Thing to do
Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Floodlit former convict quarry cliffs on the Kangaroo Point riverbank, used for climbing and abseiling and giving clear views across to the CBD.
Howard Smith Wharves
Heritage-listed 1930s wharves beneath the Story Bridge, reopened in 2018 as a riverside precinct of restaurants, bars, a brewery and the bridge climb.
At a glance
- Type
- Riverside dining and leisure precinct
- Area
- Brisbane City (Petrie Bight), Brisbane, Australia
- Official site
- howardsmithwharves.com
Good to know
- Restaurants and bars
- Brewery
- Ferry pontoon
- On-site car park
- Bridge climb base
Why we recommend it
Howard Smith Wharves sits on the northern bank of the Brisbane River at Petrie Bight, directly beneath the northern end of the Story Bridge. The wharves were built by the Queensland Government from 1934 as Depression-era relief work, in parallel with the bridge, and construction stopped in 1942 when workers were moved to war projects. The coastal shipping company Howard Smith leased them from the mid-1930s until the early 1960s. During the Second World War, Brisbane City Council built five air-raid shelters at the foot of the cliffs that enclose the site. The precinct was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997.
After years of debate over redevelopment plans, the site reopened in late 2018 as a dining and leisure precinct. It now holds a cluster of venues, including Felons Brewing Co. and its Barrel Hall, the Greek restaurant Greca, the Italian restaurant CIAO, Stanley, Yoko Dining, Mr Percival's bar, the Fiume rooftop bar, Mews and Betty's Burgers. The precinct also includes five-star accommodation, and the Story Bridge Adventure Climb is based here.
Part of the appeal is the setting. The cliffs form the northern and eastern edges of the site and the bridge's northern pylons rise from within it, so the bridge towers directly above the venues. With so many restaurants and bars side by side, it works well for groups who want different options in one place. Each venue sets its own hours and booking policy, so book ahead for the restaurants, particularly at weekends.
The precinct suits couples, groups of friends and families looking for a relaxed outing, and it is an easy base for a bridge climb followed by a meal. Walking through costs nothing, and you can simply wander the boardwalk to look at the bridge and the river.
The entrance is from Boundary Street, at the eastern edge of the CBD, and there is an on-site car park. A ferry terminal opened on the site in 2020, served by RiverCity Ferries, which makes arriving by water a good choice. The CBD and Kangaroo Point are within walking distance, and the Cross River ferry links the precinct with Holman Street on the Kangaroo Point side.
Howard Smith Wharves FAQs
Where is Howard Smith Wharves?
At 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City, on the river beneath the northern end of the Story Bridge.
What is there to do at Howard Smith Wharves?
Eat and drink at venues such as Felons Brewing Co., Greca, CIAO, Stanley and Yoko Dining, climb the Story Bridge or walk the riverside lawn.
Is Howard Smith Wharves free to visit?
Yes. You can walk around the precinct freely; you pay only at the individual venues.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is an on-site car park.
Can you get there by ferry?
Yes. A ferry terminal opened on the site in 2020.
When did the precinct open?
The redeveloped precinct opened in late 2018.
Is the site historic?
Yes. The wharves date from 1934 to 1942 and were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997, together with wartime air-raid shelters.
Do I need to book?
Each venue manages its own bookings; reserving ahead is sensible for the restaurants, especially at weekends.