Bar
Breakfast Creek Hotel
A heritage-listed 1890 pub at the meeting of Breakfast Creek and the Brisbane River, famous as the only Brisbane hotel still pouring beer off the wood.
Story Bridge Hotel
An 1886 Kangaroo Point pub renamed after the Story Bridge in 1941, with a wartime air-raid shelter, a steak restaurant and famous annual cockroach races.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic pub
- Area
- Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Australia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- storybridgehotel.com.au
Good to know
- Steak restaurant
- Shelter Bar
- Bottle shop
- Function spaces
- Annual cockroach races
Why we recommend it
The Story Bridge Hotel has stood on Main Street, Kangaroo Point, since 1886. It was built for the Darragh family, local property speculators, and was originally called the Kangaroo Point Hotel after the pub it replaced. When the Story Bridge was completed in 1940, the hotel took the bridge's name, becoming the Story Bridge Hotel in 1941. The pub describes itself as a Brisbane icon and a local that holds a special place for generations of residents.
The Second World War left its mark on the building. The Royal Australian Navy used the hotel as quarters for sailors, and in 1942 an air-raid shelter was built on the premises under state orders that required shelters at private buildings holding large numbers of people. After the war the shelter became a storeroom and then the Bomb Shelter Bar, and the hotel today includes a venue called the Shelter Bar.
The pub is now run by Deery Hotels and offers several spaces. Deery's Restaurant focuses on steak and wine, the Shelter Bar is the place for a drink, and The Wine Cellar bottle shop sells premium wines, craft beers and ciders, including larger orders. There are function spaces for private events and a gaming area, and gift vouchers and merchandise are sold online.
The hotel is best known for its Annual Cockroach Races, an event that features prominently on the pub's own website; check the What's On page for the date and details if you are in town at the right time. Other events are listed on the same page.
The Story Bridge Hotel suits groups of friends, visitors wanting a traditional Australian pub meal, and anyone exploring Kangaroo Point. It is in Kangaroo Point, on the opposite side of the river from Fortitude Valley at the other end of the Story Bridge, so it pairs well with a Story Bridge Adventure Climb or a walk across the bridge's city-side path to Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves. The pub's website has a transport and parking page with directions. Dining in the steak restaurant is a sound choice before or after a climb, and booking ahead is sensible for larger groups.
Story Bridge Hotel FAQs
How old is the Story Bridge Hotel?
It was built in 1886 as the Kangaroo Point Hotel.
When was it renamed?
In 1941, after the Story Bridge was completed in 1940.
What are the cockroach races?
The pub's Annual Cockroach Races are its best-known event; check the What's On page for details.
Is there a restaurant?
Yes. Deery's Restaurant focuses on steak and wine.
Does the hotel have a wartime history?
Yes. The navy used it as sailors' quarters, and an air-raid shelter was built in 1942.
Can I buy takeaway drinks?
Yes. The Wine Cellar bottle shop sells wines, craft beers and ciders.
Can I hold a function there?
Yes. The hotel has function spaces.
How do I contact the hotel?
Call (07) 3391 2266.