The Alliance Hotel

Built in 1888*, The Alliance Hotel is one of inner Brisbane's landmark heritage-listed pubs, perched on the corner of Boundary St and St Paul's Terrace in Spring Hill.

The newest chapter in its colourful history has seen it taken over by the canny owners of cool city bars Frogs Hollow and Alice, reinventing itself as a convivial Melbourne-style neighbourhood pub.

The pub has retained most of its original features, including ornate ceiling roses, fireplaces, carved wooden bars and staircase, sash windows and timber floorboards, while the vibe is casual and inviting, with eclectic retro music and mixed-age clientele.

Take a seat in the front bar, out on the street where there are a handful of tables or in the rear bistro, and enjoy a drink and some delicious pub grub (which is ordered at the counter).

The menu offers a range of pub classics with a creative twist, starting with small plates like anchovies on toast (brioche) with coriander pesto & red onion; Scotch egg (wrapped in Italian pork sausage, crumbed); Steak Tartare or Fried Pickles (crumbed sweet'n'sour gherkins with sweet chilli sauce).

Mains include chicken parmie or schnitzel (with coleslaw and fries); fish & chips (beer battered Qld pearl perch); Rope sausage & mash (350g Cumberland pork sausages with mash, sauerkraut & house made gravy) and Pot Pie (beef, port wine, carrots, onion and celery, with mash); tomato gnocchi or Wagyu beef burger.

There's also mussels (white wine, garlic & parsley sauce, served with sour dough); and a choice of steak (Thousand Guineas Rump or T-Bone) with a selection of sauces and sides (jacket potato, mash, fries, broccolini or iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese & bacon), while for dessert the choices are pavlova or tiramisu.

Meanwhile, the drinks menu includes ten beers on tap (a mix of craft beers alongside XXX Gold and Toohey's Old), and ten bottled beers, six cocktails (including The Pub Old Fashioned. As Clear as Melon and La La Land), an extensive (mostly Australian) wine list and back bar spirits (predominantly whiskey, gin and rum). 

*The original Alliance Hotel opened on this site in 1864 before being replaced with the current building in 1888.

Good to know - The Alliance Hotel has a range of function spaces available, including the upstairs bar.

Need to know - There is metered street parking available nearby (free on week nights and weekends) and secure parking at 55 Little Edward St Wilson Parking, with discounted rates for patrons using the code "ALLIANCE".

The menu may have changed since our visit.

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