Sarah Barratt, Journalist

Being one of Brisbane’s longest standing icons, built in 1864, The Plough Inn gives patrons beautiful summer views of the Brisbane river, city skyline and Southbank Parklands.

Lamaro’s looks out over the leafy streets of South Melbourne and is privy to seeing a diverse crowd come through the doors.

The Fitzroy institution that is Bimbo Deluxe is going on 14 years this year.

This place is a mecca for beer nerds and beer lovers alike.

The atmosphere is ‘lazy weekend’, all days of the week. The crowd drawn in by The Penny Black is varied but always relaxed.

With hours from midday ‘til late, a prime spot on Sydney road and a 40-strong courtyard, it’s no wonder why the Cornish is popular with the summer crowd.

Lucky Coq shares the same relaxed setting as its affiliate Bimbo Deluxe in Fitzroy.

Fall back into the 1960s on the rooftop of The Shaw Davey Slum with a candy bar style cocktail and food that showcases Australia’s best.

The vibe is exactly as you’d expect when you muster up thoughts of Irish pub: warm, cosy, dim lights, and endless mahogany. But come summertime, they’ve got a few other features to show off.

Alto Cucina gives patrons the choice of wooden booths or tables in a shaded outdoor setting surrounded by palms.

With an open-plan ground floor and spacious outdoor courtyard, it is big enough to cater to a swelling number of outdoor drinkers in the warmer months.

Head back to school into The Classroom, where the food, drinks and décor are sure to elicit all of your fondest childhood memories.