Louis Tikaram’s Stanley has been integral to the Howard Smith Wharves – the beating heart of Brisbane’s dining scene – since opening in 2019.

Stan’s Lounge is a luxe, intimate bar positioned on Stanley's second floor.

Designed with scarlet plush and dark wood, and with a mirrored backbar, the space has all the hallmarks of a speakeasy. A private lounge dotted with brass cocktail tables offers a more secluded experience. There’s also a stylised recess housing vinyl, a DJ booth and a vintage JBL sound system.

Cocktails are workshopped classics: a Stan’s 75 (a take on the French 75) features fino, mandarin and Thai basil, a Lychee Martini uses yuzushu, and the Dragon Margarita has dragon fruit and makrut lime. Stan’s backbar also houses Campari and Beefeater gin from the ’70s – both non-negotiables in an indulgent Negroni.

For snacks, Tikaram called on his team of chefs downstairs to create a menu of sophisticated Hong Kong-inspired bar snacks. Tikaram drew on his time at Tetsuya’s and Longrain to bring high-end techniques to the table. There’s prawn toast with salmon roe and truffle mayo, XO sand crab cigars and one-bite Peking duck pancakes.