Inner city

Milquetoast

Behind an unassuming garage door in Brisbane City, Milquetoast has become a go-to for wine enthusiasts, pouring an extensive collection of local and international drops alongside house cocktails and a dedicated martini list. The intimate, pocket-sized bar is perfect for settling in with a few drinks and discovering something new from the ever-evolving menu. 
Good for: A pre-dinner martini. 
What to drink: Caspar Milquetoast Martini.

Le Royale

Inspired by the grand hotel bars of Europe, Le Royale brings old-world glamour to Brisbane City with velvet booths, crystal chandeliers and an extensive drinks menu spanning Champagne, classic cocktails and premium spirits.
Good for: Sippin’.
What to drink: Bubbles of course.

The Gresham

Brisbane’s favourite whisky saloon – The Gresham Bar – has won a swag of awards, a legion of fans and a reputation as the city’s go-to joint for rare and exclusive whisky, rum, and wine. Sink into a chesterfield lounge, rest your whisky on a table made of rich mahogany and soak up its old-world charm.
Good for: Whisky tastings featuring drops not stocked anywhere else in Australia.
What to drink: One of The Gresham’s signature old fashioneds.

Antico

Tucked away in Burnett Lane, Antico is a multi-level Italian inspired, old-fashioned bar that you can get cosy in for hours. Grab your friends and settle into the green booths while you work your way through their curated Italian cocktail menu.
Good for: Date night, relaxed catch ups.
What to drink: Walking on Sunshine.

The Boom Boom Room

Beneath the elegant Donna Chang modern Chinese restaurant, The Boom Boom Room serves opulent cocktails within the Heritage-listed building’s old bank vaults. With bottle service, delectable bar snacks and a soundtrack of jazz, soul and blues, it's an easy bar to let the drinks flow to the rhythm of the music.
Good for: Intimate groups of two-to-four.
What to drink: One of the three Sake Flights.

Stan’s Lounge

Finish (or start) your Howard Smith Wharves wander with a drink at Stan’s Lounge, a dark and moody Hong Kong inspired hideaway above Stanley Restaurant. Come for the handcrafted cocktails and Cantonese bites, stay for the vinyl soundtrack and after‑dark glamour.
Good for: Intimate groups and moody cocktails.
What to drink: Dragon Margarita.

Mr Percival's

This hexagonal-shaped over-water bar sits under the iconic Story Bridge with incredible skyline views across Brisbane City. Drop into Mr Percival’s and watch the sun set over the river on the open-air deck paired with aperitifs and good vibes that ease you into the night.
Good for: Alfresco spritzes with a view.
What to drink: A cocktail jug!

WET Deck

Sip on a delicious cocktail or mocktail and make a splash at the W Brisbane’s WET Deck pool. With luxury sun loungers and epic riverside views, it feels like it's summertime all year-round at this bar. Settle in with a drink and graze your way through the bar menu as the afternoon drifts by.
Good for: Effortlessly cool bar eats and drinks with friends.
What to drink: Signature cocktails.

Brooklyn Standard

Love live music? You’re in luck! Musicians take to the stage at the Brooklyn Standard, an all-American-themed underground laneway bar. With free table pretzels, Brooklyn lager on tap and a dance floor to boogie the night away, this iconic bar is every bit as cool as it sounds.
Good for: Dancing to live music, late nights with friends.
What to drink: Brooklyn lager.

Bar Pacino

Overlooking the stunning Brisbane River and Story Bridge, Bar Pacino offers a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere. It’s perfect for a Friday wind-down or catching up with friends on the weekend.
Good for: Epic share plates and sweeping views of the city.
What to drink: A house cocktail.

Bar Miette

Perched above the Brisbane River on Queen Street, Bar Miette brings a slice of Europe to the heart of Brisbane’s city. With views across the water to the Story Bridge, this stylish terrace bar is the perfect spot to settle in with a cocktail and share a plate or two. The menu highlights elegant European-inspired bites, charcuterie and seafood, while the drinks list pairs classic cocktails with an extensive selection of wine.
Good for: Sunset sips.
What to drink: A Miette Martini.

