Long Live The Sunday Session.
Sunday: the day for the language of leisure.
And if it be the language of play; well then, speak on.
Our Queensland sub-tropical weather means idyllic eternal days of sunshine. And for the day of rest, the Sun’s Day, Sunday Sessions are the perfect way to end the weekend and refresh for the week ahead. The question begs to differ though: what are the makings for the ideal Sunday sesh?
MyCityLife’s Check List for The Perfect Sunday Session:
Superior cocktails are a must. Food has to be amazing. Premium entertainment. And somehow, the outside has to come in where the atmosphere has its own character within itself, whether incorporating Brisbane riverside, astroturf, beer garden, poolside or backyard.
As Brisbane’s most seminal Sunday arv, Watt Restaurant & Bar has been the place to be for thirteen years. And with their recent relaunch, Watt has reinvented the Sunday Sesh all over again. The Watt Sunday Sizzle is the ultimate interactive experience that gets the senses frothing. It’s a carnivore’s dream of a whole joint spit roast, where a choice of three salads is served up with chef’s selection of condiments. Add the new spring-summer cocktail menu, Watt’s signature red and white Sangria jugs and Pimms jugs, barrel-aged negronis and a selection of craft beers and wines and Sunday spit roast just got lively. Sweeten the day with the best in house music while Brisbane’s top DJs unleash cool lounge tunes. With days like this, Sunday just can’t get any better.
Watt offers the perfect playground for all kids alike, big and small – and you can view the Snapshot Gallery of Sunday Awesomeness here. Families, young couples, friends, puppy lovers and wholesome fitness fitspos are all catered to with a menu that offers vegetarian, wholesome, gluten free and virginal options in addition to the decadent, lush and comfort choices. So in the spirit of Watt’s relaunch for Sunday Sizzle, MyCityLife explores The Top Sunday Sessions in Brisbane
| SUNDAY SHOWDOWNS |
It takes a very special Sunday Sesh where garden party dresses and hats, linen shorts and birkenstocks mingle freely with each other. It’s not necessarily about what you do or what you wear; it’s all in the delivery and the attitude.
Stock Exchange’s Sunday Garden Party sees Big Screen TV for the best in sports to keep the boys happy, with the rooftop garden perfect for the girls to flitter about in their Sunday best. Pimms jugs means plenty of frolicking with a gourmet BBQ and great DJs. Oh vay. Why can’t every day be a Sunday.
Blackbird Bar & Grill with Panama Sunday has city riverside views which means this is the destination for cocktails, with pretty people and The City’s top DJs overlooking the iconic Story Bridge as the perfect setting.
Stoked on Sundays at Stokehouse, South Bank features the best of everything: menu, DJs, location right on the riverside in the heart of South Bank, fine cocktails and a fine wine list.
Soho Sundays at The Fox feature the up and comers. If you want to find the emerging designers from graphic arts to fashion atop Dendy’s rooftop bar on the fringes of all the action, this is their recovery space – it’s so cool, it’s a chilled coconut martini.
Bacchus Sundays at Soleil Poolbar South Bank. The definitive word here: pool. That’s all this needs to be a success. Apart from the bottles of Dom Perignon, Moet by the golden goblet, sexy DJ booth, and Mark Penna foodie tidbits on offer to keep those foodie cravings at bay.
Sling Lounge in West End doesn’t officially have a Sunday session – it has an unofficial one. From the truffle popcorn to the Charlie Manson shots, there’s no place like the garden backyard of Sling.
Out On Sunday at The Wickham, The Valley. The unofficial-official pre-party to Fluffy. From the iconic Wickham Beer Garden, shared plates of a fusion Australian menu means there’s the best type of food that your nana used to cook – but mum wouldn’t let you eat. With Verve Cliquot by the bottle at a price cheaper than Dan Murphys, there should be signage everywhere promoting “Big Night Ahead”.
Gasworks: Sundae, Newstead brings all the Sundae to the Gasometer. Ruby the Kombi Van is touted to deliver the musical house goods that Sundae is internationally renowned for. Reef Seafood + Sushi serve up the seafood platters, oysters and glasses of Moet while the outdoors of the Gasometer means there’s plenty of room for picnics, family, recovery and refreshment.
| HIDDEN GEMS |
These are the places no one talks about in full voice because it’s all discussed in Chinese whispers. You just have to have good taste – in everything: music, food, wine, whisky, women and song.
From the Valley, Woolly Mammoth is the greatest man cave known to … man. And its unofficial Sundays in the Garden Bar with giant Jenga and top shelf DJs means lots of fun times galore. Until someone gets hits with a giant Jenga block.
Elixir Rooftop Bar means $5 sliders. And these sliders are mouthfuls of heaven. And then there’s the carefully curated cocktail menu. And chilled music that is so underground, it’s on a rooftop bar. And the general laidback vibe. In the heart of The Valley. Feets. Don’t Fail Me Now.
Sunday VibJes at Dutch Courage Officers’ Mess on Constance Street is for the relaxed and refined. It’s a journey out of the extraordinary for those whose tastes are especially directed to 125+ bottles of gin – in and out of your tea. Did we say tea?
Sundays at Hoo Ha Bar, South Brisbane feature a special Sunday menu with 1972 prices all day long, rotating Sunday Special Beer Taps, burgers and sweet vinyl sounds.
Sundays at Lock’n’Load Bistro, West End sees the blues of The Deep South come to Boundary Street in the quintessential Aussie beer garden. Live music, a great food menu and beer and cider towers means plenty of Sunday action.
Libertine Sunday at Libertine Bar & Resturant, The Barracks is all about food and ambiance. If escape is the focus, then heading as far away from the hearty pace of it all is the key. A shared banquet of French-Vietnamese cuisine, Sangria jugs and the best in cutting-edge live music from The Lantern Verandah guarantees the perfect escape.
From Paddington, Keetel & Tinny Sundays at Kettle & Tin brings the liveliest Sundays to the most low-key part of town. Live music, vodka mixes, cold tinnies, pinot and prawns from their outdoor deck is a perfectly lazy Sunday setting.
| MUSIC |
Music forms a key part of the Sunday adventure. For some, it’s the only way to Sunday it up. Mr & Mrs G Riverbar brings traditional jazz overlooking the Kookaburra Queen for that authentic New Orleans vibe. Over at South Bank, the South Bank Surf Club and Live Fire Steak Bar both dish up Brisbane’s top talent, live and loud. Around the corner from West End, Habitat Restaurant & Bar serve up the best in live music with their classic cocktails, craft beers and fine wines list
| GET LOOSE |
BrisVegas has been called after the city of sin for a reason. Sunday sessions with Sunday Funday at Limes Hotel Rooftop Bar are not for the faint-hearted, the meek or the mild. Expect plunge pools, top shelf DJs, cheeky cocktails and much naughtiness. Meanwhile, Sundays at the Boundary Hotel in their iconic beer garden feature all sorts of wacky, from colour parties to wrecking balls.
