The art of the nightcap — where to find Brisbane’s cosiest bars for solo sipping
Renowned journalist Christopher Hitchens said of drinking alone that “these can be the happiest glasses you ever drain,” and we’re inclined to agree. Drinking solo is no longer a cry for help but an act of graceful maturity. The quiet corners of bars are made for self-reflection, while the bar is a prime location for the friendly bar staff to dish the goss on the regulars. To practice social confidence and deliberate independence, we recommend putting your phone away, opting for a weekday visit and bringing a book. We’ve rounded up Brisbane’s best bars with subdued, inviting atmospheres where the solo drinker won’t feel out of place.
THE CITY
Death and Taxes, Burnett Lane
You may be surprised to find this weekend hot spot on this list, but Death and Taxes’ dimly lit and intimate atmosphere is unmatched when it comes to lone indulgence. Step off Brisbane’s oldest laneway and into a venue inspired by the underground speakeasies of London and Paris, where you’re greeted by dark wood panelling and their grand back bar, home to more than 1000 bottles of spirits. The welcoming and knowledgable staff – and beautifully bound drinks menu, peppered with the elegantly sombre artwork of Micah Ulrich – make it easy to forget the humdrum of the outside world. We hear that if you avoid Fridays and Saturdays, it’s easy to have your choice of seating. Sundays and Mondays are the bar’s quietest days, while Wednesdays and Thursdays clear out quick after the post-work rush, perfect for a nocturnal outing.
Milquetoast, Elizabeth Street
Even if you’re familiar with Elizabeth Street, you may not have noticed the inconspicuous laneway tucked between shopfronts which is home to one of The City’s best-kept secrets. Take a wander down to the end of the lane – we promise it’s safe – and you’ll find Milquetoast. The hidden haunt’s warmly lit interior has a comforting feel paired with service so friendly you’ll feel instantly at home, ready for an evening of solo sipping. Priding itself on its underdog reputation, the venue is independently run, offering a beloved sanctuary to Brisbane drinkers in search of quality and humility. It’s Milquetoast’s modesty that makes it the ideal locale for those in search of a solitary swill, for no matter if you rock up with others or alone, the team receives all visitors enthusiastically. Plus, their full menu is on offer till midnight, every night, so those who prefer a late-night excursion can still enjoy fresh oysters, sticky toffee pudding and pan-seared Murray cod with their nightcap.
Dr Gimlette, Edward Street
If you’re walking Edward Street and spy a sign bearing nothing but a plague doctor mask, don’t mistake it for a portent of death. It’s actually Dr Gimlette – an enchanting cocktail bar named after Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, the first man to add lime cordial to gin, a scurvy remedy he used on the Royal Navy. These days, Dr Gimlette honours its namesake’s legacy with masterfully mixed cocktails and decor that immediately transport you to a simpler time – think Italian leather booths, hardwood floors and brass light fittings. Take a seat at the lengthy marble bar and, with no one to rush you along, you can take your time flipping through the extensive selection. We’d recommend the Midnight Sky – a toasty warm and bittersweet bourbon concoction, perfect for a cold night of contemplation.
Frog’s Hollow Saloon, Charlotte Street
The John Reid and Nephews building on Charlotte Street used to house a light engineering factory and warehouse in a swampy area nicknamed Frog’s Hollow, where opium dens and brothels were common. Today, the area has a much better reputation – and the two-storey brick building is now home to Frog’s Hollow Saloon, a cheeky, whisky-centric bar with a penchant for country style and cowboy flair. Outside rush hour, the 60-seater venue becomes intimate and cosy thanks to the exposed brick, recycled timber details and bar-only service that encourages connection with the chatty bar staff. You wouldn’t be out of place if you were to waltz up to the bar, order a whisky neat and knock it back without a thought. In fact, the bartenders would probably love it – it is a saloon after all.
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Bar Miette, Queen Street
If you’re wishing you could take your solitary imbibing to an Italian lakeside, Brisbane has the next best thing in Bar Miette, a waterfront terrace with potent European influences. The verdant greenery, picture-perfect river views and umbrellaed burgundy tables make you feel as far from Queen Street as is humanly possible, meaning you don’t have to travel far to leave your day-to-day behind. Bar Miette operates as an inner-city escape all day long, serving coffee and breakfast in the morning on weekends and switching to a Euro-inspired a la carte menu and wines when the sun goes down. Our idea of a perfect afternoon includes wandering into Bar Miette around 4:00 pm for an espresso, getting lost in a good book for an hour or two, and then finishing up the experience with a glass of red as the sun fades into the horizon, leaving you wondering whether you should even bother to return to your old life.
Honourable mentions: The Gresham, Queen Street. Rothwell’s Bar & Grill, Edward Street. Club Felix, Felix Street.
