Residents of Brighton in Brisbane’s far north flock in droves to Willow Coffee + Pantry on North Road for their morning hit and a spot of brunch. Now the same locals can return at night to have a stiffer sip at Willow Neighbourhood Bar, the crew’s new after-dark locale. Owners Megan and Sheree have taken over the cafe’s neighbouring space and amalgamating both sites into one, increasing the seating capacity and back-of-house areas to better cater for both day and night clientele. The duo has ensured Willow’s established light and breezy style – with natural textures and blue tones – has been translated across the new addition, with sheer curtains helping encase the space and transform it into an intimate nightspot once the sun sets. When it comes to the nighttime menu, the Willow team is eager to offer something outside the norm while staying true to its local roots. In 2020 the Willow team expanded its daytime offering with a range of gourmet deli and pantry goods made by local artisans. This providore-centric approach has extended to Willow’s list of nighttime snacks, which include baked camembert, gourmet dips, smoked almonds, arancini balls and grazing boards. Willow Neighbourhood Bar’s drinks list is flush with not-so-common names and varieties, curated specifically to nudge drinkers outside of their comfort zone and try something typically unseen in the area – think new-wave wines, local craft beers, small-batch spirits and seasonal cocktails.