Eleven Bridges Gin Bar

Eleven Bridges is Brisbane's secret gin bar and distillery, nestled at the base of The Capital Apartments in South Brisbane. 

Formerly known as Peel St Tavern, the bar has been revamped and renamed in a nod to the bridges that connect our river city. Inside, the decor is speakeasy-style with dimly-lit rooms furnished with comfy couches and book shelves, where patrons can sample over 100 artisanal gins from Australia and beyond, including local boutique botanicals like Winston Quinn (Fortitude Valley), Fortune (Noosa Heads), and Laceys Hill (Moreton Bay) - where Eleven Bridges' head distiller, John Bradbury, earned his credentials. 

Along with an extensive list of Australian gins, including tipplers' faves such as Archie Rose, Four Pillars and Ink gin, you'll find an array of boutique botanicals from around the globe including the UK, USA, Japan, New Zealand, France, Spain and Italy.  

The bar also has a concise, predominantly Australian wine list, craft beer on tap, and delicious cocktails such as Sloe Berry Fizz (Ink Sloe and Berry gin, vanilla, lemon and soda), Elderflower Gin Refresher (Laceys Hill Dry Australian gin, elderflower, lime and cucumber) and a cocktail for 2 - Lavender Rose Lemonade (Bird in Hand rosé, Antipodes pink gin, lavender syrup, lemon, mint and soda). 

More than just a bar, Eleven Bridges boasts a full kitchen that dishes up mouth-watering fare from bar bites (spring rolls, gyoza, arancini, and chicken wings) to pub classics like steak sandwiches, beef burgers and chicken parma. Plus, there's pizzas, panko-crumbed chicken schnitzel, pan-fried salmon and crispy porchetta (lemon and sage pork belly, roast potatoes, apple and fennel salad and apple sauce).    

By Deb Lidster

The menu may have changed since our visit.