Brisbane’s best hatted restaurants every foodie should know about

Brisbane’s dining scene is an absolute feast for the senses, quickly becoming Queensland's culinary capital - and one really worth exploring on your next visit. Treat your tastebuds to a meal to remember at these Brisbane hatted restaurants - the Queensland venues which really stand out from the crowd.

Agnes, Fortitude Valley

A celebration of cooking over fire, revamped warehouse Agnes is a part of the same group behind equally delicious venues Bianca and Same Same. A sumptuous meal at this industrial-style space is guaranteed - Chef Ben Williamson whips up dishes bold in flavour like pork, grilled and glazed, with beluga lentils, harissa, fine herbs and a charred lemon, with candied pomelo, coconut, and white chocolate. Pro tip: arrive hungry. 

Ramona Trattoria, Coorparoo

Ramona Trattoria is one of the few Brisbane hatted restaurants to be found in the suburbs. Italian food is the specialty here, with pasta, focaccia and pizza doughs all proudly made by hand. Don’t forget to save room for dessert too - there’s all the classics like affogato and tiramisu plus plenty of dessert wines to sip.

Restaurant Dan Arnold, Fortitude Valley

Tuck into French-style fare from within a relaxed Aussie setting at Restaurant Dan Arnold. As you may have guessed, Chef Dan Arnold is behind the venue, a Brisbane local who trained and worked in Michelin-star restaurants across France. Choose from one of three set menus - but don’t miss out on the cheese trolley at the end.

Joy, Fortitude Valley

Tucked down one of the Valley’s many laneways you’ll find the intimate, Joy. Petite is an understatement when it comes to this Brisbane hatted restaurant which seats just 10 at a time in a graffiti-laden space. Chef and co-owner Sarah Scott is the sole kitchen creative, conjuring up a seasonal fixed-price menu of modern, Japanese-inspired small plates.

GOMA Restaurant, South Bank

If you have a soft spot for traditional fine dining look no further than GOMA’s own resident eatery, another of the best Brisbane hatted restaurants. Self-described as a ‘contemplative space where cuisine and art combine’ you can expect creative cuisine here with flavours as innovative as the presentation itself. Think: native Indigenous-insipired dishes to international eats. Work off the food coma post-meal with a stroll amongst the gallery's incredible collection.

Exhibition Restaurant, Brisbane CBD

Don’t expect a menu when you arrive at the multi-sensory Exhibition Restaurant. Instead the city-based eatery takes charge, dreaming up a series of Japanese-style Omakase dishes from whatever produce is available that day.

Essa, Fortitude Valley

Simple but considered is the ethos at Essa, from its raw material walls to its mains. Driven by an environmentally-conscious approach in the kitchen, the menu at this minimalistic space is laden with goods from local farmers, hunters, and providores. Picture plenty of experimental pickling, smoking, and wood-firing too.

Donna Chang, Brisbane CBD

Prepare for the wow factor in spades at the sumptuously dressed Donna Chang. Glamour is this Brisbane hatted restaurant’s middle name, with velvets galore and chandeliers aplenty. But it’s the Cantonese cuisine and Sichuan flavours that will tempt you to stay a while. Whatever you do, make sure you order the Sichuan spiced BBQ lamb ribs and the fried eggplant with ginger. 

Stanley, Howard Smith Wharves

Perched on the banks of the Brisbane river is Stanley, a two-storey Hong Kong-inspired eatery that’s a member of the much-loved Howard Smith Wharves precinct. You’ll enjoy traditional flavours at the Cantonese haven while you sit in a moody space dressed in dark greens, mismatched oriental florals, and plenty of leather.

Same Same, Fortitude Valley

If you’re a fan of Thai, don’t miss Same Same, another of Brisbane’s hatted restaurants. As you would expect of any James Street resident, this fusion-style fine diner has plenty of style. Interiors rich in concrete and pastel accents pair well with a fun-focused menu of exotic bites like betel leaf with eggplant and pomelo, and Bass Strait short rib with green guava and Vietnamese mint.

The Balfour Kitchen, New Farm