From Media Desk to Wine Bar: Inside the Newest Hangout in Fortitude Valley

Former media professional Louise Marks traded her desk job for hospitality to transform a historic Fortitude Valley building into an eclectic neighbourhood haunt that pours small-batch Australian drops alongside a compact secondhand clothing rack.



A Heritage Space Gets a Second Life

Photo Credit: Bar Lou Lou/ Facebook

Original terrazzo flooring, timber panel bars, and orb-shaped pendant lights anchor the interior of the address previously known as the Barry Parade Public House. Swapping the heavy green paint for a welcoming burgundy hue, the space relies on mismatched furniture and pre-loved cushions to establish a comfortable, lived-in lounge room aesthetic.

Sipping and Thrifting Under One Roof

What happens when you integrate a compact op shop into a neighbourhood watering hole? Patrons frequently browse through racks of vintage clothing priced between five and forty dollars glass-in-hand, occasionally trying on garments and wearing them right back to their tables. 

Even the tableware is thrifted, adding a charmingly eccentric touch to every service. Beyond fashion, the venue runs a community bottle-recycling initiative where all proceeds from empty glass and cans go straight to Valley Hearts.

Local Sips and Pan-Asian Plates

Photo Credit: Bar Lou Lou/ Facebook

Twelve small-batch, natural Australian drops comprise the rotating wine list, all available by both the glass and the bottle alongside tap Guinness and classic cocktails. In the kitchen, chef Adnane Khattabi oversees a menu of playful bites that span tuna tataki, banh mi crostinis, Japanese curry pies, kimchi roti toasties, and a clever Thai-style twist on the classic Bunnings snag.



Operating Details

Trading runs from Wednesday through Sunday, with the venue welcoming visitors starting at midday. Closing time hits at 10:00 pm from Wednesday to Saturday, shifting earlier to 8:00 pm on Sundays at 122 Barry Parade on the fringe of Fortitude Valley.

Published Date 14-September-2026

Snack Man to Expand in 2019 with Famous Chinese Bite-Sized Dishes

Snack Man, Fortitude Valley’s bespoke wine bar, will expand to include larger and more hearty dishes, with the same flavoursome, on-style Chinese eats as their sister venue Happy Boy.

The wine bar, which opened next to Happy Boy in November 2018, only had five bite-sized dishes when it was launched. There were barbecue chicken cha siu bao, pork and prawn dumplings, crispy chicken ribs, seasonal mushroom, and the crowd favourite salt and pepper prawn.



Snack Man finally unveiled its full menu in January 2019. Cameron Votan, co-owner of the wine bar, said the menu comprises all small plates representing food that China is famous for and it will be the Votans’ “favorites from across all Chinese regions.”

Guests could choose from 20-food item menu that complements Happy Boy’s more work-focused menu. Guests could expect Taiwanese Fried Chicken on Milk Bun and Prawn and Pork Wontons in Chilli Broth.

Votan said guests could come in and do dinner. Aside from picking the menu for the wine bar, she is also in charge of sourcing bottles that cannot be easily found anywhere else. Unlike the Happy Boy that only serves Australian wines, they import wines from other countries.

For updates on Snack Man, check out their Instagram account or visit Happy Boy’s website.