Sick of frequenting the same old Fortitude Valley venues?
Brisbane has a brand spanking new spot to eat, drink, and be merry.
Urban renewal bigwigs, the BMI Group, have spared no expense in sprucing up the sprawling 30-hectare estate. An unsightly industrial district just a few short years ago, Rivermakers now boasts a slew of sleek restaurants and stores.
But that’s not to say it’s another soulless, ultramodern development.
Rivermaker’s historic redbrick edifices have been dutifully preserved, giving the area an alluring old-timey vibe. Throw in a brilliant on-site brewery and distillery plus epic Brisbane River views, and you’ve got a fantastic new spot to dine and imbibe.
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.
