Explore the region's finest flavours

Welcome to Brisbane — not just Queensland’s administrative capital, but the leader of the Sunshine State’s culinary scene. And given that Queensland has upped its culinary game statewide and is now home to some of the best restaurants in Australia, that’s something to celebrate. With warm weather on tap and sunny skies the norm nearly all year-round, al fresco is a favourite of these parts and the dining is often just as laid-back as its residents.

With the Brisbane region home to a thriving cafe culture, some of the country’s best restaurants, bars and cafes, and a population of dedicated dining precincts on both sides of the Brisbane River, it’s not only guaranteed you won’t go hungry here, but that your appetite will be well and truly sated. 

Brisbane City restaurants and cafes

The most recognised of Brisbane’s multitude of restaurants sit within Brisbane City itself, hugging the river’s edge and boasting stunning views of the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point Cliffs and CBD skyline, making it the perfect location to dine, drink and socialise. While Queen Street and Eagle Street Pier offer a treasure trove of eateries, it’s relative newcomer to the scene Howard Smith Wharves that’s become one of the city’s favourite dining precincts, home to a selection of restaurants serving up refined Greek, Cantonese and Japanese fare, among many others. Put Felons Brewing Co., Stanley, Ciao Papi and Greca to the top of your must do list.  

But there’s so much more to explore around the Brisbane CBD than just the restaurants around the river, with a wealth of deluxe dining options in the heart of the city. For Sichuan flavours and authentic Cantonese cuisine, upmarket Donna Chang on George Street is hard to top, and with its upscale and ornate surroundings in the old Queensland Government Savings Bank, one of Brisbane’s most magnificent heritage buildings, it’s definitely a dining experience to savour. Italian trattoria, Olive & Angelo, lies a short stroll from the City Botanic Gardens, and with its spacious, leafy courtyard frontage set among the facades of some of the most stunning heritage buildings in Brisbane, feels like you haven’t left the gardens at all. If you have your heart set on feel-food Italian with a modern twist, all made with local produce and authentic Italian ingredients, don’t miss the opportunity to dine here while in Brisbane.

West End and South Brisbane restaurants and cafes 

Traditionally the cultural heart of the River City, West End and South Brisbane boast more than their fair share of the best restaurants, bars and cafes in Brisbane. Fish Lane, just opposite the Cultural Centre and a stone’s throw from South Bank Parklands, is a vibrant inner-city laneway that’s home to some of the most innovative restaurants in Brisbane. Julius Pizzeria serves up traditional, Italian fare, including some of the best pizzas in Brisbane, while Bacchus, at Rydges South Bank, is an extravagant option that lends itself perfectly to special occasions, though with its innovative menu and comprehensive wine list, why not just make a special occasion of it anyway?  

A little further south in West End, the family-friendly Jugar Eat Play Drink offers great meals and excellent coffee set in a beautiful space, while Morning After delivers an innovative menu with emphasis on hearty, healthy fare, like faves breakfast carbonara and blue swimmer crab omelette, in an attractive, light-filled space. 

 Fortitude Valley and New Farm restaurants and cafes

While famed for its buzzing nightlife scene, this duo of neighbouring suburbs are just as bountiful in dining venues as they are watering holes and heaving nightclubs. Bustling laneways awash with hole-in-the-wall coffee houses and casual dining and drinking venues mingle alongside Brisbane BYO haven Chinatown which now offers an extensive selection of Asian menus in addition to its long-standing authentic Chinese fare, including Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese, not to mention the seemingly endless array of Asian-fusion menus which have captured the attention of local diners in a big way.  

With its fragrant regional Chinese menu perfectly matched to small-producer Australian wines, Happy Boy on East Street has fast become one of the most popular restaurants in Fortitude Valley. sAme sAme, with its upscale Thai cuisine and fabulous French-leaning wine list, delivers what is hands-down one of the best dining experiences in all of Brisbane. This sleek and airy venue offers a range of seating options, from long share-tables to seats at the curved bar with full views of the open kitchen and the more private dining section that lends itself perfectly to romantic evenings.  

Wander nearby boutique shopping strip James Street for something a little more sophisticated, like long-time local favourites Gerard’s with its modern Middle Eastern cuisine and generous wine menu and Hellenika, the sleek, modern Mediterranean-style eatery at The Calile. Chic and upscale Mosconi is another local favourite on the James Street dining scene with its modern European bistro fare and serious wine list, as is SK Steak and Oyster which delivers a beautiful fusion of classicism and modernity in both its menu and surroundings.  

Early birds looking for their first caffeine hit of the day may find themselves leaning towards leafy New Farm on the river — an upmarket, cafe-adoring precinct where indulgent brunches are served daily. But New Farm and its neighbours Newstead and Teneriffe are home to far more than cafes, these well-heeled Brisbane inner-city suburbs also boast some of the most upmarket and stylish dining venues in town. For fabulous traditional fare with a casual Italian eatery-style, Beccofino in Teneriffe — the sister venue of Julius Pizzeria in South Brisbane — delivers homely dishes, while E’cco Bistro in Newstead lies at the cutting edge of contemporary Australian dining with its South American parrilla-style grill delivering enhanced flavours and superlative dining experiences. For an excellent menu packed with hearty fare and a more casual dining atmosphere, Mrs Brown’s in the heart of Newstead is an excellent option, especially for large groups.