Cielo Rooftop — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Catfished & they kept our money!

DO NOT GIVE THIS VENUE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. This venue catfished us with old media and then took our money and let us leave after 20 minutes without remedy. We had a hens party booking 9/8/2025 (reserved and paid 5 months in advance) for 19 people. We got the premium cocktail package plus food totaling $1646. The weather was miserable and we realise we booked at a rooftop however… at no point were we contacted prior to arrange another option, there were no undercover options offered to us on the day(they have them and could have set up considering such a big group booking) no downstairs restaurant offered to us because “it didn’t open until 5pm” and the manager on shift advised us more than once we would get a full refund come Monday as they literally had nowhere to seat us because it started to downpour and the whole rooftop area was wet!

Now let’s talk about the venue…. Complete setup is different it looks absolutely nothing like the social media/ web advertising/ package brochures (which have now conveniently been taken down) that we were given and booked on the basis of! The owners response to this is that “ Under Australian Consumer Law, marketing material is not required to depict the exact table or configuration booked” umm we booked off of function material sent to us so I would expect that it is exactly the same!!! Mediterranean aesthetic I think not, it was back alley vibes. It was DISGUSTING! Spew and urine all throughout toilet area to which it was noted someone was sick that day however more google reviews say it seems like a common occurrence, no toilet paper no hand towel. Then to top it off the response I got after complaining was that we booked an open air rooftop and they don’t control weather so it’s our bad luck. Also that they offered us upgraded spaces downstairs which is completely untrue and witnesses there to back us up. If they had the venue set up as described we would have had cover over us!! We aren’t the only patrons who have been treated this way and I wish I read the reviews before booking!

What a disgrace of a venue!! We did not get food and we did not have our 2 hour drink package because we had nowhere to be seated and had to seek an alternate venue therefore, a service was not fulfilled.

I have included photos of what it should have looked like as per function material sent to us compared to what we got!

Buyer beware! Just look at other 1 star reviews to see the...

ROOFTOP MIRAGE: SLICK MARKETING, SOAKED GUESTS

Edit* thanks Elliot for your 'reply'. You know we WEREN'T offered the parlor. In fact when we enquired, your staff said they don't open until 5 (your website supports this too). Happy to provide you with written account on what was said on the day.

You say 'On 9 August, your reserved space was available and serviceable, despite the rain.' HOW ?! It was pouring with rain??

You say we spent $400 on food (what food?) and drinks, yes a few girls received a 'drink'. Happy to pay for these drinks & food you mention... can we then get the remainder of the $1700 back? We aren't unreasonable people.

As for the marketing of the space... i see many others also feel they have been catfished this year.... We booked Cielo Rooftop five months in advance for 17 people, paying $1,646 upfront for a food and ‘premium’ drinks package.

On arrival, we were placed in an uncovered section. Weather reports confirm heavy rain was expected all week. When it rained, no alternative seating was offered, the day manager confirmed there was nowhere to put us and promised a full refund by Monday 11/08/25. That refund never came.

Director Elliot Ingram and Events Manager Sophie now claim we were offered alternate seating, a complete lie. Multiple witnesses and the day manager confirm otherwise, and we have this in writing. Elliot insists the space was “serviceable” and payment was “for services rendered.” Sitting in the pouring rain is not serviceable.

The venue itself was filthy: toilets with mould, urine, vomit, no toilet paper or paper towels. We reattended the venue and it is still filthy, not a one off as per Sophie’s words. Our premium drinks package ($80pp) promised five spritz options, yet only two canned spritzers were available. Staff wore hoodies and casual clothes, far from the “rooftop oasis” they advertise.

We were never given terms and conditions, only outdated marketing showing furniture and weather protection that no longer exist. The false functions package has conveniently since been deleted from their site. Sophie agreed on the phone (11/08/25) to using outdated marketing material.

Cielo Rooftop took full payment for a service they didn’t deliver, refused to honour their staff’s refund promise, and then lied to cover it. Absolutely disgraceful. We have given the venue multiple opportunities to resolve...

Poor Experience Despite Booking Well in Advance (3/12 in advance) I booked a table at Ceilo Rooftop Bar three months in advance, expecting a smooth and enjoyable evening. It was the final destination for my sisters hens day. Unfortunately, the experience was anything but didapointing.

We were seated in a section that was pitch black, (honestly to upload a photo you would see nothing , pitch black) with no lighting and just one heater between us — making it uncomfortable and awkward. The heater was then moved to another table. We were a group of 13 including 3 60 year olds who the 3 of them were given a blanket each.

Despite the obvious issues, no effort was made by management to accommodate or improve the situation, which was especially disappointing given how far in advance the booking was made. I would highly recommend not wasting your time at this venue. Given we spent over $2500 for 13 of us in 2 hours including cocktail making. We had a private session downstairs at the parlour which was enjoyable and fun. Then we went upstairs and it was an absolute joke how we were treated. The option given to us to move from a pitch black table with no lighting and wet seats was to go back to the cocktail making class and intrude on the other private booking (which we chose not to do because why should we intrude and interrupt on a private function)

To make matters worse, the service was unpleasant. We were met with snarky responses from wait staff when politely asking for basic items like water glasses and side plates.

DISAPPOINTMENT!

We ended up leaving as soon as the pizzas got delivered and we went back to the house, which was not the plan we had anticipated to spend hours at this venue.

Honestly shocked and would say if you are a big group do not WASTE your time and check this venue out.

The venue has potential, but the lack of care from both staff and management made it a disappointing experience that I wouldn’t recommend and would advise you to stay clear of

We booked this venue because it’s been around for years, no issues previously and we wanted a casual fun dinner. This was a DISASTER. Would have preferred dominos at home, with appropriately dinner plates, water and appropriate lighting. We couldn’t even see each...