Cobbler

Cobbler is a whisky and cocktail bar on Browning Street in West End, opened by Asa Boardman, Trent Goodwin and Martin Lange. When it launched, the owners said they wanted to fill a gap in the suburb with a whisky-focused bar that offered down-to-earth service, an affordable range and a relaxed, unpretentious mood. The building had an unlikely previous life as a rockabilly hairdresser, which Lange remembered as pink and white, and turning the concrete block shell into a bar involved solving plumbing problems that required a water pump for drainage.

The whisky list is the reason to come. The collection began at around 150 bottles and has since grown to more than 300, with Islay names such as Lagavulin and Ardbeg among the early favourites. Whisky is served with an eyedropper of water or hand-cut ice on request, so you can taste it the way you prefer. The cocktail list uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and changes over time.

Today the bar has a more luxurious feel than many of West End's casual drinking spots, closer to a luxe lounge than a cheap and cheerful pub, and the entrance is marked by a floor-to-ceiling velvet curtain. It is a place for a slow drink and conversation rather than a loud night, which suits dates and small groups.

Cobbler opens in the late afternoon and stays open late into the night, so it works both for an early drink and as the last stop of the evening. Check the bar's website or social media for current hours before you go. The bar has no kitchen; in its early years it welcomed customers bringing their own food, and the nearby Little Greek Taverna delivered to patrons at the bar, so ask the staff about the current arrangement.

The bar suits whisky enthusiasts, couples and anyone looking for a quieter alternative to the Valley's bigger venues. Martin Lange later went on to open Savile Row in Fortitude Valley, so the two bars make a natural pair for spirits lovers. Fish Lane in South Brisbane, which links the Cultural Centre with West End, is a good place for dinner beforehand.