Man I am totally out of the loop, I haven't even heard of, or been to some of these places mentioned. Maybe at 35 I'm past it!!!
Is the Monastery the converted church in the Valley, close to the GPO bar?
I like the Fringe Bar, the Press Club, and the more Irish bar in Dooleys. Some of the places in the Valley Mall area seem OK, but some are dingy.
In the City I like the Irish bars, it's a pity PJ's dissapeared, I don't think the "Union Jack" refurbishment of the site is as good. The Brewhouse could be OK, the Victory is usually OK (not upstairs though), especially if you are looking to pull. I'm not so keen on the Stock Exchange on the other side of the street. Port Office is OK, and I should get round to going to Fridays again. Criterian has potential.
Mary Street seems to have dissapeared, and I was shocked when I came back from the UK to see City Rowers had gone (a tacky place I know, but it always was at least busy). Her Majestys seems to have gone quiet as well, it used to popular with all types.
The Chill bar gives a good view of everyone passing by Queen St of an afternoon, and I keep meaning to go to the bar over looking Elizabeth St at the Myer Centre. The new refurbishment of the Central Station (Filhelly Arms I think) bar has potential, but I wish they had made the window that allows you to see the trains at Central as you drink in the bar bigger.
I first stared going out in Brisbane around 1988, some of the popular (or infamous) places I remember going to are,
Cybills (Ann st, near the blood bank)
the Lexington Queen (site of the strip club under Jo-Jos on Edward)
Transformers (now the Adrenlin bar, and PS, hasn't that place got quiet?)
Charlottes (now the Stock Exchange)
Rosies Tavern (on Edward St)
Wall St (about the 10th floor of the building opposite the Magic Kebab shop on Edward St, a real dive of a place)
the Underground at the top of Caxton St (was very popular for a time)
and perhaps the worst of them all, the Gig