Forget the slip slop and slap-up backyard party this Australia Day and spend your day wining and dining on fresh Aussie produce, drinking all Australian favourites (of the alcoholic variety, of course) and throwing the odd thong or pineapple across the bar (we’re not joking, warm up your beer holding arm, people).
The Pineapple Hotel | 10am – late | Free entry
Around since 1886, the Pineapple Hotel knows a thing or two about throwing a great Australia Day bash. With delicious food, plenty of XXXX buckets, the Hottest 100 countdown, live music and of course the famous Pineapple Throwing Contest, you can’t go wrong celebrating at this iconic venue.
The Fox Hotel | 11am – late | Free entry
The Fox Hotel’s Australia Day celebrations are chockers with fantastic food and entertainment. Listen to the Hottest 100 and the hotel’s live DJ’s while you enjoy a spit roasted lamb roll and an esky of Young Henry’s or Green Beacon beer for a mere $25. Be sure not to miss the sausage sizzle or the Pavlova and Weis bar cocktails either. Once your appetite has been satisfied why not give the thong throwing competition a whirl to claim the ultimate Australia Day glory?
Brooklyn Standard | Monday 25th January | Free Entry
Want to make the most of your day off? Start the night before! Brooklyn Standard is throwing open their doors on Monday night for a Mariachi Monday worth dancing your Southern Cross patterned pants off. Kick off your Australia Day celebrations a little earlier than the rest of the country with a selection of on tap brews and a killer cocktail list. Bonus – there are plenty of places open to grab a hair of the dog the next day!
Cove | 23-26 January | Free entry
Find yourself with a Cove craving this Australia Day? Then it’s worth checking out the pop-up stall they’re holding as part of the Great Australian Bites event at South Bank. Cove is offering plenty of options at their pop-up and as an added bonus, the Great Australian Bites event will provide an ideal view of the Australia Day fireworks on the Brisbane River. They’ll also be open on Australia Day to celebrate in true Cove style with their regular a la carte menu. If that doesn’t float your Australia Day boat, we don’t know what will!
Room with Roses | 19 – 31 January | Set menu
Are you feeling sad at the thought of Room with Roses being closed on Australia Day, we’ve got a great alternative for you. For the week leading up to the 26th, Room with Roses will be running a set ‘Celebrations’ lunch menu, offering up all the goodness you would expect on Australia Day while leaving you free to hit the beach on the day of.
Cowch | 7am – 10pm | Free entry
Looking for a sweet fix for your Australia Day cravings? Cowch has you covered, opening from 7am-10pm. In addition to their usual haven of sweet treats, they’ll be running a ‘Lamington Naked Pop’ from January 22 to 29 in honour of Australia Day. Think delicious Naked Pop goodness sandwiched between two slabs of Lamington and drizzled with strawberry coulis – ohhhh mumma.
Libertine | Lunch from 12pm, Dinner 5pm – late | Free entry
Not regularly open for lunch on a Tuesday, Libertine is getting into the Aussie Day spirit and inviting you to join them for some public holiday deliciousness! Enjoy their 5 course Lunch-On Banquet for only $35pp and roll your way to your next Aussie Day destination. Or, if a day of celebrations has you beat and cooking dinner is the last thing on your mind, head to the Barracks to enjoy the best French-Vietnamese cuisine in Brisbane for a dinner fit for any day off.
Popolo | Lunch 12pm, Dinner 5pm | Free entry
Just because it’s Australia Day doesn’t mean it’s all pies and sausage rolls. Popolo is open for lunch from 12pm and for dinner from 5pm to top up on delicious Italian food and a cheeky tipple of a great Italian wine. When in Rome!
Head to Il Posto for an easy and delicious Australia Day dinner. From 5:30pm they’ll be offering a great selection of $15 pizzas, with the rest of their a la carte menu giving you plenty of other post Aussie Day celebratory dinner options as well.
Southbank Beer Garden | 8am – late | Free entry
Take in the sights of Brisbane’s beautiful South Bank and enjoy a beachside BBQ of low and slow meats to kick off Australia Day in style. Open from 8am until late, Southbank Beer Garden has you covered for breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Their full a la carte menu is available all day, as well as jugs of beer in true Australian style. Top it all off by listening to the Hottest 100 and you have a recipe for a fantastic Australia Day celebration. BYO towel!
South Bank Surf Club | 8am – late | Free entry
We’re inviting you to seafood and eat it this Australia Day at South Bank Surf Club. With a top view of the beach and open from 8am until late, they’ve got your Aussie Day breakfast, lunch and dinner covered. Enjoy the great seafood barbecue they’re putting on, or choose from their a la carte menu. Hot tip right off the BBQ – there’s also a special Australia Day lamb burger. Take it all in with the sounds of the Hottest 100 playing in the background, and don’t forget your towel!
Walkabout Creek | All day event | Free entry
Celebrate Australia Day by surrounding yourself with the nature that has made this country so famous. Located just 12kms from the Brisbane CBD, Walkabout Creek offers an escape from the hustle and bustle, being surrounded by the Mt Nebo landscape. A fun option for the whole family, take a leisurely stroll through the scenic landscape to find a spot to settle in for the afternoon. The Green Tree Frog Cafe is extending their hours especially for the occasion, so grab a lamb burger and a beer for an all-round Aussie experience, they’ll be open from 8am until 4pm. BYO kayak, bocce balls or bikes to make the most of everything Walkabout Creek has to offer. Don’t forget to check out the Wildlife Zoo and the walking trails through the D’Aguilar National Park to cap off your Australia Day celebrations.
Whether you’re planning to celebrate Australia Day at home or will be out and about all day and are in need of a feed, Milton’s The Fishery has your Aussie Day seafood fix covered. With their huge range of fresh Australian seafood including oysters, prawns, crab and of course fish, there’s plenty of fresh options you can grab for an at-home BBQ. If you don’t feel like doing the grilling yourself pop in and enjoy some freshly cooked fish and chips in true Aussie style. Whatever your plans, The Fishery is the place for fast and fresh food this Australia Day.
Bird’s Nest | Dinner 5:30pm – late
All tuckered out after a day of sight seeing the best our city has on offer and can’t bear the thought of going home to that empty fridge? Don’t stress – Bird’s Nest is throwing their doors open for dinner from 5:30pm until late, so you can kick on with a few beers in true Australia Day spirit while you sample a little cuisine from our friends north of the equator. Tuck into a selection of yakitori, karaage, katsu curry and an assortment of delicious side dishes and say ‘hoo-roo’ to the frozen Four’n Twenty in your freezer.
Don’t risk the sunburn this Australia Day, grab a cold one and a eat yourself silly instead – we all know it’s the true Aussie way to celebrate a day off work.