A hidden bar finally disappears entirely at the far end of Fish Lane, replaced by a slick bolthole defined by timber and leather surfaces, vintage framed photos and casino chip-inspired coasters.September 3, 2026Robbie Lofaro reckons real estate agents have a reputation problem. He should know. He’s a real estate agent.“It’s not the most well-liked profession. There’s a bit of a stigma,” says Lofaro candidly, who is chief executive of Place Purpose Group.Lane’s End opened mid-August at the far end of Fish Lane.Markus RavikTo say that’s why Lofaro has opened a cocktail bar, Lane’s End, at the end of Fish Lane would be a simplification, but it would also largely be the truth.“It’s how appreciative everyone is in hospitality,” Lofaro says when asked what he enjoys about the industry. “Somebody comes into a cocktail bar and they’re just happy to be there. That’s a very different contrast to real estate.”Lofaro should know. Because he also has a background in hospitality.Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upBack when he was a teenager it was a fish-and-chip shop and a cafe. These days it’s Sunny’s, a rooftop bar in Margate.“I still love real estate,” Lofaro says. “I love being able to have an impact on so many people’s lives in real estate, but I think being able to do it in a very different way is exciting.”Lofaro says he wasn’t planning on opening Lane’s End, a second bar right in the thick of the inner city – but perhaps his love for the industry makes him open to such opportunities. Lofaro unveiled it last month in the premises previously occupied by Next Episode, a “secret” hip-hop bar.The bar has a thoroughly different feel to Next Episode, which came before it.Markus Ravik“I was at Next Episode and one of the bartenders told me the owner was looking to sell. I reached out and he was ready to move on it.“After going there a couple more times, I kind of thought, ‘I personally love this sort of hip-hop vibe here because, you know, it’s just my kind of music. But it was maybe a bit dated, and I think … it was almost too hidden.’”So Lofaro chose to completely redesign the bar, ditching the old false barbershop frontage and rap-themed internals for something much more old-world and glamorous. Lane’s End is instead defined by its timber surfaces, plenty of greenery and vintage framed photos, cross-backed timber chairs, casino chip-inspired coasters, and warm lighting. The old hidden frontage has been ditched in favour of something much more welcoming.Markus RavikThe bar itself is more or less in the same spot, but has been heightened to make it a more comfortable spot to perch.In charge of the design was Amelia Stevenson. Stevenson works social media in Lofaro’s real estate businesses but has a background in hospitality.“She came to me and said, ‘I really want the opportunity to take charge of that.’ I said, ‘Here’s your budget, do what you think is right.’ She’s just 22 and she’s gone and organised the whole fit-out. It’s incredible – much better than I could’ve done myself.”Lane’s End keeps it simple, with a tight list of signatures and twists, but the bartenders will happily make you all the classics.Markus RavikStevenson and bartender Hope Kempster have collaborated on a short, sharp cocktail menu of seven signatures and twists – expect drinks such as the Lane’s End Martini (vodka, green chartreuse, citrus, basil, sugar, foam), a Tommy’s Margarita twist called Golden Hour (tequila, orange blossom, orange juice, citrus, agave, salt) and The Getaway (bourbon, walnut, fig, vanilla bean, smoke) – but Lofaro says the barkeeps will happily shake or stir any classic to your tastes.Beyond cocktails (and a clutch of mocktails), the team is pouring just a couple of white wines and a couple of reds on a rotational basis, the drops drawn from the Sunny’s cellar.Open Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-12am, Sun 4pm-10pmFish Lane, 5/27 Cordelia Street, South Brisbaneinstagram.com/lanes.end.barFrom our partners