All Aboard for a Slice of the Good Life at Mr Badger’s & The Copacabana Club.
Brisbane’s Woolloongabba is buzzing with new cafés, bakeries and foodie fads, but tucked away in the middle of it all is a venue that takes you somewhere else entirely — and has been a cult favourite among locals for the last 15 years. Mr Badger’s pays homage to the city’s old-world tram line with a fun dining experience inside the beautifully restored Palace 100 Tram cart.
This slice of history, lovingly reimagined, comes complete with warm wooden interiors, soft lighting, and a cosy charm that feels approachable and warm with familiarity. It’s a nod to the past, but the menu is delightfully fun. Slinging seven kinds of signature sandwiches — like the South Brissy Cheesesteak, the famed Reuben, or Charli’s Bánh Mì — and seven flavours of the pizza kind (take your pick from the classic New York crust or Grandma’s Deep Dish, packed edge-to-edge with cheesy goodness), you might think they’re just a pizza-and-sandos joint… but think again.
They’re serving up more than just the usual suspects. Think smaller share plates, eye-watering cheese-dreams charcuterie boards, loaded deli snacks, and delicious antipasti. Feeding a crowd? Their La Familia Banquet brings the goods.
Slip past the tram cart into a locker room and you’ll find the “office” of the titular Joseph Stillman Badger. And behind this secret office door, you’ll find yourself in The Copacabana Club — a secret al fresco bar with the atmosphere of a golden age, where a mural of Frank Sinatra greets you with a grin. A disco ball, festoon lighting, leather booths, and greenery set the mood. The recent addition of a retractable roof ensures you can enjoy blue sunny skies, romance under the stars at night, or keep cosy and dry out of the rain.
Everyone is welcome at Mr Badger’s — an old-world speakeasy with Italian-American soul that whispers stories of a bygone era (if Nonna also had a side hustle running a speakeasy — this would be it). For good times, generous family feeds and wholesome welcomes, Mr Badger’s & The Copacabana Club should be on your list of “must-visits.”
Mr Badgers & The Copacabana Club
24 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
0466 569 651
mrbadgers.com.au
