Let Your Hair Down In The Buzziest Brisbane Pubs

Toast the end of long days and your favourite people in our pick of the most cheerful Brisbane pubs.

Milestone celebrations. After-work debriefs. Sun-drenched Sunday sessions. Like seagulls to hot chips, our magnetism to pubs is unbudgeable. Whether you’re in the mood for freshly poured pints overlooking the water, golden-crumbed schnittys as big as your head, catching the weekend’s sporting triumphs on super-jumbo screens or just a good quality catch-up that won’t break the bank, our favourite Brisbane pubs are just the ticket.

Here, we shine a light on the city’s gems.

1. Regatta Hotel

the exterior of Regatta Hotel, Brisbane — The Regatta Hotel is a titan among the city’s pub scene.

A Brisbane must-visit, the Regatta Hotel is a titan among the city’s pub scene, located in the scenic riverside suburb of Toowong. Entertaining locals and visitors alike since 1874, the Brisbane pub is unmissable as its white lace-iron verandas transport you to a bygone era.

Inside, take your pick from The Main Bar, The Courtyard, The Boatshed fine dining restaurant, The Walrus Club den, The Whiskey Bar, the River Road Cafe (serving your morning fix from 6:30 am) and yet another space, Merle’s Bar. Wherever you choose, the vibes are unbeatable.

Address: 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong

2. Story Bridge Hotel

Another Brisbane icon, set right beneath the heritage-listed Story Bridge, is the Story Bridge Hotel . Hydrating patrons since its doors first opened in 1886, the Brisbane pub features a bunch of bars and an always-kicking vibe, particularly in the greenery-splashed Bridge Garden where singles mingle and big-screen TVs air whatever sports are on. Sunday sessions are popular with live music staged between 2 pm and 6 pm, while Friday and Saturday nights bring some of the best local DJs out to spin their stuff. Thursday is Curry Night, where house-made cook-ups provide the ultimate stomach lining.

Address: 200 Main Street, Kangaroo Point

3. The Lord Alfred Hotel

the dining interior of The Lord Alfred Hotel, Brisbane — The Lord Alfred Hotel dates back to the 1860s.

Got tickets to a game at Suncorp Stadium? Dropping into The Lord Alfred Hotel for a pre-game tipple (or few) is a prerequisite. Grab a schooner of your favourite brew and elbow your way through to secure a spot on the upstairs balcony.

It’s great for people watching as Caxton Street down below is always action-packed. Its historical bones date back to the 1860s, making it a character-filled space (no matter where you nab a table) to indulge in $15 weekly lunch specials and, if you’re visiting mid-week, Schnitzel Mondays where everyone’s favourite pub grub goes for just $18 a plate.

Address: 68 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane

4. The Normanby Hotel

Featuring one of the most fun-fuelled beer gardens in the city, The Normanby Hotel is a vibrant spot that’s always humming. Set up shop within the mammoth al fresco space or choose from its Public Bar (where all the live sporting streams are), Dining Room or multiple balconies. No matter where you’re perched, this most-loved pub is a guaranteed good time. Weekly entertainment includes Wednesday trivia nights and live music from Friday to Sunday.

Address: 1 Musgrave Road, Red Hill

5. Sandgate Post Office Hotel

the exterior of Sandgate Post Office Hotel, Brisbane — The casual pub is housed within a former post office.

A bayside beauty, the Sandgate Post Office Hotel nods to its rich origins as an actual post office built in 1887.

Paying tribute to its heritage, the Brisbane hot spot is consistently slick throughout its multiple alcoves, dining spaces and balconies. The kitchen nails it too, delivering both a casual bar menu and a fancier dining room menu.

On the laidback end, all your favourite pub classics (roasts, steaks, grilled meats and more) show face while the dining room is home to seafood and global-inspired fare.

Address: 1 Bowser Parade, Sandgate

6. Jubilee Hotel

The Jubilee Brisbane — The hotel has been transformed into a contemporary mecca.

Looking for something more sleek than sentimental? At the Jubilee Hotel in the inner city, you’ll score the best of both worlds. Built in 1887, it’s a heritage-listed haunt with an incredible history but recent years have seen it transformed into a contemporary mecca for classy (and sometimes not-so-classy) revelry.

Two levels, decked out with polished timber floors and one of the most dazzling gold bar tops this Australian Traveller writer has ever locked eyes with, house big group gatherings and intimate date nights as a stream of crafty cocktails, top-shelf booze and beautifully executed pub grub keeps the party going into the late hours.

Address: 470 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley

7. The Plough Inn

al fresco dining at The Plough Inn, Brisbane — Nab a table in the beer garden. (Image: Vethaak Media)

No visit to South Bank is complete without a cheeky wine or pint inside The Plough Inn .

The sprawling Brisbane pub spills over with infectious good vibes, encompassing a main two-level bar with an ornate balcony that overlooks the strip, a covered two-story entertainment space and further seating in the beer garden.

No matter which day you visit, there’s always something special going on, including Monday Rib Day, which dishes up a full rack for $25 and live music over the weekend.

