Dark Blue, a new wine and cocktail bar from one of The Valley’s best operators, is opening in Winn Lane
The year isn’t even over and already we’re looking forward to the next. In the first quarter of 2025, the brains behind Dark Red – one of Fortitude Valley’s favourite laneway wine bars – will be opening a follow-up venue. Dark Blue is set to open in Winn Lane in March and will be serving Portuguese, Spanish and Argentinian wines, a hyper-versatile list of cocktails and a tight selection of snacks. Here’s what we know …
Among Fortitude Valley’s plethora of bars, clubs and eateries, Dark Red might hold the crown as the precinct’s most universally beloved venue. Why? Well, beyond its range of cracking Italian vino and intimate-yet-lively atmosphere, many regulars point to Dark Red owner Hannah Wagner’s personable style of service as a key selling point. Either that, or Hannah’s furry sidekick Daisy who, when not hunting for pats, can be frequently seen lounging in her dog bed near the bar.
Well, in good news for those who have had trouble snagging a seat at Dark Red during peak hours, Hannah and Daisy will soon be opening a brand-new bar on the other side of Ann Street in 2025. Dark Blue is estimated to open on Winn Lane in March, with Hannah taking over two neighbouring spaces – which folks might recognise as the former home of Gemini Brow Studio, Winnston Hair and clothing store The Outpost – and converting them into a cosy 30-seat haunt for cocktails and wine. Though expansion might seem like a no-brainer move for a bar as successful as Dark Red, Hannah tells us opening another joint wasn’t at the forefront of her mind when the opportunity presented itself.
“I really didn’t want to,” says Hannah. “Dark Red was going great, I thought it was time to rest. Then Arthur [Apostolos, the developer behind Winn Lane, Bakery Lane and California Lane] said, ‘I’ve got a venue with your name on it’. I didn’t want to look, but I did and I just fell in love with it straight away.
“Daisy was with me and instantly was wagging her tail and looking around. I knew that if Daisy’s wagging her tail … this was my space.”
Work will soon commence on Dark Blue’s fit-out. The venue will make use of the different floor heights, crafting a number of little nooks to cosy up in. A mezzanine space will be used for storage and prep, but Hannah hints it might also double as a DJ nest. Hannah also informs us that she’s eager to retain much of the space’s existing character elements – including the mismatched floors and exposed brick – while implementing a timber-heavy New York-inspired loft aesthetic that is more polished than Dark Red, yet retains the same sense of casual approachability.
“Dark Red’s very dressed down and super casual with a bit of an edge,” Hannah explains. “This new space is so naturally cool, it’s so rugged and all the floors are different. I also feel like it really encapsulates me and Daisy as well. Daisy’s a little rescue dog – she’s so weird and has got so much character and personality.”
While Dark Blue won’t have the same Daisy-themed wallpaper as Dark Red, Hannah confirms the photogenic pooch will be featured on Dark Blue’s coasters and other small details.
On the drinks front, Dark Blue will still make wine a key fixture, only this time Hannah will be swapping Italian vino for a broader selection of drops sourced from winemakers in Portugal, Spain and Argentina.
“I love Italian wine, but there are all these other varietals that I really want to branch out with,” says Hannah. “I’ve been banking a bunch of really amazing and really cool wines that I’ve just been so excited to share.”
Cocktails will also share top billing, with Hannah recruiting some top bar talent to oversee Dark Blue’s ever-changing range of sips, which will favour pre-batched options that can be dispensed quickly.
“[We’ll be] hyper obsessively changing the menu once or twice a week and just doing stuff because it’s fun,” says Hannah. Unlike Dark Red, Dark Blue will offer a small selection of eats – think tasty toasties and imported snacks like tinned sardines and Spanish crisps from Superbon.
With more elbow room and a blank canvas to work with, Hannah is relishing the opportunity to do things that she couldn’t accommodate within Dark Red’s cosy interior (expect Dark Blue to be more active on the events front, for example). Though she has plenty of ideas she’s keen to trial at Dark Blue, Hannah is adamant that the venue’s growth will be predominantly shaped by her clientele.
“At the end of the day, my goal is to make people feel comfortable,” says Hannah. “I love seeing who comes into Dark Red and having all of these nice little moments – I’ve watched some people go on dates and fall in love and some just have really nice conversations. I’ll still be on the floor between both venues and I’ll be doing a little bit more hosting and actually talking to people. I’m ready for something more clean and polished, but we’re still going to be playing hip-hop and disco and all that stuff.”
Dark Blue is tentatively slated for a March opening – stay tuned for updates in the new year.