NOW EXPERIENCING:Rothwell’s Bar & Grill
Drinks Directory|Brisbane|Casual catch-up|Wheelchair accessible

Rothwell’s Bar & Grill

235 Edward Street, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000
Phone
07 3038 1169
Website
rothwellsbrisbane.com.au
Instagram
@rothwellsbrisbane

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 12 Dec 2022

By
Fiona Donnelly

Housed in heritage digs, this glamorous bar and grill is loaded with old-school charm, and with a crack team on the tools, it has plenty of credibility to go with all that style.  

Insert description of image
Why you goBrisbane City drinking has never looked quite this swish before. It might have something to do with the handsome, skilfully renovated historic building Rothwell’s calls home. Or the stylish silverware that’s in play here. Or it might be the striking dark panelling, that copper-topped bar and those shiny and capacious green-leather barstools. Or even that impressive supersized chandelier that draws the eye upwards to better appreciate the high-pitched ceiling. In truth, it’s probably a bit of everything, not least the bloodline of the Rothwell’s team – Dan Clark, of wholesaler Addley Clark Fine Wines and co-owner of 1889 Enoteca in Woolloongabba, and co-director and chef Ben Russell (long-time head chef at Aria Brisbane). What a swellegant joint!
Why you stayThis 40-seat bar looks out onto Brisbane’s Edward Street and the glossy Gucci advertisements of upmarket shopping centre QueensPlaza, but thanks to the classic interiors here it feels as though you could be in New York or London. This is way more than just a stylish holding bar for diners – although it is a lovely spot to sit and toy with a cocktail if friends are delayed for a dinner date. All the important details are painstakingly observed here. Wines, for instance, are served in high-quality Sophienwald glassware. Your perfectly mixed Martini arrives with a silver beaker alongside bearing a carafe of icy refills; just-shucked oysters are arrayed on a bed of ice on a silver dish with a classic mignonette dressing. Even humble fries hit the table piled high Jenga-style in their own silver cup. Bar staff are obliging and knowledgeable – happy to shoot the breeze or pull down a bottle or three from the mirrored backlit bar so you can take a closer look. The playlist is in tune with the décor, taking in everything from jazz standards to rock classics. And it’s never too raucous for easy conversation.
What drink to orderThe house Martini – gin wins over vodka – should be high on your hitlist. But, given Dan Clark’s background as one of the country’s foremost wine importers and a general legend of the Australian hospitality scene, you’d do well to have a thorough look at the list of grape offerings. Actually, that’s lists, plural – a long and short version are available. The A4 bar list alone has 22 options by the glass. Feeling like fizz? Good. It suits the surrounds and there’s choice aplenty. Prosecco from Italy’s Veneto region, perhaps? Tasmanian sparkling by Stefano Lubiana, a Perrier-Jouet rosé and a cracking blancs de blanc by Champagne house Barrat-Masson are also on pour. Prefer something pink and still? How about a Sicilian rosato or a Provençal rosé? Red? Rob Hall’s classy pinot noir from the Yarra Valley can be yours here for $13 a glass. 
What to pair it withIt’s got to be a traditional crowd-pleasing club sandwich with fries, doesn’t it? Especially if you started with a Martini. This is an elegant yet substantial snack on toasted soft white bread, with a hint of smokiness to the chicken breast, neatly cut into triangles and held together with a cocktail stick. Presented on a monogrammed Rothwell’s oval platter, it comes with that silver cup of fries riding shotgun. Or you might prefer the rich slab of chicken parfait with a couple of slices of brioche toast and a scattering of tiny bumpy-skinned cornichons, or supple, salty folds of Italy’s San Daniele cured ham with tart pickled figs. Enjoying a rosé? Pair it with Rothwell’s take on the Niçoise salad of tuna, green beans, black olives and sliced spuds. Lunchtime catch-ups never looked so good. 
Regular's tipA green-leather barstool is the pew for you if you want to nose out the cocktail action, offering a close-up of drinks being mixed on the bar. For something less in the thick of things, make tracks for the high marble-topped tables by the window. And if you decide to stay and dine after enjoying that first glass of wine but don’t have a booking, ask the staff whether you can be accommodated. The marble raw bar that sits at the centre of the venue is for walk-ins.
Make it fancy

There are so many ways to get fancy here you don’t have to try to feel special. Premier-cru French Chablis? Tick. Italian Barolos by the bucketload? Tick. Champagne, natural wines, artisanal spirits? Tick, tick, tick. 

On the food front, when you see the bronzed and beautiful pastry-encased beef Wellingtons hitting neighbouring tables you’ll know what to order. 

image credits: Dean Swindell
Authour image
Fiona DonnellyFood writer Fiona Donnelly turned her love of bars and restaurants into a career – and she’s still pinching herself.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryDate nightWheelchair accessibleRecently openedBarBrisbaneAfter work drinksRestaurantTop notch wine listFancy occasionGreat tunesA+ spirits listKiller cocktailsCasual catch-upMeal and a bev
REPORT A VENUE CLOSURE/REPORT AN ERROR
Related Articles