Bars: In the city centre, award-winning The Belgian Beer Café Brussels, corner of Edward and Mary Streets, serves over 30 different beers and has one of Brisbane's few inner city beer gardens. Or try Irish Murphy's, corner of George and Elizabeth Streets, arguably the best pub in town. The Story Bridge Hotel, 196 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, under the bridge of the same name, is a well-loved local and a good place for a pint and a bite to eat (there are three dining areas). The trendy SunBar, 367 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, is a good place to sip a cocktail while watching the sun set, and it is open until 0200.

Clubs: Clubs are concentrated in Fortitude Valley. The Family, 8 McLachlan Street (website: www.thefamily.com.au), was voted Oz's best nightclub two years in a row. It has four floors with top DJs spinning hot dance tunes. Also in Fortitude Valley are Monastery, 621 Ann Street (website: www.monastery.com.au), which features an observation deck and plush lounge areas, and Fringe Bar, corner of Ann and Constance Street (website: www.fringebar.net), a good place for more groovy tunes. In the West End, the quirky Lychee Lounge, unit 2/92 Boundary Street, has established itself as a good alternative and draws a hip crowd.

Live Music: Fortitude Valley again has some of the best live music venues. Try The Zoo, 711 Ann Street (website: www.thezoo.com.au), an icon of the local indie music scene, and the place to go for good, brash Australian music. If you fancy something a bit softer, The Troubadour, Brunswick Street Mall, also has good Australian music on, but of a mellower kind. The Rev, 25 Warner Street, is open every day and is a very cool looking venue with some very good music too. Jazz aficionados should head for the Brisbane Jazz Club, 1 Annie Street, in Kangaroo Point (website: www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au).