New Brisbane

Having noticed a mysterious doorway on Wickham Street without markings or signs several times on my way to the gym, I had assumed that it could only be a shady establishment of some sort. But, when I walked past one Saturday and saw a “Cocktail Happy Hour” sign, my curiosity was piqued and I made it a point to discover just what this place was. After some creative googling, I realised that this venue was, in fact, Garuva Restaurant & Bar - nothing shady at all, just Brisbane’s best kept secret restaurant and cocktail bar (that apparently everybody knew about except me!).

Garuva Restaurant & Bar
324 Wickham Street
Fortitude Valley
P: 07 3216 0124
W: www.garuva.com.au

After putting it off for months - never quite finding the right occassion to head down there - I decided to take some visiting friends from Perth there upon our return from our trip up to the Whitsundays. With happy hour ($11 cocktails!) every Friday & Saturday from 5:30-7pm, we made our way down early Friday evening to indulge in a few quiet drinks. Entering through the cavernous doorway, we were greeted by the hostess and promptly ushered through the tranquil forest of curtained-off tables (with snatches of conversations softly pattering on our ears) to the bar at the rear of the building.

Designed in a unique fashion, the bar at Garuva is the absolute definition of a cocktail “lounge” - with cushions, beanbags and a few low-lying tables strewn across the floor, it is the perfect place to lean back and relax with a drink. Though maybe not a place for those with artihritis, we quite enjoyed the difference in atmosphere, a sanctuary that was a lot more laid back, intimate and mellow than your average bustling Friday night bar.

The cocktail list, which I’d already seen & been impressed by on the website, was even more extensive and amazing in the bar, and we had quite a bit of difficulty choosing from the absolute bounty of great beverages on offer. The Garuva Tickle, the Royal Dori, Strawberry Daiquiri, Banana Paddle Pop, Cookies n Cream and many other fabulous concoctions all went down a treat and I think it was safe to say that the three of us made the most of the $11 happy hour. Combining their own recipes with a few classics, backed up by a bar staff who know what they’re about, I am officially saying here and now that Garuva makes the best cocktails in Brisbane.

Oh yeah. I went there.

Hungry, but knowing the frequency with which Garuva’s restaurant books out on Friday & Saturday nights, we had come down with the thought that we would just be having drinks there and find somewhere else to chow down. But, just in case, I’d asked them to let us know if a table came available around 7:15 and sure enough, right on the dot a waiter came over to tell us that a table was ready and we were led to our own curtained eating space.

Garuva makes the best cocktails in Brisbane

Eating at Garuva is as unique an experience as drinking at Garuva, with each individually curtained-off table featuring a low table and cushions to sit on. While we had a little bit of foot jostling under the table, we all managed to fit in and quite enjoyed the comfort and intimacy the seating arrangement offered us.

The dining menu is also exquisitely designed, with every dish on offer being priced at exactly $22 ($2 extra for rice) and featuring options in a wide range of meat, chicken, seafood and vegetarian meals. I tried the delicious Chinese Roast Beef (succulent slices of tender, flavour-filled beef), my hippy animal-loving friend got the Sweet-Potato and Bean curry (delicious despite the lack of meat) and her meat-loving brother got the Beef Baha (aka “heaven in a bowl”).

Now while the meals are served as “large entree size”, we were all so stuffed by the end of the meal that we could only look longingly at the dessert menu, imagining how wondrous it surely must be. But, as far as I’m concerned, this is a good thing, as it gives us an excuse to go back there again!

Like food? Like good cocktails? Go to Garuva. It’s really that simple.

- Ross