Tucked beneath the historic Regatta Hotel, the newly opened Death & Co feels like a complete reinvention of a space many Brisbane locals once knew well. The former Walrus Club, a haunt I frequented far too often in my younger days, has been stripped back and rebuilt into something purposeful, polished and deeply considered.
Where it once leaned into rustic whisky-den energy, it now stands as Brisbane’s most confident attempt yet at a true New York–style cocktail institution. And honestly, this is exactly what happens when a theatre reviewer gets unleashed inside a bar built on dramaturgy-level detail: every corner feels like a set, every drink like a leading actor.
Death & Co is more than just another bar opening; it’s the Australian expansion of one of the world’s most respected cocktail brands. Born in New York and synonymous with precision mixology, the Death & Co name carries weight in the international bar scene.
Bringing that legacy to Queensland was never going to be a casual undertaking. Their Bar Manager and Venue Manager spent two weeks in New York training with the original team, drilling into the fine mechanics and philosophy behind the brand’s cocktail craft.
Here, that training translates clearly. Every drink is intentional, every flavour layered, every menu choice considered. Last night’s grand opening was the culmination of six months of hard work, and that energy hums throughout the space.
The backstory behind how Death & Co even ended up in Australia is actually pretty wholesome. The founder first visited Australia when he was seven and apparently never quite got over it. Then he came back about five years ago with a group of mates and, somewhere between the travel and whatever bars he wandered into, he decided he wanted to bring the brand here.
The plan at that point was to do pop-ups around the major cities, but that idea evolved into something way more permanent. Two full venues: one in Melbourne, one in Brisbane.
Getting inside is a bit of a funny experience because you honestly wouldn’t expect much from that little staircase tucked behind the Regatta. It looks almost too plain to lead anywhere interesting.
But once you head down, the whole vibe shifts. The noise from Coro Drive disappears way faster than you’d think, and suddenly it feels like you’ve walked into this completely different part of Brisbane that no one told you about.
The lighting is low but not in that “squint at the menu” way; just enough to make everything feel warm. A few ceiling lights, candles scattered around, and the glow bouncing off the old brick walls give the place this really relaxed, lived-in mood.
It gives underground jazz-bar kind of vibes, and yes, that may be a slight ‘nod’ at future things to come. Nothing about it screams for attention; it just feels comfortable straight away.
And then the cocktails. My god. The cocktails.
Death & Co has a reputation for taking cocktails seriously, and the Brisbane menu leans into that completely. It’s not flashy, just thoughtful. Every drink feels like it’s been tinkered with more times than anyone will admit. I ended up trying nine, some of them twice. Partly because I’m committed to a thorough review, partly because they were just that good.
I lean towards anything strong or smoky or generally capable of putting hair on your chest, so my first love of the night was the I Against I. It’s this mix of blended Scotch, aged Jamaican rum, honey, Jerk & Peychaud’s bitters. Sounds intense, but the honey softens it out without turning it into a dessert. It’s one of those drinks that makes you properly stop and appreciate it.
Sound & Fury was my other notable mention. Blanco tequila, raspberry, red capsicum, ancho chile and lime. On paper, it looks as though a pastry chef sneezed and dropped all the wrong ingredients into a mixer, but hey, it works. Think spicy marg, but with raspberry bringing a brightness you don’t expect. Not sweet, just balanced. Big fan.
My partner, Georgia’s, taste sits on the other end of the spectrum: floral, light, fruity. Her top pick was the Guns of Brixton. Sparkling wine as the base, with Armagnac giving it some backbone, and bergamot doing its citrusy thing at the end.
She also loved the Straw Dog, which starts strong thanks to the Scotch but then shifts into this fresh, fruit-forward finish with the grapefruit, strawberry and lemon. A little sweet, but not in a way that gets tired.
And look, the staff deserve a whole paragraph of their own. Sam, the Venue Manager, has that really calm, steady presence that anchors the whole space. And Sarah, who looked after us, was honestly one of the highlights of the night.
She clearly knows the menu inside-out without making it weirdly formal and was more than capable of nailing recommendations one after the other. They both made the whole experience feel easy.
Death & Co is one of those places that’ll nudge Brisbane’s nightlife up a notch just by existing, without needing to shout for attention. It’s the kind of bar you end up in if you like your drinks made properly and your lighting on the darker side. It doesn’t feel like Brisbane, but in a good way; more like a little hideaway you stumble into and immediately decide you’re staying for one more.
And yes, I’m already planning my next visit. Probably tonight after my next theatre review.
Death & Co is now open in Brisbane at 543 Coronation Drive Toowong Qld 4065. It is also open in Melbourne at 87 Flinders Lane.
Bookings can be made here.
Website: https://deathandcompanybrisbane.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/deathandcompanyaus/ and https://www.facebook.com/deathandcompanyaus
Images supplied.
Opening hours:
Sunday to Wednesday 6pm – 1am
Thursday to Saturday 4pm – 2am
