Whether you’re visiting Brisbane on a short break or you’re looking to settle down there, a night out in the city will never disappoint. There’s a lot more to the night scene here than your standard pub and top 40.
Press Club has live funk bands on Friday and Saturday nights while Cloudland is a state of the art DJ entertainment complex with 3 levels, 5 bars and secluded lounges. Here are some of the best clubs in Brisbane that offer an exotic nightlife.
- Birdies
The after-dark scene in Brisbane is a little less raucous than in Sydney, but there are plenty of places to get your groove on. Check out The Beat megaclub in Fortitude Valley for a gay pride party or the beachy vibes at Birdies, and find funk-dance music at Black Bear Lodge and metal at Crowbar.
You’ll also find a good mix of live music at bars such as The Sound Garden and Brooklyn Standard. The former is a 1920s-style speakeasy that hosts local artists on Friday and Saturday nights, while the latter is a modern dive bar that embraces a range of genres seven days a week.
You can also catch a DJ at EI8GHT now on MacLauchlan street, which is popular among the 20-somethings and pumps out hard-style, trap, and rap music from Friday-Sunday. There’s a big dance floor and upstairs is a cool lounge area with a pool and a spa. You can also dance to acoustic tunes on Sunday evenings, or chill out at the balcony overlooking the city. The best thing about this club is that it’s affordable on a backpacker budget!
- Skyroom
Skyroom is a unique boutique event space located in the heart of South Bank in Brisbanes CBD. Its a stunning venue that overlooks the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) on Grey Street.
The venue has a 1930’s feel to it that really adds to the atmosphere. It also has a great selection of cocktails and bar bites that are made by a team of mixologists. They also have live music and dancing on certain nights.
Its the perfect place to have a date with a special person or impress your date. The ambiance and food are both top notch and the views are amazing. Its a little pricey, but worth it if you are looking for a high end club in brisbane.
The founders of Skyroom have built a career building solutions to create sustainable cities. Arthur Kay has co-authored a White Paper for the Institute of Global Prosperity at UCL, is a clean technology and manufacturing Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UCL and founded the think tank Fast Forward 2030. He is Chair of the Key Worker Homes Fund, which Skyroom launched in January 2021 to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes close to where people work.
- Cloudland
Built by the same developer who gave Melbourne Luna Park, Cloudland was Brisbane’s first major dance and music venue. It was home to classical ballroom dancing, jitterbug and jive, early rock and roll and the re-birth of Australian rock in the 1970s.
Today, the building is a nightclub and event space where premium drinks and food are served lunch and dinner, intimate occasions are celebrated, weddings are held and romance is found. Its heritage charm blends seamlessly with vivacious modern interior design and offers service that is out of this world.
When pub grub and top 40 dance beats tire you out, head to the city’s magical Cloudland club for a cocktail and some serious boogie down to funk, disco or RnB music. It’s like stepping into a scene from The Great Gatsby. Alternatively, there’s the sophisticated Press Club with live funk bands from 10pm till late or Ric’s Bar for cheap drinks and a young crowd.
- The Tivoli
The Tivoli is a fusion of amusement park, botanical gardens and gourmet dining options underscored by over 150 years of history. The result is undeniably European and light-years away from the theme parks you’ll find on the other side of the world.
Whether you’re looking for a laid back dinner or a night of dancing you can find it all here. The food offerings are as diverse as the performers, from Danish smorrebrod to filled flatbreads and Thai noodles. The Tivoli Food Hall boasts 14 stalls emphasizing a fast-gourmet approach to noshing and there’s no shortage of seating.
Cartensen said in 1844 that he ‘hoped Tivoli will never, so to speak, be finished’ and it continues to evolve without losing sight of its original charm and traditions. It was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Disneyland, and it still serves as a reminder that entertainment can make a difference in people’s lives. There’s always something new to see and do here. You can typically get around the entire gardens in 4-5 hours during a weekday at a less busy time of year.
- Laruche
The hive-like atmosphere is a little stifling at times, but the cocktails keep you ooh-ing and aah-ing in your seat. The alcoholic selection is expansive, but the menu is divided into sections with subheadings like Champagne Cocktails 1800s, Highballs 1890s and Juleps 1770s to help you narrow down your options.
The bar snacks are a tasty option for those with the inevitable midnight munchies – try Taleggio croquettes, tomato chilli relish and ricotta stuffed crumbed mushrooms ($8), or slow-braised pork belly, pickled radish, puffed wild rice and a pork broth ($12). There's also a selection of sweets to satisfy your craving for something sugary, including the mixed berry and caramel tart with creme Chantilly ($6).
The owners took over in 2019, just before COVID-19 hit, and they've done a great job at creating a unique venue in Fortitude Valley. With the final party being held on February 26, it's your last chance to party with them until the sun comes up. Enjoy!
