Best Bars in Abbotsford

Updated 5 months ago

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Between the idyllic Convent, busy Johnston Street and the industrial area around CUB, Abbotsford is a real mixed bag when it comes to drinking options. There are multiple breweries, classic pubs and everything in between. And being rather under the radar compared to neighbouring Collingwood and Richmond, the boozers tend to be filled with locals, not people who’ve come in from elsewhere. This gives Abbotsford’s bars a particularly relaxed, friendly vibe. Here’s where to find them.

  • Named after a Tom Petty album – and rocking an appropriate soundtrack – Lulie’s Cali-inspired rooftop bar is all sun, stone and succulents. Head upstairs for zesty cocktails from a cactus-shaped dispenser and a riff on the Hungry Jack’s Whopper.

  • A South and Central American menu worth travelling for, natural wines on tap and room for 400 punters.

  • This neighbourhood spot has an all-day cafe, diner, gallery space and courtyard with views of the Abbotsford Convent. It’ll take you right through your day, from your morning coffee to your late-night share plates and local lo-fi wines. As for food? Expect hearty veggie soups, charcuterie plates, mussels steeped in chilli and tomato sauce, and more.

  • Boogie beneath the disco ball at this snug, ’70s-style den upstairs at Bodriggy Brewing Co. It’s a trifecta of fluorescent cocktails, lively South American snacks and “high-end Australiana” vibes.

  • One of the friendliest, most relaxed bars in town.

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  • An Abbotsford taproom from one of Brisbane's most popular breweries. The team ships its most in-demand beers twice weekly, fresh from Brisbane. Pick one of 12 pours, then order some food from local favourites, including Rita's Cafeteria and Kelso's Sandwich Shoppe.

  • This Abbotsford bar, eatery and coffee takeaway window is a Johnston Street cure-all.

  • A quirky brewery bar with pizzas, free popcorn and an anything-goes spirit.

  • This historic 19th-century public house has stepped into the 21st with an entirely meat-free menu – featuring fragrant miso ramen and hearty vego lasagne – and hyperlocal beers. Yet it still retains the heart of a classic pub, complete with fireplaces for the cooler months.

  • A neighbourhood pub, more than 150 years old, by the team behind The Royston.

  • The Retreat is a trip back in time – to 1915 to be exact. It’s one of the few pubs in the city with a true heritage fit-out; a warren full of tiny rooms, stained glass and curved timber surfaces. But it’s kept up with the times where it counts, as the throngs of locals will attest. Be sure to book on weekends or you’ll be eating your curry standing.

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  • A cosy bar and eating house in the heart of Little Saigon.

  • Open midday to midnight, this intimate bar has a surprisingly large beer garden. Walk through to find a 1.5 metric tonne smoker slowly tenderising beef brisket, pork shoulder, chicken wings and German-style smoked cheese kransky.

  • Indigenous plants alongside art, coffee and jaffles.

  • At this "mapped" bottle shop, a cartographer and a sommelier are cracking open wines you’ve never tried from under-represented regions around the world. Grab a bottle to go, or settle in with a glass and some charcuterie (or order in from a nearby restaurant).