Step right up, ladies and gents, and prepare to be dazzled by the newest and hottest entertainment district in Brisbane – Rivermakers Brisbane! Tired of hitting up the same old haunts in Fortitude Valley? Fear not, because Rivermakers is here to breathe new life into your social calendar!
The brilliant minds behind the BMI Group have worked their magic on this once-unsightly 30-hectare industrial district, and boy, does it show! Rivermakers is now a stunning example of urban renewal, boasting a range of sleek restaurants and stores that will make your taste buds sing and your shopping bags overflow.
But this isn’t just any old entertainment district – Rivermakers Brisbane is a place where the fun never stops. From laid-back brunches with your pals to wild nights out with your crew, Rivermakers has got you covered. So, grab your besties, slip on your dancing shoes, and get ready to experience the ultimate in dining, drinking, and merrymaking.
The Lay of the Land
Rivermakers occupies a convenient riverfront location in Morningside, just two traffic lights from the Gateway Motorway. Depending on traffic, it’ll take you about 18 minutes to get there from the city, 13 minutes from the airport, and 16 minutes from the port.
BMI has divvied up the district into two distinct sections. Established in 1917, the Historic Quarter, or HQ, is a block of endearing old redbrick buildings housing a brewery, distillery, a ceramics workshop, and a specialty slow-cook butcher.
Closer to the motorway, The Depot is a modern retail hub with a wide selection of stores and a massive open-air car park.
Revel Brewery
Since opening their first brewery in Bulimba in 2018, the boys at Revel, Jay Neven and Matthew Flexman, have seen sufficient demand to expand.
The newest chapter of the Revel Brewery story resides within a former Commonwealth Acetate of Lime factory in Rivermakers HQ.
This charming heritage-listed venue dates back to 1917; it later served as a Navy barracks and migrant hostel. The owners aim to give punters a taste of yesteryear to accompany their fresh farm-to-table food and flagship frothy beers.
Bavay Distillery
Sharing the same former lime factory is Bavay, a chic small-batch distillery. The spot was named after the Belgian chemist August de Bavay, who commissioned the building a century ago.
This brand new venue (opened Dec 2021) blends its historic old-world charm with a glitzy, Great Gatsby-inspired refurb—think drop lighting, a shiny copper bar, and loads of lush greenery. The pièce de résistance is Monica, a bulbous 500-litre copper pot still that sits proudly on display.
The fruits of Monica’s labour are available to sample on-site, either in fresh fruit-infused cocktails or straight on the rocks. As for the food, this 120-seat venue serves tasty tapas-style bites to accompany the booze.
Hobbyists can enroll in a distillery masterclass and learn how to craft boutique vodka, gin, and whisky blends.
Book a Food & Drink Tour in Brisbane
At Kiff & Culture, we’re passionate about showing our guests the very best venues Brisbane has to offer. As a result, we’re planning on including Rivermakers into our repertoire real soon.
In the meantime, book yourself a spot on our Brisbane Artisan Food & Drink Tour for a boozy, gourmet food-fuelled day of fun. 
