Howard Smith Wharves: Restaurants, Bars, Parking and Getting There

Howard Smith Wharves is a riverside dining and drinking precinct at 5 Boundary Street, tucked beneath the Story Bridge on the Brisbane River. It has a brewery, cocktail bars, restaurants including Greek and Japanese, a rooftop bar and a burger place, with the river and the bridge on your doorstep.

It is free to wander around, you can drive in, catch a CityCat or take a lift down the cliff, and the heritage wharves, a restored boardwalk and the bridge climb make it more than a place to eat.

Restaurants and bars at Howard Smith Wharves

The precinct’s own website lists these places to eat and drink:

• Felons Brewing Co. and Felons Barrel Hall: the brewery and its barrel hall.
• Mr Percival’s and Stan’s Lounge: bars, both open to walk-ins. Mr Percival’s is the cocktail bar built out over the river.
• CIAO, Stanley, Greca (Greek) and Yoko Dining (Japanese): sit-down restaurants.
• Mews: another spot on the precinct’s list.
• Fiume Rooftop Bar: the rooftop bar at the Crystalbrook Vincent hotel.
• Betty’s Burgers: a casual burger option.

Walk-ins are welcome at Mr Percival’s, Stan’s Lounge, Felons Brewing Co. and Felons Barrel Hall. For the others, book ahead on the venue’s own page. Each venue sets its own opening hours, so check the venue before you go.

The history of Howard Smith Wharves

Work on the wharves began in the 1930s, when the cliff below Bowen Terrace was cut back and the river widened, alongside the building of the Story Bridge. The bridge opened in 1940 and passes directly overhead. Howard Smith Co. Ltd, the shipping company that gives the place its name, signed a lease in 1936 and moved downstream towards the river mouth in the early 1960s.

After that the wharves sat largely vacant for decades. The site was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997, a restoration of the riverside boardwalks was finished by 2013, and the redeveloped precinct opened in late 2018. Five air-raid shelters built by Brisbane City Council in 1941 and 1942 still sit near the cliffs. You can see the cliff face from the waterfront.

Things to do besides eating

The Story Bridge Adventure Climb is now part of the precinct. For a quieter outing, walk the riverside paths: the west footpath starts at the City Reach Boardwalk near Queen Street, and the east footpath starts at the New Farm Riverwalk. There are grassed areas near the New Farm end. Read more about the bridge itself in our Story Bridge guide.

The wharves also have event spaces (Rivershed, Bougainvillea House, Green House and others) that can be hired for functions.

Is Howard Smith Wharves dog friendly?

Service dogs are welcome. The precinct’s website does not give a rule for other dogs, so ask the venue you plan to visit before you bring one.

Planning your visit

• How long: an hour for a walk and a drink; two to three hours for a meal.
• Cost: walking around is free. Food, drinks, the car park and the bridge climb cost extra.
• Opening hours: set by each venue. The precinct does not publish one set of hours, so check the venue’s page.
• Accessibility: the two Bowen Terrace lifts, the drop-off zone at 5 Boundary Street and the Riverwalk entrances give access. The car park has disability bays and lifts to ground level, and several dining outlets and event spaces have accessible bathrooms.
• Booking: popular restaurants and weekend slots fill up, so book through the venue.

Getting there and parking

Howard Smith Wharves is about 6.5 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 10 minutes by car, with the entrance at 5 Boundary Street.

Parking at Howard Smith Wharves

The on-site multi-level car park is open 24 hours and uses a ticketless system. The maximum height is 2.25 m. Drive-up rates are $18 for up to half an hour, $25 up to one hour, $40 up to 1.5 hours, $45 up to two hours and $65 for three and a half hours or more. Hours reset at 6 am. Discounted and overnight rates need an online booking on the car park page. Other car parks nearby include Secure Parking on Eagle Street (about a three minute walk), Chinatown and 388 Brunswick Street.

CityCat and ferry

The precinct has its own CityCat terminal on the Northshore Hamilton to UQ St Lucia route. Services run as often as every 10 minutes at peak, until 11 pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. Tap on and off with a go card or a debit or credit card. See the Translink Journey Planner for times. Cross-river ferry services are covered in our Brisbane CityHopper post.

Bus, train and lifts

The closest bus stops are on Adelaide, Eagle, Ann and Brunswick Streets. Central and Fortitude Valley stations are the nearest trains, and you will need to walk from either. Two lifts on Bowen Terrace, opposite Malt Street and Bowen Street, take you down the cliff into the precinct.

Nearby

• Story Bridge – the bridge above the precinct, with history and the climb.
• New Farm Park – a short riverside walk along the east footpath.
• Brisbane Powerhouse – arts venue further along the New Farm riverfront.
• Queen Street Mall – the city shopping centre at the start of the west walk.
• Rocks Riverside Park – another river park in the city.
• Kangaroo Point Cliffs – across the river, with views back to the bridge.
• Brisbane City Botanic Gardens – a green stop in the CBD.

Browse more restaurants and things to do in Brisbane.

Details can change, so check the Howard Smith Wharves website before you go.

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