Death & Taxes

Stop by Brisbane City’s oldest laneway, Burnett Lane, and discover one of its hidden gems. Death & Taxes is an iconic whisky bar with a moody atmosphere, warm interiors and – most importantly – a 25-strong cocktail list and a back bar with more than 1000 bottles of spirits, liqueurs, and mixers.
Good for: Old-world charm and drinks with friends.
What to drink: Marisa Tomei.

Fortitude Valley

Winnifred’s

For those who believe every occasion calls for bubbles, Winnifred's is Fortitude Valley's ode to all things sparkling. The intimate underground bar pours an impressive selection of Champagne, from renowned houses to grower-producers, making it the perfect bar to explore beyond the usual bottle of sparkles. 
Good for: Raising a toast. 
What to drink: A glass of Champagne.

Savile Row

Step through the orange door and step back in time into a delightful speakeasy of yesterday at Savile Row. With the incredible drinks wall behind the bar, ask for your favourite concoction and let the staff create it from scratch or you can select a signature cocktail from the bespoke menu. Score a seat upstairs and settle in for the night.
Good for: A Saturday night escape from the bustle of Brunswick Street.
What to drink: Any of the cocktails or a whisky served neat.

Kazba

Step into Kazba and be transported as this charming cocktail bar creates cocktails inspired by the boulevards of Tel Aviv using house-made Middle Eastern cordials, sodas, teas and unique produce for garnishes.
Good for: Delicious bespoke cocktails and vegetarian bar snacks.
What to drink: Za’atar Smoked Gold Negroni or Red Centre Iced Tea.

Gerries Bar

A beloved local hangout just off James Street, Gerries combines a carefully curated wine and cocktail list with a soundtrack spun on vinyl and a menu made for sharing. Settle in with a few bar snacks, work your way through the seasonal tasting menu and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Good for: Small groups or date night.
What to drink: Anything that pairs with charcuterie.

The Lodge Bar & Dining

Melding fashion, food and New Zealand wine, The Lodge offers a truly memorable experience. Its heritage Queenslander building houses two bars: a ground-floor corner bar with banquette seating and a stylish bar with a spectacular wrap-around balcony that allows for panoramic views of the James Street strip on the upper level.
Good for: A glass of rosé, in style.
What to drink: Wine from an independent New Zealand producer.

LOS Bar

With more than 350 tequilas and mezcals behind the bar, LOS Bar is a favourite amongst agave enthusiasts. The moodily lit James Street venue pairs one of Australia's deepest agave collections with cocktails inspired by a fusion of Mexican and Southeast Asian flavours, creating a drinking experience that's as vibrant as it is flavourful. 
Good for: Discovering tequila and mezcal beyond the classics. 
What to drink: A signature cocktail.

Northern suburbs

Stratton Bar & Kitchen

Eat, drink, and celebrate at Stratton, an airy venue sprawled across two former World War II hangars. Book a table in the modern, industrial restaurant and bar area or meander next door into its plant-filled atrium. Come for a drink or stay for a meal, the casual and welcoming bar is open until late.
Good for: Weekend hangs with friends.
What to drink: Cocktails made with Australian produce.

Junk Bar

Located inconspicuously behind an ageing shop front, Junk Bar serves up a creative cocktail list featuring house signatures and retro classics, alongside a small selection of boutique wines and local beers – perfectly in step with its quirky decor of deer antlers, forest wallpaper and vinyls played on an old record player.
Good for: Discovering new and emerging musicians.
What to drink: Cocktails, cocktails, cocktails.

Cardigan Bar

Cardigan Bar is Sandgate's neighbourhood laneway watering hole and a great place to listen to live music over a drink or two. The boho atmosphere is complemented by folk, jazz and blues music from Thursday to Sunday. There are often food trucks on-site or you can BYO food to pair with your tipple of choice.
Good for: Local vibe and open mic nights.
What to drink: Mulled wine in winter.

