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Brisbane’s Best New Restaurants That You Need to Try
Gather the gang and cross our edit of the best new restaurants in Brisbane off of your bucket list.
Nothing thrills us more than a brand-new restaurant, cafe or bar opening and this year, Brisbane is chock-full of them! From supper club-inspired venues to Middle Eastern fare with a twist, there are plenty of foodie adventures to be had at the best new restaurants in Brisbane.
So, gather the gang and get cracking on this list!
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: November
Big Boy Bangkok
Here to satisfy big moods and big appetites, Big Boy Bangkok has landed. The vibe is playful and the flavours are bold, with inspiration drawn from Bangkok’s iconic and dynamic street food scene.
It’s all about sharing at Big Boy so gather a group and dive head-first into the abundance of fresh flavours on offer. Kick off your meal with starters like scallop betel leaf and roti canai, then dive into larger mains covering off your wok-cooked favourites, curries and larger protein-packed plates like Thai-spiced Black Angus tomahawk and Bangkok-style brown clams. You know what to do (drop it in the group chat!).
2 Masters Street, Brisbane
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: September
Bar Monte
Gold Coast favourite Bar Monte has found a new home in Newstead, bringing a little extra polish to its signature Italian flair. This 100-seat beauty, dreamed up by Will Rathgeber of Studio Plenty, reimagines the neighbourhood trattoria with a refined, design-led twist — yet keeps all the warmth and charm that makes the original so loved. The menu hits that sweet spot between classic and contemporary, with dishes like Ortiz anchovy toast with smoked tomato butter, mortadella buns spiked with limoncello aioli, and yellowfin tuna with pineapple, green chilli and koji mayo. Pasta lovers won’t be disappointed — it’s fresh and handmade, from paccheri alla vodka with nduja and stracciatella to pappardelle bolognese with wagyu ragu and fried sage.
On the drinks front, sommelier Andrea Martinisi has curated a tight yet impressive list of just under 100 bottles spanning Australia, Italy, and France, while the cocktails are crafted for good times only. It’s the Bar Monte you know and love — just a little more grown up (and dangerously easy to settle into).
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PSA Koko Black is Handing Out Hundreds of Free Chocolates
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: September
Marlowe
The Fish Lane dining precinct has welcomeed another restaurant from the Fanda Group (Rick Shores, Central, Norté, Sueño, Southside), this time serving a Modern Australian with a vintage twist. Blending staples of contemporary dining with inspiration from vintage Australian cookbooks, Marlowe’s menu will evolve regularly in line with Head Chef & Co-Owner Ollie Hansford’s (Stokehouse Restaurants, Gauge) hyper-seasonal focus, and closely forged relationships with local producers.
Celebrating local farmers and the comforting meals that shaped young Australians, the menu at Marlowe will feature showstoppers, such as prawn cocktail tartlet in crisp pastry with classic marie rose, braised duck pie on a bed of radicchio jam (with jus poured table side), yabby-crowned surf and turf, and a coral trout Wellington finished with a caviar butter sauce.
The 150-reference wine list will showcase Australian wines, both classic and emerging, with the exception of French champagne — the only non-local pour on the list.
As for cocktails, native ingredients will shine through, with signature drinks such as lemon myrtle and eucalyptus highball topped with house-made Granny Smith creaming soda, or the Marlowe Martini, a silky blend of butter-washed gin and macadamia-infused manzanilla.
The venue is a meal in itself, designed in collaboration with J.AR Office. The original layout of the 1930s apartments has been retained, with the space scattered across nine dining and bar spaces, including a verdant terrace and four enclosed sunrooms.
105 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
Fellini’s
Just in case you needed an extra excuse to head down to Brisbane’s most beloved waterfront dining precinct, Howard Smith Wharves welcomes another restaurant to the ranks this month! Fellini’s is a fun new Italian trattoria, dishing up street food style plates for dining in or takeaway. Head Chef Carmine Guarino has long sought to bring the perfect blend of casual, Mediterranean dining to the public.
On the menu you’ll find entrees, mains, pizza, handmade pasta and dessert — think bruschetta al pomodoro, calamari, and creamy burrata caprese. Amongst the pasta dishes, some standout flavours include paccheri al granchio with fresh crab, spaghetti alle vongole and tagliatelle salsiccia e funghi.
Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: August
SUUM
There’s a new Korean dining experience in Brisbane — and this one’s unique. SUUM is Brissie’s first ever Korean omakase-style restaurant (chef’s choice), and is secreted away in a sumptuous 16-seater space in the CBD.
With a menu rooted in traditional Korean cuisine, the menu will shift with the seasons, honouring the rhythm of produce as it blooms at its best. Chef Andy Choi is at the helm of this gorgeous new venture, and it’s one we know Brisbane is going to adore.
Shop 1, 119 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City
Golden Avenue
Serving casual, generous and down-to-earth Middle-Eastern fare seven days a week, with an adjacent bar (named GA), serving snacks and pouring from a back bar of over 130 bottles, comes Golden Avenue.
The kitchen here features multiple wood ovens and coal grills, bake fresh bread in-house, and serves mezze from an energy-filled, open-plan kitchen. Curious about the menu? Executive Chef Adam Wolfers and Head Chef Tim Yates have pooled their expertise with Anyday’s Culinary Director Ben Williamson to bring you highlights such as charcoal-grilled king prawns with black lime and ghormeh sabzi; Kibbeh nayyeh with urfa chilli and sheep curd; wood-baked John Dory with preserved lemon; and Luqaimat (Lebanese doughnuts), Lebanese mochi and a Baklava mille-feuille.
