If all your recent hangs have consisted of binge eating ice cream while binge watching Mindhunter (obsessed… no judgement), then consider ditching the tracky-dacks for the day and take your best bud out on a date!
Dinner at Bacchus and a show at QPAC | South Bank
Before cry-cackling at the sacrilegious stylings of Book of Mormon, take your pals to a dinner of biblical proportions at Bacchus. Located just across the road from QPAC, Bacchus restaurant at Rydges South Bank offers a pre-theatre menu available Tuesday-Saturday, with 5:30pm and 5:45pm sittings guaranteed to have you on your way to your show on time! We’re here and cheerin’ for the mushroom bottoni.
HIGH TEA AT THE LAB ǀ BRISBANE CITY
As The Beatles famously crooned, ‘I get high with a little help from my friends.’ We at the G&G think we know exactly what they meant: high tea of course! As for where to treat your friends to crisp teacakes and sugary macarons, look no further than The Lab. Set in the heritage-listed Treasury Brisbane, indulge in a selection of sweet and savoury delights with decadent hand-crafted teas and champagne.
CORK AND CHROMA ǀ SOUTH BRISBANE
If your bestie has a fine palate, and even finer palette, pair them with an easel at one of Cork and Chroma’s painting sessions. All about letting your creative freak flag fly, Cork and Chroma lets you pop a bottle of champagne (BYO, so you know it’s gonna be good!) while an in-house artist guides you through creating a masterpiece. For those with grumbly tummies, nibbles are also provided at an extra cost by Milk Factory next door.
MACELLERIA GELATO WORKSHOP ǀ TENERIFFE
Everyone knows that the best D&Ms happen over a cup of good ol’ gelato. Well, what better way to take you and bestie’s friendship to the next level than by having your next salacious convo occur during a gelato-making workshop? The gelato-making classes at La Marcelleria Gelataria are our top pick!
ARBOUR NAIL LOUNGE & BAR ǀ NEW FARM
If you love to polish off mojitos as much as polishing your nails, then you and your friend have come to the right place! Arbour Nail Lounge & Bar combines two great loves, with the luxurious mani and pedi stations partnered with a fully decked bar complete with wine, cocktails, and even tea (for those who need to spill it). And let’s not forget Arbour’s expert nail techs, who ensure that you are literally in good hands!
PEACE OUT WITH A GOURMET PICNIC ǀ BRISBANE
If you and your bestie are saying yes to a day out, but your wallets are saying no, why not skip the beer gardens and go straight to the real thing? It’s time to put those MasterChef skills to the test (surely, we learnt something from watching all ten seasons?) by DIY-ing lunch and heading out for a picnic in the park. Get the down-low on all our favourite picnic spots (and where to get the best food) here.
TAKE A COOKING CLASS ǀ VARIOUS LOCATIONS
MasterChef skills lacking despite those aforementioned ten seasons? We got you. Or rather, Brisbane’s best cooking schools have. Learn how to BBQ, delve into traditional French cooking, or tackle the craft of kombucha. Best yet, you can enjoy the profits of your labour at the end! Here’s our pick of where to take a class.
SPARKLING SPRINGS AT DARLING & CO ǀ PADDINGTON
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so treat yours to some sparkles each Sunday at Darling & Co! Alas, while we can’t afford actual diamonds (if only), the sparkling prosecco fountain (yeah, a literal freakin’ fountain) is the next best thing! For two hours, you can enjoy free-poured glasses of drank and an all-you-can-eat grazing board with everything from oysters to brisket and smoked cheddar croquettes from a cheeky $60 per person. Done.
HOLEY MOLEY ǀ FORTITUDE VALLEY
There’s no better way to putt putt a smile on your friends faces than by treating them to a day on the green! And while your golf swing might not be on par, Holey Moley’s devilish cocktails certainly are, with ‘Sugar Caddy’ coming out as our favourite! Head to their Caddyshack Bar and try them out (and grab pizza from the truck out front!)
KNOCKOFF AT THE POWERHOUSE | NEW FARM
If your friend is Carl Barron-obsessed and has more than a few funny bones in their body, then prepare to knock their socks off at Knockoff at the Powerhouse! Run by the impressive ImproMafia, their hilarious skits and rowdy one-liners are the perfect way to kick off TGI-Fridays! We recommend pairing the outing with some spritz and spaghetti at Bar Alto afterwards.
So, whether your friend loves tea-times, tee-offs, tee-hees, or tequila, take them to any one of these places for a 10/10 time.