Mrs Brown’s Bar & Kitchen

Mrs Brown’s Bar & Kitchen is known for its lively atmosphere and good vibes. With great food and an impressive drinks list, Mrs Browns is perfect for groups of any size – the perfect place to kick the night off.
Good for: Getting the crew together.
What to drink: Honey Bee Mine.

Southern suburbs

+81 Aizome Bar

Step through the indigo-blue curtain and into +81 Aizome Bar, a moody Japanese-inspired drinking den where whisky, sake and cocktails take centre stage. Nestled in West End, it pairs blue-hued interiors with an impressive collection of Japanese spirits, offering everything from rare whisky pours to meticulously crafted cocktails that showcase traditional Japanese flavours. 
Good for: Japanese whisky enthusiasts. 
What to drink: A Japanese whisky highball.

Canvas

At Canvas, classic cocktails sit alongside inventive signature creations, each with its own quirky name and quote. Pair your picks with a selection of share plates and settle into the bar's relaxed, artistic vibe.
Good for: Cheese boards and drinks with friends.
What to drink: Choose your own gin and tonic adventure.

Electric Avenue

Once a hotspot for antiques, Electric Avenue tips its top hat to Brisbane’s rich and sometimes surprising history. Slide into the cosy dining room or pull up a table on the sidewalk and order a bite to eat while you peruse the extensive wine list. Don't leave without asking the bar staff to show you the way to Mrs J. Rabbits, a hidden speakeasy waiting to be discovered on the top floor.
Good for: Nightcap and a toe tap.
What to drink: Wine downstairs, whisky upstairs. 

Cobbler

Like whisky? You'll love Cobbler. This small, West End bar boasts an astounding 400+ whiskies from around the world including Scottish, American, Canadian, Irish, Japanese and Australian varieties.
Good for: A nightcap.
What to drink: Why, whisky of course.

The End

This is The End, my friend. A small galley style bar popular with West End locals, The End plays ‘90s films on the back wall and regularly hosts live music or DJs spinning vinyl. It’s all part of the venue’s laid-back charm, alongside an artisanal cocktail list and rotating selection of craft beers.
Good for: Live music and drinks.
What to drink: Natural wines.

Eastern suburbs

Adelita Wine Bar

Snack on oysters and charcuterie as you peruse the 80-strong wine list at this quaint and cool wine bar – Adelita – overlooking Moreton Bay. Its chic and classic interior is matched by a restaurant-quality bar menu and a thoughtfully curated drinks list.
Good for: Sundowners overlooking Moreton Bay.
What to drink: Modern Australian wines.

Bar Cooper’s

Coorparoo's Bar Cooper’s is raising the bar for neighbourhood drinking spots with a thoughtful wine list, seasonal cocktails and a welcoming cosy feel. Sip your way through Australian and international drops from the carefully curated cellar or settle in with a cocktail in the moody dining room or leafy courtyard.
Good for: Moody drinks.
What to drink: A seasonal cocktail or a recommendation from the wine list.

Western suburbs

The Underground

Hidden beneath the historic Regatta Hotel, The Underground brings world-class cocktails in a moody, intimate underground setting with a CityCat straight to its door. Bringing new energy to The Regatta after dark, enjoy a rotating lineup of live music with locally inspired drinks in hand.
Good for: Moody atmosphere.
What to drink: Spicy Margarita.

Hope and Anchor

Hope and Anchor is an English-style pub that has made its home in a heritage-listed, 19th century bakery. Serving hearty homemade pies, perfectly poured Guinness on tap and an extensive wine list, it's the kind of place that will have you feeling as though you've stepped straight into a traditional British local pub.
Good for: English pub food.
What to drink: Guinness.

If you want to take your Brisbane bar experience to new heights, check out the incredible rooftop bars that Brisbane has to offer.