Mr Vain

Mr Vain is a stunning 90's themed laneway bar and eatery in the basement of a heritage-listed building in Fortitude Valley.

Tucked away down a small lane, the street entrance to Mr Vain is via a black gate.

Leave the stark urban landscape behind as you step inside to a glowing lamp lit room with bustling open kitchen, gold chain partitioned booths, exposed handmade brick walls, leather banquettes and original wood-framed casement windows.

Along one wall just inside the entrance a long digital screen shows black and white footage of 90's icons, including supermodels and fashion shows whilst music is all of the pulsating dance hits of the 90's.

Patrons can take a seat in one of the booths or at the lounge tables near the entrance and partake in outstanding cocktails, boutique wines and a degustation style menu of food (mostly gluten free) that is designed to share.

Dishes can be ordered separately or as a set chef's tasting menu ($105pp), while larger groups of 8+ can enjoy a group dining menu for $80pp.

Smaller dishes include starters like Sydney rock oysters with finger lime and fermented chilli; ry and poppy sourdough (freshly baked in-house) with kefir butter or Falls Farm pickled and preserved vegetables with fresh milk curd.

Entree style dishes include eggplant sesame, maple and yoghurt; seared jkangaroo with fermented pepper and buckwheat cracker; Fraser Island spanner crab, creme fraiche and langos or Hasselback potato, coastal herbs, wash rind cheese and chives.

Larger dishes include Wagyu brisket, molasses, beetroot, puffed tendons and chimichurri; whole roast duck, leatherwood honey and blackberry (to share) and pork tomahawk, coffee, turnip top and pineappple.

And for something sweet to follow, there's Daintree ice-cream sando with wattle, Davidson plum and macadamia; holy goat cheese tartlet with malt and burnt mandarin or whipped dark chocolate, liquorice and buttermilk.

When it comes to drinks, Mr Vain is a stand out - try a Martini Flight, including the Tomato Martini (Tito’s vodka dry vermouth house made salty tomato cordial & pickled cherry tomato) or a Plum & Yuzu or Mexcal and Sage Negroni; or a refreshing Apperitivo like Jerez and Soda or Unico Spritz.  

House signature cocktails take their names from 90's stars - think Naomi, The Pitt or Leo not Lenny, while Zero Abv cocktails include Kate's Boyfriend and Johnny Viper. There's also an impressive curated wine list and Stone & Wood on tap.

Need to know - There is very limited street parking nearby however McWhirters Car Park is approx 5 minutes walk away.