Brisbane Restaurants

In the past decade Brisbane has transformed from a culinary backwater into a city full of inventive dining options. Top chefs have decamped to Brisbane's best eateries and are busy putting put a fresh subtropical spin on Modern Australian, pan-Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine.

Imaginative dishes capitalize on abundant regional produce: fine fresh seafood—notably the local delicacy, the Moreton Bay bug (a sweet-fleshed crustacean)—premium steak, Darling Downs lamb, cheeses, macadamia nuts, avocados, olives, and fruit, matched with fine regional wines.

Most of the city's hip cafés, bars, and smart fine dining establishments are clustered in the CBD, West End, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Teneriffe, and Petrie Terrace; you'll also find some excellent eateries in the riverfront South Bank precinct, and a smattering around the suburbs, particularly Rosalie, Paddington, Milton, Ascot and Woolloongabba. For terrific fresh seafood, head for Brisbane's bayside suburbs, such as Manly, Redcliffe, and Sandgate.

Typically, dining ambience is relaxed, seating is alfresco, and well-mannered children are welcomed.

Sort by: 19 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
  • 1. Cafe O-Mai

    $ | South Brisbane | Vietnamese

    This family-run café on Brisbane's south side is always busy, serving dishes that combine traditional Vietnamese flavors and techniques with local ingredients, great coffee, desserts, and fresh juices. Baguettes are baked in-house daily, and specialties like pork sausages and spring rolls are handmade in-store. The pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) always hits the spot, and is available from 7 am! Takeout is available from a dedicated space next door.

    15 Cracknell Rd.
    - 07 - 3255–9778

    Known For

    • Handmade pork sausages
    • Freshly squeezed juices
    • Authentic pho
  • 2. Donna Chang

    $$$ | City Center

    An exciting addition to Brisbane's dining scene, this modern Chinese restaurant offers delicious, fresh food and a wonderful wine list amid the grandeur of a renovated 1920s bank. Beneath soaring ceilings and chandeliers, choose from a menu that includes traditional favorites (with a focus on spice) and more adventurous combinations like Moreton Bay bugs with salted duck egg and fermented chili.

    171 George St.
    - 07 - 3243–4888

    Known For

    • Modern Chinese menu
    • Stunning heritage setting
    • Fine dining without the fuss
  • 3. e'cco

    $$$ | New Farm

    Beloved Brisbane institution e'cco serves innovative fare to a loyal following in a relaxed setting. The menu consists of seasonally changing Mediterranean- and Asian-inspired Mod Oz dishes, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. For a bit of everything, order the excellent tasting menu; it showcases five dishes (A$89) and can be paired with top Australian wines by the restaurant’s sommelier (A$169).

    63 Skyring Terr.
    - 07 - 3831–8344

    Known For

    • Celebrated chef
    • Visually appealing food with bold flavors
    • Tasting menu with wine pairings

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
  • 4. Enoteca 1889

    $$$ | Woolloongabba

    Specializing in "vera cucina Romana" (real Roman food), this award-winning Italian restaurant in Woollangabba's antique quarter is well worth crossing the Brisbane River for. The menu favors simplicity over complexity: elegant starters like lightly fried zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese and anchovies, freshly made pasta or fish of the day for main, tiramisu or panna cotta for dessert. The setting is romantic and old-worldy, and the wine list is, as you would expect, extensive with an emphasis on Italian varieties.

    10–12 Logan Rd.
    - 07 - 3392–4315

    Known For

    • Traditional Roman fare
    • Seasonal four-course set menu
    • Historic 1889 Moreton Rubber building

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Tues.--Thurs. Closed Mon.
  • 5. Felix for Goodness

    $$ | City Center | Coffee

    Hidden away in Burnett Lane just off Queen Street, Felix for Goodness has dished up delectable made-from-scratch breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and cakes (with an emphasis on organic) since 2014. In terms of decor, think exposed brick and concrete, natural light, and clean lines. The grazing boxes are ideal to take away on a day out, and the coffee is decent, too.

    50 Burnett La.
    - 07 - 3161–7966

    Known For

    • Rustic, homemade goodness
    • All-day brunch
    • Extensive range of gluten-free and vegetarian options

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Julius Pizzeria

    $$ | South Brisbane

    Ideally positioned for a quick pre- or posttheater dinner, this always-busy pizzeria combines breezy yet attentive service with low-fuss dining—and delicious Italian food. Pizzas feature crisp wood-fired bases, with a variety of Rosse (tomato sauce–based) and Bianche (without sauce) toppings that follow the less-is-more approach. Or if you'd prefer, there is a selection of freshly made pasta dishes and a risotto of the day. The wine list features both Italian and Australian options.

