The Sitchu Awards 2025 Winners: Queensland

The 2025 Sitchu Awards winners are in: hôntô took Best Date Night Spot, Bar Francine claimed Best Neighbourhood Bar, and Sprout Artisan Bakery came away with Best Bakery. After thousands of nominations and votes from readers across Queensland, the nine category winners have been crowned — from an immersive bathhouse to a new Middle-Eastern-led restaurant. These are the QLD venues, neighbourhoods, and local businesses that readers voted as the very best of 2025.

The Categories & Winners

Best Date Night Spot in Brisbane 2025

The restaurants, rooftop hideaways, or bars that set the stage for unforgettable evenings.

Winner: hôntô

Local ingredients meet sleek, minimalist interiors and a reimagined series of Japanese classics at hôntô. The menu is divvied up into small bites, raw selection, sushi, nigiri and mains, with sharing encouraged. The food isn’t the only highlight, with their collection of Japanese whiskies being one of the largest in the Southern hemisphere. The dark and moody atmosphere is perfect for cuddling up with someone you fancy.

Fortitude Valley

Runner up: Suburban Social

This laidback kitchen and bar is ideal for a relaxed vibe and menu of tried and tested favourites. Think smoked pulled pork enchiladas, prawn and ginger dumplings and crispy chicken wings. The house cocktails make the most of Australian spirits and seasonal garnishes, naturally adding to the jovial atmosphere.

Chapel Hill

Best Deli or Sandwich Spot in Brisbane in 2025

Where the sandwiches are stacked high, the flavours bold, and tomorrow’s cravings are guaranteed.

Winner: New Farm Deli

A local haunt since 1975, New Farm Deli covers you from breakfast plates through to afternoon antipasti and hearty Italian classics. With a solid cult following, the deli has long been a part of local lives, with cookbooks, festive specials and custom cakes also a part of the offering.

New Farm

Runner up: Swiss Gourmet Delicatessen

Going strong since the 1950s, this no-frills delicatessen is known far and wide for its stacked sandwiches and elite grocery offering. If you’re looking for suggestions, you can’t go wrong with the Reuben, and for something sweet, opt for the pastel de nata.

West End

Best Bakery in Brisbane 2025

Those irresistible loaves, pastries, or cakes you’ll happily queue for.

Winner: Sprout Artisan Bakery

From market stall origins, Sprout has been on an upward trajectory since 2012 with locals clamouring to get their fix on the regular. Swing by for coffee and croissants, stock up on olive sourdough or treat yourself to one of the Sprout classics — their glorious apple danish.

Multiple locations

Runner up: Christian Jacques Bakery

Committed to classical French patisserie, Christian Jacques Bakery churn out fresh croissants, savouries, bread and pastries daily, with their two-day slow-fermented croissant a particular favourite. Pop in if you’re looking for a crisp éclair or delicate amandine.

Kangaroo Point

Best Neighbourhood Bar in Brisbane 2025

A glass of local vino, a crafted cocktail, or the easy hum of your favourite haunt.

Winner: Bar Francine

The definition of lowkey luxe, Bar Francine serves up hyperseasonal share plates paired with a mostly Aussie wine list. Expect creative combinations like braised octopus, caramelised apple sauce and smoked chimichurri. Friendly and laidback, the atmosphere is one in which you’ll feel welcome to kick back.

West End

Runner up: Suburban Social

Also a runner-up for the Best Date Night Spot award, Suburban Social is a locally-owned favourite serving up fuss-free pub-style fare. An extensive drinks and starters list invites you to stay for just a drink, whilst hearty mains are also part and parcel of the Suburban Social experience.

Chapel Hill

Best Region For a Weekend Escape in QLD 2025

A close-to-home getaway with standout eats, scenic allure, and undeniable local character.

Winner: The Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast consists of a string of beachside towns surrounded by lush rainforests and immaculate stretches of water, ideal for an outdoor holiday packed with activity. Devour fresh seafood atop ocean trawlers, sip on crisp craft brews, pad your way across pristine white sands and weave your way through hinterland rainforest, all in a day’s work.

Runner up: The Scenic Rim

A natural playground with an envious itinerary, The Scenic Rim is the perfect base for exploring life’s greatest pleasures. Splash through waterfalls, tramp through national parks and cosy up in luxury cabins. A trip here guarantees a relaxed return to society — if not a reluctant one.

Best New Restaurant Opening in Brisbane 2025

The newcomer already winning hearts and setting the bar high.

Winner: Layla

The flavour connoisseurs at Layla made a splash from the start with their Middle-Eastern menus crafted by Shane Delia. A convivial atmosphere encourages diners to share their dishes to make the most of the Layla experience. Start with a selection of zingy snacks, before resisting consuming your weight in dips and grilled Bazlama bread and diving into the main event. Think Queensland’s finest produce fused with spice and flavour. Expect poached Mooloolaba prawns doused in fiery harissa and Turkish beef dumplings drizzled in yoghurt.

