Brisbane's Best Inner-City Bars for After-Work Drinks with Your Coworkers
These rooftop bars, riverside hangouts and wine havens are suitable for both celebrating and commiserating.
Bonding with new colleagues, celebrating a win or unwinding after a slog of a week (or day or month) — there are a heap of reasons you might be skipping out of the office as soon as the clock hits 5.30pm to down a few pints or several cocktails. If that office is located in and around Brisbane's CBD, you have plenty of watering holes to chose from, too.
Head to a bar run by a fashion label, a sky-high brewery or a cocktail-slinging joint perched over the river — or a plant-filled gin garden or Euro-style wine haunt, too. We've rounded up all of the best inner city bars for after-work drinks with your coworkers, suitable for both celebrating and commiserating.
Image: Markus Ravik.
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BarCicada Blu
33 William Street, Brisbane City
This sky-high Brisbane cocktail spot sits 100 metres above the city on Queen's Wharf's Sky Deck.
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BarClub Félix
33 Felix Street, Brisbane City
Make an after-hours date for cocktails and wagyu cheeseburgers at this supper club inside Felix Street's revived Naldham House.
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BarNaldham House
33 Felix Street, Brisbane City
This heritage-listed CBD site is back after an eye-catching revamp — and it's serving up Euro-style dishes, plus drinks on the terrace.
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BarLittle Miss Sunshine
80 Ann Street, Brisbane City
This Brisbane brewery and bistro pours its own beers — and makes them — on Ann Street in the city's CBD.
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BarBar Miette
443 Queen Street, Brisbane City
Andrew McConnell's hospitality empire has arrived in Brisbane with this Euro-leaning terrace cafe and wine bar.
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BarThe Rose & Crown
275 Grey Street, South Brisbane
South Bank's new London-inspired pub has taken over Little Big House's old digs on Grey Street.
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BarIzakaya and Ramen Taro's
480 Queen Street, Brisbane City
This beloved Japanese chain's Queen Street eatery is now a ramen joint by day and a food-focused izakaya at night.
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BarFrog's Hollow Saloon
26 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City
Inside a retrofitted brick warehouse from the 1910s lives a bustling bar promising good times and great cocktails.
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BarDoughcraft Mary Street
181 Mary Street, Brisbane City
The European bakery and deli has launched a second outpost in the Brisbane CBD — and it's also a wine bar.
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BarManiax Brisbane CBD
Burnett Lane, Brisbane City
This second Brisbane site for the axe-throwing chain comes with a Viking-themed bar — and will get you hurling hatchets on Adelaide Street.
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BarLost Souls Karaoke
186 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Mash buttons next door at Netherworld, then hit up this underworld-themed karaoke bar to belt out a tune over drinks.
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BarArchie Brothers Cirque Electriq Bowen Hills
30 King Street, Bowen Hills
After its Toombul venue was closed due to the floods, this circus-themed arcade bar has moved to Bowen Hills.
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BarThe Aviary Terrace Bar
480 Queen Street, Brisbane City
A sibling to Queen Street steak restaurant BŌS, this cocktail spot features an 800-square-metre al fresco space and river views.
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BarBabylon Garden
145 Eagle Street, Brisbane City
This two-tier waterfront bar on Eagle Street cascades down to the river, and serves up Middle Eastern and East Mediterranean bites and cocktails.
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BarThe Gatsby Lounge Bar
740 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
The revamped GPO now boasts a 1920s-themed lounge bar, complete with the venue's old vault.
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BarArdo's Newstead
22 Wyandra Street, Newstead
The City Winery team has opened a new neighbourhood wine bar and bottle shop in Newstead.
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BarThe Wickham
308 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
This Valley favourite is welcoming Brisbanites back in after a $3.1-million makeover.
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BarBrewDog Fortitude Valley
235 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Not content with one Brisbane venue, BrewDog has opened a second River City location — a three-level Fortitude Valley beer bar on Brunswick Street.
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BarPurple Palm
148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
This Palm Springs-inspired garden bar in Woolloongabba features a ten-foot wall of gin.
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BarRiverbar & Kitchen
71 Eagle Street, Brisbane City
Watch the boats slink down the river with an ice-cold cocktail in hand.
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BarThe Lodge Bar & Dining
49 James Street, Fortitude Valley
New Zealand clothing label Rodd & Gunn has opened a luxe new bar and restaurant on James Street.
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RestaurantCasa Chow
148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
This new pastel-hued Woolloongabba eatery serves up Chinese Peruvian dishes, and hails from the Sasso Italiano crew.
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BarMaggie May
84 Longland Street, Newstead
This Newstead supper club is Brisbane's gloriously 70s-inspired new go-to for cocktails and all-day bites.
