These are the best restaurants in Brisbane right now
LIST
By Danielle Reckless
Coming to Brisbane? Prepare for a feast for the senses - the River City has transformed into a culinary playground where award-winning chefs are pushing boundaries and making magic with Queensland's incredible produce.
From riverside fine dining to hidden laneway gems, here's our round-up of the best restaurants in Brisbane that'll have you planning your next meal before you've finished your first course.
Stanley Restaurant, Brisbane City
Stanley, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane
Fancy dinner with a side of Brisbane's most iconic views? Stanley delivers both in spades, perched right on the riverfront at Howard Smith Wharves with the Story Bridge as your date.
This two-storey stunner channels Hong Kong's waterfront vibes while Chef Louis Tikaram works his magic combining Queensland's fresh seafood with traditional Cantonese flavours. The seven-day yum cha lunch is legendary (especially if you upgrade for free-flowing champagne!), but don't leave without trying the five-spice roast duck that has Brisbane foodies weak at the knees.
Where: 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City
Essa, Fortitude Valley
Not just dinner – Essa is theatre on a plate. Head Chef Phil Marchant transforms Queensland's finest produce into raw, pickled, smoked and wood-fired works of art that'll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
The beautiful space and flawless service make Essa perfect for special occasions, while Wednesday’s Five Chefs/Five Plates menu offers a wallet-friendly way to experience the creativity of the crew’s young chefs, guest chefs and producers. Vegetarians, you're well looked after here with plenty of options that don't feel like an afterthought.
Where: 181 Robertson St, Fortitude Valley
Petite, Fortitude Valley
Petite, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
This French-inspired wine bar has stolen Brisbane's heart faster than you can say "bon appétit." Petite is where you'll want to linger over good wine and even better food.
The team behind Asian favourites Happy Boy and Snack Man have created a Euro wine lover's paradise with 20 perfectly crafted dishes, each paired with a suggested wine. The atmosphere encourages long, lazy dining – exactly what you want when there's cheese and dessert still to come.
Where: Corner of East St and, Ann St, Fortitude Valley
Searching for more romantic restaurants in Brisbane? Find your match here.
Agnes, Fortitude Valley
Agnes Restaurant, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
No electricity. No gas. Just fire, smoke and serious culinary chops. Agnes is undeniably one of the best restaurants in Brisbane, with celebrated chef Ben Williamson commanding a custom-made stone hearth that's responsible for everything that hits your table.
The menu heroes local farmers and flavours, from smoked potato sourdough to tiger prawns with fermented chilli butter. This 2023 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year books out faster than a summer festival, so plan ahead or try your luck at their walk-in only upstairs terrace.
Where: 22 Agnes St, Fortitude Valley
The 203, Fortitude Valley
The 203, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.
Good food. Good wine. Good friends. The 203 isn't just saying it – they're living it. This slick Valley spot marries premium Australian beef with Italian flair in a farm-to-table experience that'll have you questioning why you haven't visited sooner.
Their partnership with Stanbroke cattle farm means serious steak credentials, while homemade pasta dishes like lobster linguine remind you that Italians do comfort food better than anyone. Bookings open 12 weeks ahead – get in quick!
Where: 6 Marshall St, Fortitude Valley
Supernormal, Brisbane City
Supernormal, Brisbane City, Brisbane. Photo credit: Earl Carter
When Melbourne's Andrew McConnell chose Brisbane for Supernormal's first interstate expansion, foodies nearly lost their minds. The hype was real – and so is the flavour payoff.
This isn't just a carbon copy of its southern sibling; Supernormal embraces its Queensland home with a bright, breezy space overlooking Story Bridge and a menu that balances signature dishes (those New England lobster rolls!) with fresh local takes on Asian cuisine. If you need more convincing, it just earned a coveted spot on Condé Nast Traveller's 'Best New Restaurants for 2025'.
Our tip: pop upstairs to sister venue Bar Miette for a pre-dinner drink.
Where: 443 Queen St, Brisbane
Exhibition, Brisbane City
Exhibition Restaurant, Brisbane City. Photo by @exhibitionrestaurant
Hidden beneath Brisbane's old Metro Arts Theatre, Exhibition’s intimate 24-seater is more than a dining experience - it's performance art.
Chef Tim Scott's Japanese-inspired omakase experience means surrendering control – choose from the full or shortened menu and you'll eat whatever delights the team creates from that day's delivery of local produce and live seafood. The hyper-seasonal approach means every visit brings new surprises, perfectly staged in moody basement surrounds.
Where: Basement 2/109 Edward St, Brisbane City
sAme sAme, Fortitude Valley
Same Same Restaurant, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Brisbane’s beloved Thai institution, sAme sAme has only gotten better with age.
This James Street hotspot delivers upscale Thai food with serious flair – fragrant curries, perfectly roasted meats, and vibrant authentic salads served with Swiss-precision service and creative drinks to boot. Kick off your evening with a sneaky tequila at their upstairs bar, LOS (Land of Smiles), before diving into Brisbane's best Thai feast.
Where: Ada Lane, 46 James St, Fortitude Valley
Bianca, Fortitude Valley
Bianca, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Just a hop down the lane, Bianca proves that Italian food doesn't need to be complicated to be spectacular. This warm, pink-hued James Street favourite serves up classics that'll transport you straight to a Roman trattoria.