West End

Runner up: August

Awarded a chef’s hat in their first year, August’s produce-driven menus and pared-back interiors have taken Brisbane foodie’s hearts. Chalk menu’s detail daily specials whilst stained glass windows filter coloured light into the ambient space. The French menu begins with a baguette and butter and trails its way through pasta, fish and risotto through to meringue and moorish pralines.

West End

Best Coffee Spot in Brisbane 2025

From perfectly pulled espresso shots to artisan brews, the cafés that get it right every single time.

Winner: Fonzie Abbott

Emanating the kind of energy you’d expect from a coffee shop, Fonzie Abbott is a community-focused purveyor of caffeine beloved by many. Roasting their own beans, you can trust their brews are as good as it gets. Keen to offer a third place for locals and visitors, there’s always something happening here, from run clubs to collabs.

Albion

Runner up: Salt Coffee Roasters

Home to the choc top cap, Salt Coffee Roaster also boast an extensive range of merch and a regular smattering of very cool dogs on its Instagram page. Pouring a perfect cup every time, they offer multiple blends on any given day, so you can customise your cup. Paired with Idle bakery goodies and a concise menu of brunch favourites, they’ve got all bases covered.

Newstead

Best Small Local Business in Brisbane 2025

Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, Wellness — the boutique and independent spots that bring personality, purpose and real community presence.

Winner: The Bathhouse

Inspired by the opulence of European spas, The Bathhouse limits the number of guests per session to ensure a premium experience. Infrared saunas, hot and cold pools, an ice bath, traditional Finnish saunas, a Finnish sauna and a lounge encourage complete relaxation.

Albion

Runner up: The Plant Bunker

In a winning combination, plants and coffee come together at Grange institution The Plant Bunker. You’ll find everything you need to craft a calming green oasis here, from tip-top advice to plants, soil and pots.

Grange

Best Foodie Suburb in Brisbane in 2025

The neighbourhoods that pack a serious punch, serving up big flavours from hidden cafés to local culinary gems.

Winner: Newstead

A haven for Brisbane mainstays as well as a popular place for new openings, Newstead offers the kind of variety Brisbane foodies are fond of. You’ll find plenty of specialty coffee, bakeries brimming with seasonal treats, decadent fine dining establishments and cheap and cheerful bites all in a compact 1km radius.

Runner up: West End

The West End boasts an always-on buzz that extends to its beloved food scene. Eclectic and varied, expect one of the widest ranges of cuisines in Brisbane. From Greek mezze to Manhattan-inspired steakhouses, all budgets are catered for.

What Are the Sitchu Awards?

The inaugural Sitchu Awards set out to celebrate the places that shape the way we live, dine and play across Queensland, from the bakery that starts your morning just right to the neighbourhood bar that feels like a living room.

Here’s how it worked: nominations opened to Sitchu readers across QLD, giving the community the chance to put forward the spots that truly matter to them. Sitchu’s editors then curated five finalists across each of the nine categories. Voting then re-opened, with thousands of reader votes determining the winners. The results are entirely reader-driven; no editorial panel, no paid placements.

FAQs About The Sitchu Awards QLD 2025

What are the Sitchu Awards?

The Sitchu Awards are a reader-driven awards program celebrating the best venues, neighbourhoods, and local businesses across Queensland. Readers first nominate their favourites, Sitchu editors curate five finalists per category, and voting reopens to determine the winners — with no editorial panel or paid placements involved.

Who won Best Restaurant at the Sitchu Awards QLD 2025?

The Sitchu Awards QLD 2025 didn’t include a traditional “best restaurant” category, but Best New Restaurant Opening went to Layla in West End — a Middle-Eastern restaurant helmed by chef Shane Delia. Best Date Night Spot was awarded to hôntô in Fortitude Valley.

Which Brisbane suburb won Best Foodie Suburb at the Sitchu Awards 2025?

Newstead took out Best Foodie Suburb in Brisbane 2025, recognised for its concentration of specialty coffee, seasonal bakeries, fine dining, and casual eats all within a compact area. West End was the runner up.

What won Best Bakery in Brisbane at the Sitchu Awards 2025?

Sprout Artisan Bakery won Best Bakery in Brisbane 2025. Starting from market stall origins in 2012, Sprout now operates across multiple locations and is known for its olive sourdough, croissants, and apple danish. Christian Jacques Bakery in Kangaroo Point was the runner up.

What is the best weekend escape in Queensland according to the Sitchu Awards 2025?

The Sunshine Coast was voted Best Region for a Weekend Escape in QLD 2025, with readers drawn to its mix of beachside towns, rainforest hinterland, fresh seafood, and outdoor activities. The Scenic Rim was the runner up.

How were the Sitchu Awards 2025 winners chosen?

Winners were determined entirely by reader votes. Nominations opened to Sitchu readers across Queensland, editors shortlisted five finalists per category, and voting reopened to the public. The results are fully reader-driven with no editorial panel or paid placements influencing outcomes.