Hottest Places to Grab a Cold One in the Valley
With winter behind us and the weather warming up, The Valley is the perfect place to find a cold brew on a hot afternoon. Whether you prefer a sour or a Saison, a pale ale or a porter, the Valley’s best craft beer exponents have just what you need to quench your thirst. Here’s cheers to the Valley’s craft breweries, pubs and bars, now open for walk-ins and bookings:
A classic slice of serenity – that’s Bonnie Doon Public House in a nutshell. Name inspired by an Aussie classic and an extensive food and drink menu to match, Bonnie Doon will quickly become your new favourite local. Kick back with a cold one, dig into some proper tucker and let the good times roll.
Netherworld craft beer bar at the junction of Brunswick Street and St Paul’s Terrace does things a little differently. The retro-themed games and arcade bar has 15 pinball machines, 25 arcade machines, classic consoles and countless board games, a mostly vegan menu and 24 draft taps of local and interstate beer, cider and mixed elixirs as well as handmade sodas. Choose from IPA, red ale, hazy pale ale, mandarin IPA, blackberry sour, mid larger, pale ale, larger, ginger lime & lemon myrtle pale lager, mosaic oat cream IPA, stout, extra special bitter and imperial strawberry rhubarb sour. Local labels to sample include Felons, Aether Brewing, Ballistic and Slipstream.
If you walk past The Prince Consort’s ground floor parlour, you’ll find the open-air oasis of the Garden Bar brimming with botanicals for sun-soaked afternoons. The Heritage-listed old English-style pub has a wide range of beers on taps including lagers, Guinness, IPAs and a rotating tap of sours. On a Wednesday you can pair your pint with a $15 200g steak.
You will know you’ve reached Pig 'N' Whistle when you see the hanging gardens and the seven-metre tree growing inside the venue. There are two bars to choose from in this two-storey space and both serve a good selection of local beers, imported options and a regular rotation of small and independent brewery beers on tap. There’s always a local musician playing on Friday nights and live music on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.
There’s plenty of local, imported and craft beers to enjoy in one of The Garage's two new secret garden areas, joined by a cool exposed brick alleyway. This pub mixes old-world charm with a modern makeover and serves pub classics like salads, pizza, burgers and modern Australian cuisine. It also has live sports playing on the Valley’s biggest screens and live music every weekend.
Boasting seven different areas including a pub, beer garden and restaurant to name a few, the Magee Pub and Dining has dining under the stars down pat. With an elevated pub menu and an extensive beer and wine list, it’s the Valley’s go-to spot for relaxed, outdoor drinks or dinner (or both!)
Boasting 4 separate bars and the Valley’s largest beer garden, there’s no better place than The Royal George Hotel, or affectionately known to locals as ‘the RG’ to kick back and relax. Whether it’s the first stop of the night or the last, the RG has got you covered with cold drinks, delicious bites and a pumping dancefloor to make it one to remember.
Producing premium, hand-crafted beers on-site, Soapbox Beer is bringing the fresh summer vibes to the Valley precinct. With a delicious gastropub tasting menu to enjoy inside a beautifully restored agriculture store, Soapbox is the perfect way to support local craft this summer.
Taking over the heritage-listed Tranberg House in the heart of the Valley, Brewdog’s second Brisbane location is the perfect spot to wind down with some local beer made with love. With 3 separate bar areas (one of which is dog-friendly!), enjoy your craft beer alongside their farm-to-table style menu – and hot tip for our vegan friends – over 50% of their menu is plant-based!
The Osbourne Hotel has been slinging beers since 1864 but it’s also kept up with the times. Swing by for a fresh summer ale, crisp cider or one of The Osbourne’s signature handcrafted cocktails and soak in the history of one Brisbane’s oldest drinking establishments.
A Brisbane icon with an award-winning alfresco beer garden, The Wickham is perfect for casual hangs with friends. A heritage-listed venue with a proud and fabulous history of inclusion, The Wickham offers a wide selection of food and drink options to enjoy outdoors.
Atop Cloudland on Brunswick Street, Valley Hops Brewery has six locally brewed beers on tap that embody the character and charm of Fortitude Valley. Pair with mouth-watering selections from the charcoal grill and wood-fired pizza oven, and top it all off with a tour of the Valley Hops Brewery.
As the Valley’s only Irish establishment, Finn McCool’s Irish Bar is the perfect spot to down a cold one and make the Irish proud. Tap into the craic at the newly refurbed local institution on Brunswick Street Mall with hearty pub fare, pizza and Irish classic to warm your belly, a full pint and top hospitality on tap.
– December 2025
