We are sharing a lift with a group of coiffed and bejewelled party-goers, and ascending to the 14^th floor of the Jubilee Place Building in Brisbane’s trendy Fortitude Valley. There’s a palpable buzz of anticipation in the air as the doors of our black-mirrored vertical vehicle open, and we spill out into the throbbing heart of a South American fiesta in full swing. Welcome to the Jungle!

We have just arrived at Brisbane’s newest and most decadent bar and dining experience – SOKO Rooftop Bar and Restaurant. It is stunning from the moment you step out into its lush, jungle themed exterior, where expansive views of Brisbane’s cityscape stop you in your tracks in order to catch your breath. And as the sultry night descends, the views only get better.

It’s an effort to drag your eyes from the twinkling city lights, but as you turn your back, the views and vibe on the rooftop itself are just as mesmerizing. There are people everywhere, at intimate tables for two sitting right up against the glass sides of the expansive deck, and groups of friends animatedly celebrating birthdays around tables decked out with floating, festive balloons. A central garden, lush and tropical, is brimming with trees and lights, and the vibrant, pulsating sounds of a jungle beat fill the air courtesy of SOKO’s Resident House DJs and Bongo Players.

We are here for a celebration of our own, and although we are a group of only eight, we are swept up into the atmosphere and excitement of this place, as if the entire venue and its guests are part of our party too.

But this exciting and unexpected assault on our senses doesn’t stop out here on the rooftop. Just inside, lie the gastronomic delights of an intriguing Peruvian-Japanese fusion menu, which we have come to savour. This unique combination also forms the base of SOKO’s sophisticated cocktail menu, which boasts over 40 flavours of Pisco Sours, sophisticated haute couture cocktails, and a specially curated wine and sake list. We are keen to start!

When our dining time arrives, we are guided gracefully inside to the restaurant, a warm and richly inviting space with large tables set below a ceiling of wicker lights and trailing plants. A timber-shingled wall evokes the image of an Amazonian longhouse sitting on the edge of a rainforest, and the subtle lighting adds to the scene. As we take our seats, the smells and sounds of the bustling kitchen creep out through the open servery, and huge wafts of escaping steam from the ovens add an even more atmospheric and misty jungle feel to the experience.

The menu is extensive and exciting. The mix of Peruvian and Japanese cooking styles offer a blend of enticing flavours to our sharing plates. We are intrigued by exotic Peruvian names such as Dorada Al Coco, Anticuchos Carretillero, and Panzeta De Cerdo En Salsa Criolla, and can’t wait to dig in. We are not disappointed.  We try the Lomita Al Jugo, a signature dish (marked with an ‘O’ on the menu), a succulent Peruvian sauteed wagyu beef with soy sauce, tomatoes, onions, yellow chilli, coriander and roasted potatoes, then Soft Shell Crab Bao Buns and Crispy Squid Sushi. Finally, we end with the ‘Perumisu’ dessert, a cheekily delicious Peruvian twist on tiramisu.

As if this feast of the senses isn’t enough for one night, we are also treated to the glittering presence of ‘carnivale’, as two beautifully winged dancers steal our birthday boy away for photos amid an exotic swooping and sashaying of wings.

This luxuriously decadent experience that is SOKO really needs no introduction. The sophisticated venue with its fizzing vibe speaks for itself. In fact, this unique Amazon-inspired dining venue with its bold rooftop bar beats and sizzling atmosphere, shout it from the rooftop!

It is impressive on every level.