FORTITUDE VALLEY
Dark Red, Bakery Lane
Dark Red is a cosy hole-in-the-wall that you won’t want to leave. Dedicated to the wines of Italy and Australian-grown Italian varieties, Dark Red is Hannah Wagner’s lovingly crafted escape, located in Fortitude Valley’s Bakery Lane. Award-winning bartender Ellery Low is the genius behind the bar, who whips up a range of fruity cocktails if you’re looking to jazz up your alone time. The atmosphere is moody and informal, with inside or outside seating and a rotating wine list, meaning there’s always something new to explore. Hannah – and her dog Daisy – are always on hand to help their customers feel at home, the former always happy to exercise her expertise to help you find a sip to your taste – or even just to have a chat.
Dark Blue, Winn Lane
Feeling blue? Dark Red’s big sister arrived earlier this year, opening just around the corner from its Bakery Lane sibling. Located on Winn Lane, Dark Blue is somehow even more intimate and polished than its sister, with a space Hannah Wagner describes as the perfect balance of industrial and romantic. A little bit more refined and grown-up, the mostly black-hued venue features exposed brick, second-hand furnishings and enough lamps and chandeliers to invoke instant calm. Devoted to the wines of South America, Mediterranean spirits and finely crafted cocktails, Charlie Hunter (formerly of Savile Row) oversees behind-the-bar operations, meaning you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to make your drink choice alone. Settle into a corner table and indulge on Dark Blue’s small food menu of Spanish and Portuguese conservas, cheeses and other snacks.
Savile Row, Ann Street
If you’re looking to escape the busyness of Ann Street, look for a solitary, unmarked orange door – this is the only indication you’ve found the London-inspired dreamworld that is Savile Row. After slipping through the door and parting a pair of black curtains, you’ll enter a cocktail bar that provides a tailored drinking experience where the heightened appreciation of solitude is welcomed. Inside, the dark wood-panelled bar is dimly lit by the elaborate crystal chandelier lighting up all five levels of the venue, from the dimmed corners of the foyer to the uppermost loft-like level, ideal for people watching. If you are intimidated by the immensely impressive bottle collection lining the back wall, the knowledgeable bar staff will do their best to take care of you, whether that’s with a personalised drink or friendly chinwag.
Finney Isles, Ann Street
Just across the road from behind the orange door, is an equally elusive and unremarkable blue door, hiding a bespoke alcoholic experience. Behind the blue door, you can expect the same dedication to flavour, expertise and hospitality that can be found across the road, albeit in a much different environment. Finney Isles’ cool blue and black tones give the space a moodier feel, complete with elegant cocktails and a carefully cultivated library of spirits from gin to whisky. Barstool seating is also available, perfect for nursing a whisky from the talented staff’s recommendation.
Honourable mentions: Barry Parade Public House, Barry Parade. Snack Man, East Street.
WEST END & SOUTH BRISBANE
Bar Hugo, Hardgrave Road
Self-described as a little rough around the edges, Bar Hugo won’t make the lone drinker feel out of place, but rather, welcome them with open arms. While there’s plenty of wine on offer, Bar Hugo’s vermouth selection is the real star of the show, with dry, bianco, rosato and sweet varieties from across the globe available. Spend your solitary excursion cosying up to a drop from as close as Samford Valley or test your tastebuds on a bottle from Athens – there’s no wrong choice here. The bar is invitingly lit with 70s-esque orange glow and lined with nine barstools, which is the prime spot for a solo date. That is, unless, the breezy back deck is more your style, where you can do your pondering with a view of leafy trees and the wide-open night sky.
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+81 Aizome Bar, Montague Road
Upgrade your intentional solitude with a visit to +81 Aizome Bar, the moody Japanese-inspired joint holding the title of Brisbane’s most progressive and inventive cocktail bars. Offering a moment of stillness in a busy world, Aizome encourages refined mindfulness and a studied attention to what you’re drinking. In Japanese, aizome means indigo, which is the colour that envelops the small 10-seater space, creating a dark yet intimate atmosphere inspired by the bars of Tokyo. Why so few seats, you ask? To better develop a rapport with the barman, says the geniuses behind Aizome, where the staff are as skilled in tending to their guests as they as in mixing drinks. By taking a seat at the bar, patrons can feel an instant sense of calm wash over them as they take in the venue’s impressive yet minimalist environment. The drinks menu has been meticulously crafted, with some of the cocktail ingredients requiring 48 hours of preparation, so you can be comforted by the fact that whatever you’re sipping is worth your time.
