Martin Lange a well-known personality in the city’s hospitality industry, co-owning some of Brisbane’s best bars, including Cobbler, Death and Taxes and Dr Gimlette. As such, he’s the perfect person to ask about the best bars to visit in the River City. He says the evolution of Brisbane’s bar scene has been incredible.
“The number of great bars that have opened over the last decade has been very impressive,” Lange says. “The culture and quality of our bar scene has really matured. Brisbane has really started to come into its own culture.”
Today, Brisbane’s bar scene has many options, including bars dedicated solely to whisky, gin, tequila, cocktails and craft beer. There’s even a dedicated Amaro bar. Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley and the West End are where most of the city’s bars are located, though you can also find them in other smaller spots around town.
“The CBD is great for cocktails and whisky, Fortitude Valley is known for cocktails, music and late-night venues and in West End, you’ll find beer, whisky and live music,” says Lange.
Ahead, he shares his edit of Brisbane’s best bars. From a cosy 10-seater venue in South Brisbane, to the first whisky bar in Queensland and an elegant Italian cocktail bar with a menu that focuses on fresh produce and rotates every season, these are the best places to get a drink in Brisbane.
Bar Brutus, South Brisbane
Bar Brutus can be found in South Brisbane’s growing Fish Lane. The 10-seater venue is the brainchild of Julius Pizzeria co-owner Aleks Dzajkovski and Julius barman Stefan Angelovski. It has a similar feel to traditional Italian espresso bars, with just five spritzes, five class and five modern cocktails making up the bulk of the drinks menu.
Its huge floor-to-ceiling windows open out onto Fish Lane, making the space feel anything but pokey while feeling connected to the foot traffic down the laneway. “It’s cosy and excellent for pre-dinner nights and dates,” says Lange.
Death and Taxes, CBD
One of Lange’s waterholes, Death and Taxes is an award-winning whisky bar down a CBD laneway. It’s reminiscent of a classic speakeasy, which you won’t find too many of in Brisbane. It features dimly-lit chandeliers, well-worn leather chesterfields and dark corners. it’s a place to nurse a whisky neat and contemplate your problems.
Cocktails vary from old-fashions to modern classics like the ‘bone chapel’ – Bladnoch 10 scotch whisky, oloroso, fernet branca, strawberry and sherry vinegar. The back bar boasts a 600-strong selection of the best whisky, scotch, and gin. “It’s possibly the best cocktail and whisky bar in Brisbane,” Lange says. “It has excellent service and is a great option for dates and groups.”
Maker, South Brisbane
Maker is also one of Lange’s spots, consistently serving some of the city’s best cocktails and small-batch wine. The laneway venue holds just 18 seating, but it’s won multiple awards, featuring in best bars lists country-wide.
Intimate, and approachable, you won’t find frilly cocktail names, just a list of ingredients describing the final product. The neat drinks list emphasises its seasonality by ordering small-batch wines only by the doze. There’s a tiny space for small bites to be assembled in the back corner. You’ll never have a repeat experience at Maker, and that’s all part of its charm.
Dr Gimlette, CBD
Dr Gimlette is in Brisbane’s luxury fashion district, on Edward Street, housed in a heritage-listed building, one of the city’s oldest, with high ceilings and exposed brick walls. “It’s a great pre- or after-dinner location,” says Lange.
The bar is known for its cocktails with a martini cart that rolls table-to-table all night, letting patrons personalise their drink and be treated to the theatrics of its making. If you’re new to martinis, the venue’s bartenders will guide you through the different styles and help you personalise your own, so it’s to your flavour liking.
Antico Bar, CBD
Another of Lange’s venues, Antico Bar is an elegant Italian cocktail bar with a concise menu focusing on fresh, local produce and rotates every few months. This means no pre-made syrups, fermentations or reductions are in any cocktails. Order Italian snacks to bite into along with your drinks, like cured meats, bruschetta or burrata.
The venue occupies the space on Burnett Lane that once was Super Whatnot. Today, it features mosaic tiling, a black and fold, marble bar and black leather booths.
Before and After, CBD
You likely wouldn’t just stumble on another of Lange’s Brisbane bar favourites, Before and After. The cosy venue is tucked down an alley off George Street in the city. Opened in 2022, it specialises in the herbal liqueur Amaro, and was designed to cater to those looking for a pre-dinner aperitif or post-dinner digestif.
Guests can also choose from gins, whiskies, wines and beers from local craft breweries. Pair your beverage with aaero-spiked appetisers like shrimp roles, amaro gelato floats and fish crudo.
Savile Row, Fortitude Valley
Lange describes Savile Row in Fortitude Valley, another one of his venues, as an “amazing, moody, late-night cocktail and whisky bar”. It’s open seven nights a week until 2am and on Fridays and Saturdays, ‘til 3am.
It’s tucked behind an unmarked, orange door, steps from Brisbane’s entertainment precinct. The venue is a tribute to the iconic central strip known for its exquisite tailoring that it’s named after. Settle into a seat at the bar or at a booth on one of its five levels.
Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
Black Bear Lodge in the Valley’s Brunswick Street Mall is a two-level cocktail bar with live music from local and interstate acts most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check its events calendar ahead so you know what’s on. The venue is dimly lit with exposed brick walls and vintage furniture.
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