The Best Hidden Bars in Brisbane: Secret Spots You Need to Know
Tucked behind dressing rooms, barbershops and everything in between, these are the best hidden bars in Brisbane for a cheeky nightcap.
Whether you’re looking to switch up the usual watering hole, or you want to impress the group chat, a hidden bar makes for the perfect adventure out on the town. We’ve explored the nooks and crannies of Brisbane’s nightlife and have listed our favourite secret spots in the city for you to enjoy.
If you’re in charge of planning the activities for the group or just want to show your interstate pals a great time, head out to one of the best-hidden bars in Brisbane to show off the creativity of Brisbane’es nightlife scene. From West End to Fortitude Valley, explore cocktail bars and romantic date night locations for a night to remember.
The Boiler Room
Entering via a door concealed behind a giant mural of Bill Murray, The Boiler Room is a posh spot tucked inside of the Valley’s most notorious after-hours haunts is one of the best hidden bars in Brisbane. Venture through the graffitied walls of Tomcat, and you'll be rewarded with a sophisticated boozer complete with Chesterfield lounges, gilt mirrors and suspender-adorned bartenders mixing every kind of poison behind the bar. Charcuterie boards and vintage champagne lean into the venue’s old-world allure as well as a lengthy cocktail list for you to sip your way into the wee hours of the morning.
Level 1/210 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
Death & Taxes
Calling Brisbane’s oldest laneway home, Death & Taxes is Brisbane's best hidden bar for elevated cocktails and incredible service. Knowledgeable and skilled bartenders can recommend a poison to suit your palate from their wealth of options and creative menu offerings. As you cross the tiled threshold to the moody interior (inspired by the underground bars of Paris and London) of cosy booths, intimate lighting and 100-year-old wood-panelled floors, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. With over 1000 spirit bottles on the shelf and extensive spirit, wine and beer menus, there’s a tipple for every tastebud at this glamorous hidden bar in Brisbane.
36 Burnett Lane, Brisbane
Cobbler
Founded from a deep passion for whisky and with a mission to bring fun back to Mondays, Cobbler is a stalwart of the elevated cocktail scene in Brisbane. With passionate staff, incredible service and some of the best spirits and cocktails on the menu, this has got to be one of the best hidden bars in Brisbane. Unassumingly taking its place on Browning Street in West End, Cobbler’s is constantly innovating and pushing boundaries to ensure they can offer their visitors incredible experiences, whilst they themselves can have fun doing it! The next time you’re looking for somewhere new to try, visit this hidden bar and see what all the fuss is about.
Cindy Chow’s
Named for the infamous drinking and gambling anti-hero Cindy Chow who domineered the social scene of Shanghai in the 1930s, Cindy Chow’s bar possesses a similar irreverence and inclination to cast away your cares and party. This hidden bar shows its 1930s speakeasy inspiration through a creative cocktail menu (might we recommend the Oriental Pearl; Koyomi Shochu, Pedro Ximinez, apple juice, pineapple extract, citrus and cinnamon?) and the luxury antique furnishings that create comfortable corners to sequester your group to. Pan Asian canapes are also on the menu and are advisable to consume before ordering the four-tap absinthe tower for a whirlwind of a night at one of best hidden bars in Brisbane. You’ll find Cindy Chow’s via Ling Lings Restaurant, just look for the cold room.
Miss Demeanour
Tucked underground in the heart of the CBD, Miss Demeanour is the home of great food, drinks and company. This little laneway bar is well hidden in Rowes Lane but is a total crowd-pleaser when it comes to a wide menu to suit a variety of palates, local craft beer on tap and plenty of boozy cocktails to kick off your happy hour or night out. Miss D’s often has live music on offer, so the vibes are always just right when you finally decide to visit one of Brisbane’s best hidden bars. Perfect for a date night or a get-together with all of your friends, pull up a seat at a barrel and enjoy a Machu Beetchu margarita or a Rosey Cheeks spritz.
Rowes Lane, Brisbane
The Tailors
Naturally, the best hidden bars in Brisbane tend to assume late-night boozing as a prerequisite. But at The Tailors – a Latin-American-inspired cocktail and rum bar hidden behind Rodriguez & Co tailors shop - things are taken up a notch. Step through the dressing room mirror and enter a coveted world of decadent hospitality, skilfully mixed drinks, and lavish decor. The 40-plus strong rum list alone is enough to draw most, with classic and harder-to-find labels poured in just about every way you can think of. Stop by for a pre-dinner aperitif and try the Paradise Love featuring spiced rum, cognac, strawberry, vanilla, raspberry, and lemon. Plush furnishings, killer cocktails...and live music? We’ll drink to that!
