17 of the best Brisbane rooftop bars for 2025

hero media
Chase soaring good times (and sights) at the best rooftop bars in Brisbane.

In our experience, the happiest of hours start with tipples atop towers. And when you’re visiting Brisbane, renowned for its all-year-round warm subtropical climate, open-air rooftop revelry runs rife. Embrace expert mixology and delightful dining over smudgy fairy floss sunsets at the best rooftop bars in Brisbane. Here, we round up a few of our favourites.

1. Sixteen Antlers Rooftop Bar

Best for: After-work bevvies.

Sixteen Antlers Brisbane
Sixteen Antlers boasts uninterrupted city skyline views.

A hit amongst inner-city staffers, Sixteen Antlers Rooftop Bar atop the Pullman & Mercure King George Square Brisbane hotel is a beautiful spot to kick up your feet after a long day in the office. It’s filled with high-top tables and comfy lounges, meaning you can retreat into your own nook or mingle with ease.

Open from Tuesday to Thursday from 4 pm until late and Friday to Saturday from 3 pm to late (early Friday knock-off drinks, perhaps?), the rooftop bar in Brisbane dishes up a bitsy menu of tapas and small bites, while cocktail jugs in four fruity varieties keep visitors sufficiently hydrated well into the wee hours.

Address: Level 16, Pullman & Mercure King George Square Brisbane, Corner Ann and Roma Streets, Brisbane

2. Cielo Rooftop

Best for: Sunday hangs.

Cielo Rooftop
Enjoy modern cocktails and perfectly matched food. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

There are always inner-city views to be found at Cielo Rooftop , open from Thursday to Sunday, but Sundays are arguably its most special day. If you’ve got a free Funday, don’t miss their bottomless ‘Sip & Seafood’ brunch, a two-hour all-inclusive extravaganza that always draws big Sunday crowds.

The airy space, fitted out with a mix of high tables, dining tables and lounges, also puts on an Aperitivo Hour that evening where antipasto boards and drinks can be devoured limitlessly during two-hour sessions, kicking off at 5 pm.

Address: 209 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

3. The Terrace Rooftop Bar

Best for: A panoramic cityscape.

Score an eyeful of the city skyline at The Terrace Rooftop Bar , one of the most iconic rooftop bars in Brisbane. A magnet for sunset revellers, the space is massive, fitted out with lounges, dining tables and bench seats perched at the edge of the bar to allow guests to gaze out over the Brisbane River. The vibe is glam, and the nibbles are elegant, spanning Asian-inspired bites like Fried Kimchi Onigiri and Korean Fried Chicken as well as crowd pleasers like a cheese and charcuterie board. It’s even family-friendly with a children’s menu on hand to help keep ankle biters entertained, momentarily, at the very least

Address: Emporium Hotel South Bank, 267 Grey Street, South Brisbane

4. Eagles Nest Brisbane

Best for: Pretty water views.

Eagles Nest Brisbane
The drinks menu features contemporary and classic tipples. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Open Thursday to Sunday, Eagles Nest Brisbane feels exclusive from the moment you step out onto its sky-high entertainment deck. Located in the beautiful Kangaroo Point, a Brisbane suburb offering some of the best Brisbane River and city skyline vantage points, the rooftop bar is 12 levels above ground, so you feel light years away from the rest of the world.

A refined tapas menu features seafood and gourmet bites while cocktails like the Point Paradise with vodka, blue Curaçao, pineapple, passionfruit, lime, and gomme are masterfully shaken.

Address: Level 12, The Point Brisbane Hotel, Lambert Street, Kangaroo Point

5. The Balfour Kitchen & Bar’s Rooftop Bar

Best for: Intimate drinks.

One of the city’s most undiscovered rooftop bars, The Balfour Kitchen & Bar’s Rooftop Bar is a gem in the heart of trendy New Farm. Open from 5 pm daily, the picturesque space is treated to lush greenery down below, adding warmth to those sweeping city skylines you’ll spy. Food-wise, you’re sorted with an impressive menu of Asian-inspired nibbles including dumplings, spring rolls and prawn crackers. Even better, the cocktails (and wine list) are killer, nailing whatever complicated concoction takes your fancy.

Address: Spicers Balfour Hotel, 37 Balfour Street, New Farm

6. SOKO Rooftop Bar & Restaurant

Best for: Inner-city lunch dates

a table-top view of the menu at SOKO Brisbane
The menu at SOKO Brisbane is exceptional.

