Rooftops in Brisbane: the river, the Story Bridge and the skyline seen from above
The capital of Queensland
The capital and most populous city of Queensland, and Australia's third-largest city by population, Brisbane lies 731 kilometres north-north-east of Sydney. It spreads across a plain fringed by hills, between Moreton Bay and the first foothills of the Great Dividing Range; a few kilometres from the centre, Mount Coot-tha offers a lookout platform. Originally a penal colony set in a bend of the river, it became the capital of the new Queensland in 1859. The climate is humid subtropical: mild winters, often above 20 °C during the day, and very hot, sticky summers punctuated by short tropical downpours.
A city shaped by its river
The Brisbane River winds through the heart of the city, and CityCat ferries link its banks. On the north bank, the towers of the CBD overlook the river; opposite, the South Bank Parklands, laid out after the 1988 World Expo, spread gardens, a promenade, a lagoon and a man-made beach over 17 hectares, facing the skyscrapers. Further downstream, the Story Bridge, opened in 1940, links Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point; its steel structure was inspired by the Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal. North-east of the centre, Fortitude Valley, with its Chinatown and the Brunswick Street Mall, is the city's main nightlife district.
Where to rise above Brisbane
The city centre, Queen's Wharf and Howard Smith Wharves
At the top of The Star Brisbane, the Sky Deck at Queen's Wharf is an elevated promenade open to all free of charge: on level 23, Cicada Blu serves its cocktails in the open air, around a hundred metres above the river. Facing City Hall and King George Square, Sixteen Antlers occupies the 16th floor of the Pullman & Mercure, beneath canopies whose framework recalls a stag's antlers. At the foot of the Story Bridge, Fiume, on the roof of the Crystalbrook Vincent at Howard Smith Wharves, surrounds its infinity pool with daybeds, facing the river and the bridge's steel structure.
South Bank, South Brisbane and Kangaroo Point
On the 21st floor of the Emporium Hotel South Bank, The Terrace, open to everyone, houses its bar beneath a retractable glass roof, facing the river and the towers of the CBD. Not far away, Lina Rooftop stretches an infinity pool of around thirty metres across the roof of a South Brisbane building, in a beach club setting. Near the Queensland Cultural Centre, Fox Rooftop has revived the roof of the former Fox Hotel at the top of the Hotel Terminus. Across the river, in Kangaroo Point, Sunsets Rooftop sets up a cactus oasis on the roof of an apartment building, with the skyline on one side and the Gabba stadium on the other.
Fortitude Valley
The Valley alone is home to half a dozen rooftop venues. On the 14th floor of Jubilee Place, Soko combines Peruvian and Japanese cuisine on a vast, leafy terrace. On Brunswick Street, Iris Rooftop, at the top of the former Hotel X, now The Alva, serves Spanish cuisine beneath a glass roof. On Constance Street, Siroco Rooftop plays the Mediterranean card under a retractable roof. Along Ann Street, Maya Mexican has taken the place of the Eleven Rooftop Bar on the 11th floor, Valley Hops Brewing brews its beers on the roof of Cloudland, and Above surrounds the Ovolo's rooftop pool with banquettes and mosaics.
Food and cocktails up high
For every budget
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Expect to pay A$22 to A$25 for a cocktail at Sunsets, around A$24 at Valley Hops Brewing, A$24 to A$26 at Lina, A$24 to A$28 at Siroco and A$24 to A$29 at Soko. As for food, you can go from the tapas of Iris and Sixteen Antlers to Soko's ceviches and pisco sours, from Maya's regional Mexican cuisine to the mezze of Above and Siroco, and from Lina's Riviera cuisine to Fiume's oysters and Valley Hops' wood-fired pizzas.
A rooftop for every occasion
As a couple or with friends
For a romantic date, Cicada Blu, The Terrace and Fiume bank on the panorama and the sunset over the river. With friends, the pools of Lina, Above and Fiume invite you to stretch out the afternoon, the DJs at Soko and Sixteen Antlers and the dance floor at The Terrace liven up the evenings, Valley Hops welcomes beer lovers in a brewery atmosphere, and the Sunday sessions at Fox Rooftop revive a South Brisbane tradition.
Getting around easily
The centre and its surroundings can be explored on foot, by suburban train, by bus and by CityCat. Fortitude Valley station serves Soko, Maya Mexican, Valley Hops Brewing, Iris and Siroco; South Brisbane station serves Lina and Fox Rooftop; South Bank station and the nearby CityCat stop serve The Terrace. Sixteen Antlers and Cicada Blu are in the CBD, and Fiume is at Howard Smith Wharves, on the riverfront. On match days at the Gabba, it is best to reach Sunsets by public transport.
Tips for making the most of Brisbane's rooftops
Choosing your time and booking
In Brisbane's subtropical climate, the terraces are busy all year round; retractable roofs, canopies, glass roofs and umbrellas offer protection from the sun as well as the showers. Book for dinner and at weekends, especially at Lina, Iris and The Terrace. Several venues close early in the week, such as Fiume, Iris and Above on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Sunsets from Monday to Wednesday: check opening hours before you go. Smart casual dress is often required, with no thongs or caps, and some rooftop venues, such as Soko and Siroco, are restricted to over-18s. Head up in the late afternoon for the sunset, then watch the city light up.