Sabotage Social Club is a great place to hang out. I spent most of my night here with a few good…read morefriends. The drinks in comparison to most places is pretty reasonable, $8 for basics. We also ordered some pizza which was extremely hearty, and came out on a wooden serving board. As the night went on the crowd got stranger, and more wild (expectantly). Dave the owner loves his punk and rock, so most of the music you'll be hearing is somewhere between these two genres with some hip-hop thrown in there. No complaints about the staff, they were extremely helpful and patient. Making great suggestions on what to drink also which was nice if you're an umm-er and an uhh-er. I would definitely return here in a heartbeat. Nice to see some new bars opening in Brisbane. My suggested time to enjoy this happening spot would be a littler earlier on a weekday so that can enjoy all that it has to offer!

A great place to have a beer or two or three.....sadly they had on my visit no dinner menu, but the…read moreinterior is really great and the stuff is very friendly. They recommended us one restaurant. Visit it, it is worth it!

I went to my first concert at the Zoo this past weekend and had a great experience. We went through…read moresecurity with no issues and they were very kind. Then our hand was stamped after getting our tickets scanned. The space was really open and we were able to find a great spot to watch TKST (The Kite String Tangle). I noticed that the water line was incredibly long because it's a water fountain and they give you little white cups. I'm not sure if that is what holds up the line or what. The venue is pretty ventilated and I didn't feel overly heated. The show was great and people around us were friendly. People could enjoy the artist and I like that you don't have to worry about a dress code. You can wear what you want and not stress about flip flops. Would definitely come back here for another show.

Once again, I am surprised to be the first person reviewing a place like this. The Zoo is an iconic…read moresymbol to the Brisbane music scene and has been the stage that many international acts have played on. When I was an underage teenager, I remember longing for the day I would finally be old enough to go to this place and see my favourite bands (most shows are 18+ which is common in Brisbane). Bands I have seen here include, The Clean, Born Ruffians, The Go Team and many more. The stage is pretty large (large enough for all the members of Broken Social Scene to fit) and there is ample room for the crowd. There is a nice sized bar that offers most drinks but don't ask them for rum as they will not serve it to you. There are also pool tables and a few tables to sit at. The place may look a little rundown but for the clientele, that is not a worry. If anything, it adds to the appeal. The Zoo has been around for as long as I can remember and is not going anywhere anytime soon. It is a great venue to see bands in Brisbane.

This is the third time I've been to Crowbar and I'm in love…read more My first experience was a Saturday night. They had a stellar line up of girl bands on downstairs and upstairs was starting to get busy. We grabbed a mix of cocktails and spirits a were lucky to nab the last table. The crowd was the expected mix of hipsters, punks, rockers and general awesome humans. We had a mix of cocktails and Jack's cans ($10? Why, thank you, sir) and grabbed the last table upstairs. Downstairs was filling up quickly with people there to see the all girl live music line up for the night and I was a little saddened by the fact that my friends and I had plans so we couldn't head downstairs and rock out. The second time I went to Crow bar was for the secret and impromptu gig for #keepcommunityradio, featuring Smith Street Band and Violent Soho. First off, they managed the crowd so freaking well. The gig was announced at about 12.30pm and they opened to doors at 3pm. It was at capacity by 3.10pm. From a logistical point of view, they completely nailed it. From a line up point of view, it was killer. The vibe was outstanding and everyone was just there to have fun and support their community. Also, the accoustics in that venue our outstanding. I popped in for a quick drink before I met a friend on Wednesday night was met with the great surprise of a movie night. The crew open the doors and put on pizzas and a movie for free from 5pm every Wednesday. This week they were showing the Pussy Riot film and I grabbed a seat the bar, sank a drink and enjoyed the movie until it was time for me to head off to meet my mate. Every time I've been to Crow bar the staff and the clientele have been freaking' awesome. Helpful, relaxed and inviting, they break every stereotype that a metal venue would unfortunately have. If you head to Crow Bar, be ready for your expectations to be blown out of the water. My next visit will definitely be on a Thursday for ladies night. $4 drinks, bubbles on arrival and I need to try their toasties.

One of my favourite live music venues. Metal, hardcore, punk, indie even cooking demonstrations!…read moreIt's a great intimate venue. Local bands usually on a Friday night costs a meagre $10. Great value. Lots of recent renovation means this bar has a lot to offer that sets it apart from other venues: A camera that livestreams the stage to the back of the venue onto wall TVs behind the bar so that you can watch the band. Handy for short people like myself! A small kitchen - Crowbar have recently partnered up with Bread and Meat Co to offer $3 sliders! The staff here are super friendly and no one is judged here! You'll find young and old alike here. Come here after bands on Saturday night for a go at Crowieoke/karaoke and sing in front of strangers.

Great cafe/record store/bar/live music venue in Fortitude Valley…read more Have only checked out cafe/record store part so far but keen to head to a live gig soon too. Cafe serves Blackstar Coffee and light breakfast menu. As its a record store, you just know the tunes are going to be great too. Take a load off on the couches or chat with friends over a drink before browsing the vinyls and band t-shirts. Turns into a bar in the evening. Really friendly, chatty staff- lovely vibe! Get along and check it out.

