today from all good liquor retailers.
Top image: Lefty's Music Hall.