Sixteen Antlers

Sixteen Antlers manages that rare trick: shaking the dowdiness of a hotel bar. There’s a hip trio of bar tenders slinging drinks to a small crowd, and as the afternoon unfolds the city skyline beyond is turning a brilliant shade of orange. It is 16 floors above Brisbane’s King George Square – atop the Pullman and Mecure Hotels.

From the street below only a small sign indicates Sixteen Antlers’ presence above, and there’s a degree of theatre in wandering through the hotel, and then riding the lift up to find it. The bar itself is an intimate corner space, encircled by lounges and high tables, with commanding views of the city.

Cocktails such as Bushel Spritz (Absolut, Ketel 1 Citroen, Chambord, lemon juice, mint, berries) or Spring 75 (Tanqueray, St Germain, sparkling, lemon) reflect the airy nature of the venue. There’s a strong selection of Australian beer, with a particular focus on James Squire and Little Creatures, as well as wine by the glass or bottle.

The bar menu includes mini brioche sliders with hand-cut fries, and cheese and charcuterie boards. The venue’s tapas menu celebrates Australian producers and consciously sourced ingredients.