Drinking in Fortitude Valley

In recent years the Valley has slowly but surely regained its crown as Brisbane's most exciting night spot, with a vibrant live music scene and an ever-increasing crop of seriously cool bars.  

This end of town seems a million miles from the rough and tumble a block of years passed, with the hipsters flocking en masse and rubbing shoulder to shoulder with the glamazons. As long as your rocking some kind of cool, it's all good.  

Though we once walked through the valley of death, Fortitude is back from the ashes kicking and screaming, and looking for fun only.  

Here are our top tips:

The Bowery - If you're going to name your bar after one of New York's coolest joints, then you better back it up. Thankfully The Bowery is so damn cool is doesn't even have to try. Dimly lit exposed brick walls create the perfect atmosphere for live jazz and killer cocktails served up by the sexy staff.

X&Y bar - Looking soothing like an industrial bunker in Berlin, X&Y is all stripped back chic and graffiti with outstanding live music every night. Hot staff in retro glam t-shirts are keen to create cocktails for a ridiculously sexy crowd. 

Cloudland - If Walt Disney had been let loose into the valley up to the eyeballs on acid, then Cloudland may well have been the result. This is a trippy palace of soaring ceilings and indoor trees. Expect to splash the cash, but this is something special after all.  

Sky Room - The brainchild of the Bowery team, the Sky Room is a welcome addition to the Valley scene. The retro style reeks of cool, with palm trees a go go and lime green stools cooking up a fun, kitchsy vibe. 

Emporium Hotel - If you’re the sort of little monster who likes to proclaim you were born this way, the Emporium Hotel is for you. It screams rock star baby, with a seriously glamorous fit out that lives up to the seriously glamorous cocktails. Just don't trash the stained glass window imported from Paris, OK? 

Alloneword - So cool it's almost impossible to get in, but persist and you shall be rewarded. Worth it for the enormous wall mural alone, but the massive rooftop drinking area seals the deal.  

The Press Club - This grandaddy of the Fortitude scene was one of the foreigners in bringing cool back to the valley. Think Morocccan boudoir with beautiful glass lamps, mosaic tiled walls and intricate screens. Then grab a cocktail and melt away.

Stephen Russell, April 2011

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