The Best Rooftop Bars in Brisbane That Are Actually Worth the Queue
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A lot of top 10 lists for Brisbane’s rooftop scene just repeat the same five names in a different order, so this guide sorts the city’s sky bars and rooftop restaurants by what you’re actually after – CBD views, riverside, a proper pool, or a genuine local pick most visitors miss.
The Best Rooftop Bar in Brisbane CBD for Skyline Views
The highest sky bar in the city, and the one with the widest CBD view, is Cicada Blu, the rooftop bar at The Star Brisbane. It sits on the Sky Deck, level 23, about 100 metres above the street, and there’s no entry fee to get up there.
The view stretches over the whole CBD, the river, and out to Mount Coot-tha in the west. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday, open from midday Friday to Sunday and mid-afternoon Wednesday and Thursday, through to late.
It fills up fast around sunset, so I’d get there earlier than you think you need to.
The Best Rooftop Bars in Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley has become the go-to strip for rooftop bars with a view that aren’t in the CBD.
MAYA Rooftop at 757 Ann Street sits on the 11th floor with a 270-degree view over the Valley and the city skyline.
This is the venue formerly known as Eleven Rooftop Bar – it’s since been reworked into a Mexican rooftop restaurant and bar, so if you’ve been before and remember it as Eleven, expect a different menu and look rather than a straight rebrand.
A few streets over, Cielo Rooftop on Brunswick Street sits on the sixth floor above La Costa Restaurant.
It’s smaller and more intimate than MAYA, open Thursday to Sunday, with a smart-casual dress code, cabanas and an Italian Riviera-inspired menu built around seafood.
Good pick if you want a table rather than standing room only.
If Fortitude Valley itself feels too busy, Spicers Balfour is a short drive over in New Farm.
It’s a boutique hotel rooftop that mostly flies under the radar with tourists, with Story Bridge views and a much quieter crowd than anything in the Valley proper – check the website or call ahead for current opening hours, since these aren’t published consistently across sources.
Rooftop Bars in Kangaroo Point Worth the Trip
Kangaroo Point doesn’t get mentioned in most rooftop bar roundups, but it’s home to a few of the better views in the city, looking back across the river at the CBD skyline.
Joey’s on River Terrace sits right on the Kangaroo Point cliffs and runs daily from early breakfast through to a late kitchen, so it works for more than just evening drinks. The menu leans Italian, and it’s one of the more reliably open options in this precinct.
Eagles Nest inside The Point Brisbane Hotel is quieter again, open Thursday to Sunday from 3 pm.
Since December 2025, the hotel’s ground-floor dining has moved up to Eagles Nest while renovations continue, so hotel guests get priority and seating for everyone else is limited – worth calling ahead before you make the trip out.
Rooftop Bars Near Howard Smith Wharves and the River
If river views matter more to you than city skyline, head to the Howard Smith Wharves precinct under the Story Bridge.
Fiume Rooftop Bar, at the Crystalbrook Vincent Hotel, has an infinity pool and sweeping views across the river bend to the CBD.
It’s closed Monday and Tuesday, but open from midday Friday through Sunday, so it still works well as a daytime spot if crowds aren’t your thing.
Down at ground level in the same precinct, Felons Barrel Hall and the wider Howard Smith Wharves strip are worth combining with a Fiume booking – it’s an easy stretch to walk between venues without needing a car.
I’ve written more on the precinct and the rest of the city in my [Brisbane itinerary guide], if you want to build a full evening around this part of town.
Rooftop Bars in South Bank Brisbane With River Views
South Bank has two of the best rooftop restaurants in Brisbane, and both double as a proper bar rather than just a dining room with a view.
The Terrace at Emporium Hotel South Bank sits on level 21 with a 180-degree view stretching from South Bank Parklands out to Moreton Island.
Two retractable rooves mean it stays open through most weather, with breakfast service from early morning through to a late bar crowd.
Lina Rooftop on Tribune Street in South Brisbane, right by South Bank, is the more resort-style option, built around a 30-metre pool with skyline views towards Mount Coot-tha.
Pool access is 18-plus and runs during the day, while the restaurant side is fine for all ages, so it’s worth checking which side of the venue you’re booking before you turn up in swimwear.
Brisbane’s Best Rooftop Pool Bar for a Poolside Drink
For a genuine pool-and-drinks combination rather than just a rooftop with good views, WET Deck at W Brisbane is the one to book.
It’s a 20-metre heated pool on level four with panoramic river views, open daily from 11 am, later on Friday and Saturday nights with resident DJs.
You don’t need to be a hotel guest to visit, though pool access sometimes needs a booking or a minimum spend on weekends – worth checking the website before you turn up expecting a swim.
A Rooftop Bar Outside the CBD Worth the Trip
Most rooftop lists in Brisbane stick to the CBD and the Valley, but Ooh La La in Woolloongabba is one I’d point out because almost nobody else does.
It sits above C’est Bon, a French restaurant on Stanley Street, and only opens Friday and Saturday from 3 pm.