    77 Grey St.
    - 07 - 3844–2655

    Known For

    • Open kitchen featuring a wood-fired oven
    • Friendly but efficient service
    • Bambini menu for children

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues. and Wed.
  • 7. Banneton Bakery and Cafe

    $

    Tucked away in a semi-industrial area in inner-city Woolloongabba, Banneton is home to some of Brisbane’s tastiest bread and pastries. For those with savory taste buds, there are pies and quiches, as well as a range of filled baguettes and croissants, all made in-house. The pastries are soft and flaky, with everything from croissants to apple galettes stuffed with pastry cream and half an apple.

    25 Balaclava St.
    - 07 - 3393--2111

    Known For

    • Hearty pies including the ever-popular steak and Guinness
    • Sourdough, rye, baguettes, and ciabatta bread
    • Tarte au citron, tangy but silky smooth
  • 8. Blackbird Bar & Grill

    $$$ | City Center

    With its prime riverfront location at Eagle Street Pier, overlooking the Story Bridge, floor-to-ceiling windows, and designer interiors inspired by The Great Gatsby, Blackbird is a great place for a special night out. With a focus on sustainable local produce, menu highlights include sumptuous shellfish platters, as well as a choice of seven varieties of steak, suckling pig, and local fish cooked to perfection on an open wood-fired grill. All matched with an award-winning wine list.

    123 Eagle St.
    - 07 - 3229–1200

    Known For

    • Steaks cooked on a wood-fired grill
    • Sustainably sourced seafood
    • Riverside location with views
  • 9. Breakfast Creek Hotel

    $$$ | Albion | Coffee

    Perched on the wharf at Breakfast Creek, this iconic, Heritage-listed hotel is renowned for its breezy tropical beer garden and superb trademark steaks. Non-steak eaters also have plenty of options, including vegetarian dishes, salads, and fresh seafood.

    2 Kingsford Smith Dr.
    - 07 - 3262–5988

    Known For

    • Classic pub food
    • Historic architecture
    • Iconic location
  • 10. Caravanserai

    $$ | West End

    Decked out in traditional woven kilims and Mediterranean lanterns, this Turkish restaurant is a treat for the senses, with its rich, generously portioned servings of contemporary Middle Eastern fare served among cozy nooks of candlelit tables and breezy views over West End.

    1–3 Dornoch Terr.
    - 04 - 1324–8259

    Known For

    • Authentic Turkish atmosphere
    • Sultan's banquet
    • River views from back veranda

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
  • 11. Happy Boy

    $$ | Fortitude Valley

    With its minimal decor and open-air fairy-lit deck, this bustling little wine bar and eatery in Fortitude Valley is not your average Chinese restaurant. Locals and foodies alike flock to experience its delicious, regional Chinese fare. Most mains fall under the A$25 mark, and draught beers are under A$10. Wines from a curated list of boutique Australian makers start at A$58 a bottle. Munch on dishes like the mouthwatering salt and pepper quail eggs and the perfectly crisp crispy-skinned chicken for lunch or dinner.

    East St.
    - 0413 - 246--890

    Known For

    • Innovative Chinese food
    • Chef's banquet for $A45 per person
    • Extensive, sommelier-selected wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 12. The Charming Squire

    $$ | Southbank

    Named after legendary convict brewmaster James Squire, this stylish new brewery and restaurant in South Bank’s cultural precinct boasts a large, open-plan bar area—featuring sweeping ceilings, polished concrete flooring, repurposed timber, and trendy copper accents. Enjoy local beef, lamb, and pork slow-cooked on the Iron Bark coal pit, alongside traditional pub favorites like fish-and-chips, burgers, pizza, salads, and antipasto-style share plates. The venue’s own deli, The Brewer’s Pantry, is also open for breakfast, lunch, and coffee.

    133 Grey St.
    - 07 - 3077–7254

    Known For

    • Australian pub cuisine
    • Wide selection of craft beers and ciders
    • Slow cooking on the Iron Bark coal pit

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 13. The Gunshop Cafe

    $ | West End | Coffee

    Named after its previous life as an actual gun shop, this trendy West End café is the place to go for breakfast and brunch on weekends. Unfinished brick walls where guns once hung set the stage for an eclectic menu, coffee, and spicy chai tea with honey from the café's own rooftop bees. Dine around wooden tables near the open kitchen or request a seat out on the sidewalk to people-watch. Breakfast and lunch menus fuse Mediterranean and Asian flavors. Sister café in Toowong now open.

