Brooklyn Standard

Brooklyn Standard is one of Brisbane’s coolest basement bars - a dim-lit brick cellar accessed by a secret laneway door, where live music acts and bands play nightly to an eclectic crowd.

As if coined from the Petula Clarke 1960s hit, it’s Brisbane’s very own swingin’ place, a cellar full of noise with an atmosphere of its own, somehow. And stumbling upon it in a back alley of Brisbane CBD’s midtown is like finding nirvana for those after a laidback yet buzzing place with a mixed-age crowd any night of the week to enjoy good live music with beer and pretzels in hand.

Decorated with US memorabilia – an inlaid wall cage of baseball caps and the like, inset shelves of American beer cans and lamps with pistol bases – the bar also serves a decent range of American beers like Sierra Nevada, craft beers and ‘Crap off the Tap’. Otherwise there’s a cracking wine list, spirits and cocktails like Blackberry Julep and the Zombie to keep things upbeat. And to keep it simple, there’s no food here except for the free bowls of pretzels that come with drinks. Because here’s a bar where it’s about the music.

Need to know – Bands/acoustic acts kick off nightly.  In between acts, the soundtrack is as timeless as the venue - think greatest Motown hits on the turntable. To find Brookyn Standard, take Eagle Street almost to its junction with Queen Street - the laneway entrance is indicated by Coop Espresso. If coming from Queen St, the entrance is opposite no. 360 Queen St. The bar door is just around the corner, off the pedestrian thoroughfare.