Canvas
A Woolloongabba stalwart that, despite opening in 2010, is still as good as ever.
Overview
In hospitality, bars come and go. Shooting stars in the great galaxy of bevvos. Then there are the supergiants, the bars with a bright, slow burn — the ones you know are bound to be pumping out the drinks for years to come.
That's Canvas. A Brissy stalwart nestled in a small pocket of Woolloongabba cafes, bars and restaurants on Logan Road, Canvas has been going strong since 2010 (back when Sunday sessions at Chalk Hotel were still a thing). Chalk has since closed its doors, but Canvas has only gone from strength to strength.
They've been famous for their cocktails for years, and with classics and new-style drinks aplenty you can limber up with a magical tiki tipple called Dumbledore on Tour ($19) or enjoy the simplicity of a perfectly made martini (from $18). And just in case you find yourself standing at the bar, staring perplexed at the cocktail list, simply put yourself in the capable hands of your bartender and get them to whip you up a drink on request for 20 bucks — a blank canvas, if you will.
With some of the most delectable food and drinks around, the Johnny Cash Pizza ($23) with salami, chorizo and bacon — or hell, any pizza — is a must. Plus if you need a reason to leave the house mid-week you just might find it here; Tuesday is $10 tapas and $10 tequila cocktail night, on Wednesdays you can get ribs, wings and a rye cocktail or a beer for $25, and Thursday has you covered for date night with two drinks and a large pizza to share for $30. Not to mention their weekend specials, which include cheese boards on Saturdays with your choice of cheese and a glass of vino for $20.
When you've eaten and drunk your fill but still have your dessert stomach to satisfy, we suggest choosing a treat like the New York baked cheesecake or the choc fudge caramel brownie ( both $14), perhaps paired with a dessert cocktail. And a nap afterwards.
But hey, the fun doesn't end at the cocktails and dessert comas. Canvas is open for brunch on weekends for soul-soothing bloody Marys ($17) and avo on toast ($17), and has a fully decked-out function space at the rear of the venue, complete with private bar. So it doesn't matter what you're after — Canvas is your spot. Like a boozy chameleon, this little bar provides for every whim.