Summa House

Brisbane’s open-air, multi-level venue, Summa House, is the hottest ticket in town all year ‘round.

Imagine walking into someone’s backyard party, complete with picnic tables and sunny striped umbrellas, a ping-pong table and a pool table, and even with your very own mix of DJs spinning tracks old-school style.

When the sun goes down, revellers can party and dance the night away under a sea of festival lights and starry skies.

Open from midday Wednesday to Sunday, the kitchen is dishing up loads of pub favourites and classics that go down a treat.

Looking for something not too heavy, think about getting a mix of share plates from the Lite Bites menu – choose from Duck or Vegan Spring Rolls (served with hoisin sauce, plus sauce on a bed of mesclun); Tempura Prawn Buns (with sriracha mayo & baby cos in a milk bun); and Texan BBQ Corn Ribs (grilled and showered in butter, parmesan, smoked chipotle mayo, lime, coriander and parsley).

Still from the Lite Bites, the colourful Taco Trio (with your choice of battered fish, southern fried chicken or roasted cauliflower) and Mushroom Arancini (perfectly crumbed, served on dollop of basil mayo and dusted with parmesan snow) are also amongst the offerings, as well as Crispy Buffalo Wings, Szechuan, Citrus Salt and Pepper Calamari, and more, so make sure you wear your stretchy pants.

After something a little more substantial, there’s burgers (Summa House Burger, Cheeseburger, Nashville Fried Chicken Burger, The Peacemaker [V]), salads (Baked Pear Salad, Mediterranean Salad) and mains for you to choose from (think Chicken Parmigiana, Beer-battered or Pan-fried Barramundi, Lamb Cutlets, and Porterhouse or Rump Steak, with sides and sauces available too).

The Summa House ‘Tastes of Summa’ drinks menu boasts a delicious array of signature cocktails, plus a mix of eight craft brews, seltzers and ginger beer on tap. Heavily featured on the wine list is Brisbane’s own Gerler Wines with, in fact, a special Summa House labelling.

Nice to know – Summa House offers The Weekend Pow Wow for a minimum of 4 people, served between 11am-3pm with special tapas and drinks packages to help you cruise into the afternoon.

Good to know – There are 14 separate event spaces, catering for everything from an intimate party for a dozen people, to a Summa House takeover for 1,200 guests.

Need to know – Booths and private spaces book out, so get in early with your enquiry.

By Danella Perrins

The menu may have changed since our visit.

Check out our guide to all of the best bars in Fortitude Valley.

Still thirsty for more suggestions on where to grab a drink in Brisbane, head to our comprehensive Eat & Drink section HERE! Cheers!