Your guide to Fish Lane: Brisbane’s thriving dining and arts precinct

You’re spoilt for choice of where to get your morning buzz, with some of Brisbane’s best coffee dotted throughout Fish Lane. Start your daily grind at Newport’s for locally roasted espresso, smoothie bowls and an inventive menu packed with fresh flavours. Or tuck into a truffle mushroom and Swiss jaffle at minimalist café Cups on Melbourne.

Follow the little pink tiles to Only Specialty Coffee for single origin batch brews, pour-overs and pastries; nab a table at Greek-inspired Five Sisters for fresh daily baked bread; or grab-and-go a coffee and banh mi from Kiki, the leafy kiosk in Town Square.

Craving something a bit different? Discover a little slice of Havana at The Paladar: this little red café and bookshop sits in a slice of Brisbane history – originally a wartime bomb shelter – so find a courtyard nook or make your way to the sunlit rooftop for coffee, organic tea and house-made sweet treats.

A quick and casual bite

There’s plenty of reasons to pop into Fish Lane for a quick and casual meal – but one bite and you might find yourself here until last call. 

Dining with a group? Modern Vietnamese restaurant Hello Please is one of the most fun spots in the precinct, with a side of a retro 90s soundtrack and some of the best bao buns you’ll find in the River City. If you’ve got time, settle in for a banquet to sample a little bit of everything.

Tuck into flavours of America’s south at Big Roddy’s Rippin’ Rib Shack, where the ribs come fall-off-the-bone tender and the fries are fully loaded. Grab burgers and beers from Bender’s Bar, the new chilled-out hideout from the Billykart team that also serves up a few other much-loved favourites from the main restaurant’s menu. Or for burgers without the meat, nearby Grassfed is a dedicated vegan burger joint proving plant-based can be just as indulgent with a menu of stacked burgers and vegan supershakes.

Seeking a little spice? Head south of the border to El Planta, a plant-based taqueria specialising in vegan tacos, Mexican snacks and margaritas. This is local dining at its best, with everything house made from scratch (including the tortillas) and produce sourced from within a three hour radius of Brisbane, direct from the hands that grow it.

Settle in

From date night to dinner with friends or a bite before a show, Fish Lane has you covered with Brisbane’s best restaurants.

For a meal you’ll be salivating over long after you’ve finished dessert, head to Gauge at the top end of Fish Lane – its inventive modern Australian menu has earnt it a Good Food Guide chef’s hat year after year. Just next door is Julius, arguably one of Brisbane’s best Italian restaurants. The daily line out the door speaks for itself, but it’s definitely worth the wait for these expertly wood-fired pizzas, Italian wines and cocktails.

The crew behind the iconic bug rolls and Burleigh beach views at Rick Shores brings pan-Asian flavours, a killer wine list and spicy cocktails to Southside. This new kid on the block has made a big splash on the city’s food scene, with a buzzy three-storey space perfect for tucking into dim sum and share plates – and you can watch the action of the noodle rolling room too.

Grab a few friends to dine at long-time Fish Lane favourite Chu The Phat, because you’re going to want to work your way through the whole Asian street-food inspired menu, designed for sharing. Do yourself a favour and order a few rounds of the duck buns.

Craving a little comfort food? Celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue shows off his signature casual style and local flavours at Billykart West End. You can’t go past the twice baked cheese soufflé and slow roasted lamb shoulder, and if you’re a morning person head back here for brunch Tuesday – Sunday.

For a touch of Parisian flavours and style, pop into La Lune Wine Co for a post-work wine or linger over a set menu with wine pairings. A short stroll away, head up the staircase to elegant Maeve Wine Bar: the European-inspired menu has everything from small bites to larger meals. Pick from oysters, chicken liver parfait, steak tartare, perfect for enjoying over a glass or two from the extensive wine list that shines light on smaller producers.

Raise your glass

Whether you’re craving an expertly-crafted cocktail, craft beer or organic wine – you’ll find plenty of reasons to say cheers down Fish Lane.

Blink and you might miss Maker, a tiny hole-in-the-wall bar slinging big flavours with one of the city’s most unique, seasonal cocktail menus. Even more hidden from passers-by, step behind the barbershop and enter a hip-hop inspired speakeasy at Next Episode.

Bar Brutus, the brainchild of the Julius crew, boasts Italian small bites and a spritz and cocktail offering you’ll want to work your way through – perfect for an evening drink or while you wait for your table at Julius.

A mainstay on the Brisbane beer scene is Saccharomyces Beer Café, with an ever-changing line-up of local and international craft beers on tap, retro pinball machines, plenty of fun through the week including trivia nights.

For a little alfresco drinking, meet at Kiki: the kiosk under the train bridge in Town Square transforms from café to bar from midday Tuesday-Sunday. Brisbane’s year-round warm weather makes it a great stop for a cocktail in the leafy surrounds.  

Satisfy your sweet tooth

Treat yourself to a scoop or three of Gelato Messina’s inventive flavours. It's open late, so call in for an encore after a show if you didn’t have time for a little afternoon indulgence. Though fans of all things French pastry should brace themselves: Melbourne’s famed Lune Croissanterie is set to open in Fish Lane soon, bringing twice-baked almond croissants, pain au chocolat and droolworthy cruffins.

Things to do in Fish Lane

While it’s just steps from Brisbane’s QAGOMA, Fish Lane is an outdoor gallery in itself, filled with public art, murals, sculptures, galleries and performance spaces. Wander through the precinct to find your favourite: it might be the towering Head In The Clouds mural by internationally renowned Fintan Magee, the Alice-in-Wonderland-esque hedge sculpture Greener Dogman and Rabbitwoman, or a geometric light installation that transforms Brisbane’s daily weather forecast into its patterns. Afterwards, pop into Fish Lane Studios to see local and international talent on display.

From live music and roving performers to paint’n’sip classes and boutique markets, there’s always something new to discover in the Town Square.

Consider yourself a history buff? Delve into the story of how Fish Lane transformed from an industrial centre by Brisbane’s docks to one of the city’s most lively neighbourhoods on a walking tour with Brisbane Greeters.

Where to stay

Eating your way through Fish Lane will take time, and if you’re looking to stay nearby you have plenty of places to rest your head throughout South Bank.

Stay right on the lane’s doorstep at Arise Soda Apartments and you can bliss out in the heated rooftop swimming pool in between meals. Close by in South Bank is boutique luxury hotel Emporium, offering some of the best city skyline views and an infinity pool you won’t want to leave. Newly opened Courtyard by Marriott is perfect whether you’re here for business or pleasure, while Mantra South Bank and Rydges South Bank are other solid, central options.

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