One of Brisbane’s recent landmarks is the Treasury Casino. The casino itself is located in an impressive old government building that used to house the state treasury department. Naturally there are a number of bars in the casino (with the Piano Bar and its pianomen being the ever popular favourite with the 30ish crowd). This review concerns none of these bars. What we want to tell you about is the plush quiet little bar just up the street from the casino. It is called the Gallery Bar (perhaps because it is also located not far from Parliament House which has an area for the public that is called a “gallery”).
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Like the casino, the Gallery Bar is also located in one of the august sandstone buildings that line George Street along the river. This time, it is the old Land Administration Building. Those words are still chiselled into the façade so one may be forgiven for thinking that it still houses some dusty government offices. In fact the opposite is true. The building houses the five star Treasury Hotel that serves the casino. The Gallery Bar is a part of this hotel. Naturally, this means that the fit out of the bar is most impressive. There is extensive oak paneling, leather covered stools, and numerous nice comfy couches which surround coffee tables. The walls are covered with framed caricatures of some of Queensland best known personalities such as the inextraditable failed tycoon Christopher Skase (with a “Have you seen this man?” caption) and sports starts such as the legendary cricketer Alan Border. All in all the atmosphere is refined and genteel. Although some would probably say pretentious and stuffy.
The bar is the favourite haunt of the “George Street Crowd”, these are relatively senior public servants who work in the numerous government buildings (including Parliament House) that are located on George Street.
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The selection of beers is very good with a wide range of bottled beers available together with about a dozen on tap. It was a most pleasant surprise to discover that they even had Resches Smooth Black Ale on tap! Now this is not a brew that is easily found in the Sunshine State – and to find it on tap is like striking gold!
The food is quite tasty and surprisingly it is relatively affordable. If you’re passing through at lunch, we thoroughly recommend the Gallery Toasted Sandwich, a tasty turkey, bacon, cheese, avacado and salad concoction which is served with a generous helping of chips.
It’s a place worth considering if you are looking for a quiet upmarket spot in the city to catch up with a friend over a few beers.
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