The Best New Bars in Brisbane for Un-Wine-Ding

In charge of making plans for the group chat? We’ve got just the thing. No matter what kind of mood or crew, we’ve got the best new bars in Brisbane for you.

Stuck in a rut with your regular? It’s time to take a step out and try something new! We’ve found the best new bars in Brisbane to get your tongue tingling in anticipation. 

Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a mixology maven, we guarantee you’re about to find your new favourite hole in the wall. We’ve scoped out the best rooftop bars, wine bars and distinguished drinking dens to curate the definitive guide to bars Brisbane locals can’t get enough of. 

Start scrolling to get planning for your next special occasion or event, or for any excuse to catch up with your best friends for a drink or two.

Goros

Brisbane is set to score a bar-cum-nightclub in the form of Goros! Channelling the energy of Japanese nightlife, this bar will transport you to the streets of Tokyo with its neon-lit interiors, multiple levels and wild karaoke rooms.

With delicious shared plates and incredible cocktails promised, this fun new bar in Brisbane is destined to impress.  

6 Warner Lane, Fortitude Valley

Dark Blue

One of our (and Brisbane’s) favourite wine bars is soon to open a cocktail bar in another of Fortitude Valley’s laneways. 

Word on the street is that Dark Blue will open in March, serving an incredible mix of cocktails and snacks to keep you sweet as you venture out into Brisbane’s bustling nightlife precinct. 

Stay tuned for more news coming soon on this exciting new bar opening in 2025!

Ballers Clubhouse

Sitting somewhere between a bar and an arcade, a new adult playground is coming to Brisbane! After gaining popularity in Melbourne and Adelaide, Ballers Clubhouse is bringing its happy-go-lucky energy to Fortitude Valley.

With expert mixologists crafting unique concoctions, snacks to keep you fuelled up and a myriad of fun games to play, the Clubhouse is perfect for group nights out, date nights or mate dates to keep it interesting.

Sing karaoke in a ball pit, shoot darts, play shuffleboard, or do it all with the action-packed and varied packages available to book for groups of all sizes.

Stay tuned for more details to come from this new bar in Brisbane!

22 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley

Alfred Street Bar & Bottlo

While we mourned the loss of Brewski on Caxton Street, we’re buoyed by the return of the team in a brand-new format: the Alfred Street Bar & Bottlo. 

Combining the best of Brewski with My Beer Dealer, this new Brisbane bar houses well-stocked shelves of spirits and progressive wines.

Book in for a bite to eat with snacks, share plates or larger meals to suit herbivores and omnivores alike (and there’s something for the gluten-free folk, too!).

As for the drinks, you can choose to sample one of the six rotating staff pics on tap, from over 400 wines or one of the 500 beers available. Talk about choice! 

51 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley

+81 Aizome Bar

The chic new bar on everyone’s lips is +81 Aizome Bar in West End. A small, ten-seater bar inspired by the owner-operated laneway bars you might stumble upon on a backstreet in Tokyo or Kyoto, this blue-tiful new space serves Neo cocktails (created by Tony Huang and debuted at Par in Melbourne), an inventive and intensive curation of drinks that take days to create. 

A restaurant will soon join the bar in February, but for now you can feast on bar snacks served on artisanal Japanese ceramics and sip cocktails to your heart’s content. 

259 Montague Road, West End
Image credit: Florian Groehn

BY.ARTISANS

West End welcomes a polished and contemporary new distillery to its streets this November, with the arrival of BY.ARTISANS.

Co-founder and master distiller Alexander Bell brings his ethos of creating a world worth inheriting to the forefront with his custom still apparatus, which redefines modern distilling in a more sustainable light. 

You can sample locally crafted gin and spirits at this bar, cafe and retail space, expertly combined into cocktails, and explore BY.PRODUCTS (soaps, candles and more) that are made from the botanical by-products of the distilling process. 

Opens 28 November 2024

99 Jane Street, West End

Henley’s 

Step into a bar that’s inspired by impeccable detail, whimsy, and a touch of nostalgia… and Wes Anderson himself. Henley’s is Teneriffe’s newest bar, named for its fictional inspiration–an intrepid epicurean traveller by the name of Arthur Henley. 

Sip on a cocktail worthy of the Grand Budapest Hotel’s pink paradise, and sample delights from the menu such as Coca-Cola fried rice, Gochujang chicken or mango pandan waffle with Biscoff. 

