Not Just Nightlife: The Best Cafes in Fortitude Valley

If you’re finding it difficult to imagine what Fortitude Valley looks like during the daytime, you’d be pleasantly surprised to find it’s packed full of amazing cafes, restaurants and stores, each with their own unique feel.

So whether it’s a Saturday recovery or you’re seizing the day early on a Sunday, we’ve discovered the best cafes in Fortitude Valley to break your fast.

lllusion By No. 5

Step into an optical illusion on your next cafe adventure at Illusion by No. 5, a brand-new Brisbane cafe that is taking Instagram by storm.

The entire cafe has a 2D aesthetic that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s notepad and they’re serving up dishes and drinks that are larger than life. Or, at least that’s how they’ll look in this 2D effect dining destination.

Dine on the all-day brunch menu or just pop by for a coffee, smoothie or a glass of wine at this fun new cafe – open seven days a week! It’s one of the best cafes in Fortitude Valley for a hearty brekkie feed or a brunch cocktail.

713 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

Andonis Café & Bar

If there’s one thing that Andonis Cafe is passionate about… it’s breakfast. Serving up an enormous menu of classic and modern brekkie dishes, there’s truly something for everyone at this cafe in Fortitude Valley!

Serving up bountiful meals that are as pretty as they are tasty, this warm and welcoming cafe is also the perfect place to catch up over a couple of cocktails, making it an awesome destination for your long, weekend lunches or mid-week quick brekkie bites.

Multiple locations

Pressi

The juice shop of your dreams has opened up in California Lane! In August this year, Pressi owner Tessa took her love affair with cold-pressed juice from her home, into the heart of Fortitude Valley.

What began as a fun project making juice for her friends, has become a full-scale juice dealing operation, offering local office workers and weekend warriors a fresh, fruity way to start their day.

Making juices fresh in-house along with tasty tiger rolls and toasties, this cosy nook of a café is the perfect place to stop in and soak up some sunshine and nutrients on your lunch break.

22 McLachlan Street, Shop/1 California Lane, Fortitude Valley

Buttery Boy

You butter believe it, Chinatown has a brand-new cafe! Buttery Boy is Fortitude Valley’s newest cafe, slinging fluffy stacked flapjacks for the perfect morning treat.

Partnered with Supreme Coffee Roasters, you can also stop in for an immaculate brewed cup of goodness on your way to work, or before a day spent wandering around the city’s fringe.

If pancakes aren’t your thing, there are plenty of brekkie options on the menu, like a smashed potato rosti, gourmet burgers, waffles or even pizza pockets.

31 Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley

Carmen

The latest dining destination to hit James Street, Carmen Tequileria is a haven of fresh Mexican eats, sparkling zero-waste drinks and imminent good times.

James Street’s pared-back and fresh-faced Mexican restaurant and tequileria has just launched a brand-new breakfast offering, which is happy news for us because this is one restaurant we can’t get enough of!

Every weekend between 8am and 11am, you can enjoy the fresh flavours of Mexico, through sustainable sourced local produce. From a breakfast burrito topped with scrambled eggs and feta, to a huevos rancheros with spicy chorizo, goat’s cheese and arepa, this breakfast is sure to satisfy.

Head down to Carmen this weekend for brekkie with a bang and discover why we’ve rated it as one of the best cafes in Fortitude Valley.

70 James Street, Fortitude Valley

Reverends Fine Coffee

Reverends Fine Coffee is a beloved coffee haven and cafe on Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley. Pouring top-notch Coffee Supreme blends to savour as you indulge in house-made brekkie plates or baked goodies to start your day, Reverends really know their way around a coffee machine.

With a generous menu spanning multiple types of coffee, iced drinks, smoothies and juices, it’s the best cafe in Fortitude Valley to sit, sip and spend a slow morning.

372 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

Now that you’ve explored all of the best cafes in Fortitude Valley, it’s time to plan dinner. Find the suburb’s best restaurants here, or make a reservation at one of Brisbane’s most romantic restaurants for date night.

Writer

Lexie Mamo

10 July 2024

Lexie is the Brisbane Editor at Sitchu and has been part of the team since October 2020. Her background lies in fashion eCommerce and content marketing, having worked in digital roles across brands like Lorna Jane, Black Milk Clothing and dk active. A Brisbane native, Lexie covers food, lifestyle, events, and travel guides for the Sunshine State. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, visiting coffee spots or snapping shots of her rescue cat for his Instagram account.