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The Best Cafes in Brisbane’s CBD for Your Lunch Hour
Take your lunch hour from drab to fab with the best cafes in the Brisbane CBD.
Brisbane sure knows how to brunch, and there’s no need to stray from the CBD if you’re looking for something tasty to nosh on. Whilst Brisbane’s central business district is most commonly known for its cocktail bars and fine dining, there are plenty of cafes around to make your day a little more delicious.
Ready to dine? Here is our edit of the best cafes in Brisbane CBD to kickstart your day.
Best Cafes Brisbane CBD: Inner City
John Mills Himself
John Mills Himself is a little nook in the same heritage-listed building as Archives Fine Books, named for the 1970s stationery and letterpress merchant who owned the building.
During the daytime, you can slip through a secret door and staircase from the back of Archives into the cafe. Pop in for some of the best coffee in the city, alongside a selection of fresh pastries and to-go breaky cups.
40 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City
Coffee Anthology
Tucked away in a laneway off Charlotte Street, Coffee Anthology pumps out piping hot (or icy cold) cups of energy to city slickers. Their ever-changing beans mean that you get to try amazing coffee beans from all over and discover your new favourite blend. Serving sugar-frosted sweet treats, crumbly cookies, flaky pastries and savoury sandwiches, this warm and friendly coffee shop can sort you out for light bites, too.
155 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City
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Industry Beans
The in-house roasted coffee beans alone have earned Industry Beans a spot on our round-up of the best cafes in Brisbane but trust us, there’s much more to this sleek cafe than just coffee. The pro-level Melbourne coffee roasting team has a cabinet full of treats, too.
6/243 Edward Street, Brisbane City
Mulga Bill’s
Mulga Bill’s is a 60-seat, indoor and outdoor cafe perfect for an early morning coffee on your walk, or a relaxed and inviting atmosphere for long lunches on the weekend.
The kitchen is helmed by Head Chef Riccardo Andrini (formerly of Yamas Greek + Drink). The all-day dining menu showcases premium produce with a Mediterranean influence — think wood-fired paella, fresh seafood and gourmet wood-fired pizza. This is the place to go if you’re looking for a midday feast!
Kangaroo Point Bridge, 155 Alice Street, Brisbane
Ricochet Espresso
Ricochet was named after a tale of impatience. Regular market-goer and founder of Ricochet, DJ Urozgani, tired of waiting twenty minutes for his morning energy boost, so took over management of his favourite coffee stall, soon reducing the wait time to 2.5 minutes!
Quickly earning a reputation as one of the best coffee spots in Brisbane for quick, quality coffee, he set up shop in the busiest and most time-poor location of all… the Brisbane CBD — and the Ricochet journey has continued with three locations and coutning across the CBD.
Step into the Espresso Bar on Edward Street to sample their Artillery blend that has been honed and refined to a perfectly roasted flavour sensation. You can expect all of your favourite coffee-adjacent treats to also be in attendance.
Multiple locations
Nodo Donuts
Baked goods you can feel good about! Nodo Donuts combines artisanal baking methods with healthy gluten-free ingredients to create guilt-free and wholesome baked goodies. Renowned for their ‘baked not fried’ donuts, their cafe follows their food philosophy and embraces ‘the nodo way’ with fresh, gluten-free and seasonal ingredients being the core of their dishes.
Visit their ‘grab & go’ style cafe on Elizabeth Street for a fresh offering of baked goods, nourishing salad and veggie bowls, and easy lunch eats to enjoy.
Multiple locations
The Maillard Project
The Maillard Project are serious about their brews — they even roast their own beans and teach javaphiles and hopeful baristas the way of the coffee machine.
In a laboratory-chic setting created by Clui Design, light stone, wood and glass form the decor. Serving espresso from two stations at a low-set island in the centre, The Maillard Project excels in reimagining coffee and highlighting the new techniques and offerings they bring to the Brisbane cafe community.
They also have a rotation of fun monthly specials in their pastry cabinet, so be sure to take a peek.
119 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City
Anytime Coffee
Tucked down a laneway in Brisbane’s CBD, this cult favourite is always buzzing. You’ll find them churning out coffees all day long using their signature Sample Coffee for house drinks and a rotation of feature roasters for espresso and batch coffee. Pair with a fresh bake, hot crumpet slathered in butter or chunky sandwich and you’ll be ready and raring to take on the day.
160 Mary Street, Brisbane
Felix For Goodness
Easily one of the worst-kept secrets in the city, Felix For Goodness is one of the best cafes in the Brisbane CBD for breakfast, lunch and after-work drinks. Once upon a time, this building was an old record storage room, but it’s been brought back to life to serve top-tier organic coffee, nutritious juices and even organic wines in the evening.
On the menu, you’ll find all-day brunch meals that have an elevated homestyle feel, and there are plenty of sides to beef up your dish or share with your friends. Explore their range of take-home pickles, relishes, soups and sauces, to keep the fresh and flavourful vibes rolling all the way home.
50 Burnett Lane, Brisbane City
Cubic
If you can’t cope without a daily cup of joe (or three), head to Cubic. One of Brisbane’s best cafes in the CBD for a consistently good cup of coffee, this little pitstop in the legal precinct serves us specialty roasts and the most delicious house blend. Chosen for its ability to cut through milk, this syrupy and round blend has distinct flavours of dark chocolate and caramel. If you’re feeling a little extra, opt for the house blend in Nitro form.
An odourless, colourless gas is used to give Cubic’s Nitro coffee a creamy and thick texture that will have you hooked in no time! To curb your hunger pangs, enjoy housemade delights like New York cheesecake, gluten-free chocolate brownies or orange cake.
Shop 2/420 George Street, Brisbane City
Edward Espresso
This cosy little nook is the perfect place to step away from the hustle of the CBD and indulge in a cup of the good stuff. With some serious coffee buffs behind the machines, feel free to nerd out and quiz them on the current blend. They’ve also got a delicious smoothie menu, including a selection of fresh juices and a handful of brunchy mains, should you feel like something more substantial.
Shop 25 & 26, 275 Edward Street, Brisbane City
Now that you’ve explored the best cafes in Brisbane’s CBD and beyond… it’s time to start thinking about dinner. These restaurants in the Brisbane CBD make for the perfect date night, or try a romantic wine bar for the dreamiest night out.