The interiors (by Jared Web of the award-winning J.AR OFFICE) pay homage to the architectural form of a Moroccan riad, with a dining floor set away from the busy CBD streets behind a lush indoor garden.
67 Edward Street, Brisbane City
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: July
Naga Thai
Naga Thai is making its long-awaited return — and Brisbane’s taste buds are oh-so-ready for it! This beloved Eagle Street institution has opened its doors in South Bank, with a picturesque location by the Brisbane River.
All the things you loved about Naga Thai will return — bold Thai flavours, high-energy hospitality, and a drinks list that should be framed. The menu heroes local ingredients, served with the signature Thai flavour combination of sweet, salty, sour and spice.
Try Moreton Bay Bug pad thai, royal flower dim sims, 180-day Jack’s Creek Black Angus pad see ew and a DIY papaya salad.
R2 Sidon Street, River Quay, South Bank
Tellus
More than simply a venue, Tellus is a philosophy. Named from the Latin word for “earth”, Tellus tells the story of grape, grain and dough — the pillars of the menu and of the experience at this new restaurant in Brisbane.
There are 100 wines to choose from — 30 by the glass and 70 by the bottle — offering a mix of Old and New World selections. The grain-inspired menu celebrates Latin-inspired food rich in texture, colour and substance, while the dough portion is brought to life by the restaurant’s outdoor breakfast offering in partnership with Picnic Cafe West End.
Expect high-quality coffee from Paradox, along with delectable breakfast pastries, in a casual outdoor setting, perfect for a slow morning burn or a quick bite before the workday begins.
Shop 9, The Barracks, 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: May
Evra Restaurant
This is one restaurant that Newstead locals have been eagerly awaiting. We’ve all fallen in love with their farm gate style marketplace, wholefood cafe and Erewhon-level smoothies… but it’s time to take things to the next level.
With intuitive cooking methods, zero-kilometre vegetables and a menu guided by the seasons by executive chef Kelvin Andrews, Evra Restaurant is a fresh new flavour on Brisbane’s dining scene.
Thanks to the Chef’s long-running relationship with some of the most sought-after producers, the restaurant has access to some of Australia’s finest produce. Think Friesian beef from CopperTree Farms, chicken from Wombeyan Caves, and wild-caught fish from the Great Barrier Reef.
At the heart of Evra’s story is their rooftop garden, which provides freshly-plucked flavour and an environmentally conservative zero-kilometre footprint. Visit Evra soon to enjoy Earth, Sea & Table.
Long Island Brisbane, 18a Longland Street, Newstead
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: April
Marble Korean Steakhouse
Portside Wharf has welcomed yet another decadent dining destination, with a sleek, industrial-inspired interior and moody lighting. Adding to the ambience is a curated soundtrack and a cocktail bar that serves up world-class sips.
This high-end take on Korean BBQ fuses the flavours of Seoul with the modern Australian steakhouses that Brisbane diners know oh so well.
At each table sits a smokeless grill, imported from Japan. And whilst you might expect thin slices of meat from a Korean BBQ-style experience, at Marble Korean Steakhouse you’ll delight in premium cuts of high-grade meat. Diners are guided throughout the process to ensure you feel confident, excited and indulged.
As for drinks, enjoy the wine flight program–where 75ml wine tastings are perfectly paired with each cut of meat.
39 Hercules Street, Hamilton
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: March
Layla
Melbourne-based chef and restauranteur Shane Delia has brought his flair for bold, Middle-Eastern flavours to the culinary hub of West End, where hungry diners can expect to go on an unrestricted spice journey at his first-ever Brisbane venue.
Layla welcomes diners into a moody main dining room and sunny outdoor courtyard. Soon to become a popular destination for private events, pre-theatre dining and celebrations, Layla is primed to become one of West End’s most popular foodie hotspots.
Head Chef Simon Palmer (formerly of Black Hide by Gambaro, Urbane, Gerard’s Bistro and E’cco Bistro) has worked closely with Delia to craft a spice-forward, modern menu with widespread global influence.
Thomas Dixon Centre, Corner of Montague Road and Raven Street, West End
Penelope
There’s a brand new supper club on James Street, and she’s calling your name. Part restaurant, part European supper club and part bar, melding all your favourite pieces of late-night adventure into one chic destination. James Street is no stranger to an elegant dining destination, but this sleek new bistro has captured hearts (and phone camera lenses) immediately since it opened its doors.
Brought to you by the team behind MAYA Mexican and Il Molo, this subterranean spot is reminiscent of supper clubs abroad, creating an intimate setting to share plates, cocktails and stories.
15 James Street, Fortitude Valley
Best New Restaurants Brisbane: February
The Fifty Six
The Fifty Six draws inspiration from the first wave of Chinese immigration to Brisbane, paying homage to the influence of Chinese culture and cuisine on our food landscape. Bringing a wealth of experience from time spent under mentorship at Hong Kong’s acclaimed Chairman restaurant (recognised on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list), Ong will be joined by sous chef Ka Wai Kwok–an expert in dim sum.
Naldham House, 33 Felix Street, Brisbane City
Keen to explore even more of Brisbane? We’re constantly updating our event calendar with all the good stuff. If it’s more incredible venues you’re after, don’t miss our edit of the most Instagrammable venues and the best secret bars in Brisbane.