    53 Mollison St.
    - 07 - 3844–2241

    Known For

    • Potato-feta hash cakes
    • Flourless chocolate fudge cake
    • Breakfast until 3 pm

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 14. The Pancake Manor

    $ | City Center

    Housed inside the historic, Heritage-listed St. Luke's Cathedral, this elegant 24-hour pancake parlor is a Brisbane institution. Guests can take a seat in one of the Manor's converted church pew booths and chow down on a tempting menu of snacks, breakfasts, salads, steaks, and sweets beneath the building's grand redbrick arches. The bar downstairs has an all-day drinks menu of local and imported beers and wines; with its swift, attentive service, this is the place to venture when jet lag kicks in.

    18 Charlotte St.
    - 07 - 3221–6433

    Known For

    • Housed in a Heritage-listed cathedral
    • Grilled bananas in creamy butterscotch sauce
    • Kid-friendly dining 24/7
  • 15. Alfred & Constance

    $$ | Fortitude Valley | Coffee
    Closed Permanently

    Combining a café, restaurant, three bars, and a beer garden, this hip Fortitude Valley establishment is as much worth a visit for its trendy design and upbeat vibe as it is for its hearty, locally sourced fare. Stylish young waiters slide between the various quirkily designed seating "houses," where your steak, burger, or salad may appear from beneath giant elephant wall art or collections of suspended vintage lanterns. Chefs work enthusiastically in open view of patrons, using only the finest ingredients and premium free range and organic meats. As the sun sets, the extensive cocktail menu comes out to play, with fresh, tropical flavors like Plantation Punch and Tiki Mai Tai making the perfect nightcap (or beginning!).

    Alfred and Constance Sts.
    - 07 - 3251–6500

    Known For

  • 16. Freestyle Tout

    $ | Fortitude Valley
    Closed Permanently

    Set within a bustling complex of some of Brisbane's most popular restaurants, this gallery-café is famous for its beautiful, all-day desserts—including artfully designed sundaes, fruity tarts, sticky tortes, and a memorable white-chocolate raspberry brioche. The savory dining menu now includes interesting Mod Oz options served on tapas-inspired share plate stacks, as well as café-style fare. You can also take high tea here. The local Australian artwork displayed is refreshed every month and often for sale.

    1000 Ann St.
    - 07 - 3252–0214

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 17. Seasalt at Armstrongs

    $$$ | City Center
    Closed Permanently

    Well-known local chef Russell Armstrong works seafood magic at this popular 45-seat restaurant. Choices include "freelance fish"—the day's freshest catch, generally pan-seared and served to suit the chef's mood. You can also enjoy the Queensland scallops with lemon and chili linguini or grilled eye fillet, sourced locally.

    73 Wickham Terrace
    - 07 - 3832–4566

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. except breakfast. No lunch weekends, Credit cards accepted
  • 18. Siggi's at the Port Office

    City Center
    Closed Permanently

    Socialites rub shoulders with celebrities at this charming restaurant and champagne bar in the Stamford Plaza Brisbane. Service is impeccable; decor capitalizes on the 19th-century Port of Brisbane Office architecture. Monthly five-course degustation menus showcase premium local seafood and seasonal produce, and might feature barramundi, duck, or truffles. Opt for the matched wines. The à la carte menu's ever-changing continental dishes could include ocean trout confit or slow-cooked Wagyu beef cheeks. Dessert might be a lemon tart or Siggi's signature crêpes suzette à deux, prepared at the table. There's a tapas menu for balcony and bar patrons, a tea room open during the day, and an extensive wine list.

    39 Edward St.
    - 07 - 3221–1999

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
  • 19. Tukka Restaurant

    $$ | West End
    Closed Permanently

    Earth-tone walls lined with Aboriginal artworks are a fitting backdrop for native-inspired Modern Australian cuisine, including a range of lean local meats like seared wallaby, kangaroo, emu, croc tail, and possum, deliciously fused with seasonal produce and native Australian herbs and spices. One excellent option is the entrée platter of cured meats and flavorful indigenous berries and flowers, all served on a rustic wooden camphor platter. The "Discovery" (A$75) and "Great Escape" (A$115) degustation menus let you taste your way through a curated selection of interesting and impeccably presented native delicacies, perfect for pairing with the restaurant's top vintages from boutique Australian wineries. You can also buy Tukka's own line of spices, cured meats, glazed fruits and sorbets, or ask for a "taste and talk" tour of the restaurants thriving garden.

    145 Boundary St.
    - 07 - 3846–6333

    Known For

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Mon. No brunch weekdays, Credit cards accepted

No Restaurants Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video