Fortitude Valley has long had a reputation as the dark heart of the Sunshine State’s capital. The illegal brothels, casinos and corruption of the Fitzgerald Inquiry are long gone, replaced by a riotous club scene that keeps the seediness alive. Slowly, even that’s changing, especially around the Ann St fringes of the mall.

The latest newcomer joining the growing number of intimate and inviting places to eat and drink is Bird’s Nest. Beyond the curtain of charcoal shrouding the entrance lies the timber-lined interior of this cosy new Japanese restaurant. A comfy stool at the bar offers a great vantage point for the sights and smells of the charcoal grill, which is the star of the show.

If you’ve visited its West End restaurant, you’ll know it’s all about the tasty, meaty morsels: traditional skewers including decadent torikawa – smoky, crisp chicken skin on a stick – or for something a little less artery-hardening there’s chicken tenderloin with wasabi mayonnaise.

Right next door, less carnivorous options are on offer within the fairytale surrounds of the Treehouse Bar. This venue specialises in organic vegetarian fare by day, and organic beer and wine by night. Look for the leafy branches, astro-turf and tree-trunk seating at the entrance to Bakery Lane, which opens to a little courtyard. This hidden food haven is also home to I Heart Brownies, those little heart-shaped goodies, along with Nomnom Korean Eatery, serving up its casual Korean and Japanese favourites.

Not far from the mall, and yet a world apart, is The Apo – short for “apothecary” – a chic restaurant and bar housed in a quaint, 150-year-old former medicine dispensary. The Apo is further testament that it is possible to drink in the Valley without it leading to a night of debauchery.