Address: 29 Stanley Plaza, South Bank

8. The Rose & Crown

A grand Brisbane pub that blends its Queensland bones with English-inspired wining and dining, The Rose & Crown in South Bank is worth a pint or two. The 19th-century building, complete with lace-iron balconies, French doors, original fixtures and ornate finishes, is built with multiple areas to cosy into. Whether you’re somewhere inside, lost in a homely nook, or perched within an al fresco space, you can take your pick from a smorgasbord of beers, wines and spirits, plus traditional English meals (yep, a scotch egg, a steak and Guinness pie and a ploughman’s lunch are all there). Head over on Sunday to score a Sunday roast with Yorkshire Pudding, too.

Address: 271 Grey Street, South Brisbane

9. Breakfast Creek Hotel

the Spanish-inspired beer garden in the Breakfast Creek Hotel — Pull up a chair in the charming Spanish-inspired beer garden.

Blinded by a neon-lit XXXX sign? You’ve stumbled across the Breakfast Creek Hotel in Albion, located in the north-eastern suburbs of the city.

It’s renowned for its live footy match screenings, which draw huge crowds, propelling this Brisbane pub’s ambience to soaring heights.

There’s a very charming Spanish-inspired beer garden, six individual bars in total and a dining menu with some of the best pub steaks in town. Make sure you also check out its selection of rum, one of the largest collections in the southern hemisphere.

Address: 2 Kingsford Smith Drive, Albion

10. Koala Tavern

a hand holding a spoonful of food at Koala Tavern, Brisbane — Indulge in the triple chocolate brownie with caramel swirl.

Beloved by locals, Koala Tavern is a laid-back Brisbane pub with one especially wonderful, family-friendly beer garden. Complete with a playground (every pub parent’s dream come true), the space is dressed in faux grass so kids can run around with greater ease.

Regular events include Trivia Thursday and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. And, arguably most importantly, is the meals are abundantly served and always finessed.

Address: 36-40 Moreton Bar Road, Capalaba

11. The Glen Hotel

a spread of food on the table at The Glen Hotel, Brisbane — The menu offers a range of pub meals, desserts, gelato and coffee.

Get amongst the Brisbane ‘burbs with a family-friendly session at The Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains. An incredible outdoor play area fitted with a life-size model tractor, cubby holes and other fabulous time-suckers will keep little ones happy while the beer garden’s very convenient vantage point helps you keep watch.

The food is always generously portioned, and there’s even a cafe menu that offers a range of desserts, gelato and coffee. Everyone is endlessly sorted at this great Brisbane pub.

Address: Corner Logan Road and Gaskell Street, Eight Mile Plains

12. Frogs Hollow Saloon

ordering drinks at a bar in Frogs Hollow Saloon — The whisky den resides in a century-old warehouse. (Image: Mitch Lowe)

If you’re keen to escape scorching conditions outside, Frogs Hollow Saloon in Brisbane’s CBD is a stellar, dimly lit choice. A hipster hang adored by the city’s in-the-know hospitality scene, it’s moody yet relaxed, offering an ideal sanctuary where mixology excels.

A little bit country (don’t miss the whiskey range) and a whole lot of fun, it’s a late-night gem to mix with the coolest of kids.

Address: 26 Charlotte Street, Brisbane

13. QA Hotel

a look inside the QA Hotel in Brisbane — Cosy up in one of the booths.

It mightn’t look like much from the outside, but the QA Hotel , also known as the Queens Arms Hotel, is a historical Brisbane pub with plenty to fall for. Built in 1884, it’s in fact one of the oldest surviving pubs in the area.

It’s been spruced up multiple times since its arrival, and the current iteration is a warm and contemporary space with touches of exposed brick and timber in various shades of chocolate.

Fill your belly with an extensive menu of pizzas, pastas, burgers, grilled meats, salads and starters and keep spirits high with, well, spirits, shaken and stirred to pastel-hued perfection.

Address: 64 James Street, New Farm

14. The Pineapple Hotel

Lovingly dubbed ‘The Piney,’ Kangaroo Point’s Pineapple Hotel is a rowdy Brisbane institution that’s always entertaining. Family-owned and family-friendly, the hot spot is the place to visit if you’re on your way to The Gabba stadium, as it’s less than a ten-minute walk from the venue. Other drawcards include live music on Saturday night, live screenings of every footy match imaginable and Trivia Tuesday.

Address: 706 Main Street, Kangaroo Point

15. The Transcontinental Hotel

the pub interior of The Transcontinental Hotel, Brisbane — Pop by The Transcontinental Hotel for an after-work drink.

Right across the road from Roma Street Station, The Transcontinental Hotel is an outstanding place for after-work drinks.

The heritage-listed beauty, built in 1888, features multiple bars in addition to a beer garden and dining hall, and each space is roomy enough to house your gathering without feeling as though you’re on top of other groups.

Expect beautifully executed classics, including chicken parmi, steaks and burgers, on the menu, as well as internationally inspired small plates.

Address: 482 George Street, Brisbane

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Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

15 of the best Brisbane pubs to kick back in