Felons Brewing Co: Hours, Parking and Tips for Howard Smith Wharves

Felons Brewing Co is a modern brewery under the Story Bridge at Howard Smith Wharves, on the Brisbane River. It has a bar and restaurant serving Felons beers, wine and cocktails from 11 am until late every day, plus a cafe that opens at 6 am.

Felons also runs Felons Barrel Hall at Howard Smith Wharves, a beer hall venue, so a large group has two places to choose from.

What you will find at Felons Brewing Co

The venue describes itself as an interactive environment where you can expect the sights, smells and sounds of a working brewery, beside the water. The drinks list is Felons beers, wine, cocktails, basic spirits, cider and an in-house brewed seltzer. Check the venue page for food.

The cafe opens at 6 am every day, well before the bar opens at 11 am. That suits an early start before a ferry or a walk along the riverwalk.

Outdoor areas are walk-in only, so a sunny afternoon table is first come, first served.

Felons Barrel Hall

Felons Barrel Hall has more than 10,000 litres of beer conditioning in barrels. The stage showcases emerging local musicians every week. It is open seven days, 11 am until late. The hall event space holds 424 seated, and the Brew Deck terrace takes 60 standing.

Groups of 2 to 30 can book the Barrel Hall online. Walk-ins are welcome, and outdoor areas are walk-in only. Groups of 15 or more can eat from the Brewer’s menus.

Bookings, dogs, kids and accessibility

• Bookings: You do not need one. Indoor bookings at Felons Brewing Co are for groups of 8 or more, and the outdoor areas are walk-in only.
• Dogs: Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas, but not in the restaurant area or inside the Barrel Hall.
• Kids: Minors are welcome at any time when they are with a parent or guardian.
• Accessibility: Everything is wheelchair accessible except a small upper deck balcony. Bathrooms are in several spaces across the venue.
• Allergies: The kitchen uses common allergens, so cross-contamination cannot be fully ruled out.

Getting to Felons Brewing Co by ferry, lift or foot

The nicest way to arrive is by water. Howard Smith Wharves has its own CityCat terminal on the F1 Northshore Hamilton to UQ St Lucia route. Ferries run as often as every 10 minutes at peak times, from early until 11 pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. You can tap on and off with a go card or a debit or credit card.

From the city, two lifts at the top of the Bowen Terrace cliffs take you straight down into the precinct, opposite Malt Street and Bowen Street.

On foot, the west footpath starts at the City Reach Boardwalk near Queen Street, and the east footpath starts at the New Farm Riverwalk at Riverview Court. A shared cycle and walking path runs through the precinct, and there are 50 public bike spaces. The closest bus stops are on Adelaide, Eagle, Ann and Brunswick streets. Central and Fortitude Valley stations are the nearest train stations, and both need a walk.

Parking at Howard Smith Wharves

The secure car park is at 5 Boundary Street, with a ticketless entry and a 2.25 metre height limit. It is not cheap: drive-up rates start at $18 for up to half an hour, $25 up to an hour, $45 up to two hours and $65 once you pass three and a half hours. Hour-based charges reset at 6 am daily. Overnight and discounted rates need to be pre-booked online.

If you would rather pay less, the wharves list Secure Parking at Eagle Street, about a three-minute walk along the river, plus Chinatown and 388 Brunswick Street as alternatives. By car, it is about 10 minutes from the Brisbane CBD. Taxi and rideshare drop-offs use the zone at 5 Boundary Street.

Planning your visit

• Cost: Beers, cocktails and food are priced on the Felons menus; add 10% on Sundays and 15% on public holidays.
• Best time: Outdoor tables are walk-in only, so arrive early if you want one.
• What to bring: A go card for the ferry, and a plan for dinner if you want the Barrel Hall for a group.

Nearby

• Howard Smith Wharves – the full precinct guide, with the other bars and restaurants.
• Wilson Outlook Reserve – Story Bridge views, and a lift down to the wharves.
• Story Bridge – the bridge the brewery sits under.
• New Farm Park – a riverside park in New Farm, at the far end of the New Farm Riverwalk.
• Kangaroo Point Cliffs Lookout – another Brisbane lookout.
• Fortitude Valley – one of the two nearest train stations is here.
• More breweries and distilleries across South East Queensland.

You might also like

• Slipstream Brewing (Yeerongpilly)
• Green Beacon Brewing (Teneriffe)
• Black Hops Burleigh (Burleigh Heads)

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