Death & Taxes
Whisky and cocktail bar
A heritage bar on Burnett Lane with more than 1,000 spirits on the back bar, plus wine and craft beer.
๐ 36 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Our top 10 Brisbane bars
If you only have one night, start here.
- Savile Row
The Valley's grandest bar, behind an orange door.
Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves - Death & Taxes
A thousand bottles in a heritage laneway bar.
The CBD and the riverside - Dr Gimlette
Gimlets and martinis in one of the city's oldest buildings.
The CBD and the riverside - Maker
Tiny, seasonal and made to order on Fish Lane.
South Brisbane and West End - Cobbler
Whisky, cocktails and bring your own food in West End.
South Brisbane and West End - Finney Isles
Cocktails and charcuterie in 1920s style.
Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves - The Gresham
A grand old room on Queen Street.
The CBD and the riverside - Antico
Chandeliers and good drinks on Burnett Lane.
The CBD and the riverside - The Nixon Room
Martinis behind an unmarked door.
Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves - Stan's Lounge
Vinyl and martinis under the Story Bridge.
Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves
Map of Brisbane bars
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Bars in the CBD
Burnett Lane, Edward Street, Mary Street and Eagle Street, with heritage buildings, laneway bars and the river a few minutes away. Caxton Street is a short walk west.
Swipe to see all 9 bars โ
Dr Gimlette
Cocktail bar
A marble-topped bar in one of Brisbane's oldest buildings on Edward Street, known for gimlets and martinis.
๐ 109 Edward St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
The Gresham
Cocktail bar
A bar in a grand old building on Queen Street with premium rum, whiskey and wine alongside modern cocktails.
๐ 308 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Antico
Cocktail bar
A moody, chandelier-lit European-style bar on Burnett Lane.
๐ 48 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Le Royale
Cocktail lounge
A French cocktail bar and late-night lounge on the second floor of a heritage building on Mary Street.
๐ Level Two/169 Mary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Sixteen Antlers
Rooftop bar
A rooftop bar on level 16 of the Pullman and Mercure hotel on Roma Street, with city views and DJs.
๐ Pullman & Mercure Hotel Cnr Ann &, Level 16 Roma St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Brooklyn Standard
Live music bar
A New York-themed basement bar on Eagle Lane with live blues, soul and rock bands.
๐ Eagle Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Blackbird
Bar and restaurant
A 1920s-style bar and restaurant at the Riverside Centre, with a terrace over the river.
๐ Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Lefty's Music Hall
Live music bar
A saloon-style live music bar on Caxton Street with mounted deer heads and draped ceilings.
๐ 15 Caxton St, Petrie Terrace QLD 4000
Bars in Fortitude Valley and at Howard Smith Wharves
Ann Street and Brunswick Street in the Valley, Brisbane's nightlife district, plus the riverside bars under the Story Bridge at Howard Smith Wharves.
Swipe to see all 8 bars โ
Savile Row
Cocktail lounge
A multi-level lounge on Ann Street behind an orange door, with a long whisky and cocktail list in old-world surroundings.
๐ 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Finney Isles
Cocktail and wine bar
A 1920s-style bar on Ann Street known for cocktails, wine and charcuterie.
๐ 702 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
The Nixon Room
Martini bar
An unmarked speakeasy-style bar on Robertson Street built around martinis.
๐ Unit 3/181 Robertson St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Stan's Lounge
Cocktail lounge
A moody lounge at Howard Smith Wharves above Stanley restaurant, with martinis and vinyl DJs.
๐ 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Iris Rooftop
Rooftop bar
A rooftop bar and pool deck on top of The Alva hotel on Brunswick Street, with Mediterranean food.
๐ Atop The Alva, 458 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Fiume
Rooftop bar
A rooftop bar at Howard Smith Wharves beside the Story Bridge, with views over the river.
๐ Level 3/5 Boundary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Netherworld
Arcade bar
A Brunswick Street bar with arcade games, pinball and board games, plus food and cocktails.
๐ 186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Felons Brewing Co
Brewery
The first venue to open at Howard Smith Wharves in 2018: a huge riverside brewery in a heritage-listed shed under the Story Bridge.
๐ Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Bars in South Brisbane and West End
Small bars across the river around Fish Lane in South Brisbane and the streets of West End, a short walk over the Victoria Bridge.
Swipe to see all 4 bars โ
Maker
Cocktail bar
A tiny bar on Fish Lane with a seasonal menu and cocktails made to order.
๐ 9 Fish Ln, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Cobbler
Whisky and cocktail bar
A West End bar with cocktails, around 300 whiskies and BYO food.
๐ 7 Browning St, West End QLD 4101
Aizome Bar
Cocktail bar
A small, minimalist bar on Montague Road focused on precise cocktails.