It’s small, French-influenced, and feels more like a friend’s rooftop party than a commercial bar – walk-ins are fine for groups under six, but book ahead for anything bigger.
It’s a short trip from South Bank if you’re already down that end of the city.
How Much Do Brisbane Sky Bars Cost
Not every sky bar in Brisbane needs to be a splurge. Here’s roughly where each one sits.
Budget-friendly. Cicada Blu has no entry fee, and you can sit with one drink for as long as you like, which makes it the easiest on your wallet even though the venue itself is a five-star casino resort.
Ooh La La’s small plates and cocktails also sit at the lower end compared to hotel rooftop bars, and Joey’s is easy to visit for just a coffee or a single dish if you’re not after a full sitting.
Mid-range. MAYA Rooftop, Cielo Rooftop, Fiume and Eagles Nest all fall into a comfortable middle ground – cocktails and shared plates priced like a typical Brisbane bar, not a special-occasion splurge.
Check each venue’s own site for current menu pricing before you go, since these change through the year.
One of the pricier options. WET Deck, The Terrace, Lina Rooftop and Spicers Balfour all lean towards the premium end once you factor in pool access, hotel dining and general five-star pricing. Worth it for a special occasion rather than a regular Friday.
Getting to Brisbane’s Sky Bars and Rooftop Venues Without a Car
Parking near the CBD, Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves is limited and expensive on a weekend night, so I wouldn’t bother driving in.
The free CityHopper ferry gets you close to Howard Smith Wharves and the CBD riverfront without paying a cent.
For everywhere else, tap on with a Go card or your bank card on the bus or train network – trains run late on Friday and Saturday nights, which makes getting home from the Valley or the CBD easy without booking a rideshare.
My Brisbane itinerary guide covers the Go card system in more detail if you’re new to the city.
South Bank itself has its own train station and sits right on the CityCat and CityHopper ferry route, so The Terrace and Lina Rooftop are two of the easiest venues on this list to reach without a car.
Woolloongabba, where Ooh La La sits, is a short train or bus ride from South Bank and the CBD, so it’s worth combining with an afternoon at South Bank Parklands before heading over for sunset.
Kangaroo Point and New Farm are the two spots on this list genuinely worth a car or a rideshare, since the CityCat does run to both but not as frequently as the CBD and South Bank routes.
Best Time of Year for Rooftop Drinks in Brisbane
Winter (June to August) is genuinely the best season for rooftop bars here – Brisbane’s dry, mild winter days mean you get clear skies without the summer humidity or the risk of a storm rolling in.
Summer (December to February) still works, especially for sunset sessions, but afternoon storms are common from around January, so I’d have a backup plan or check the radar before booking an outdoor table.
Weeknights are noticeably quieter and easier to get a table without a booking. Friday and Saturday after 6 pm at any of the popular spots means you’re waiting in a queue if you haven’t booked.
Know Before You Go
✅ Book ahead on weekends. Walk-ins work fine on a Tuesday, not on a Saturday at sunset.
✅ Check the dress code. Most rooftop bars are smart casual – thongs and singlets will get you turned away at places like Cielo Rooftop.
✅ Surcharges often apply on weekends. At Cicada Blu it’s 10% on Saturdays and Sundays, 15% on public holidays, plus a small card surcharge on Visa, Mastercard and Amex – other casino and hotel-based venues on this list run similar policies, so factor that into your bill.
✅ Weather can shut things down fast. Brisbane storms come in quickly in summer. Ring ahead if the forecast looks rough.
✅ Parking is limited near most of these venues. Brisbane City and the Valley are both best reached by train, bus or the free CityHopper ferry rather than driving in.
Picking the Right Rooftop Bar for the Night You’re Planning
MAYA Rooftop and WET Deck both handle bigger groups without a fuss, since neither is squeezed for space. Cielo Rooftop and Ooh La La are the two where you can actually hear the person across the table, which makes them the better pick for a date night.
Cicada Blu is the easiest one to just turn up to – no entry fee, no minimum spend, and you can make one drink last as long as you like while you take in the view.
If you’ve only got one night in Brisbane, pick a bar by location rather than trying to fit in two – the highest view in the city with zero planning at Cicada Blu, or a slower evening around Howard Smith Wharves if you’d rather combine drinks with a walk beforehand at Fiume.
Fiume and WET Deck both run relaxed daytime sessions before the evening crowd arrives, and the resort feel at either makes them the pick for a milestone dinner or a proper celebration rather than a casual midweek catch-up.
The Terrace and Lina Rooftop suit the same kind of night if you’d rather stay closer to South Bank.
If you just want a rooftop bar with a view and nothing else to think about, Cicada Blu and The Terrace are the two easiest to recommend outright.
For a genuinely quiet option away from the main strips, Spicers Balfour and Joey’s are the two to know about.
For more on where to eat before or after, my Best Restaurants in Brisbane guide covers the precincts near most of these bars, and my Things to Do in Brisbane guide has the rest of the city’s highlights if you’re building out a full day.
For the wider region, the Queensland travel guide is worth a look if you’re planning stops beyond Brisbane itself.
