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Royal Exchange Hotel

3.5 (15 reviews)
InexpensiveBars, Bistros
Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Royal Exchange Hotel Photos

ROYAL EXCHANGE HOTEL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Casual
Live music
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - Royal Exchange Hotel

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Stephanie A.

The funny thing about the RE is that everybody always claims to hate the place but that never stops them coming back. I am not shy to say that I am one of those people. The thing is, the RE has everything has a lot to hate about- it is filled with bogans and loud-mouths, plays pretty bad music and can get overcrowded but it also has a few perks- cheap drinks, cheap food and it is in a convenient location (for anyone living out west). I hardly come here during their busy nights mainly because I want to avoid the crowds. I generally will come here on a Sunday or a weekday during the day time. My friends and I will usually try and find a quiet spot so we can enjoy a cheap jug and chill out. For that aspect, I do like coming here. They also serve $10 lunch deals every day which are pretty good for what you pay. The RE was not designed for the posh and upper class. It is just a casual pub that offers cheap drinks and food and can gets a little crowded.If that is not your kind of thing, come here on a Sunday afternoon or on a weekday for lunch.

Rafaela H.

I have spent many a sunday sesh in my youth relaxing at the Royal Exchange. Fondly known as the R.E. by its patrons, this pub mainly caters for uni students with its large beer garden and upstairs seating and pool tables. You will always find a few local, older regulars in the downstairs bar, however, who are often watching whatever sport is being streamed on the many TVs. The R.E. is known for its sunday sesh and as a wednesday night venue for students. They also hold annual student parties, like Toga at the start of the year and the Beach party at the end of semester. For the latest Beach party they filled the parking lot with sand and even had a mechanical surfboard and extra bar set up. The R.E. also often has live music in the beer garden. While normally just your average pub covers band, it does the job and will get many an inebriated uni student bopping along. As well as cheap drink deals (which often change but are up on posters inside easy enough to see), the R.E. also has some good deals on their pub food, like the $12 Monday Parma or $11 Thursday steak and beer. While the R.E. is not the classiest of venues it is much beloved by past and present student populations. I have many fond memories of the place and when I visit it now, years on since my days of Toga parties and Wednesday night drinks, it still gives me that warm fussy feeling inside.

Tess B.

Ohhhhhh, the RE. it's cheap basics and leering men lure me back every time. When I think I've had enough and I never want to see it again, someone suggests a Sunday sesh, and I'm right back where I started, drinking beer and dancing to Brown Eyed Girl. It's not my fault I end up there, really it's not. It's my local, so it's the logical choice. But honestly, I do have a soft spot for those token songs that are always sung live at such places and I can't help but become drunk on the atmosphere alone some nights. It's a solid, safe choice for a student like me and is in all honesty one of the great pubs to watch a game of footy in (not that I do that sportsfans, I'm just there for the sticky floors and good company). Look, it's just a staple in my life now. If I go out at all on a Sunday, it's got to be the RE. Class and sophistication be damned, I'd prefer to have a casual and always-fun night out at the RE. Go for a toga party, karaoke, or get a bowl of chips and a burger. Just make sure you appreciate the low prices and the fall-about-fun atmosphere.

Pitchers of beer for cheap, even cheaper on college nights

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Review Highlights - Royal Exchange Hotel

Wednesday is student night which means $4 basics, loud music, good vibes, and generally packed.

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Beetle Bar - Local band 'Cannon' performing at The Beetle Bar.

Beetle Bar

4.1(8 reviews)
3.0 kmCBD
$

The Beetle Bar, is not the first place Brisbane residents think of when considering local music…read morevenues which is a real shame. I believe this is mainly due to the location and possibly the marketing. This seems to be changing as I am seeing more gigs being advertised at this place. From the exterior, the Beetle Bar looks very intrguing as their is a large beetle/lady-bug car stationed on the roof. The place is decorated in a 'bug theme' with lady bugs painted on the floor which is pretty quirky and cute. There is a large sized bar that offers your standard bar drinks -basic spirits and Aussie beers- at reasonable prices. What's not to love! Most importantly, the place has a decently sized stage large enough for bands to move and get jiggy while they are performing. The floor area is also spacious enough to fit a large crowd. For busier nights, an upstairs area will be opened allowing lots of people to dance and be merry. I have been to numerous gigs for local bands here and am usually very satisfied by the end of the night. It is a great place to be social and enjoy live music.

It was probably last year sometime that a few mates in bands starting telling me their next gig was…read moreat the Beetle Bar. "Where's that?" I'd say. "Oh, it's in that line of backpackers just up from Roma Street." Out of curiosity I went there. That area was a cultural dead zone to me (despite being filled with backpackers). After those first skeptical moments, I realised that a seriously decent venue had cropped out outside of the Valley and West End, but close enough to both to be considered in a fairly extensive pub crawl. The best part is that it houses killer local punk and rock gigs for dirt cheap. If you like your rock, your punk, rockabilly and psychobilly, you'll be needing to hit up the Beetle Bar. HITS, 6FT Hick, Shrewms, Main Street Brats, Big Bongin' Baby, Flangipanis have all been found up on their stage and will be again. This is not your pristine princess parlour. There's fur on the walls, and it's got a gnarly paint job. It's just a cool, grungy pad to get your drink on in while catching a local band. Support the venue that supports the local music scene. Make the effort to head out to the Beetle Bar, if for no other reason than it'll mean you'll have a night not spent in the Valley or West End.

Photos
Beetle Bar - Now under new ownership

Now under new ownership

Beetle Bar - Looking downstairs from upstairs

Looking downstairs from upstairs

Beetle Bar - Stage area

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Stage area

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall - Lefty Music Hall Bar Inside

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall

4.5(17 reviews)
3.1 kmCBD
$$

I was actually heading to salsa at Casablanca when the flags of my two favorite states (Arkansas…read moreand Tennessee) caught my eye across the street. I ventured in to have a sneak peek. Unfortunately I had just missed the live music so I will have to go again but the vibe made me feel like I had been transported back down South. I really liked the red interior, booths, and chandeliers. I am a bit confused by the stuffed monkey on the stage though... Will be able to give a better review next time when I grab a drink off the menu! Will share if the drinks are as good as they make them in the South.

Hey, Lefty's! I'm feeling what you're putting down. You're so cool and yet you probably don't even…read morerealise it. Well played, Sir, well played. We were set to see a movie at The Barracks across the road from Caxton Street and rather than dine at any number of the respectable choices in the Barracks centre, I made a beeline for Lefty's. Arriving just before 6 I was the sole punter in this seriously brooding and sexy bar. Would it seem out of place to see Saloon girls do the can can atop the higher level balcony? Probably not. I approached the bar and asked the bar keep what their house drink was. "Whiskey and apple," he said tossing a Granny Smith apple in his hand. Yeah, not just apple juice from a bottle but freshly squeezed, baby. I was all prepped to order said drink when he let slip it also goes well with Gin. You, mister, are good. "I'll take a gin and apple, thanks!" My dining partner arrived and we settled each on having their interpretation of the cheeseburger. Be warned: unless you are ravenous, you'll easily be able to share this between two. We didn't realise this and I tapped out long before I could claim my plate of fries and burger complete. Still, it was delicious and for $12 it's an affordable take on "pub grub." This place already had some serious swagger at 6pm on a Wednesday night, I can only imagine (and look forward to seeing it) in full swing on a Friday or Saturday eve.

Photos
Lefty's Old Time Music Hall
Lefty's Old Time Music Hall - Lefty

Lefty

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall

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Royal Exchange Hotel - bars - Updated May 2026

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