130 Commercial Road, Teneriffe

The Merchant Exchange 

Whisky lovers will be glad to hear of this new bar in Brisbane. Brought to you by the team who opened the Little Miss Sunshine Bistro Brewery in 2024, The Merchant Exchange is soon to become a regular stop-in for city slickers chasing a cocktail. 

With a sleek interior complemented by modern Chesterfield seating and cosy booths, this is the perfect date night spot or post-work wind-down destination. 

80 Ann Street, Brisbane

Barry Parade Public House

A friendly new face has popped up on Barry Parade, wedged snugly between Fortitude Valley and the CBD. The emphasis here is on atmosphere, and it’s a friendly one at that. Welcoming you in for a wind-down drink after work, or a gee-up before you continue further into the heart of the Valley.

A carefully curated selection of vintage spirits and eclectic wine means you’ll never have a boring drink at Barry Parade Public House, whether you opt for a seasonal cocktail or your signature drink.

As for bar snacks, an elevated grazing menu delivers all your favourites (and might inspire some new ones). Think top-notch cheeses, tasty cured meats, salads, and warm olives. Enjoy the flavours of Creole cuisine with a Mediterranean twist – we have a feeling you’ll find it’s the perfect balance with your afternoon drink.

122 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley

YOKO x B-Side

Japanese izakaya meets record bar, upstairs at Yoko on Howard Smith Wharves. Reimagining its upstairs dining area into its own unique space, B-Side is a place to eat, drink and play in your downtime.

Mondays at B-Side are the retro vinyl sessions, where you can kick back with a cocktail and some delicious Japanese eats to ease your way into the week. Hospo pals can score a special combo on Sundays, just by flashing your RSA card.

B-Side will be your new favourite place to unwind after a long day or await your meal downstairs at Yoko with an appetiser and a cocktail to wet your whistle, with resident DJs playing seven nights a week.

Upstairs at Yoko, 2/5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City

Stan’s

If you’ve ever dined at Stanley Restaurant, you might have visited the dining room upstairs. From October, you might not recognise it! The second level has been transformed into a sumptuous, svelte lounge bar, with a vinyl DJ booth and a mighty impressive whiskey collection.

Sip on a bespoke cocktail, nibble Cantonese bites by Executive Chef Louis Tikram (seafood lovers will adore this menu) and enjoy curated beats delivered via a vintage JBL sound system.

Let your hair down after work at this new riverside bar in Brisbane, you won’t be disappointed.

Level 2 at Stanley, Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane

Little Miss Sunshine Bistro Brewery

A bright new bar and bistro has entered the chat! The CBD welcomes Little Miss Sunshine Bistro & Brewery, a love letter to the Sunshine State and our easy breezy attitude.

With 28 taps including house-brewed classics and team favourites on rotation, this new bar in Brisbane is the place to enjoy small-batch beer, delicious food and live music from local musos. LMS is a space created by locals, for locals, and we predict it will be a fast favourite.

80 Ann Street, Brisbane City

With Love, The Underground

Opening underneath the new Justin Lane restaurant lies a funky new underground bar, spinning vinyl as a backdrop to good food and good times.

Drop by this Fortitude Valley bar for a drink and snack post-work, as vinyl DJs curate the perfect underground experience that Brisbane’s bar scene has been begging for.

32 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley

Bar Miette

A dreamy new venue has arrived along the river, another highly-anticipated arrival from the team behind Supernormal and Melbourne’s Gimlet, Cutler & Co, Marriott Wine Bar and more.

With a European-inspired appeal and stunning views of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge, Bar Miette provides a welcoming and casual environment for locals to pop by for a sun-kissed breakfast, golden hour cocktails, or soul-enriching charcuterie and seafood share plates.

443 Queen Street, Brisbane

Club Felix

The 140-year-old, Heritage-listed Naldham House is finally having its moment! This year, the team behind Walter’s Steakhouse, Gresham Bar and Popolo Italian have taken the reins to commandeer an incredible new hub of food, drink and fun in Brisbane’s CBD.

With this glow-up, comes the arrival of Club Felix, a svelte new cocktail bar and lounge that will hero champagne and classic cocktails as its shining star. Offering a long-awaited space for late-night drinking and dining, once you’ve finished eating at the restaurants below in Naldham House, Club Felix will be your final destination, to sip cocktails and spill the tea in a European-inspired space with old-world charm.

33 Felix Street, Brisbane City

Now that you’ve got the scoop on Brisbane’s best new bars, it’s time to plan the rest of your weekend! Check out our event guide to find the best happenings across the city, or scroll through our list of free things to do, to find new ways to explore the best of Brisbane.