Five Things You Wouldn't Expect to Find in Brisbane Right Now
Have you checked out the pop-up escape room or self-pour wine bar yet?
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Whether you're a longtime Brisbane local or just in town for the week, the possibilities to feel as though you're experiencing a new city are endless. From brand-new bar openings to immersive experiences popping up, this city can surprise you and make you want to stay just that little bit longer.
In partnership with online travel website Wotif.com, we've rounded up a bunch of happenings across the city that you might not have checked out yet. But, look sharp: some of them are here for a good time, not a long time.
Complete a Pop-Up Escape Room Challenge for the Chance to Win Big on Travel
If you're in need of a holiday (aren't we all?), we've found a way to make those dreams a reality even sooner. Between Wednesday, March 26 and Friday, March 28, King George Square is hosting a very exciting free pop-up that will give you the chance to score a $5000 Wotif Domestic Travel Credit. All you have to do to be in the running is enter The Wotif Great Summer Escape, a multi-sensory escape room with a series of puzzles waiting for you to crack. Each puzzle solved unlocks a door with views of beautiful Australian locations, which in turn earns you a token to enter the draw. There are also spot prizes up for grabs, such as hotel coupons valued between $250-500, but if you can't make it down, the competition can also be entered online.
Visit Brisbane's New Self-Pour Wine Bar
Being able to sample some of the world's best wines for a fraction of the price? We'll say cheers to that. That's the driving force behind Woolloongabba's new wine bar, Stickybeak. From the crew behind BTG Wine, Stickybeak has over 80 labels on offer across its two-level venue, ranging from local drops to bottles from Germany, France and New Zealand. It offers pours in 25-, 75- and 150-millilitre amounts, so you can sample a bunch without breaking the bank. And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet: no need to stress about waving down a bartender because the venue has ten self-serve dispensing wine fridges. You just tap your card, select your pour size and it does the rest. If you happen to be watching the two upcoming Brisbane Lion games, why not stay at a hotel nearby and enjoy this bar pre- or post-game?
Explore Antarctica Without Leaving the City
Tourism to Antarctica seems to be having a moment on social media but it's not without its ethical and environmental challenges. So here's a way to visit the big white continent guilt-free. As part of World Science Festival Brisbane, QUT The Cube is hosting a free experience across Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. It uses 29 multi-touch screens to immerse you in the vast Antarctic landscape and demonstrate how various robotic systems are helping to explore and research this fragile ecosystem safely and efficiently.
Eat Dinner Prepared by an Internet-Famous Japanese Chef
If your social media algorithms are tuned to food content, you've no doubt come across Motokichi Yukimura before. As flamboyant as his pink-hued hair, Yukimura has been cooking for over 45 years and made a name for himself for perfecting one dish, omurice (omelette rice), which he serves at Kyoto restaurant Kichi Kichi. Though, we think it's as much about the performance he puts on as it is about the actual food. Between Sunday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 25, Brisbane locals can get the Kichi Kichi experience at Harajuku Gyoza with Yukimara hosting a series of "meet and eat" sessions, which includes the viral omurice dish, a bunch of other Harajuku Gyoza signature plates and meeting the chef. Be fast though, there are only a few booking slots still available. Need a place to stay nearby? Try one of these South Brisbane hotels.
Then Enjoy a Campfire-Inspired Cruffin for Dessert
Although summer is almost over there are some elements of winter worth getting excited about. Not having to pump the air con, for one. Another? Winter getaways. And one of the best things about an off-grid escape is getting cosy by a campfire. To get you in the wintery mood, the masters at Lune have whipped up a monthly special inspired by the classic campfire treat, s'mores. The Toasted Marshmallow features a cruffin rolled in biscuit sugar, filled with choc-fudge sauce and a toasted marshmallow whip, then topped with mini marshmallows and strawberry sherbet. Give us five.
The Wotif Great Summer Escape is running from March 26-28 between 8am-6pm. For more information or to enter the competition online, head to the website.