The burrata has its own fan club, while house-made pasta dishes like beef ragu and spanner crab orecchiette demonstrate why Italian cuisine is all about quality ingredients treated with respect. Perfect for long lunches or romantic dinners where sharing is encouraged.
Where: Ada Lane, 46 James St, Fortitude Valley
Bosco, Newstead
Bosco, Newstead, Brisbane. Photo by @bosco_winegrill
Dark, moody, but decidedly unstuffy – Bosco hits the sweet spot for date night destinations with substance. This industrial-chic wine bar and grill celebrates the coastal cuisines of France, Italy and Spain with zero pretension.
Uniquely set within the Brewbakers bakery warehouse, Bosco naturally heroes bread ("the essence of every great meal") alongside an impressive wine list featuring drops from Burgundy to Barossa. Pop in for snacks and wine, or settle in for the evening – both approaches are equally welcome.
Where: 8 Austin St, Newstead
Southside, South Brisbane
Southside, Fish Lane, Brisbane
Tucked under a railway overpass and wrapped in lush greenery, Southside has one of Brisbane's most distinctive settings. On warm evenings, there's no better alfresco spot in the city to enjoy pan-Asian cuisine with serious credentials (the team also runs Gold Coast's Rick Shores).
Creative dim sum and sizzling mains showcase Queensland flavours – the char kway teow with Moreton Bay Bug is non-negotiable. Perfect for group dining, but book well ahead; this Fish Lane favourite fills up fast.
Where: Fish Lane, South Brisbane.
1889 Enoteca, Woolloongabba
1889 Enoteca, Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Photo by @1889enoteca
Brisbane's love affair with Italian cuisine reaches its romantic peak at 1889 Enoteca. Housed in an 1890s Moreton Rubber building, this brick, wood and marble-lined haven celebrates Roman cooking in all its glory.
The thick-cut pappardelle and pork and fennel sausage gnocchi have reached cult status, but the restaurant is equally serious about wine – 'Enoteca' means 'wine library' after all. Their natural Italian wine selection is among Australia's finest, and you can even dine privately in the underground cellar.
Where: 10-12 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
SK Steak and Oyster, Fortitude Valley
SK Steak and Oyster, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Photo by @sk.steakandoyster
Step into The Calile Hotel's ground floor and discover Brisbane's most elegant steakhouse. SK Steak and Oyster blends old-world grill charm with contemporary design finesse – think horseshoe bar, grand piano, and intimate window booths.
Start with oysters (obviously), progress to something from the raw bar or hot seafood selection, then face the big decision: pasta or steak? The latter comes with access to a dedicated potato menu featuring nine different preparations, including bug and lobster mash with optional caviar. Go on, treat yourself.
Where: The Calile Hotel, 12/48 James St, Fortitude Valley
CENTRAL, BRISBANE CITY
Brisbane's hottest new dining destination puts a fresh spin on Hong Kong flavours. Central combines upstairs elegance with a moody basement dumpling bar that's already secured a local fan base.
This joint heaves – even on a sleepy Tuesday evening – and the buzz is half the fun. The other half? Sublime. Think gussied up takes on classic dim sum: prawn har gow topped with caviar, scallop and prawn dumplings lavished in smoked salmon row, and steamed buns with pineapple, smoked butter and crispy prosciutto. Order a few rounds and some punchy cocktails, but leave room to split a share plate or two of Central’s larger offerings, like lobster noodles and char siu pork.
Where: 360 Queen St, Brisbane City
Hôntô, Fortitude Valley
hôntô, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Photo by @honto.restaurant
Hidden down an unassuming Fortitude Valley backstreet, hôntô delivers Japanese cuisine with attitude. Dimly lit and chandelier-accented, this moody space has been wowing Brisbane diners since 2018.
From the culinary minds behind LONgTIME and sAmesAme, hôntô reimagines Japanese classics using stellar Australian produce. Choose your adventure – dine at a table, the open chef kitchen or raw bar – and dive into dishes like baby snapper with mandarin kosho butter or Wagyu brisket with koji furikake.
Where: Alden St, Fortitude Valley
Joy, Fortitude Valley
Joy, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Photo by @joyrestaurant
Tiny in size but enormous in ambition, Joy lives up to its name. With just 10 seats in this pocket-sized Bakery Lane treasure, dinner here is an intimate affair unlike anything else in Brisbane's restaurant scene.
Chef-owner Sarah Baldwin prepares everything right before your eyes, blurring the line between kitchen and dining room. The constantly changing degustation responds to whatever's fresh and seasonal, creating a true connection between diner, chef and produce. Book months ahead – this is dining at its absolute finest.
Where: Bakery Lane, 694 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
GERARD'S BISTRO, FORTITUDE VALLEY
This James Street institution continues to prove why it's one of the best places to eat in Brisbane. Gerard's Bistro takes Middle Eastern cuisine to modern-Australian heights with a menu that celebrates bold flavours and centuries-old cooking techniques.
The signature wood fired breads and dips are non-negotiable starters – perfect for keeping hunger at bay while you narrow down selections from a sizeable menu of raw plates, mezze, seafood, meats and more. Choosing between roast lamb shoulder, wagyu skewers or wood fired octopus is no easy task – our best advice is bring a few friends along so you won’t have to.
Where: 14-15 James St, Fortitude Valley
If you’re in town to eat your way through Brisbane’s best restaurants, we’ve got you covered for where to stay and a full week of activities while you’re here. First-timer? this guide will help you out.
Taste your way through Brisbane
