The River City has quietly evolved into one of Australia’s most compelling urban destinations — where culinary sophistication meets a thriving creative pulse. From inspired kitchens to design-led bars, Brisbane’s artistic energy flows through every bite and sip. Here’s how to eat, drink, and wander your way through 24 delicious hours in Queensland’s cosmopolitan capital.
Morning: Sunshine Served
Brisbane wakes early and eats well. Locals treat breakfast with the seriousness of a nightly reservation, and it shows.
Start your day at The Green, a Lebanese-inspired oasis tucked behind James Street. The shakshuka comes with a smoky dollop of labneh, while the sausage-and-egg muffin with shatta elevates the humble breakfast sandwich into something memorable.
Over in New Farm, Idle, a sleek bakery-café by the team behind the former Agnes Bakery, is raising the bar with artisanal sourdough and kouign-amann (a sweet, round Breton laminated dough pastry) worthy of a Parisian patisserie. The elegant 36-seat interior, designed by Tamsin Johnson, makes lingering easy.
Above: Idle, New Farm
With its sunshine-yellow exterior, Café Disco lights up West End’s dining scene on Hardgrave Road. Owner Tasfeen Hassan draws on his Bangladeshi roots and fond memories of family cooking to create a brunch menu that’s warm, bold, and full of heart. Expect dishes that play with spice and comfort — like a hearty Brekkie Roll that’s a double-napkin situation, stacked with a fried egg, feta, and masala potatoes with spiced tomato sauce, onion jam, and cooling yoghurt raita.
Above: Cafe Disco, West End
Midday: Urban Indulgence
Brisbane’s lunch hour belongs to the river, and the arrival last year of Supernormal to the Riverside precinct brings Melbourne’s beloved Asian diner north, complete with a Queensland twist. Restaurateur Andrew McConnell skipped Sydney entirely, opening here alongside his wine bar, Bar Miette. Executive chef Jason Barratt keeps the half crispy duck, but introduces fresh dishes that honour both place and produce.
Above: Supernormal, Brisbane Riverside
Above: The Fifty Six, Brisbane CBD
Elsewhere in the city, The Fifty Six is a standout. Set atop heritage-listed Naldham House, it offers sophisticated Cantonese dining from chef Gerald Ong, with Moreton Bay bug pao fan and exquisite dim sum. The space, all olive-green leather and elegant arches, is the work of Dap & Co and designer Anna Spiro — an ode to classic glamour with a contemporary twist.
Not far away, Golden Avenue has quickly become the CBD’s most alluring new address. The latest opening from the Anyday Group, this sprawling Levantine-inspired venue brings the warmth and spice of the eastern Mediterranean to Brisbane’s urban heart. Expect vibrant plates from the grill, pillowy breads, and inventive dips served among lush greenery and polished stone. The wine list – 150 bottles strong – leans towards the sun-drenched and soulful, perfectly suited to long, languid lunches.
Above: Golden Avenue, Brisbane CBD
Related article: Discover five of Brisbane’s most innovative restaurants
Prefer a side of culture with your lunch? Head to the Fish Lane precinct, where a once-industrial laneway is now home to murals, installations, and a lively arts and dining culture. Alongside favourites like Southside, a lush, plant-filled space serving modern Asian fare, you’ll now find Clarence, a serene, produce-led restaurant from Ben McShane and Matt Kuhnemann. The pair’s connection with local farmers is evident in every dish, with ingredients often harvested that very morning. The new light-filled dining room hums with quiet confidence, its open kitchen the heart of a restaurant that celebrates precision, produce, and place in equal measure.
Round it out with a glass of something crisp at Bar Brutus or Bar Rosa, each with the charm of a well-kept local secret.
A short stroll from Fish Lane in South Brisbane, Marlowe has made an elegant entrance in a 1930s apartment block, reimagining nostalgic Australian classics with wit and grace. Expect coral trout Wellington dressed in caviar butter, prawn cocktail turned jewel-like tartlet, and an all-Australian wine list.
Above: Marlowe, South Brisbane
Evening: Liquid Luxury & Late Night Dining
As the subtropical sun dips, Brisbane comes alive.
In West End, things get intimate at +81 Aizome Bar. This ten-seat, Ginza-inspired bar is home to award-winning bartender Tony Huang, whose cocktails — made with specialist ice imported from Japan — can take days to prepare. Designed by Alexander Lotersztain, the deep indigo interior channels Tokyo’s most exclusive drinking dens.
Next door, BY.ARTISANS takes things a step further. Part distillery, part design studio, this collective is committed to sustainability, community, and craftsmanship. From beautifully distilled spirits to thoughtful by-products, every detail is intentional, and every sip tells a story.
Above: Aizome Bar, West End
Above: BY.ARTISANS, West End
Above: Layla, West End
Meanwhile, Layla brings a touch of Melbourne’s Maha magic to Brisbane. The first Queensland venture from chef-restaurateur Shane Delia, it’s set within the heritage-listed Thomas Dixon Centre, home to Queensland Ballet. The moody dining room and sunny courtyard set the scene for Middle Eastern dishes full of heart, from flatbreads brushed with toum and fennel to coal-grilled swordfish with saffron and burnt orange, and slow-roasted lamb shoulder that melts at the touch of a fork.
To round out the options that keep locals loving West End, Flying Colours (a “grown-up version” of cult Brisbane bar, Super Whatnot that closed in 2023) pairs standout pizza with inventive cocktails and a vinyl-spinning DJ booth. It’s fun, arty, eclectic, and cleverly put together … much like Brisbane itself.
Above: Flying Colours, West End
