An Evening at Howard Smith Wharves

Howard Smith Wharves is a row of restored wharf buildings on the Brisbane River, right under the Story Bridge. It holds restaurants, bars, a brewery and a hotel, all on the water.

This guide covers how to get there, where to eat, where to have a drink after, and how to plan the night. Venues change, so check the precinct’s own website before you book.

Howard Smith Wharves: a Brisbane landmark under the Story Bridge

Howard Smith Wharves sits at Petrie Bight, under the northern end of the Story Bridge. The address is 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City. It is on the edge of the CBD, below the cliffs that lead up to Fortitude Valley, and a short walk from New Farm.

The wharves are older than most of the city around them. The Queensland Government built them in the late 1930s and early 1940s, partly as a Depression-era work scheme. During the Second World War, air-raid shelters were built on the site. Two of them were made from large stormwater pipes, a type of shelter found nowhere else in Brisbane.

The site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997. The redeveloped precinct opened in late 2018, and a ferry terminal followed in 2020.

The Story Bridge above it opened in 1940. It is the longest steel cantilever bridge in Australia, and it is lit at night.

The setting does most of the work. The bridge is overhead, the river is at your feet and the city lights sit to the south. On a clear night it is one of the best views in Brisbane, and you get it from almost every table.

Getting to Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane

The wharves are easy to reach without a car. That helps if you plan to have a drink.

• On foot from the CBD. Follow the Riverwalk from the Eagle Street end of the city. The path runs beside the water all the way to the wharves, and it is flat.
• By ferry. The wharves have their own ferry terminal. The free CityHopper stops there, and so do cross-river ferries. Check Translink for current timetables.
• From New Farm. The New Farm Riverwalk follows the river from New Farm to the wharves.
• From Fortitude Valley. Walk down to Boundary Street near the Story Bridge. A lift takes you down to the wharf level.
• By car or rideshare. There is a car park on site. Check the precinct’s website for current parking details before you drive.

At night, a rideshare drop-off on Boundary Street is often the simplest choice. You avoid the car park and you are at the lift in a minute.

Coming from Kangaroo Point? You can see the wharves from the top of the cliffs across the river. The Story Bridge has a footpath, so you can walk over. It takes longer than it looks, so allow time and wear comfortable shoes.

Dinner by the river at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane

The restaurants change from time to time. At the time of writing, the precinct lists these places to eat:

• Stanley: a two-storey Cantonese restaurant that pairs local produce with traditional Cantonese cooking.
• Fellini’s Trattoria: an Italian street food kitchen and bar, inspired by the coast of Naples.
• Felons Brewing Co.: a working brewery with its own restaurant and bar on the waterfront.

Stanley suits a long dinner with dishes to share. Fellini’s Trattoria and Felons are more relaxed. At either one you can stay for a second round without moving.

For a date, ask for a table with a view of the bridge or the river when you book. On a warm evening an outdoor table is the obvious choice. In summer, Brisbane storms can roll in late in the afternoon, so ask about an indoor table as a backup.

We do not list prices or opening hours in this guide. They change, and each venue publishes its own. Book through the venue directly, on its website or by phone.

The wharves are busiest on Friday and Saturday nights, and on nights with an event on the lawn. If you want a set table or time, book ahead. The precinct says several venues take walk-ins, which helps if your plans change late in the day.

Drinks after dinner at the Brisbane wharves

You do not have to leave the wharves for a second venue. Three bars suit the later part of the evening:

• Mr Percival’s: an overwater bar under the Story Bridge, styled on a European beach club.
• Stan’s Lounge: a cocktail lounge with an old Hong Kong feel and a modern twist.
• Felons Barrel Hall: an Australian take on a German beer hall, pouring Felons beers.

Mr Percival’s is the bar most people picture when they think of the wharves. It sits out over the water, with the bridge lit up above. Stan’s Lounge is a cocktail bar, a better fit if you would rather sit and talk. A beer hall is lively by nature, so the Barrel Hall suits a group more than a quiet date.

If you want the view without the noise, walk along the Riverwalk towards the city after dinner. The river is calm at night. The lights on the Story Bridge and the Kangaroo Point Cliffs make the walk worth it.

The wharves also have a five-star hotel, Crystalbrook Vincent. If you are staying there, dinner, drinks and the walk back to your room all happen within a few hundred metres.

Before dinner at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane

Arrive early if you can. The hour before sunset is the best time to be at the wharves. The light on the river changes fast, and the bridge lights come on as the sky darkens.

A few ways to spend that hour:

• Walk the length of the wharves. The restored sheds and the cliff behind them show how the site looked as a working wharf.
• Have a first drink at Mr Percival’s, out over the water.
• Sit on the lawn when there is no event on. It faces the river and the Story Bridge.
• Walk a short way along the Riverwalk towards the city, then come back for dinner.

The Story Bridge Adventure Climb now runs from the wharves. It takes you up and over the bridge for a view of the whole city. Check its website for current sessions. If you plan to climb before dinner, leave time to change.

If you arrive by ferry, you step off a few metres from the restaurants. It is an easy way to start the evening without thinking about parking or traffic.

Planning an evening at Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane

A little planning makes the night easier. These are the steps that matter most:

• Book the table first. Choose the venue and the time, then plan the rest of the evening around it.
• Check the events calendar. The lawn hosts concerts and private events, and some nights are much busier than others.
• Dress for the venue. Smart casual fits most places at the wharves. Comfortable shoes help if you plan to walk the Riverwalk.
• Plan the trip home. Ferries, rideshare and taxis all work, but queues build late on weekend nights.
• Watch the weather. Brisbane summers bring afternoon storms. If storms are forecast, ask for an indoor table.

Brisbane is warm for most of the year. Winter evenings, from June to August, are usually dry and cool. They are good months for an outdoor table by the river. Bring a jacket, because the breeze off the water can be cold after dark.

In summer, book a little later in the evening. The heat eases after sunset, and the bridge lights are on by the time you sit down.

If you are visiting Brisbane for a few days, the wharves make a good first night out. You see the river, the bridge and the skyline in one place, and it helps you get your bearings for the rest of the trip.

Nearby Brisbane areas: New Farm, Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point

The wharves sit where three inner-city areas meet. You can start the evening in one and finish it in another.

New Farm is a short walk along the river. It has New Farm Park, the Brisbane Powerhouse arts centre and the small restaurants of Merthyr Village. It is mostly riverside homes and apartments, and it is quieter than the Valley.

Fortitude Valley is up the hill from Boundary Street. The Valley has Brisbane’s main cluster of bars and live music venues, and James Street for quieter dinners. Our page on Fortitude Valley escorts explains how visits work there.

Kangaroo Point is across the river. The cliffs are lit at night. From the top you look straight back at the wharves and the city skyline, and the Riverwalk below the cliffs is a good place for a late walk.

The Brisbane CBD is a short walk south along the river. Many of the city’s hotels are within reach on foot or by a short rideshare.

A dinner date at Howard Smith Wharves with a Brisbane companion

An evening at the wharves works well as a dinner date. A dinner date companion in Brisbane can meet you at the restaurant, dressed for the venue. The steps are simple:

• Book your table with the venue.
• Contact reception by phone, SMS, WhatsApp or the enquiry form. Tell us the venue, the time, how long you have in mind and the dress code.
• Reception confirms your companion’s availability and the details with you.
• On the day, pay in cash at the time of the booking.

Elara has no arrangement with Howard Smith Wharves or with any venue there. The wharves are a public place, and you book your table the same way anyone else does. Your companion arrives as any guest would.

Reception answers enquiries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your plans change, please give at least 2 hours’ notice to cancel.