Sonny’s House of Blues

Sonny’s is a great place to come for a drink. Their happy hour is from 4:30 to 6 I believe and they have some $ 5 ciders, lagers and wines (the cider is delicious!)
Great atmosphere however can get a bit loud if you’re wanting to have a conversation amongst a decent sized group. If you are coming for Friday drinks arrive around 4/4:30 to score yourself a booth.

Bartenders are tight. Mariana (owner? Liaison?) is amazing. Place has a full-​on Blues-​AustinTX-​fine-​food-​good-​time-​having-​feel. It’s tucked away in an alley and down in a dark basement, which means it’s nice and cool with a stage at the opposite end of the entrance. Heavily frequented by good people. I would recommend this place to anybody interested in listening to good blues, soul, R&B, while still getting an Aussie experience.

Sonny’s is great! The best drinks and awesome live music. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good bar and live band venue. It has such a funky vibe and friendly staff. I love that it is tucked away in the lane way!

Sonny’s lives down Rowes Lane and could be considered somewhat hidden, if you ignore the giant flashing neon sign. Thank God for that sign though, because I admit it took me an embarrassingly long time to work out where it was when it first opened (wait, around the corner from Jamie’s WHERE?), especially considering I basically work above it.
Given it’s prime location right near my workplace, it has occasionally be the post-​work drinks place of choice (we’re a bit lazy like that) but I am a big fan. Dark and mysterious, with a well-​stocked wall of booze and decent beers like Stone & Wood and Young Henry’s on tap. Not entirely sure what wine they do since a drinks list was non-​existent — it’s more of a look-​and-​order kind of place. Like sibling bar Lefty’s, they freshly juice green apples for some of the best whisky apple drinks in town. Hot tip: between 5 and 7pm it’s Happy Hour meaning beer, wine and spirits for $ 5. BOOM. And that includes my favourite whisky ‘n apple… colour me happy! And don’t expect to see drinks coming out in jars here… Sonny’s is all about the tin cans. With skulls on them. Because they’re bad-​ass like that.
Plenty of seating but if you turn up on a Friday evening, don’t expect a free table as the crowds start early. The place has pumped with music every time I’ve been there and as a teen of the 90s, I thoroughly appreciated the 90s-​alterna playlist. If you stay a little longer, expect live music or some sort of DJ set. Note: this is not a quiet place so don’t expect to come being able to have D&Ms with friends. Unless you’re good at shouting.
I’ve never had the food here but last time I checked the menu it was definitely sporting a Mexican vibe. I had a chat to the bartender about whether it changed much and he said something about them liking to try new things to see what people liked. And low and behold, after checking Facebook, it seems it’s headed the American diner way…
For something a little different to the majority of the Brisbane CBD bars, check out Sonny’s and get some freshly squeezed apple juice to go with your spirit of choice because it’s kind of delicious. And keeps the doctor away…

It’s what I like to call a mid crowd. Not older but no one here needs to show their 18+ at the door. The setup is Lefty’s funky. Booths. Lighting. Memorabilia. Live music is loud. You come here to listen not chat. The mushroom quesadilla is unexpectedly spectacular. I mean it doesn’t scream Mexican theme but the menu delivers a good punch. Am told the boys should always be visiting the water closet for a little playboy nostalgia but overall a late night night, ready to dance type place.

I need to go back so I can fully describe the experience, I only dropped in fora brief drink and my first impressions were good. Great bar in the city who supports live music, although I am yet to see a band play. They played great retro tracks while I was there.
More to come…

Came here for a few drinks before dinner. Love the underground vibe, décor and bar. We had the Nacos as a snack and it was awesome, big chunks of beef included!
Great selection of craft beers including several on tap options. The mixed crowd ebbing and flowed during the night listening to the retro tunes payed before the band started. Well worth a visit for a few drinks or a big night, hopefully next time we stay long enough to hear some live bands.

Sonny’s, like Brooklyn Standard, are heralding a new era of CBD bars. They’re the kind of bars you can knock off from work, head over to and order a drink, and most likely catch a live band each night. They’re for everyone and you’ll feel instantly comfortable here.
Sonny’s in particular seems ripe for a scene of a John Hughes movie. Perhaps Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson are in a booth enjoying a few beers.
Located in the newly refurbished Rowes Arcade, you’ll need to take a turn at the Commonwealth Bank and walk down a laneway to see the neon light over Sonny’s door way. Descend into the basement area that is now home to a bar inspired by the owner’s trips to LA Dive Bars.
The bar menu will look incredibly familiar, almost identical in fact, to those who may have visited Los Villanos (also owned by the same person). It’s Mexican with a focus on sharing — tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The cocktail list is but a few drinks read to us by the bar tender. With one named the Pain Killer, I didn’t dare ask what is in it and instead opt for a classic G&T. For non-​spirit drinkers there’s several beers on tap.