The bloke's guide to Brisbane nightlife

With the first Ashes Test about to start, the folk from Tourism and Events Queensland reveal the places to head after stumps are drawn

5 mins

1. The Chalk Hotel

A mixed bag of treats with Stick’s Wine and Bar Restaurant, Stumps Bar and Kitchen, and the Dust and Powder Cocktail Room all under the one roof. Located just 200 metres from the Gabba Cricket Stadium and open for up to 22 hours a day, The “Chalkie” is known for its chic modern bars offering a premium range of beverages and intimate areas to suit any style.

More information:  www.chalkhotel.com.au

2. The Morrison Hotel

A mecca for cricket carnivores, and just a ten-minute walk from the Gabba, the Morrison offers a drooling choice of eight char-grilled steaks including a whopping 400 gram rib eye that comes with a supplier guarantee of “ultimate satisfaction and tenderness”. For a truly Queensland taste, try some surf with your turf, and top the traditional with a slather of Moreton Bay Bugs. Not of the insect kind, mind you, but a variety of lobster caught around Brisbane’s bays and considered a local delicacy. 

More information: www.morrisonhotel.com.au 

3. The Norman Hotel

Hailed as Brisbane’s ‘worst vegetarian restaurant’ the 120-year-old Norman Hotel has a history and atmosphere like no other. A perfect example of a country pub – only this one is smack in the city boundaries – the hook here is the man-sized meat that drips over the plate just like you’d expect to be served up in the outback! If you aren’t tempted by the mouth-watering steaks, there’s also southern style spicy pork spare ribs to chew on while you rub shoulders with Australia’s sporting heroes.

More information:  www.normanhotel.com.au/index.html

4. Jellyfish Restaurant & Bar

Aptly perched on the banks of the Brisbane River at Riverside, Jellyfish Restaurant delivers on its name, serving between eight and 14 fresh species of fish daily. Much of the seafood here is sourced from Queensland waters, and there’s even a steak or two for the landlubber, plus an extensive drinks menu.

More information: www.jellyfishrestaurant.com.au

5. The Zoo Nightclub

Catering to the more independent side of the musical spectrum, The Zoo is Brisbane’s longest-standing live music venue and is located in Brisbane’s nightlife mecca of Fortitude Valley.  In any week you take in a range of music from hip hop, jazz, rock, and pop to acoustic, folk, dub and reggae. 

More information: www.thezoo.com.au/home.html  

6. X&Y Bar

Recently crowned Australia’s Best Music Offering at the prestigious Australian Bartender Magazine’s Australian Bar Awards, X&Y Bar offers live music seven nights a week. This may be the city’s newest boutique music venue but the building’s history goes back to more dubious times when crooked cops and gambling-loving businessmen alleged to have congregated. Today, the door policy is strictly unrestricted. Here fashion is secondary to tribe and conversation and all walks are welcome. 

More information: www.xandybar.com.au

7. Live at the Tivoli

Restored in an Art Deco style to its former 1917 theatrical glory, Brisbane’s historic Tivoli has hosted iconic Aussie bands like Powderfinger and Silverchair. 

More information: www.thetivoli.net.au

8. Paddo Tavern Sit Down Comedy Club

For some stand up while you sit down, visit McGuire’s Paddo Tavern, home of Brisbane’s Sit Down Comedy Club. Boasting the highest quality comedy performances in Brisbane, the club presents fresh local, national and international faces each week. 

More information: www.standup.com.au

9. Paladar Fumior Salon

Fancy a couple of Cubans? You’ll adore this former World War Two bomb shelter-cum-cigar bar in South Brisbane. Behind this mysterious red façade, you’ll find some of Brisbane’s best coffee as well as cigars. Open from 7am to 2pm between Monday and Friday, it’s got a great little deck upstairs, so you can puff away to your heart’s content.

More information: www.paladarfumiorsalon.com/Bienvenido.html

10. Archive Beer Boutique

At Archive Beer Boutique, you’ll be out for a duck with a modern Australian bistro menu to complement an all-round beer experience. Archive Beer caters for the cricketer who would rather appreciate their beer than knock one back, with no shortage of beer crafts to educate newcomers and satisfy beer connoisseurs. 

More information:www.archivebeerboutique.com.au

Tourism and Events QueenslandFor more information about what to do in Brisbane and environs, visit the Tourism and Events Queensland website.

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