16A Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Next Episode
An unassuming barber shop fronts onto Fish Lane and you may be inclined to walk right past it, if you’re not paying attention. But if you pick up the red phone on the wall, and enter a secret code, the mirrored wall unlocks and opens up into a speakeasy serving up incredible cocktails, great beats and good times. Often hosting a local DJ to ensure the vibes are top-notch, this is the perfect spot to hit for a cocktail after work or before enjoying dinner at one of the many incredible venues on Fish Lane. Head to Next Episode’s Instagram account for clues on how to gain access to one of the best hidden bars in Brisbane.
Brew
If you’re in the CBD and scouting for a quiet hideaway, head down Lower Burnett Lane. Tucked at the end is Brew Cafe & Wine Bar. You can enjoy Brew’s delicious eats, coffee and drinks at any time of day, but if you’re stopping by in the evening you can enjoy tapas and share boards that go down a treat with their range of wine, beer and cocktails. Brew is easily one of the best hidden bars in Brisbane’s CBD for a casual drink after work or a date night, with cosy ambience, welcoming service and a plentiful range of great wines and craft beer.
Lower Burnett Lane, Brisbane City
Greaser
If you’re looking for a secret bar with a gritty edge, Greaser is your best bet. Tucked down an unassuming lane in Fortitude Valley just off Brunswick Street, this grungy bar offers American eats, local as well as American craft beer, live music and a relaxed ambience. If you’re feeling competitive, grab a cue and sink a game of pool while you’re here. One of the best hidden bars in Brisbane for a lowkey and casual night out with pals, you might also discover a new band while you’re at it. Live music thrives here at Greaser, with free shows running regularly and local bands cutting their teeth on the lowset stage. It’s also one of the best spots in town for a pickleback shot, if you dare.
259 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Savile Row
This glamorous speakeasy has been a Brisbane favourite for many years. With a stunning chandelier, top-tier service and a gorgeous ambience, you’ll soon understand why. Hidden in plain sight on Ann Street, you only have to push open the orange door to find the secrets within Savile Row. The cocktail menu boasts 20 different clever creations, but with around 900 spirits on offer, 20 rotating wines and more, the bar staff are more than happy to whip up something special just for you. What could be more impressive for a first date idea than one of Brisbane’s best hidden bars?
667 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar
Step through an unassuming refrigerator door into the Hawaiian-themed live music oasis that is Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar. Increasing in popularity around the fringe element of Brisbane’s nightlife scene, Suzie’s hosts a variety of bands, from grunge rock to funk. They also offer jam nights, so if you’re inclined to hop up on stage - this is your time to shine. If you’re looking to visit some of the best hidden bars in Brisbane, Suzie Wong’s is an absolute must-do! It’s also conveniently located in the heart of the Valley, so if you’re bar-hopping or just stopping in on your way to dinner at a restaurant in Fortitude Valley, you can’t go past Suzie’s!
678 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Can You Keep A Secret
Clearly, we can’t. But this secret is too good to keep! Can You Keep A Secret is not only a sneaky lounge bar but also a vintage store, function space and live music venue. Wall to wall in understated retro elegance, this bar offers a curated list of considered cocktails designed to be savoured. You can also order bar snacks or pizza from the nearby Stone & Brew. With plenty going on and incredible drinks on the menu, Can You Keep A Secret is definitely high on our list when it comes to the best hidden bars in Brisbane. See you there soon!
619-621 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba
Mrs J’s Rabbits Speakeasy
You’ll need a secret password to enter Mrs J’s Rabbits Speakeasy, once you find it tucked away inside Electric Avenue (one of Woollongabba’s best-loved bars). This 1920’s style bar will transport you right into the past with its moody lighting and Chesterfield lounges. In true speakeasy style, Mrs J’s does whisky and jazz best, so enjoy one of their specialty cocktails whilst reclining in comfort and style. You can also now indulge in a charcuterie board or premium bar snacks, so save some stomach room for snacks! Mrs J’s has long held a reputation as one of the best hidden bars in Brisbane, so if you have yet to visit, now is the time!
23 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Now that you’ve discovered all of Brisbane’s best hidden bars, why not take to the skies at one of the best rooftop bars in Brisbane? They’re perfect for happy hour drinks or cocktail nights with your best pals.
