10 ways to be a little different in Brisbane

The charm of the '80s never manages to fade and this Woolloongabba arcade bar capitalises on that. Complete with a devoted pinball alley that has 14 different retro pinball machines, this bar brings the nostalgic good times with games, beer and hotdogs. 

This dive bar and tap house comes from the folks behind Yard Bird Ale House. If you're a beer fan you'll be pleased to know there is 16 beers on tap, including Little Creatures velvety smooth Rogers mid-strength. You'll also find comedy on Thursday and live music all weekend, showcasing the best local up-and-comers.

You’ll never have a dry and stuffy night at the theatre when you set foot inside this intimate, in-the-round theatre in Kelvin Grove. La Boite has been churning out gripping contemporary theatre and reimagined classics for decades and attracts a younger and cooler crowd than most theatres of its size and influence.

Stokehouse's vast, bright and breezy contemporary architectural space is backdropped by river and city views. While taking in the views or enjoying a long lunch, you can order up a freshly poured Little Creatures Rogers on tap.

The annual pilgrimage to North Byron Parklands for Bluesfest is a journey many are familiar with – and it's a worthwhile one. The arts and music festival is often regarded as one of the best in the country, bringing together neo-soul crooners, world music outfits, blues and roots favourites, hip hop headliners and throwback disco heroes for four days across the Easter long weekend. 

Taking up shop in a former 100-year-old tea house building, King Tea do pub-style dinners and swanky lunches. Enjoy starters like kingfish ceviche with coconut milk and kaffir lime; or buffalo ricotta with peas, salsa verde and a beer cracker. Mains jazz up counter classics like pork schnitzel with house made sauerkraut and black garlic mayo; or rib eye steak with grilled romaine lettuce and buttermilk caesar dressing.

Saké is Rockpool Dining Group's contemporary Japanese restaurant where teriyaki burger balls, sushi and sake bombs rule. Bar snacks are bite-sized and pack a tasty punch. Salty and often deep-fried, they are perfect accompaniments to an ice cold Little Creatures Pale Ale. A hungry group should make a bee-line for the chicken karaage (crunchy crisp-fried pieces of chicken) or the renkon chips – lotus roots that have been lightly fried, sprinkled with coarse rock salt and served with edamame dip.

This grand theatre hosts everyone on its stage from international headliners to local legends. Whether it's a beer fuelled bingo night, or a huge live set from the likes of Peking Duk, Camp Cope, Portugal the Man and the Jungle Giants the Tivoli stage hosts good times all round.

The first hotel in Australia to allow guests to automate both check-in and check-out, NEXT took over Lennons in 2014 and, with its focus on cutting edge technology, brought an old-school lodge to the forefront of Brisbane’s accommodation market. The rooms are excellently appointed – crisply modern, with plenty of dark wood and large comfy beds – and they all come with a smartphone that controls everything from the television to the air-conditioning. Perched at one of the highest points of Queen Street Mall, it has excellent views across the entire city, the open-air fourth level hotel bar allowing you to people watch on the shoppers below. 

Forget about Electric Playground, Planet Nightclub, Mystique and the day club Boom that have all called this former Presbyterian church home over the years. Forget about the pounding house/electro beats, the laser lights sweeping the courtyard and ravers in search of phat all-night beats or post-festival after parties. This deconsecrated house of god and Fortitude Valley icon is now a place for those who worship at the altar of alt-rock, indie, punk and neo-psychedelia.