Gay Brisbane Guide | Brisbane’s Best LGBTIQ+ Bars, Clubs, Restaurants & More!
Yahhhsss Brisbane! Okay. Real talk. Brisbane is the bomb.com…but if you’ve only got 24 hours in Brissy, you definitely need to spend it right! Hence your pals at a Modern Gay’s Guide have you covered with our Gay Brisbane Guide. Stay tuned, because we’re giving you the full gay-local 4-1-1 on where to eat, stay and play whilst your visiting the capital of the Sunshine State!
Just like Shania Twain belted out circa the late 90’s…let’s go girls!
So you hopped off the plane at LAX (…well BNE) with a dream and a cardigan (well all we had was a slight hangover and well over the allowed 7kg of carry-on luggage) , and you’re probably a little peckish, so let’s start this gay Brisbane guide off with lunch!
12.30pm – Lunch Time @ Chapter IV
Buckle up kids, the first stop on our Gay Brisbane Guide is in Paddington! This super cute inner-city cafe is definitely one of our all-time faves! Born in 2015, this cafe is famous for its open-aired back deck, giving you breath taking 180-degree views of Brisbane’s CBD…and not to mention an amazing back drop for your next #LunchGoals Insta’ story. The menu has all-day breaky, packed with all your faves, a couple of random (but delish) options and a bit of everything in between – perfect for your indecisive and difficult to please pals!
The team are super lovely, genuine and definitely pals of the LGBT+ community.
Pro Tip: The cafe doesn’t split bills, so if you’re going with a group be sure to have some cash money handy.
Address: 180 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington
2.30pm – Befriend the Fern @ Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Okay, we’re all fueled up post our delish Chapter IV lunch, and low-key probably feeling a little bloated. So now it’s time to befriend the fern and get ya’ walk on at Mt Coot-tha’s Brisbane Botanic Gardens! The Brisbane Botanic Gardens are absolutely stunning and well worth the drive. The fern-filled Tropical Display Dome (pictured above – taken by Botanic Gardens Photographer, Jim) is easily the highlight feature of gardens, closely followed by the breathtaking Japanese Gardens and prick filled (not that kind) Cactus Farm. This is one Brissy activity guaranteed to give you your fair share of #PlantPorn!
Address: 152 Mount Coot Tha Rd, Mount Coot-Tha QLD 4066
8.30pm – It’s Dinner Time @ The Osbourne Hotel
All those dranks got us seriously hungry! It’s time to duck away, and grab a bite (…and a couple more bevies) before we hit the town for a boogie, and where better to do that than at the Osbourne Hotel! Glitz and Glam are definitely not words we’d use to describe this swanky little venue! The Osbourne is full of character, its full of warm, cosy and wholesome vibes with delish food that won’t break the bank! It’s pizzas, to burgers, salads and steaks, as well as a stack of other ‘Modern Australian’ divine dishes! Try to go past their $12 deserts, we honestly dare you. What’s a decent feed, without a beverage to suit? Well you won’t be stuck for choice at the Osbourne Hotel, with their Brisbane fame being attributed to their 24 odd beers on tap and dead-set delish cocktail menu…it’s definitely time to drink up pals!
The team are a lovely bunch, and if you’re anything like us and stress out at the thought of ordering anything other than a safe 150 lashes, the team will well and truly guide you through to help you get your beer on quick-smart!
Address: 766 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
10.30pm – Let’s Dance @ The Beat Mega Club
This place is honestly crazy, and we would be crazier to not include it in our gay Brisbane guide! Think stereotypical disco gay club from the early 2000’s. The Beat really is a mega club, with 5 Clubs, 7 Bars and 6 Beer Gardens, you’re definitely not going to run out of places to boogie! With each club room having its own theme (both decor and music style), it’s no surprise The Beat has a line running down the block every Friday and Saturday night. The crowd is one of our favourite things about this venue, with the demographic truly ranging from super young dudes, to an older crowd, gay guys, gay gals and of course a couple of tag-along token straight friends! Everyone’s welcome at The Beat, and everyone is there to have a good time. Whether you’re there with a group of 10, or on your own, you’ll end up with an entirely new group, dancing for approximately five hours straight, flicking between a top 40 room, a throwback ‘gay anthems’ room (complete with a light up dance floor of course) and an R & B boogie room.
The bar lines are always pretty quick, and you’ll also be sure to catch a drag show or two each Friday and Saturday night. Hold our spot in line, we’ll be meeting you there!
Pro Tip: There’s a small entry fee of around $14, but if you get in before 10pm on a Friday, you’ll get in for free – Cha-Ching!
Address: 677 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
3am – It’s Time for Bed @ The Valley Brisbane Hotel
Okay folks, it’s time to grab your Kebab and get out – nothing good happens after 2am (trust us, we’ve made that mistake so you don’t have to)! We’re living the high life tonight and headed just down the road to ‘The Valley Brisbane’, a luxurious hotel by Ovolo. This hotel is the creme de la creme of Fortitude Valley hotels and we honestly can’t speak highly enough of it. Super new, super modern and a super team that we really do love, always making sure their LGBTI+ guests feel welcome.
If you have to wake up hungover, there really is no better place to do it!
Address: 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
10am – Rise ‘n’ Shine @ Artie & Mai
So we’re going to give it a red-hot guess that you’re not exactly feeling 100%? The word dusty is certainly coming to mind! Well never fear, we’ve got the breakfast savior that’s going to get you through! Artie & Mai is one of our all-time favourite breakfast cafes in Brisbane. A very industrial/urban feel to the restaurant, with exposed brick and warm filament light bulbs, this place is seriously breakfast goals. As with any restaurant we’re recommending, we’re looking for a diverse menu to keep the whole squad happy, and you’ll never guess what – Artie & Mai does just that! With breakfast all day, and the lunch menu seriously popping, there’s something for each of your annoyingly fussy pals…including that dairy free, gluten free, vegan friend we all seem to have!
Address: 340 Sandgate Rd, Albion QLD 4010
11.30am – Get Some Culture @ GOMA
We’re taking it easy today, and adding a little cultural flare into your Brissy weekend away! We’re headed to one of our favourite places in Australia – GOMA! The Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art, or GOMA as it’s more commonly known, is a 100% must-do on our 24-hour guide to Brisbane. Easily the best modern art museum in Australia, GOMA has everything from the weird to the wonderful, the abstract, interactive and the downright fun! From Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir’s Nervescape V, an enormous fluorescent synthetic hair installation which took over the main foyer walls, to Artist Carsten Höller’s three story slippery dip slide, or Ron Mueck’s gigantic woman lying in bed, you’ll never know what you’ll encounter in this sensational museum. For the most part GOMA is 100% free (which we are v happy about), thus making this an absolute Brisbane must!
If you get peckish whilst you’re loading up on all that culture, there’s even a cafe at the museum, perfect to help you refuel!
Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101
Once you’re all cultured out, you’re set to head back home to that 9-5 grind *sigh*…so definitely take your time at the museum!
And that’s a wrap for our Gay Brisbane Guide – Bring it to life, get a mate from interstate and book flights to Brisbane now.
