Hotel Terminus
Next year is set to be a big one for the Ghanem Group. In addition to launching brand-new Mediterranean-inspired eatery and bar Alfi over in Everton Park, the hospitality juggernaut will officially unveil and reopen Hotel Terminus in mid-2026. If that name doesn’t sound familiar to you, Hotel Terminus is the original heritage name of what was most recently the Fox Hotel. After taking over custodianship of the storied South Brisbane pub in March, Ghanem Group has been hard at work (alongside Space Cubed Design Studio) transforming the site into a multi-level dining, events and entertainment precinct. Following a community voting process, the group has decided to reimplement the Hotel Terminus name and its identity, revealing some key details of the hub’s interior spaces.

In addition to restoring the building’s original facade, Ghanem Group will be delivering four levels of experiences, starting on the ground floor. Guests will be able to enter via a new Fish Lane entrance, stepping into an 18-m-high atrium. From here, punters can make for the restored public long bar or the bistro, which will boast a gastropub edge. There will also be a gaming lounge and bottle shop. One level up will sit Hotel Terminus’ event spaces and private-dining room, equipped to handle group gatherings and special occasions. The top two levels of the building will be home to the Vixen Room – a lush late-night haunt serving cocktails and snacks alongside entertainment from DJs and live-music ensembles. Sitting atop Hotel Terminus is Fox Rooftop (formerly Dandy’s Rooftop Bar), which will offer revellers impressive views of the Brisbane skyline and cultural precinct.

“We’re bringing Hotel Terminus back to South Brisbane as both a celebration of its remarkable history and a re-energised next chapter in its evolution,” said Ghanem Group hospitality director Adonis Ghanem in a statement. “We were very interested to hear the public’s suggestions on what to name the building. Most votes were to restore the original name, Hotel Terminus. However, we couldn’t ignore the goodwill associated with the Fox, which received the second most votes. Vixen came in third, which complements the connection and feel between the cocktail music bar and the Fox Rooftop on the upper two levels.”

Hotel Terminus is slated to open halfway through 2026 – we’ll have more updates in the new year.

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27 South Brewing
Over the weekend, hop heads celebrated the offical opening of Brisbane’s newest craft-beer brewery. After years of contract brewing and festival pop-ups, 27 South Brewing has finally cut the ribbon on its own bricks-and-mortar headquarters, which can be found on Milsom Street in Coorparoo. The brand-new suds spot boasts a 50-pax taproom, fitted with light wood fixtures and a green-and-white colour scheme, offset by the polished chrome of brewing equipment. Here, the community can congregate and catch-up over frosty glasses of 27 South frothies, including core-range beers like the Sunsets lager, Parks pale ale and Daisy Chain hazy, plus a range of limited-release brews. A takeaway fridge is packed full of four-packs and cartons, while a merchandise wall is loaded with plenty of swag for die-hard swillers to purchase. 27 South Brewing is currently operating from 12:00 pm to late on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with extended trading hours and an expanded offering (including small-producer wines and spirits) to be added soon. Head to The Directory for more info.

Nook Coffee
A soon-to-open nosh spot with a twist is set to enliven Brisbane’s cafe and creative scene when it opens early next year. Nook Coffee is currently taking shape on Northgate Road in Northgate, with owner Suzanne (a Northgate-based potter with more than 20 years of experience) looking to support local artists by establishing a space to sell and promote their wares to the public. Once open, Nook Coffee will champion creativity and community in equal measure, showcasing handmade ceramics, art, jewellery and flowers from local artisans alongside a tight menu of light bites and specialty coffee. Suzanne has linked up with Danny’s Bread to source a number of pastry items for Nook’s food offering, which will be available alongside a rotating selection of sweets, gourmet jaffles, Tim Adams coffee and cold-pressed juices. Nook Coffee is currently targeting a mid-January opening date – stay tuned for more.

Le Restaurant Rise
The team behind Rise Bakery has been making some big moves lately, with the team behind the French-inspired, Gold Coast-born baked-goods dispenser lifting the lid on a brand-new restaurant addition at its Newstead location overlooking Brekkie Creek. The venue is now opening on Wednesday to Saturday evenings as Le Restaurant Rise, with head chef Simon Palmer (formerly of e’cco Bistro) employing French techniques to transform local produce into a refined and relaxed menu. Highlights include snacks like wagyu tartare tartlets and coral trout croissant sliders, entrees such as local king prawns with savagnin butter and yellowfin tuna with citrus consomme. Mains include beef-cheek bourguignon, steak frites with cafe de Paris sauce and lobster baked orzo with thermidor sauce, while a clutch of large-format plates like whole rotisserie chicken and 12-hour roasted lamb shoulder round out the menu. In addition to the food and drink, Le Restaurant Rise is also capitalising on the riverside vibes with live jazz and acoustic performances on Fridays and Saturdays.

Death & Co Brisbane
Cocktail lovers, the time is nearly upon us. After months of anticipation, US-born cocktail bar juggernaut Death & Co is opening its Brisbane outpost this week. Death & Co revealed on Instagram that it will open underneath the Regatta Hotel in Toowong on Friday December 5, giving sippers their first taste of the brand’s iconic signature drinks, which includes the Naked & Famous (Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Chartreuse, Aperol and lime), the Oaxacan Old Fashioned (El Jimador Reposado, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, agave syrup, Angostura Bitters) and a clutch of new, locally inspired menu additions. Keep your eyes peeled for more on Death & Co soon!

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].