Came here as part of the media/ industry launch night and left very impressed. As you enter there…read moreis a old fashioned red telephone box and staircase that leads to the main room. The main room has a stage at one end and a bar at the other with the classy 'Foundry' lit sign above. In between are large high tables and high chairs which make it great for groups. Near the bar is a pinball machine and arcade game which is pretty cool and there is an outside area as well as a balcony smoking area. The whole place had a very cosy, hipster vibe and they played excellent music. Servers were friendly and drinks were made well. This place is definitely going to be popular so I recommend you come and check it out! Great drinks, great atmosphere and great live music, what more do you want?

It's not so much the pub that draws me in to the Step Inn as much as it is the bands. It was one of…read morethe better venues for local bands to play at for a while there. Now it's home to some trance nights and I hear strong reports that the Step Inn is still a good place to get loose. The space is a little awkward in that the different sections of the pub are organised strangely. There's not much seating in any of the rooms outside of the corner bar, and even then it's not really comfortable. The beers are relatively cheap, and if you see a good gig, you won't have that much to complain about. It is a rough and ready pub, and you should perhaps come there a little rough and ready yourself.

I've been to the Step Inn a few times to see friends play and it's always been a great experience…read more (It's clean, central, and the drinks are relatively cheap.) They've got a few areas packed into the space; the first, a separate bar area where more unknown bands play, the other an open area complete with a stage, snooker tables, old school arcade games, and pokies. It's a great venue to frequent if you want to support local Brisbane bands, but make sure you eat dinner beforehand. They don't serve food here and don't welcome it either; my chips and I were booted out the door. Besides that, they don't have many strict rules besides wearing hard soled shoes.

I was actually heading to salsa at Casablanca when the flags of my two favorite states (Arkansas…read moreand Tennessee) caught my eye across the street. I ventured in to have a sneak peek. Unfortunately I had just missed the live music so I will have to go again but the vibe made me feel like I had been transported back down South. I really liked the red interior, booths, and chandeliers. I am a bit confused by the stuffed monkey on the stage though... Will be able to give a better review next time when I grab a drink off the menu! Will share if the drinks are as good as they make them in the South.

Hey, Lefty's! I'm feeling what you're putting down. You're so cool and yet you probably don't even…read morerealise it. Well played, Sir, well played. We were set to see a movie at The Barracks across the road from Caxton Street and rather than dine at any number of the respectable choices in the Barracks centre, I made a beeline for Lefty's. Arriving just before 6 I was the sole punter in this seriously brooding and sexy bar. Would it seem out of place to see Saloon girls do the can can atop the higher level balcony? Probably not. I approached the bar and asked the bar keep what their house drink was. "Whiskey and apple," he said tossing a Granny Smith apple in his hand. Yeah, not just apple juice from a bottle but freshly squeezed, baby. I was all prepped to order said drink when he let slip it also goes well with Gin. You, mister, are good. "I'll take a gin and apple, thanks!" My dining partner arrived and we settled each on having their interpretation of the cheeseburger. Be warned: unless you are ravenous, you'll easily be able to share this between two. We didn't realise this and I tapped out long before I could claim my plate of fries and burger complete. Still, it was delicious and for $12 it's an affordable take on "pub grub." This place already had some serious swagger at 6pm on a Wednesday night, I can only imagine (and look forward to seeing it) in full swing on a Friday or Saturday eve.

This is our local restaurant/bar. They have live music on the weekends, Great food, great…read morecocktails, good place to go on a date.

The Phoenix bar is a mediocre bar, there are many aspects of it however, that can be drastically…read moreimproved with a bit of common sense. There is a lack of variety on the menu and the customer service was alright, but could be improved. Overall, the dishes and alcohol themselves saved this bar. So it's alright.

Tucked away near an alley, The Bowery is a bar that offers the best drinks around Brissy. It's…read moreinterior is a bit dark and mysterious, and a bit reminiscence of what one would picture a something in a U.S. 20's scene, though not quite. I think it's just that it reminded me of Bourbon and Branch in San Francisco, which takes on a speakeasy atmosphere and serves amazing cocktails and drinks. When I was there, they had a band, which was a bit loud for how big the place was, but it was fitting for the atmosphere. The drinks don't come cheap (about $20 a pop) and isn't much of a party atmosphere, nor is it good for dancing, but it's definitely a casual classic bar for a close group of friends.

My first visit to The Bowery was a great one but since then, each time has been subsequently less…read moregreat! I agree with all the reviews that there is no place to dance but the music is great and makes you want to dance. In addition, I waited ages for drinks and then on my way back to the table, other patrons ran straight into me knocking 1/2 of the concoctions out of the glasses. :( I basically paid for 4 drinks and ended up having 2.5 drinks to give to my friends. That's really terrible. If they could expand the space between the bar and the benches, everyone would be a lot happier. If you can find a booth or seat to chat with friends, it's great but if not, making space can be a bit tricky. I like it but I don't think it's my go-to in the Valley especially after my last experience.