Guide to Brisbane Nightlife | Top Areas for Bars, Dance Clubs & Live Music

If you want to explore Brisbane nightlife during your visit to this great Australian city, there’s plenty to do and see. Brisbane is never short on options of nightly entertainment. Fortitude Valley was the city’s first designated entertainment precinct, created to ensure the future of live music in Australia. Or you can head down to the West End for anything from indie-rock to jazz bands. And if you are not up for live music and dancing, there are plenty of pubs, bars, and craft breweries, as well as other eccentric and interesting places, worth visiting.

Tips for Going Out in Brisbane

First off, dress up a bit. No sandals, sneakers, or beachwear, and no inappropriate visible tattoos. They’re particularly strict about guests having no tattoos above the collar. Certain areas of Queensland have safe night precincts: areas with extra restrictions in order to curb violence at night. The city has added ID scanners to most bars and nightclubs open after 10pm, so don’t go out without a license, passport, or other government-issued ID. The measures have actively helped lower instances of violence and solved at least one case by identifying the perpetrator through the ID scanners’ data.

Try to have your night planned out ahead, at least where you will be and when. Along with that, always have either a designated driver, or an easy way to get back home. Be safe and check out all Brisbane nightlife has to offer.

Places in Brisbane for a Good Drink with Good Friends

Brisbane has plenty of great upscale bars with rich atmospheres and unique drinks. Or, if you would rather sit back with a beer and chat with some friends, head over to one of their pubs or craft breweries. No matter what part of the city you find yourself in, Brisbane‘s nightlife delivers.

Death and Taxes

Located in Brisbane City Business District (CBD), Death and Taxes is styled as an old-fashioned cocktail lounge, with a long, fully-stocked bar surrounded by trendy leather stools. Tall tables and large green leather booths fill the rest of the space. The design is stark and extensive, fully immersing you in the vintage feel of this Brisbane nightlife staple. Death and Taxes is tucked into Brisbane‘s oldest laneway, Burnett Lane. They have hundreds of whiskeys on-hand, as well as plenty of gins, rums, wine, and whatever else you could want.

Address: 36 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City

Tippler’s Tap

Looking for Brisbane nightlife’s best craft beer offerings, head on over to Tippler’s Tap in South Bank, a craft brewery that has a food menu inspired by Chicago street food. They have plenty of great burgers, hot dogs, and sliders, along with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. They are the perfect place to relax with friends or coworkers while chowing down on good food, and tasting beers and ciders from their rotating taps of local and renowned brews.

Address: 5/182 Grey St, South Brisbane

Eleven Rooftop Bar

Because of the amazing weather Australia has year-round, a big trend in Brisbane is rooftop bars. Eleven Rooftop Bar is one of the city’s most popular places to go for good drinks and features a 270-degree view of Fortitude Valley, Brisbane City, and beyond. Said to be inspired by the rooftop bars of Istanbul, Eleven Rooftop Bar has a great vibe and location, standing 11 floors above the Brisbane nightlife hub of Fortitude Valley. The establishement does have a dress code, so keep that in mind. Just dress nice and have a good time.

Address: 757 Ann St, Fortitude Valley

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Brisbane Clubs for Dancing the Night Away

Would you rather drink and dance all night with other young people in Brisbane? Lucky for you, this city has plenty to offer when it comes to dance clubs. If you’re planning a more active night out, Fortitude Valley is the place to go. You can find all the local and visiting 20-somethings here on the weekend, dancing with a drink in hand and a smile on their faces.

Cloudland

While Crystal Palais is technically the name of the cocktail bar where people drink and party, Crystal Palais lives within Cloudland, a huge space that hosts an Italian restaurant, a bar, and space for large events. The restaurant sits on the ground floor, while the bar inhabits the mezzanine overlooking it. When night comes, you’ll find people all over their four total floors, dancing and talking. The club’s decor is varied and engaging, with indoor plants weaving everywhere, unique chandeliers hanging above, and something interesting to see wherever you look. Cloudland is a nightclub you need to experience to believe.

Address: 641 Ann St, Fortitude Valley

The Met

Just like Cloudland, The Met sits in the middle of Fortitude Valley‘s nightlife area. The nightclub has three levels of dancing, but a drink is always within reach, with five bars operational all night long. As for music, they play plenty of the current popular dance and electronic music, and host both national and international DJ’s on the weekends. The Met has been a staple of Brisbane nightlife for years, and they have successfully established themselves as the nightclub to be at on a Friday or Saturday night.

Address: McWhirter’s Farmers Market, 256 Wickham St & Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley

Prohibition

Going with the theme set by the name, Prohibition is designed with the 1920s as a model, transporting you back to when drinking and partying had to be done in secret, but still in style. You have to go down a grand staircase to reach the entrance to this nightclub, with big double doors leading. To the right is their speakeasy-like bar, the Blind Tiger, while Wall Street bar sits on the other side. The Prohibition Main Hall in the middle takes up most of the space. They have Ladies’ Night every Thursday, including complimentary hair and make-up in their luxurious women’s restrooms.

Address: 206 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley

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The Best Live Music Venues in Brisbane

The highlight of Brisbane‘s nightlife offerings is definitely its live music venues. Many of the city’s best bars always have live music. Brisbane is filled with talented local musicians, and many great indie Australian bands start by performing around Brisbane‘s bars and clubs. The entertainment precinct in Fortitude Valley was largely built to support this community, and while there are plenty of great places to go there, Brisbane has amazing live music venues scattered all over.

Lefty’s Music Hall

Located on Caxton Street in Brisbane City, Lefty’s Music Hall recently had a change in management. Previously called Lefty’s Old Music Hall, the hit nightspot was known for their live performances, Southern-style food, and dive bar feel. Original owner Jamie Webb was forced to sell it in 2018 to licensee Arklow Pty Ltd, who developed significant debts. Thankfully, Lefty’s Music Hall reopened in early 2020and quickly returned to its hotspot status, hosting American rock musicians and crowds of drinkers and dancers once again.

Address: 15 Caxton St, Petrie Terrace QLD 4000, Australia

The Triffid

The Triffid was created by John Collins, bassist for the Australian rock band Powderfinger, and opened in 2014. The venue’s main building is an old commercial hanger, and there is a connected beer garden outside shaped with shipping containers. While it initially only hosted live music performances, The Triffid has expanded to hosting other events like film festivals and art shows.

Address: 7/9 Stratton St, Newstead QLD 4006, Australia

The Zoo

Opening in 1991, The Zoo is now one of the longest standing music venues in all of Australia. Originally owned and operated by two women, Joc Curran and C. Smith, The Zoo‘s ownership shifted to Pixie Weyland in 2017. As a true feature of Brisbane nightlife, they have hosted performers like The Pixies, The Black Keys, and Lorde. With Weyland’s management, The Zoo is sure to maintain its reputation as the place to be for great live music, drinks, and fun for years to come.

Address: 711 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia

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