From first dates to fiestas – Comuna Cantina’s Newstead expansion is built for everything
Comuna Cantina’s newest outpost officially lands in Newstead with more than tacos and tequila in tow. This hacienda-inspired venue has been designed to flex from morning coffees to late-night margaritas without missing a beat. It might just be the all-rounder the neighbourhood has been waiting for. Come and take a look inside …
With every new venue Tim Johnson opens, he applies lessons learned from the ones that came before. Comuna Cantina’s brand-new Newstead eatery and bar sees the Together Hospitality head honcho delivering what might be his best venue yet.
The 200-seater, which officially opens to the public tonight, is a well-rounded realisation of the Mexican-inspired concept that boasts sibling locations in The City and Everton Park. Here, on Cunningham Street overlooking Waterfront Park, Tim is pouring more than ten years of hospitality experience into an establishment that looks to meet the diverse needs of the local populace in ways the concept hasn’t before.
“We made sure that it really covers every single demographic,” says Tim. “It’s not just the party place, it’s not just the taco place or the cocktail place – it’s somewhere for everyone.
“You can grab a coffee out the front, you can have a 50th birthday party, your run club can kick off here, and two people can get together for a first date, all at the same time.”
A venue that covers this many bases necessitates a site suitable for the task. The space, previously home to Lazy Dog Cafe, didn’t quite fulfil the brief on first inspection, but its proximity to the park and the Gasworks precinct encouraged Tim and his team to invest in upgrading the venue’s versatility.
“We were looking around for the right spot for about two years,” explains Tim. “We wanted natural elements and a space where we could really bring it to life. This space was just 132-sqm of internal space and that was it – just coffee and a kitchen. The number one factor with the venue selection was weather protection.”
You might like
Working with long-time collaborators Alkot Studio and construction specialists Unita, the Comuna team has enclosed the paved patio, significantly expanding and weatherproofing the dining area. A hacienda-inspired aesthetic has been applied, incorporating Comuna’s signature pink hues and desert tones, with crazy pave stone and marble finishes adding texture.
Inside, guests are greeted by a coffee counter serving invigorating brews from 6:00 am daily. To one side of the entrance sits a bike rack for cyclists to lock up their wheels while making a pit stop. The venue’s interior (which can be divided into five sections by sliding curtains) is furnished with an assortment of custom pieces designed by Alkot Studio, including pale timber chairs boasting leather backrests and vivid orange stitching, and a central table with a mosaic-tile top.
Next to an intimate private-dining space sits a merch station and television screen, which flows towards the bar (backed by a four-storey shelving display), kitchen and a marble-clad wishing well at the rear. Outside, tables and striped orange chairs are arrayed between garden planters filled with rare cacti, including Queen Victoria agave plants and dragon trees. Though boasting Comuna’s signature vivid character, the Newstead site has been designed to respond to its parkland setting, differentiating it from its other locations.
“The idea is to have every venue with its unique focus point and reason for being,” says Tim. “We’re not trying to replicate the same look and feel at every location, we want to make it sympathetic to the surroundings. No one has really embraced the parklands before.
“I think it’s going to be like the main meeting point, the village green, which Newstead’s always needed.”
Subscribe for updates
Comuna Cantina’s menu of Mexican-inspired eats and drinks has been transferred over to Newstead in its entirety, with a few tasty additions. From the kitchen flows a flurry of starters, including ricotta-topped corn ribs, tangy chicken wings and cauliflower bites, followed closely by fajitas and nachos.
Tacos fall into two camps – classic (chargrilled chicken, pulled pork and spicy beef) and signature (Stone & Wood-battered snapper, Cape Grim hanger steak and grilled adobo prawns). There’s also quesabirria tacos with a side of consomme.
Rounding out the sizeable offering is a number of bowls, burritos, quesadillas and salads. Capitalising on its parkside location, Comuna is also selling bespoke picnic setups and a dedicated dog menu.
Behind the bar sits an 80-strong selection of tequila, with plans to grow the range into the biggest in Brisbane. This trove funnels into Comuna’s menu of classic, signature and frozen margaritas, which are joined by sharing cocktails, cocktail trees, non-tequila-based concoctions, wines, beers (including Comuna’s own lager) and non-alc sips.
Those after a high-end beverage should look to Comuna Newstead’s exclusive menu of premium cocktails, a number of which are mixed with Código 1530 Blanco – an unaged tequila made from 100 percent mature Blue Weber agave.
Tim says Comuna Cantina Newstead is the first in his portfolio to truly extend beyond dining. As the area continues to grow into one of Brisbane’s most desirable neighbourhoods, the venue is well placed to become part of the daily rhythm for locals.
“For us, it’s all about place-making,” says Tim. “We don’t want a disconnect between the venue and its surroundings. We want to be sympathetic to it and bring it in.”
Comuna Cantina officially opens to the public on Thursday March 26. Operating hours, menu details and booking info can be found in The Directory.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.