Regatta Hotel

Set on the Brisbane River in Toowong, the Regatta Hotel is a long-standing riverside pub with several distinct spaces, including the Boatshed, Front Bar, Courtyard, Street Café and Gaming Room. Its broad appeal comes from the way it accommodates everyday catch-ups as well as larger occasions, with the venue describing itself as a gathering place for family, friends and colleagues. The Boatshed offers menus developed by Head Chef Amy Baard, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal produce from leading suppliers. A steak and a cold beer are part of the pub’s enduring identity, although the supplied information does not provide a full current menu.

The venue also has a strong events focus. Function options cover birthday celebrations, corporate events, intimate dinners, wedding spaces and other customised gatherings. For a more private experience, The Henley Room is an intimate dining space near the Boatshed, with dark timber details, a working wine cellar feature and audio-visual equipment. It is presented as an option for business lunches, wine dinners, boardroom meetings, Christmas parties and brand launches. The room does not have wheelchair access, so this is worth confirming when planning a booking.

The Regatta’s character is closely tied to its setting and history. Established in 1874, it overlooks the river and takes its name from the rowing regattas held on the Toowong Reach. Its wide verandahs were designed to catch river breezes and take in the views, while the hotel’s connection with rowing continues through its location. The building is classified by the National Trust of Queensland and appears on the Queensland Heritage Register and the Register of the National Estate.

This is a venue for people who value a pub with layers of history, rather than a single-purpose dining room. Locals, students and staff from the nearby University of Queensland St Lucia campus, rowing enthusiasts and visitors can all find a reason to gather here. The hotel’s contemporary spaces followed a $10 million restoration after the 2011 floods, while retaining links to its past. A 4.3 Google rating from 4,691 reviews reflects its established place among Brisbane pubs.