The Shadow Lounge Review

Review By Julia Taylor

Shadow Lounge, above Jade Buddha on Eagle St pier, is a funky bar well known for their delicious cocktails. The Shadow Lounge oozes with an inner Brisbane lifestyle vibe. This place is open every weekend and sometimes during the week, but perhaps what you should really credit them for is their lazy Sunday sessions. This is one of the places I would recommend if you want to see the weekend out with a bunch of friends, or if you choose to go for a quiet drink on your own, the place is comfortable.

Walking up the stairs, you’re instantly enchanted by the music: a mixture of deep funky house and acid jazz is a perfect blend to relax the senses. As I enter the venue it feels as though the place is inviting you in with its open-deck looking over the Brisbane river (so you can enjoy the sunset or the story bridge lights). The lighting in the venue is dimmed creating a warm atmosphere. The inside lounge opens up to the deck which catches the river breeze. Decked out with massive lounges and contemporary eastern decor, you feel compelled to lay-back in the day bed and enjoy your drink on the deck.

Walking to the bar you’re greeted with the Sunday specials: Mai Tai $7 or if you prefer beer, the special is $4 Coronas. Whatever your taste-buds are, the bar can cater for. There are beers on tap such as Stella ($7.30) or bottles of Cascade ($6.50av) and imports such as Becks ($8.20av). I went with a French Martini ($19), but there are other beautiful cocktails like the Karma Sutra ($18.50) or the Buddha Bliss ($18). On Sunday, there is a complimentary chocolate fondue at the bar with marshmallows and strawberries.

Another quirk the Shadow Lounge offers is board games: Connect 4 or Yahtzee. While there is no official policy to play the games, they’re great conversation starters or drinking games. If games aren’t your thing, perhaps looking over the river with special someone at sunset and dining on the supper menu is more appealing. I shared a tapas plate ($24.50), but there is sushi ($25) or something light like prawn crackers ($3.50) or traditional chips and wasabi aioli ($9).

I am very much a person who loves having the space to hangout and catch up with friends over a well-made drink, but it’s the music which keeps me there the most. I have to applaud the Shadow Lounge management for maintaining its music individuality as most bars opt to play top 40 hits, which is more enjoyable on a Friday or Saturday night. The grooves are mixes of underground deep lounge. While people may not be dancing, the tunes add to the venues cruisy atmosphere.

On the weekends the Shadow Lounge is really busy with anyone, from business suits unwinding after work to 20 something year-old scene-setters sampling the awesome cocktails. If you choose to go there for a Sunday session, get there early enough to enjoy the sunset and fondue. Closing times on a Sunday vary to the amount of people in the venue. At present, this place is a hidden gem on Sundays so grab a bunch of friends, relax back in the big couches, give your order to the waitress and get your Yahtzee on while watching the Brisbane sunset over the river.

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