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The Bowery

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

The Bowery is one serious cocktail bar. Modelled on a 1920's style speakeasy, this is a place that knows its liquors and takes genuine pride in boozing. No fresh faced bar staff with ridiculous haircuts to be found here; the guys behind the bar are professionals and will happily recommend you a cocktail or drink to suit your tastes and/or budget.

Narrow, long and dimly lit, the Bowery's interior design is all about the bar running the length of the front room. It's an imposing site and harks back to the days when serious drinkers would pull up a chair and talk to their barmen as the afternoon and the drinks rolled by. That might not happen at 11pm on a Saturday night, but visit The Bowery on a midweek afternoon and you can expect some very personalised service.

That 1920's speakeasy vibe is carried over to the booths. Simple wooden constructions, they're surprisingly comfortable and run opposite the main bar. Mind, they tend to fill up pretty quickly. As you move towards the back of the establishment you'll find a small enclave of couches before the building opens up into an outdoor courtyard. Jazz bands play throughout the week, while the music policy shifts into lowkey, soul-infused house on weekends. That said, the music is just background ambience at The Bowery; the venue is all about the drinks and socialising.

While clearly aimed at an older crowd, The Bowery does attract a nice cross section of executives, musicians, media types and older gentlemen splashing around their cash. Not that the drinks are any more expensive than any other upmarket bar. Cocktails are all around the $16 mark and the expansive drinks menu not only lists the ingredients, it also credits the drinks creator and the year it was first made. A nice touch.

Understated, dimly lit, but still friendly, The Bowery is one of Brisbane's best boutique bars. Well worth a visit, especially on weekday evenings.
Mikolai, November 2007