These are the best restaurants in Brisbane right now

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. Add beautiful surrounds and flawless service and you've got the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion. 

Must-order: The menu is always changing, choose the 'leave it to us' option to let the team do their thing. 

Good to know: Wednesday’s Five Chefs/Five Plates menu is a wallet-friendly way to experience the creativity of the crew’s young chefs, guest chefs and producers.

Where: 181 Robertson St, Fortitude Valley

Petite, Fortitude Valley

This French-inspired wine bar has stolen Brisbane's heart faster than you can say "bon appétit." 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. 

Must-order: Crispy chicken fondue is as decadent as it sounds. 

Good to know: 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

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 basket-grilled calamari smothered in buerre blanc. 

Must-order: The 6+ wagyu sirloin is cooked over flames to perfection. 

Good to know: 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

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.

Must-order: 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.

Good to know: Bookings open 12 weeks ahead – get in quick!

Where: 6 Marshall St, Fortitude Valley 

Supernormal, Brisbane City

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'.

Must-order: Line caught mahi-mahi topped with pipis. Leave room for yuzu cheesecake. 

Good to know: Pop upstairs to sister venue Bar Miette for a pre-dinner drink.

Where: 443 Queen St, Brisbane

Exhibition, Brisbane City

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 of what ends up on your plate. And the hyper-seasonal approach brings new surprises daily, perfectly staged in moody basement surrounds.

Good to know: You'll eat whatever delights the team creates from that day's delivery of local produce and live seafood, with four options for matched drinks.

Where: Basement 2/109 Edward St, Brisbane City

sAme sAme, Fortitude Valley

Brisbane’s beloved Thai institution 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. Coming with a group? Go for the banquet, it's a highlights reel of sAme sAme's best flavours.

Must-order: Moreton Bay bug curry.

Good to know: Kick off your evening with a sneaky tequila cocktail at their upstairs bar, LOS (Land of Smiles).

Where: Ada Lane, 46 James St, Fortitude Valley

Bianca, Fortitude Valley

Just a hop down the lane, Biànca 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.

Must-order: The burrata has its own fan club and the house-made pasta with beef ragu is truly *chef's kiss*.

Good to know: Perfect for long lunches or romantic dinners where sharing is encouraged.

Where: Ada Lane, 46 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. 

Must-order: Leave room to split a share plate or two of Central’s larger offerings, like lobster noodles and char siu pork.

Where: 340 Queen St, Brisbane City

Bosco, Newstead

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.

Must-order: Venetian-inspired baccala mantecato (bread topped with whipped salt cod) and the juicy ember-hung whole chicken.

Good to know: 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

Tucked beneath 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).

Must-order: Creative dim sum and sizzling mains showcase Queensland flavours, but the signature pad thai is non-negotiable.

Good to know: Perfect for group dining, but reserve well ahead as this Fish Lane favourite fills up fast. Heading to a show at QPAC? Book the dedicated pre-theatre set dinner menu. 

Where: Fish Lane, South Brisbane. 

Hôntô, Fortitude Valley 

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 sAmesAme and Biànca, hôntô reimagines Japanese classics using stellar Aussie 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.

Must-order: Skip the indecision and go for the banquet.

Good to know: Hidden inside hôntô is a little bar called ôô - be sure to check it out. 

Where: Alden St, Fortitude Valley

1889 Enoteca, Woolloongabba

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 restaurant is equally serious about wine – 'Enoteca' means 'wine library' after all. Their natural Italian wine selection is among Australia's finest. 

Must-order: The thick-cut pappardelle and pork and fennel sausage gnocchi have reached cult status.

Good to know: Book your next event in the underground wine cellar.

Where: 10-12 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba

SK Steak and Oyster, Fortitude Valley

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?

Must-order: The steak selection 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 

Joy, Fortitude Valley

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.

Must-order: The drink pairing is seriously creative. 

Good to know: You'll need to book months ahead (or get lucky and keep an eye out on their Instragram to nab a last-minute opportunity). 

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 and perfect for keeping hunger at bay while you narrow down selections from a sizeable menu of raw plates, mezze, seafood, meats and more.

Must-order: 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.