Tonic Espresso + Bar

When my work colleague told me «no really there is a coffee shop down that road where all the cars are parked!», I feared the worst.
Normally coffee shops stuck out in the middle of any high rise business district leave little to be desired. However, all my fears were allayed as I walked onto the fake grass and into this little hole in the wall, industrial coffee house one early morning!
Service was super quick, friendly and coffee was smashing. It’s not your John Mills of the world but for Fortitude Valley it is damn good and cheap. I joined creative types and engineers from the co-​working space next door on the fake grass lawn/​car park out the front of the coffee shop each morning for 3 mornings, sitting on tiny graffitied stools and colourful tables feeling quite proud of myself for finding such a hidden gem!

Tonic Espresso + Bar is tucked away behind the busy streets of the Valley. A place where only the locals would know about. Always provides a quality coffee hit in the morning and a nice craft beer or gin on Friday afternoons. Vibrant little setup and has hints of industrial design throughout. Pretty good service and bound to get busier with the expansion and development of the inner city. Great place to check out, sit down and relax.

Nice and chill place for drinks after work on a Friday. Don’t try to go too late in the evening as they will close if there aren’t any people but they have a good selection of craft brews tasty snacks and cucumbers for the Hendricks and soda :).

It’s fair to say that if you’re not working in the select few office buildings around Hynes Street you may never have heard of Tonic Espresso, let alone the newest addition, Bar. So you’re forgiven for the double head-​shake you’re doing right now as you go, «Wait. What?! There’s a café AND bar across the road and down the street from the Fortitude Valley police station.» I know. Have a moment to deal with the shock.
Okay. Now you’ve come to terms, let me give you the facts. I’d not visited Tonic Espresso before they become a «& Bar» because, really, unless (as I said before) you work locally you’ve probably got no real reason to venture this side of The Valley.
I should also mention that I was a guest of the bar for their launch night and was given the opportunity to try their espresso martinis. Smooth. Velvety. Coffee-​y Martinis. They were pleasingly easy to drink. Perhaps too easy. It was only after I left and looked on Instagram that I realised they were also serving gin and tonics. I regret not seeking one of these out.
On a Friday night this laneway behind office buildings and surrounded by industrial businesses was bustling. People were happily sipping drinks, buzzing about weekend plans and mingling. Who would have thought it?
While I’m keen to go back and explore as a general punter it concerns me how humid it was once the venue started filling up and I’m keen to try their set tapas menu which wasn’t available on the night. I’m saving that extra fourth star til I’ve been back and experienced more of the Tonic atmosphere and groove. Til we meet again Tonic…