Bar Brutus, Melbourne Street
From the talented team behind Julius Pizzeria, Bar Brutus is the small but mighty offshoot to the famed Fish Lane pizza joint, and just as popular. This is a solo expedition you’ll definitely want to save visiting for a weekday, unless facing crowds alone doesn’t faze you. The only indoor seating is face-to-face with the bar, priming guests for striking up a conversation with a fellow stranger or studying the skills being exercised behind counter. If you rather the freedom of reserved independence for better appreciating a nice drop, you can take your nightly nip to one of outdoor tables where the nightlife serves as an entertaining diversion.
Maker, Fish lane
This 20-seater may look simple and unassuming from the outside, but inside bold flavours and eclectic experimental techniques come together to create a one-of-a-kind drinking experience. The 7-m-long brass bar serves as the canvas for Maker’s expertly presented cocktails and mixed creations, which you can devote more time to appreciating by visiting alone. The short yet impactful drinks menu is rotated monthly, along with the charcuterie menu to display the season’s flavours, native ingredients and homemade liqueurs.
Honourable mentions: bosc., Vulture Street. Cobbler, Browning Street. Midtown Bar, Manning Street.
IN THE ‘BURBS
Grape & Grazing, New Farm
Wander into Grape & Grazing in the evening and you’ll be treated to a bespoke experience that’s all about comfort and class. Nestled in a leafy pocket of New Far, Grape & Grazing is a local’s oasis – one serving incredible wine, gourmet cheese boards and a small European-inspired menu of dishes designed for grazing or feasting. As the sun sets, settle into a leather banquette or one of the outdoor tables, enjoy a glass with a side of charcuterie and watch the evening rush drive by. With the by-the-glass list featuring more than 20 wines from across the world (as well as a many bottles – including some super-special drops), you needn’t worry about having to polish off a bottle on your own – not that owners Rowena and Oliver would mind if you did. The two are dedicated to putting the hospitality back into hospitality by building genuine connections with their visitors.
The Alliance Hotel, Spring Hill
If you’d prefer to take your lone tipple somewhere a little more informal and colloquial, Spring Hill welcomed a renovation to one of its most historic buildings late last year, delivering the friendly neighbourhood pub that the suburb needed. The Alliance Hotel only has one wish – to become ‘The Pub’ in the minds of locals, the no-brainer place you pay a visit to when you want an easy pint or a meal. Inspired by Melbourne’s great independent pubs, The Alliance Hotel team have carefully curated the classic Australian pub atmosphere in Spring Hill to give this new haunt a sense of character that is charmingly familiar. Head on down to the Whisky Warren, the nostalgia-laced bistro and bar area offering more than 60 of Australia’s best whiskies and hearty meals of game meat – think rabbit, kangaroo and crocodile – by candlelight. If you’re hoping to keep your solitary expedition casual and low-key, this is the spot to try.
Junk Bar, New Farm
Junk Bar may have switched its digs from Ashgrove to New Farm, but the homely haunt’s understated vibe is still intact and perhaps in better shape than ever to host a downtime drink. The space is artfully packed with kitschy vintage furniture, decked out with warm lighting and always spinning vinyl tunes handpicked by the bar staff. It’s easy to find a secluded private corner to claim as your own, where you can snuggle down in a couch or an armchair with a cocktail to soothe your soul – we’d recommend the tart Junk Cherry or the maple cinnamon-flavoured Log Lady. If a dose of entertainment is what you need to let loose, head on down to the Skukum Lounge to get a taste of the local live music Junk Bar has built a reputation off showcasing.
South City Wine, Woolloongabba
Channel the easy confidence of the French by enjoying your alone time at South City Wine, the Parisian-inspired wine bar tucked just off the busy streets of Woolloongabba in South City Square. The emerald colour palette, oil paintings and mahogany details create a warm, intimate interior with elevated retro glamour that’s pleasing on the eye. Pause and reflect on your life from the outdoor terrace or the gorgeous indoor seating as you sip from a wine list loaded with tipples from Australia, France, Italy, Germany, California, Greece, Lebanon and more. Elevate your self-care by adding something from the tapas-style menu to the table – perhaps artisan cheese, Italian sardines, or skip to dessert with a maraschino cherry creme brulee.
Patio by Range, Paddington
On the weekends, it’s not easy to find a spare seat at this popular Rosalie haunt without a booking, but throughout the week, Patio clears out enough that you can wander in and find a table for one with ease. Blending the feel of an Italian alfresco with the atmosphere of an Aussie pub, Patio is the simple yet stylish neighbourhood spot that has the locals returning again and again. Seat yourself at the bar or in the courtyard and treat yourself to an experience reminiscent of setting up camp on the back porch with a cold one in hand.
Honourable mentions: Canvas, Woolloongabba. Wineism, Albion. Barrel & Stills, Woolloongabba. Rays by Range, Camp Hill. Frank’s Social Club, Paddington.