While Brisbane might be best known for its laid-back pace, year-round sunshine and close proximity to the white sand beaches of the Gold Coast, the city itself is home to a thriving dining scene that's just as alluring. Whether you're after decadent European bistro classics, flavour-packed Cantonese fare or a hearty croque monsieur to pair with a glass of biodynamic wine, the Queensland capital has a venue for every occasion. Here's our pick of the best new restaurants to book now.

Evra

1/13

Newstead is now home to a food, retail and wellness destination that’s branded itself as the Long Island Brisbane precinct. Evra sits at its heart, serving a range of relaxed bistro and brasserie dishes (the cou farci duck and CopperTree Farms steaks are standouts) in a pretty, foliage-filled, high-ceilinged dining space. In a nod to the five-storey fitness club mere steps away, several cocktails even have a wellness bent (one that involves alcohol, admittedly) such as the cucumber- and thyme-scented Day Spa gin spritz.

The Fifty Six

2/13

The heritage-listed Naldham House, near the banks of the Brisbane River, has finally opened the last of its three entertaining spaces with the arrival of The Fifty Six. Gerald Ong, formerly of Canberra’s Chairman & Yip, takes the cooking reins, offering a mostly Cantonese menu of soups, dim sum, noodles, hot mains and rice. The fried rice, with its delightful addition of Chinese olives (actually a fruit similar to a salted plum), is a standout.

Image credit: Israel Rivera

Winnifred's

3/13

More than 360 cuvees are represented at Brisbane’s new shimmering house of champagne, with a particular focus on the region’s organic and biodynamic grower houses, whose unique flavours are determined by terroir and their winemakers’ preferred way to express the grapes. Founder Megan Nunn has created several intimate lounges, bars and garden areas where guests can enjoy champagne by the glass or bottle, or pair a drop with a croque monsieur or moules-frites in the bistro.

Penelope

4/13

Australia can’t get enough of a suave, soigné Euro bistro right now. The latest in Brisbane is Penelope, which serves chic continental food – duck pâté, pasta alla vodka, citron tart – and sophisticated cocktails surrounded by plush, blush-coloured interiors on James Street, Fortitude Valley. They like a little bit of after-dark action here, too: there’s a snack menu that’s inspired by the “best room service menus of the world” available after 9.30pm, designed to fuel late-night dancing.

Goros

5/13

Karaoke and karaage are great building blocks for a fun night out. Find both at the Brisbane outpost of rowdy Sydney izakaya Goros, which has opened its doors in Fortitude Valley. The space is a multi-level, neon-lit slice of Tokyo, fuelled by gyoza, sake and belted bangers. Gather a crew, warm up the vocal chords and make a night of it.

Image credit: Markus Ravik

The Summit

6/13

With its eucalypt-green walls and treetop views as far as the coastline, it’s hard to tell where this elegant restaurant at the top of Mount Coot-tha stops and the landscape begins. On a clear Queensland day, the alfresco deck is the best of the many dining spaces and the Moreton Bay bug banh mi or paperbark-smoked roast duck are the dishes to order.

Sokyo

7/13

Led by ex-Sydney Sokyo executive chef Alex Yu, Sokyo Brisbane at The Star is helping the city’s long-anticipated Queen’s Wharf precinct find its groove. Head here for the lavish technicolour sushi, which is cut and curled into dramatic presentations that look like flower gardens.

Lúc Lac

8/13

Also part of the Queen's Wharf precinct, Lúc Lac inside The Star Brisbane, is a fun-filled pan-Asian-style spot (with a strong Vietnamese bent) featuring dishes such as prawn and pomelo salad and the namesake bo luc lac, or shaking beef. The drinks list is a big draw, offering tropical cocktails filled with fruit, fizz and spice (the Margarita gets a kick from green nam jim), as is the wine selection that zeroes in on Australian names including Pooley, By Farr and Tolpuddle.

Image credit: Stan's Lounge

Stan's Lounge

9/13

Cantonese-style restaurant Stanley has been the jewel of Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves precinct since it opened in 2019. Now it’s joined by an equally vivacious sibling on the second floor. Sharing the original’s Hong Kong-inspired glamour, Stan’s Lounge features décor surprises such as a custom-built cabinet full of vintage spirits and a retro stereo system. Our pick of the snacks: lobster and truffle dumplings and painted tropical crayfish san choy bao.

Image credit: Central / Instagram

Central

10/13

Brisbane’s Southside in Fish Lane has been one of the city’s best places to eat South-East Asian food since it opened in 2020, while Rick Shores in Burleigh Heads has been serving superlative Moreton Bay bug rolls for eight years. With that sort of pedigree, the restaurant group’s latest venture, a Hong Kong-style CBD dumpling bar, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. There are no less than nine dim sum available, including a juicy siu mai made with free-range Borrowdale pork, as well as braised and barbecued meats.

Image credit: Marble Korean Steakhouse / Instagram

Marble Korean Steakhouse

11/13

Brisbane’s Portside Wharf in Hamilton may not have the same name recognition as nearby Howard Smith Wharves but there are plenty of reasons to add it to your must-visit list. The latest drawcard is Marble Korean Steakhouse, a high-end Korean barbecue spot that celebrates the cuisine’s limitless love affair with beef. Every table has its own grill, imported from Japan, so ingredients can be cooked with precision right in front of you.

Image credit: Layla

Layla

12/13

Call it the Olympics effect but big-name interstate restaurateurs seem to have their eyes on the Queensland capital. The latest is Melbourne’s maestro of Middle Eastern cuisine, Shane Delia, who has opened Layla inside the Queensland Ballet’s historic Thomas Dixon Centre in West End. Delia describes the new spot as a “spice journey”, incorporating his own Middle Eastern culture and borrowing from Asian cuisines that work so well with the city’s sultry climate.

Image credit: Tourism & Events Queensland