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BarSouth City Wine
148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba's go-to for wines from around the world, French-inspired cocktails, steak frites, escargot and freshly shucked oysters.
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BarSOKO Rooftop
7 Symes Street, Fortitude Valley
Towering above the Jubilee Hotel, this luxe 14th-floor restaurant and bar serves up Peruvian and Japanese cuisine.
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BarHervé's Restaurant and Bar
31-37 Collingwood Street, Albion
Restaurateur and entrepreneur Hervé Dudognon is serving up French-inspired dishes and wine in Albion's revamped timber mill.
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RestaurantBOS
480 Queen Street, Brisbane City
Chef Adrian Richardson has opened a new meat-heavy Brisbane restaurant on Queen Street with riverside views.
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BarLina Rooftop
80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane
This 1500-square-metre beach club-inspired bar with a 30-metre infinity pool sits on a South Brisbane rooftop.
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BarValley Hops Brewing
641 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Towering above Ann Street, this sky-high leafy oasis pairs Valley-brewed beers with pizzas, skewers and cheeseboards.
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BarDr Gimlette
109 Edward Street, Brisbane City
Located in one of Brisbane's oldest buildings, this new table service-oriented bar hails from the team behind laneway favourite Death and Taxes.
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Bar1st Edition
22 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
Sip Spidey's Margs and Ninja Turtle Negronis at California Lane's new 22-seater, which only takes online bookings.
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BarHibiscus Room
72 Queen Street, Brisbane City
Perched above the Queen Street Mall, this rooftop bar pairs cocktails, 70s- and 80s-inspired dishes, tropical decor and poolside hangs.
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BarStratton Bar and Kitchen
3 Stratton Street, Newstead
Serving up cacio e pepe udon and cheeseburger bloody marys next to The Triffid, this new bar and eatery hails from Mrs Brown’s Bar & Kitchen owners Ben and Tarryn Brown.
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BarFiume Rooftop Bar
5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City
Peer over the river, hang out on daybeds by the pool and sip cocktails — all on Crystalbrook Vincent's rooftop.
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BarSavile Row
667 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Find the orange door on Ann Street, then sip cocktails beneath a dazzling chandelier at this Fortitude Valley favourite.
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BarThe Inchcolm Bar
73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill
Restaurant Salon de Co has shut up shop, with this newcomer taking its place.
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BarFelons Brewing Co
5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City
The CBD’s only riverside brewery is now open inside the Howard Smith Wharves precinct.
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BarDeath and Taxes Brisbane
36 Burnett Lane, Brisbane City
This old-school bar hidden down a laneway serves up 500 whiskeys and plenty of cocktails.
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BarBoom Boom Room
171 George Street, Brisbane City
An underground CBD bar located in a heritage-listed former bank.
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BarOoh La La Rooftop
611 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba
C'est Bon has launched a sky-high new addition, serving up oysters, duck liver parfait eclairs, hot whisky cocktails and city views.
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BarMr Percival's
5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City
The octagonal overwater spot is serving up local seafood, many spritzes and European beachside vibes.
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BarThe Parlour
209 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
The Italian riviera-themed spot joins Cielo, La Costa and La Valle on Brunswick Street.
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RestaurantYoko Dining
5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City
A sprawling riverside restaurant with Japanese food and cocktails.
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RestaurantGreca
Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane
A Greek taverna from restaurateur Jonathan Barthelmess at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves precinct.
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BarLa Lune Wine Co
Shop 5, 109 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
South Brisbane's French-inspired wine bar.
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BarOsbourne Hotel
766 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
This Fortitude Valley watering hole has 94 taps, as well as a 400-seat glass-ceiling bistro and beer garden.
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BarCovent Garden West End
142 Boundary Street, West End
Sample gins from around the world at this West End bar.
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BarSea Legs Brewing Co
89 Main Street, Kangaroo Point
Pair beers brewed on site with pizzas, burgers, build-your-own charcuterie boards and views of the Story Bridge.
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BarOTTO Brisbane
Sidon Street, South Brisbane
The revamped site now features three Otto ventures, including its restaurant, a waterside bar and an events space.
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BarStone & Wood Brewery Brisbane
99 Bridge Street, Fortitude Valley
The Byron Bay-based label has opened a brewery and taproom in a heritage-listed Valley building.
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BarIris Rooftop
458 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
The Mediterranean-inspired venue is the latest addition to Brunswick Street's new Hotel X.
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BarLa Valle Wine Bar and Bottle Shop
179 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley
Drop by to pick up one of the 200-plus bottles of vino on the shelves, or stop for a drink and some cheese.
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BarCielo Rooftop
209 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Sit on a rooftop, peer over Fortitude Valley and sip cocktails curated by one of Australia's best bars.
