You don’t need to be a jazz fan to relish a spell here at Brisbane’s first jazz bar. Come for the vinyl and stay for the Japanese-inspired drinks list and snacks.
Ruby’s personality shapeshifts with the day of the week and time of day, the style of music emerging from the bar’s four handsome bespoke Pitt & Giblin speakers alters accordingly. Earlier in the week it’s a popular bolthole for locals seeking reasonably priced drinks and fun Japanese snacks. Expect the likes of Miles Davis and Monk on rotation as well as artists like James Brown and even Sam Cook. Later in the week, as the pace picks up, more groups descend and Afrobeats, funk and soul segue into the weekend, with maybe a bit of disco and fun ’80s stuff thrown in for good measure (which sometimes leads to impromptu boogying).
Interiors are cleverly set up to cater for both diners and drinkers, with a bit of a moody mid-century modern feel to the decor, plenty of tans and browns, leather and timber – and, of course, a stack of vinyl gold on the shelves. An al fresco terrace, where dogs are welcome, is kept solely for walk-ins. It’s a tempting spot for Friday afternoon cocktails that might easily progress to snacks and more drinks as tables inside free up.
The idea of an audiophile bar sounds kind of serious, but Ruby is more about having fun than sitting around quietly listening to classics of the music world – although a few will almost definitely hit the decks during your visit. The drinks list is built accordingly. Order a cocktail with a Japanese twist to get in the mood, perhaps a Yardbird (named for legend Charlie Parker), made with Roku gin, lychee, peach and lemon, while the Tales of the Jazz Age is an equally fruity blend starring Haku vodka with rhubarb, lemon and strawberry gum. On tap you might find the Tommy Tsurai, a super-spicy take on the Margarita shot through with green capsicum, chilli and lime. Or perhaps a Ruby Spritz with Aussie apéritif Rhubi Mistelle standing in for Italy’s bittersweet Aperol liqueur.
The wine list is divided into categories like “citrus, soft, fruit and full” for whites or “big, bright, savoury” for reds, making your choice a little easier. The wines are an easy mix of the familiar and more interesting, and there’s a neat selection of Japan’s sake, shochu spirit and umeshu plum liqueur as well as some cracking Japanese beers. If you’re giving alcohol a miss entirely, or pacing yourself, there’s a swag of zero beers and low- and no-alcohol options on the cocktail front.
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