There'll be no ordering of the house red upon entering this den of glam, which is known for its well-stocked cellar. Wine buffs, prepare to revel in the options.
With one of Brisbane's most impressive cellars, Cru is a mecca for those who are serious about wine and relaxed about everything else. Occupying an opulent, open-plan space with a commanding position in the James Street Market precinct, it has been a rubber-necker's paradise since 2003.
The Baccarat chandelier and luminous onyx bar make it a hedonistic hideout for relaxing in style most nights of the week, but don your Moschinos on a Friday - it's as glam as all get-out and more of a meat market than Burlington's. There's nothing funnier than the onset of panic in a man confronted with the genderless toilets (the Florence Broadhurst wallpaper doesn't help) but for the most part, it's a savvy crowd.
The extensive wine list is as big as you'd expect in a place that's anchored to a bottle-o, and oenophiles will love being able to choose a wine from the cellar to drink in the bar. With the markets next door, sourcing seasonal kitchen pickings is a 10-metre walk for chef Paul Hoffman, and food service runs till late to aid in endurance wine tastings.
Vikki Moore
