Stanley Restaurant ★ 4.8
Stanley is a two-level waterfront Cantonese room at Howard Smith Wharves. Yum cha at lunch, Peking duck carved tableside, river-side tables to book.
Signature: Peking duck, Yum cha, Mud crab Cantonese-style
The restaurants worth the trip in Brisbane. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in Brisbane
Donna Chang ★ 4.7
Donna Chang sits inside the heritage 1914 Government Savings Bank on George Street. Cantonese-Sichuan banquet, marble columns, gilded ceiling.
Signature: Cantonese-Sichuan banquet, Yum cha, Peking duck
Greca ★ 4.6
Greca is a 210-seat Greek taverna at Howard Smith Wharves under the Story Bridge in Brisbane. Jonathan Barthelmess of The Apollo (Sydney) runs the room.
Signature: Saganaki, Spit-roasted lamb, Whole grilled fish
Hellenika ★ 4.8
Hellenika sits poolside on the first floor of the Calile on James Street. Owner Simon Gloftis runs Brisbane's celebrated Greek room since 2018.
Signature: Whole grilled snapper, Lamb on the spit, Saganaki
Gerard's Bistro ★ 4.6
Gerard's Bistro is the long-running modern Middle Eastern room tucked into the James Street arcade. Sharing plates, wood-fired flatbreads, deep wine list.
Signature: Lamb shoulder, Fatteh, Wood-fired flatbreads
Biànca ★ 4.6
Biànca pulls modern Italian into Ada Lane off James Street. Same Same crew (Tyron Simon, Bianca Marchi, Frank Li); hand-cut pasta and wood-fired pies.
Signature: Hand-cut pasta, Wood-fired pizza, Seasonal antipasti
Blackbird Bar & Grill ★ 4.4
Blackbird occupies the riverfront level of the Riverside Centre at 123 Eagle Street. Dry-aged steaks, Queensland seafood, sweeping Story Bridge views.
Signature: Dry-aged steak, Moreton Bay bug, Wagyu signature cuts
OTTO Ristorante ★ 4.4
OTTO Ristorante sits on the riverfront at South Bank in South Brisbane. Sister to the Sydney room, full Italian carte, deep regional wine list, river views.
Signature: Hand-rolled pasta, Fritto misto, Tiramisu
Bar Alto ★ 4.2
Bar Alto perches on the Powerhouse balcony on Lamington Street in New Farm. River-facing Italian terrace dining, long Sunday lunch, Farmers Market crowd.
Signature: House-made pasta, Antipasto board, Negronis
Tartufo ★ 4.2
Tartufo on Ann Street, Fortitude Valley runs Naples-trained Tony Percuoco's traditional Italian carte since 2010. Truffle pasta in season, wood-fired pies.
Signature: Tagliatelle al tartufo, Wood-fired pizza, Veal scaloppine
Naïm ★ 4.3
Naïm runs Middle Eastern brunch and dinner from a Paddington worker cottage on Collingwood Street. Lamb bacon and baharat waffles, mezze for dinner.
Signature: Lamb bacon, Baharat waffles, Mejadra
Mecca Bah ★ 4.0
Mecca Bah sits in Gasworks Plaza on Longland Street, Newstead. Modern Middle Eastern and North African dishes, mezze plates, Moroccan-chic interior.
Signature: Lamb tagine, Wood-fired pide, Mezze platter
Ciao Papi ★ 4.2
Ciao Papi sits on the Rivershed deck at the New Farm end of Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane. Italian wood-fired pizzas, house-made pasta, river views.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House-made pasta, Antipasti boards
Hôntô ★ 4.7
Hôntô hides through a black door on Alden Street in Fortitude Valley. Moody basement izakaya, Same Same crew project, sake list to match small plates.
Signature: Otsumami small plates, Yakitori, Sashimi selection
Same Same ★ 4.5
Same Same opened on Ada Lane off James Street in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane in 2022. Tyron Simon and Bianca Marchi's modern Southeast Asian charcoal kitchen.
Signature: Charcoal-grilled small plates, Modern Thai-Vietnamese share plates, Sticky rice desserts
Sushi Room ★ 4.5
Yōkoso Sushi Room sits inside The Calile Hotel at 48 James Street. Head chef Shimpei Raikuni runs an a la carte sushi list plus dedicated omakase.
Signature: Omakase tasting, Sashimi platter, Nigiri selection
Hello Please ★ 4.1
Hello Please sits on Fish Lane in South Brisbane across from QPAC and GoMA. Modern Vietnamese sliders, pho and rice bowls, low-roofed dining strip atmosphere.
Signature: Banh mi sliders, Pho, Crispy chicken bowls
Sunshine ★ 4.1
Sunshine on James Street is the Hellenika and SK Steak crew all-vegetarian Mediterranean room. Customise-your-plate format and daily seasonal salads.
Signature: Mediterranean mezze, Build-your-own salad bowl, Wood-fired flatbreads
Rosmarino ★ 4.3
Rosmarino tucks into McLachlan Street in Fortitude Valley. Italian wine bar, house-made pasta, refined antipasti, deep regional list, neighbourhood corner.
Signature: House-made pasta, Refined antipasti, Italian regional wines
Felons Brewing Co. ★ 4.0
Felons Brewing Co. is the working brewery and pub at Howard Smith Wharves under the Story Bridge in Brisbane. Pizzas, burgers, beer made on site by the river.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Pub-style burgers, Brewery tasting paddle
SK Steak & Oyster ★ 4.4
SK Steak & Oyster sits beneath the Calile on James Street, the steakhouse to Hellenika upstairs in Gloftis's St Albans group. Coffin Bay oysters, dry-aged.
Signature: Dry-aged steak, Coffin Bay oysters, Wagyu rump cap