Wander down a side street in the all-business part of Fortitude Valley to find SOKO Rooftop Bar & Restaurant . Blending authentic Japanese and Peruvian cuisines just in time for lunch hour, it’s a rooftop bar in Brisbane that’s full of delights.

They do an exceptional, value-for-money three-course ‘business lunch’ from Monday to Friday, set inside their vibrant jungle-themed dining room on level 14, which opens directly to al fresco seating and views that stretch to the hinterland.

After-dark party goers are also treated to a masterful collection of cocktails, sake, beer and wine, plus there’s live music (including the bongos) on many evenings, visits from Manko the Macaw (yes, an actual bird), Latin dancers and house DJs.

Address: Level 14, 7 Symes Street, Jubilee Place, Fortitude Valley

7. Fiume Rooftop Bar

Best for: River views

friends dining at Fiume Bar with views of the Story Bridge
Take in views of Story Bridge at Fiume Rooftop Bar. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

One of the city’s finest CBD stays is also home to a standout rooftop. Fiume Rooftop Bar , on level 3 of Crystalbrook Vincent , is perfectly positioned to take in up-close views of the Story Bridge looming dramatically over the Brisbane River. Additionally, the scene is ultra-chic, complete with a rooftop pool to help dial up the glamour.

Open for sundowners from Wednesday to Friday as well as brunch on weekends, the rooftop bar in Brisbane pairs stellar concoctions and vino with a range of snacks and small or shareable plates, which pair local ingredients with fine dining flair.

Address: Level 3, Crystalbrook Vincent, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City

8. Sunsets Rooftop

Best for: Inspiring European vacays

the desert garden at the rooftop bar of Sunsets in Brisbane
Get whisked to the dreamy Sunsets Rooftop bar.

No plans this weekend? Let the laidback holiday vibes of Sunsets Rooftop whisk you away for lunch and into the evening.

Open from Thursday to Saturday from lunch until 10 pm and Sunday from lunch until 8.30 pm, the rooftop bar in Brisbane is dotted with olive trees, desert gardens and every shade of cream caramel to help you devour your favourite drinks in Instagram-perfect style.

It’s always packed, so get there early to secure a table overlooking the city from beautiful Kangaroo Point and order small plates spanning seafood, refined Mexican and Greek classics and hearty meats.

Address: Enter via Linton Apartments reception, 95 Linton Street, Kangaroo Point

9. The Aviary

Best for: A scenic Queen Street breather

an al fresco seating area at The Aviary, Brisbane
Take a seat on the couch overlooking the Story Bridge and the Brisbane River.

Located four levels above Brisbane CBD’s main shopping strip, The Aviary is a rooftop bar in the thick of Queen Street. Travel there for open time at 12 pm from Wednesday to Friday, or visit for sunset drinks and great times on Saturday from 4 pm. From mid-October 2024, they’re also open on Sunday.

Enjoy Story Bridge and Brisbane River views while relaxing in the sleek, neon-lit fit-out. Feeling peckish? A menu of flavour-packed bites, including wagyu beef croquettes and bolognese arancini, provides perfect nibbles to split with your group. If you’re more than a little hungry, there are also a couple of mains to consider.

Address: Level 4, 480 Queen Street, Brisbane City

10. Lina Rooftop

Best for: Pool parties

friends enjoying their time at Lina Rooftop, Brisbane
Enjoy drinks amid 180-degree views of the skyline at Lina Rooftop. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Ready to party? Lina Rooftop at the southern end of South Bank brings Los Angeles glamour to Brisbane, with a glistening rooftop pool circled by 180-degree views of the skyline. The decor is restrained French-chic, but the vibes are pumping. Graze poolside on a sun lounger or a comfy couch with a menu of Mediterranean-inspired snacks and a handful of heartier meals.

Once you’ve soaked in enough sun, wander inside to sit down for a European-infused à la carte menu featuring elegant homages to every corner of the continent. It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday.

Address: Top floor, 74-80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane

11. Iris Rooftop

Best for: Spanish-inspired fare

a couple ordering drinks at Iris Rooftop, Brisbane
Sip the cocktail of your choice at Iris Rooftop. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

A trendy place to rest your head in the city’s go-all-night locale, Hotel X is a sleek hotel with an especially swish rooftop. Iris Rooftop is set across the entire top floor of the hotel, delivering 360-degree views of the city.

