South City Square scores a new neighbourhood haunt with Hop City Bar

Anyone in hospitality will tell you that opening a new venue is a challenge. No one is more acutely aware of that than Happy Valley Brewing Co.’s Cheyne Meehan.

When the suds specialist opened his Wolverhampton Street brewery in mid-2020, Brisbane was only just starting to emerge from a pandemic-induced hibernation. In the years since, as Happy Valley has earned local fandom and industry acclaim, the national independent craft-beer industry experienced a widespread contraction.

Where some operations consolidated, Cheyne has opted to expand. Last weekend, he officially turned on the taps at his brand-new bar and eatery Hop City Bar – a 200-seat venue located at retail and residential hub South City Square in Woolloongabba.

It’s a bold move, no matter how you look at it – but Cheyne isn’t one to act on impulse. Hop City Bar’s arrival marks the end of a multi-year process, stretching back to 2022 when Happy Valley upped its production capacity with six vessels attached to its brewhouse.

“At the moment, there’s nothing here that’s a craft-beer bar,” says Cheyne. “In the afternoon, it’s like a freeway of people coming through. There are 1500 people that live here – plus there’s a 17-storey hotel going in, a 34-storey apartment block going up, and 440 apartments going in next door.”

Envisioned as an all-are-welcome watering hole, Hop City Bar looks to position itself as a local go-to for casual drinks, group feeds, trivia nights and private functions. While it’s one thing to want to be a community meeting spot, it’s another to make it happen in an organic way. Thankfully, Cheyne has been putting in the face time around South City Square, building up a familiarity with residents via a trio of pop-ups.

“Doing three different events here, where I gave away beers, helped me get to know all the locals in the area before we opened,” says Cheyne. “People have seen my face around, they’re like, ‘Oh mate, well done – we can’t wait for this place’.”

You might like

Best Of

Blow the froth off a few cold ones at Brisbane’s best craft-beer breweries

Best Of

The recap: Brisbane’s best new cafes and casual eateries of the year (so far)

The bar itself, slotted into the space previously earmarked for Talisman Group’s now-shelved Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired brewpub, The Wright House, is the result of a titanic fit-out process. Cheyne, alongside INK HAUS Architecture Studio, worked on the design for more than 12 months, honing in on an aesthetic that meshes industrial chic with a warm edge.

You might like

Best Of

Blow the froth off a few cold ones at Brisbane’s best craft-beer breweries

Best Of

The recap: Brisbane’s best new cafes and casual eateries of the year (so far)

A whirlwind build process began in March, with Create It Constructions tasked with the job of turning an empty shell into an approachable haunt.

“They have been a godsend – they have seriously been the best builder to deal with,” says Cheyne. “They have gone above and beyond to deliver exactly what we wanted.”

Hop City Bar is a two-level venue, with a bar and kitchen on the ground floor and a mezzanine level (equipped with its own mobile bar) intended for events, private functions and overflow. Two large-format TV screens have been set up around the venue, airing major sporting fixtures and trivia. A neon sign beckons from behind the bar, luring in thirsty punters like a beacon.

“It’s pretty much exactly how we wanted it to feel,” says Cheyne. “Having that sign … you can see it from Logan Road, it’s unreal. I think it is a nice, groovy logo and it makes people happy.

“Happy Valley has a beer smell, this place does as well. I feel like it’s really homely – there’s a warmth in here, even though we haven’t finished decking out. It’s really comforting and I feel like it’s meant to be.”

Hop City Bar is equipped with eight taps, the majority of which are pouring Happy Valley beers. The selection is a mixture of core beers and seasonal releases, with drops like the 50K IPA West Coast IPA, Keep It Simple sweet stout, Steady Eddy summer ale and a cherry-cola sour on deck alongside a guest tap (currently pouring Milton Common’s hard lemon, The Squeeze). The range won’t remain static, however.

“We’ve got a few of the core range on, and then there’ll be a couple of seasonal taps as well,” explains Cheyne. “We’ll just see what the market does and what people in this area really want – we’ll let them dictate to us what we should have on tap.”

The wine list is concise but has something for most tastes, including a non-alcoholic wine. In the long-term, Cheyne is eager for Hop City Bar to incorporate a selection of whiskeys. For now, the bar is leaning into the cocktails, with a fun list blending signatures and classics.

“We have five core classic cocktails, but each of those has two alternate flavours – so our espresso martini has a Nutella and a peanut butter version, for example,” explains Hop City Bar venue manager Jarrad Funk. “And then we’ve got our Showstoppers cocktail menu, which has five or six entirely new cocktails on there, which are built from scratch.”

Hop City Bar’s kitchen is pumping out a sturdy selection of pub-style favourites. Starters and shares include fried focaccia with honey butter, sticky pork-belly bites with chilli caramel glaze, crispy prawn cutlets with garlic-herb mayo and wings doused in Hop City Seoul sauce. When it comes to the larger plates, the offering leans classic.

“We wanted to create something that was obviously appealing to everyone, but also easy to execute in a small kitchen space,” says Jarrad. “We landed on an elevated pub-style menu – we’ve got all your basic schnitzels, parmies, steaks, beef cheeks, grilled salmon, salads, burgers and tacos.”

With State of Origin, the FIFA World Cup and both NRL and AFL seasons running as Hop City Bar opens, Cheyne and the team are gearing up for a big introductory period. Looking ahead, the crew hopes that the bar becomes a comfortable mainstay – not just for those living upstairs, but for anyone seeking a bit of trusty hospitality and a pitch-perfect pint or two.

When asked what he hopes people think first when Hop City Bar comes to mind, Cheyne is nothing if not honest.

“I want people to say, ‘Shit yeah, that’s a great bar,’” says Cheyne with a laugh. “We just want to create a neighbourhood bar – a meeting place – ideally somewhere where you can just hang out and chill.

“We’re not just for one group of people, we’re approachable for everyone. Tradies, businesspeople, parties – it’s a venue for every person.”

Hop City Bar is officially open to the public. Click here for operating hours and other details in The Directory.