๐ 259 Montague Rd, West End QLD 4101
The Plough Inn
Historic pub
A South Bank pub beside the bougainvillea arches, for people-watching over the parklands.
๐ Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank QLD 4101
Bars in Kangaroo Point
Across the river from Howard Smith Wharves, at the foot of the Story Bridge.
Story Bridge Hotel
Historic pub
The pub the city's engineers rerouted the Story Bridge to save, owned by the Deery family since 1967, with a beer garden and an award-winning restaurant.
๐ Main Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169
Bars in Toowong
West along the river from the CBD.
Regatta Hotel
Historic pub
A legendary riverside pub in Toowong with several bars, including a cocktail bar and a whisky bar.
๐ 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong QLD 4066
Brisbane cocktail trails
Three routes in walking order, with the time between each bar. See them all on a map.
The CBD laneways
6 bars ยท about 21 minutes on foot in total
- 1Le RoyaleLevel Two/169 Mary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- ๐ถ about 1 min to the next bar
- 2Dr Gimlette109 Edward St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- ๐ถ about 7 min to the next bar
- 3Brooklyn StandardEagle Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- ๐ถ about 3 min to the next bar
- 4The Gresham308 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- ๐ถ about 9 min to the next bar
- 5Death & Taxes36 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- ๐ถ about 1 min to the next bar
- 6Antico48 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Fortitude Valley
4 bars ยท about 23 minutes on foot in total
- 1Savile Row667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
- ๐ถ about 1 min to the next bar
- 2Finney Isles702 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
- ๐ถ about 8 min to the next bar
- 3The Nixon RoomUnit 3/181 Robertson St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
- ๐ถ about 14 min to the next bar
- 4Netherworld186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
South Brisbane to West End
3 bars ยท about 22 minutes on foot in total
- 1Maker9 Fish Ln, South Brisbane QLD 4101
- ๐ถ about 11 min to the next bar
- 2Cobbler7 Browning St, West End QLD 4101
- ๐ถ about 11 min to the next bar
- 3Aizome Bar259 Montague Rd, West End QLD 4101
More Brisbane bar guides
- Cocktail barsEvery cocktail bar in our Brisbane guide in one place: speakeasies, hotel bars, award winn
- Date nightRomantic cocktail bars in Brisbane for a night for two: Savile Row, Antico, Finney Isles a
- Rooftops and riverBrisbane bars with a view: Fiume, Sixteen Antlers, Iris Rooftop and Blackbird on the river
- Hidden barsBrisbane's hidden bars and speakeasies: Savile Row, Death & Taxes, The Nixon Room and Broo
- Fun bars for groupsLively Brisbane bars for birthdays and nights out: Netherworld, Lefty's Music Hall, Cobble
- Live music and lateBrisbane bars for live music or a late drink: Brooklyn Standard, Lefty's Music Hall, Le Ro
- Pubs and beer barsThe best pubs in Brisbane: historic boozers, real ale pubs and craft beer bars.
- Cocktail trailsReady-made Brisbane cocktail trails on foot: the CBD laneways, Fortitude Valley and South
Know before you go
- ๐๏ธ Book at the weekendThe smaller bars fill up on Friday and Saturday. Book where you can, or go early.
- ๐ถ CBD on footBurnett Lane, Edward Street, Mary Street and Eagle Lane are all a few minutes' walk apart.
- โด๏ธ Take the ferryThe free CityHopper ferry stops at Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank, an easy way between areas.
- ๐ Bring IDYou must be 18 to drink in Australia and bars often ask for ID. Tipping isn't expected, though it's welcome for good service.
Your questions
What is the best cocktail bar in Brisbane?
Start with Savile Row in Fortitude Valley and Death & Taxes on Burnett Lane in the CBD. Maker on Fish Lane is the pick across the river.
Where is the best area for cocktail bars in Brisbane?
Burnett Lane and the streets around it in the CBD have the most bars a few minutes apart. Ann Street in Fortitude Valley is the place for a later night.
Is there a Brisbane Cocktail Week?
Not yet. Cocktail Week runs ten-day cocktail festivals across the UK and Ireland and is coming to Brisbane. Sign up on the Brisbane Cocktail Week page to hear first when dates and venues are announced.
Do I need to book Brisbane cocktail bars?
Small bars like Maker and The Nixon Room fill up fast at the weekend, so book where you can or go early.
Who wrote this guide
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Now we're bringing it to Australia. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We put this guide together from our own research, Google Maps and trusted local guides, ahead of bringing Cocktail Week to Brisbane.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Cocktail Week in Australia
Want your bar in this guide?
Run a bar in Brisbane that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.