Raise a glass to the Brisbane Times Good Food Guide Bar of the Year finalists

The bar line is becoming blurred. Not the line at the bar, mind. We're talking about the line that separates bar and restaurant, boozer and brunch spot, dive and diner. These difficult-to-define venues are opening at a rapid rate, with punters keen to explore the expanding worlds of Australian spirits, small-batch brewing and artisan wines and perhaps grab a coffee or brunch at the same time. The bar scene in Brisbane has never been better.

The Brisbane Times 2017 Good Food Guide Bar of the Year award is for the best all-round boozer that nails service, drinks, vibe and decor. These are your five finalists from the Guide, with the winner to be announced on July 18 at the Good Food Guide awards night. Cin cin!

Canvas

16B Logan Road, Woolloongabba, 07 3891 2111, canvasclub.com.au

Mixing interesting flavours and twisting classics is the stock and trade of this small bar with a penchant for street art and upcycled wood. Tristan Green, Nick Royds, Aiden Beiers, Kyla Phillpotts and Frankie Allman all make a mean cocktail and if you're the kind of person who likes breakfast for dinner (and who doesn't?), then give the Good Mornin' America a try with George Dickel whiskey, Frangelico, cream, vanilla and notes of maple bacon. Canvas is open for weekend brunch if you want that drink with a side of actual bacon.

Cobbler

7 Browning Street, West End, cobblerbar.com

There are more than 400 whiskies from around the world stashed behind the handsome, square-jawed bar here. The staff seem to have tried every single one of them and can guide you towards something from the new world or old Scottish favourites from heathery Highlanders to big, peaty wallopers. Cameron Pirret, Elliot Pascoe, John Highton and owner-manager Martin Lange all know how to mix a whisky drink with panache if you prefer your golden nectar in a Rob Roy or rusty nail, and the tequila selection is worth exploring too. (Seriously, though, 400 whiskies.)

The Gresham, Brisbane

308 Queen Street, Brisbane, thegresham.com.au

The Gresh is a place where flanno-wearing skaters sink XXXX tins next to suits knocking back Pappy Van Winkle whisky and it's a beautiful, natural thing to behold. Almost as beautiful as the high-ceilinged heritage room and Brisbane history framed on its walls. Shout outs to general manager Ryan Lane and the gun bar team (Dan Gregory, Brendon Osmers, Kal Moore, Peter Hollands, Ella Rhodes, Ash McGregor and Magnus Moore, phew) for pouring top-notch drinks until 3am. A national treasure.

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall

15 Caxton Street, Milton, leftysoldtimemusichall.com

This honky-tonk on steroids and former gentleman's club offers one heck of a night out. There's whisky with apple juice squeezed in front of your face, delicious tinnies, roast beef po' boys and bras on antlers. The boot-scooting live music is sensational with loads of room to cut the rug, and a visit isn't complete without paying respects to Captain Rhumnatious in the Mermaid Lounge. Possibly the only joint in Queensland selling press-stud cowboy shirts behind the bar.

Maker

Fish Lane, South Brisbane

While many new bars are decked out with so many elements from the blonde-on-white school of Scando design you feel like you're sitting in a Sigur Ros song, Maker owner Jerome Batten (Gauge, Sourced Grocer) went full blown bronze-on-black, Swedish death metal with the interiors of this (very) small bar. It's bloody lovely and the young-gun bar team lead by Ed Quatermass has the skills the room deserves. There's a focus on local beers, wines and spirits and a menu of Noma-style snacks including veal tendon with sour cream and fermented chili, and kangaroo tartare kicked up a notch with cured egg yolk, kohlrabi and saltbush. Arrive early, stay late.

The Brisbane Times Good Food Guide awards night, presented by Citi and Vittoria, is Monday July 18. The Guide will be on sale in newsagents and bookstores from July 19, with all book purchases receiving free access to the new Good Food app.