Dotted with olive trees, soft furnishings and splashes of marble and gold, it’s a Spanish-inspired sanctuary split into the Terraza, the Sunset Lounge and exclusive cabanas.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, the rooftop bar in Brisbane pairs a beautiful selection of wines, spirits, beers and cocktails with Spanish classics, including seafood paella and tapas, cider-glazed chorizo, patatas bravas and grilled baby octopus.

Address: Top floor, 458 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

12. MAYA Mexican

Best for: Classy margaritas

friends enjoying food and drinks at the rooftop bar of MAYA Mexican, Brisbane
Try the menu of Mexican-inspired bites. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Open from Wednesday to Sunday, MAYA Mexican is a visually breathtaking rooftop bar in Brisbane – and that’s before you catch the views. Blending natural stone, timber, fresh greenery and cacti and hints of marble, the space is beautiful from any angle.

Soft drapes create privacy if you’ve got a special occasion gathering planned; otherwise, soak up margarita-laced good times anywhere else alongside their menu of Mexican-inspired bites. Think expertly dressed ceviche, stuffed jalapenos, tacos, Yucatan grilled chicken, a mouth-watering quesadilla, tortillas and more.

Address: Level 11, 757 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

13. Hibiscus Bar & Terrace

Best for: Inner-city high life

al fresco dining beside the infinity pool at Hibiscus Bar & Terrace, Brisbane
Relax and dine by the infinity pool at Hibiscus Bar & Terrace.

A CBD oasis that opens its doors from Wednesday to Sunday, Hibiscus Bar & Terrace is the place to escape the bustle of Queen Street Mall in style. There are views across the cityscape and towards its towering skyscrapers, but the heated infinity pool will steal your gaze.

Enjoy smooth drinks and a menu of small bites (cream cheese jalapenos, anyone?), sliders, pizza, share platters and a handful of substantial dishes as you toe-tap to live music, poolside.

Address: Level 4, 72 Queen Street, Brisbane City

14. Sunny’s Rooftop

Best for: Day-trippers

Keen to expand your horizons? Drive just over 35 minutes from the CBD to find Sunny’s Rooftop on Margate Beach. The relaxed, pub-style rooftop destination overlooks the soothing surf and offers views right across Moreton Bay from Friday to Sunday. Live music rocks the house every Friday and Saturday, a snack menu of European-inspired bites including lamb and beef koftas, antipasto platters, and grilled sandwiches provides great stomach lining every day, and sheltered seating means you can laze carefree even when the sun’s blaring.

Address: 1 McColloch Avenue, Margate

15. Valley Hops Brewing

Best for: Craft beers

friends having dinner at Valley Hops Brewing
Dine on hearty pub classics at Valley Hops Brewing. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

A rooftop bar in Brisbane that doubles as a craft beer brewery, Valley Hops Brewing is the place to go for al fresco brewskis in the heart of the action. Open Wednesday to Sunday, the rowdy hot spot is spacious with views across the city providing a picture-perfect backdrop.

Savour their core range of beers and limited releases on tap as you dive into a menu of wood-fired pizzas, shared boards with cured meats and cheeses, hearty pub classics and small plates.

Address: Top floor above Cloudland, 641 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

16. Dirty Sultan

Best for: A shisha session

lush atmosphere at Dirty Sultan rooftop bar, Brisbane
Enjoy a shisha session at Dirty Sultan.

Been too long between shishas? Travel up to the top floor of The Constance Hotel to uncover Dirty Sultan from Thursday to Sunday.

The rooftop shisha lounge, the only one of its kind in Brisbane, must be booked in advance (it’s separated from the main bar) and stages 45-minute sessions. But if a flavourful smoke isn’t your thing, there’s plenty else to love at this place. Bask in authentic Turkish cuisine and delicious cocktails as views of Brisbane’s CBD dazzle from below.

Address: Top floor, The Constance Hotel, 14-20 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley

17. Tetto

Best for: Bottomless brunch

Bringing light and breezy holiday vibes to northern Brisbane’s Everton Park, Tetto is also home to one of the city’s best bottomless brunch experiences. Climb to the rooftop for two-hour drink and food packages every Saturday and Sunday, but feel free to visit any day of the week to soak up the good life. An Italian-inspired menu features great pickling food including halloumi chips, mushroom arancini and crispy calamari. Plus, there are burgers and pasta to devour.

Address: 1/807 Stafford Road, Everton Park

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
See all articles
hero media

5 of the best Sunshine Coast day trips

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery
Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek
Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers
Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland
Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.