Wine Bar dining in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.
Bar Lou Lou feels warm from the moment you walk in. When we visited to interview owner Louise Marks, the bar had been open for about five weeks and some regulars were already back for the fourth time. One gave her a hug on the way out. The room at 122 Barry Parade, once the Barry Parade Public House, keeps its old timber bar, terrazzo floor and orb pendant lights, now washed in burgundy and filled with cushions, flowers, cosy nooks and secondhand finds.
Suited to
A glass of something natural after work, a spritz with a friend or a long evening of shared plates that quietly turns into dinner. Lou wanted people to be able to make a whole night of it without heading further into the Valley, and it works that way: office workers come across for lunch, teachers drop in after work and couples settle in for the evening. There are no bookings, so come in, take a seat and order at the bar.
Why this place
Lou spent about a decade in digital media. A few evening shifts at Zero Fox, her favourite Brisbane bar, became six months of working two jobs, then a new career. She earned a WSET wine qualification and opened Bar Lou Lou in August 2026.
She had pictured a tiny wine bar with a few customers and time to talk. What she built is bigger and more personal. She describes the room as "basically like the inside of my brain": wine, flowers, plants and old things given a new use, right down to the small thrift shop out the back. Most of all, she wanted a place where she could say "welcome back". Five weeks in, she already was.
Photography by @pea.film, supplied by Bar Lou Lou.
Dietary options
Based on venue-published information. Confirm with the restaurant for strict requirements.
What to order
Start the way Lou would: ask what she is excited about pouring. The list changes, she is happy to offer a taste before you commit, and she loves steering people towards something new, like the Harrison Grenache Blanc from McLaren Vale ($18 a glass). For two to share, her pick is the kimchi roti toastie ($28), cut into pieces with crisps and a pickle. Roti with house satay sauce ($12) and fried chicken with Sriracha mayo ($22) make easy starters. For a beer and something filling, she points to the chicken satay kebab ($30), which arrives open on roti for you to fold and eat with your hands, or the Japanese chicken curry pie ($32). Prices are from the official menu checked on 4 October 2026 and can change.
Good to know
Open Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 10pm and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm; closed Monday and Tuesday (official website, checked 4 October 2026). No booking required. A 10% surcharge applies on Sundays. The menu marks vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. Urban List reports the bar is dog-friendly and donates its empty-bottle and can refunds to Valley Hearts.
Published menu snapshot
Checked October 2026
Selected dishes and prices from Bar Lou Lou's official menu, checked 4 October 2026. A 10% surcharge applies on Sundays. The menu marks vegan (VE), vegetarian (V) and gluten-free (GF) dishes. Dishes and prices can change, so check the current menu.
Roti and satay sauce
$12
Flaky toasted roti with house-made red curry satay sauce (VE)
Street-style Thai loaded fries
$18
Crispy fries in Asian spices with house-made sauces (VE, GF)
Chicken skewers (3)
$18
Lemongrass, ginger, garlic, chilli and miso glaze (GF)
Fried chicken
$22
With a Sriracha mayo dipping sauce (GF)
Banh mi crostinis (3)
$25
Ginger and lemongrass pork patties, poached apple, pâté and carrot on toasted baguette
Tuna tataki
$32
Blood orange ponzu, hazelnut crisp and avocado purée (GF)
Thai "Bunnings" sausage (2)
$28
Thai pork sausage, caramelised onions and smoky tomato chilli sauce, with crisps
Kimchi roti toastie
$28
Kimchi, goat cheese and caramelised onions, with crisps and a pickle (V)
Thai red veggie curry
$28
Tofu, chickpeas and vegetables with rice (VE, GF)
Chicken satay kebab
$30
Crispy roti loaded with curry chicken, Asian slaw and house satay sauce
Hot honey fried chicken and rice
$32
With Asian slaw and a Sriracha mayo dipping sauce (GF)
Japanese chicken curry pie
$32
With fries and a trio of Japanese pickles
Wine by the glass
from $14
Prosecco, pet nat, skin contact, chilled red and more; bottles from $56
Beer on tap
from $10
Japanese lager, pale ale and Guinness
Aperol spritz
$16
Menu information is a dated snapshot. Prices, ingredients, availability, allergens, and trading hours can change; verify the live ordering menu or contact the venue before ordering.
Known for
Opening hours
Hours from the venue's own site, barloulou.com.au, checked 15 October 2026. Public holidays can differ.
Where the key details on this page come from, and when we last checked them.
| Still trading | barloulou.com.au, checked 15 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | barloulou.com.au, checked 15 October 2026 |
Other details on this page have not been checked line by line yet.
Something wrong?Photography
Photography: @pea.film. Images supplied by Bar Lou Lou
In conversation
The venue profile covers prices, menu and location. The conversation covers the person, ideas and practical work behind the business.
Founder portrait · Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Bar Lou Lou · Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
A conversation with Louise Marks
Louise Marks on leaving digital media, learning hospitality and making a wine bar full of her favourite things on Barry Parade.
Common questions
Bar Lou Lou is at 122 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, in the space that was previously Barry Parade Public House.
The official website, checked 4 October 2026, lists Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 10pm and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
No. The official website says no booking is required: come in, take a seat and order at the bar.
Playful Asian-inspired plates, from roti with satay sauce and fried chicken to a Thai "Bunnings" sausage and a Japanese chicken curry pie. The menu marks vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.
The list focuses on approachable small-batch and natural wines, and Lou is happy to offer a taste before you choose. On the menu checked 4 October 2026, wines by the glass start at $14.
For two to share, Lou recommends the kimchi roti toastie. For a beer and a filling meal, she suggested the chicken satay kebab or the Japanese chicken curry pie when we spoke with her.
Bar Lou Lou is owned by Louise Marks, who opened it in August 2026 after leaving a career in media.
Restaurant owners can request factual corrections or claim a listing to verify official links, ownership, hours, cuisine category, booking links, menu notes, image credits, or closure status.
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