Dining or Eating out is one of the most popular activities in Brisbane and much Brisbanites love going out for lunch or dinner especially on weekend nights. Brisbane has an abundant amount of restaurants and it is hard to choose the best restaurant of all. Online reviews on many sites are dodged these days so that makes it even harder to select the best place to eat.
Mediatimes made it a bit easier for you and prepared a list of some of the best places to eat in Brisbane.
The Burrow – West End
This is a laid-back, casual dining experience mixing café, pub and restaurant experience to make one unique dining experience. With a colourful interior and a charmingly rustic feel to the restaurant with its wooden beams and tables, The Burrow mixes quality dining with an irresistible home-like vibe.
Tucked away in Mollison Street, The Burrow is bustling with long wooden tables, great music, tasty food and a variety of drinks, craft beers and ciders. What really makes the restaurant stand out is its large chalkboard bursting with art. Diners are free to draw and appreciate what has been left behind by fellow diners in a colorful display to admire while dining.
The Burrow is not lacking in colourful food either, as the restaurant offers diners everything from pizza and bagels to salads and beer-battered chips. All three menus consisting of a morning, lunch and dinner menu are jam-packed full of delicious, yet humorously named dishes such as ‘All the things’ giving the restaurant an extra dash of being professional while still being lighthearted and jovial. You will not find quality dining and cozy atmosphere intermingled so well anywhere else.
The Burrow is open every day of the week, opening two hours earlier on the weekend at 7:00am. For more information, visit The Burrow’s website at theburrowwestend.com.au.
Jellyfish Restaurant – Brisbane
This seafood restaurant sits on the Brisbane River with a beautiful view of the Story Bridge and most of the Brisbane City. You can taste 14 types of fish, crab, lobster, oysters and prawns either raw or cooked, and if you are not into seafood the restaurant does offer non-seafood meals.
The restaurant can be found along the Boardwalk Level of the Riverside Centre along Eagle Street with a riverfront view that can arguably be called one of the best any restaurant in Brisbane has to offer, allowing diners to enjoy their meals with a clear sight of the Story Bridge in all its glory. The restaurant comes alive in the evening as the city lights shine over to create a spectacular view which is perfect for a romantic date. The decor is fresh and bright with the lines between the inside and outside delightfully blurred.
Besides the spectacular view and wide selection of fish species to choose from, the restaurant also has a large list of boutique, eclectic and lesser-known vineyards for diners to enjoy.
The restaurant is open every day of the week from 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm on weekdays and 6:00pm – 11:00pm on weekends. For more information, visit jellyfishrestaurant.com.au.
Moda – Brisbane
Experience quality Spanish and French Cuisine in a cozy garden setting. If you are into wine, Moda’s wine list is extensive and maybe just the thing to satiate any wine lover’s taste. This is not a cheap restaurant, but the cuisine is worth every cent.
Considered by many to be one of the best restaurants in Brisbane, Moda mixes rustic cuisine with friendly service to create a unique dining experience. Nestled in the Brisbane CBD, this popular restaurant has a range of sensational menus, private dining rooms, and a wide range of wines to choose from.
Moda hosts weddings, corporate events, celebrations, and all manners of festivities.
With the freshest ingredients available, Moda creates culinary marvels and modern cuisine perfect for those wishing to find the pinnacle of taste, freshness and quality. With an extensive menu, diners can be assured that they will find almost everything to their liking.
Moda is open every day of the week except Sunday with Thursday and Friday’s opening time between 12 pm-12 am and every other day between 6:00 pm – 12:00 am.
Bistro Alegria – Milton
Experience a rustic take on Mediterranean cuisine. At Alegria, diners can enjoy European peasant-style dishes served in traditional terracotta earthenware which infuses a rich and distinctive Mediterranean flavour into every meal. Alegria Mediterranean Bistro & Bar brings a stylish interpretation to traditional Mediterranean flavours with the rustic influence of Spanish, Greek, Italian and French culture.
Alegria’s decor is warm and inviting with contemporary furnishings and an earth-like aesthetic that makes this restaurant stand out a little more from the rest. Alegria also has an extensive range of hand-picked Australian and International wines not usually found in local menus, including a comprehensive range of beers, spirits and cocktails.
Open seven days a week from 11:30pm – 3:00pm on weekdays and 5:00pm – 9:00pm on weekends, Alegria is the perfect place to experience pure Mediterranean cuisine. For more information, visit bistroalegria.com.au.
Beccofino – Newstead
If you love traditional Italian food, Beccofino is the place for you. Their best dishes include risotto, pasta, and pizza using fresh, tasty ingredients. This is an affordable dining experience that will leave you incredibly satisfied.
With a modern and sharp feel to the restaurant with its complementary decor, Beccofino offers its diners an extensive menu of Italian cuisine and an incredibly large list of wines to choose from. Perfect for a casual dining experience, Beccofino prides itself on efficiency and friendly service, opting for quality and friendliness towards its patrons, rather than boasting of the numerous rewards it has received for its great food.
Open Tuesday to Sunday with various opening and closing times, Beccofino offers everything a lover of traditional Italian food could ask for. For more information, visit beccofino.com.au.
Bacchus – South Bank
Located within the vicinity of the Rydges Hotel, Bacchus offers a fine dining experience with an emphasis on class and comfort. We suggest trying their dgéustations with matching wine pairings for a fantastic dining experience.
Located at the corner of Grey & Glenelg Streets in South Bank, Bacchus is a popular location for business events, functions and many other events. Bacchus is a great place to unwind, eat quality food and enjoy the sounds and sites of South Brisbane, with diners even being able to purchase gift cards and other merchandise from the restaurant’s gift shop.
The decor of restaurants is warm, inviting and stylish with its mixture of browns and pale creams, giving a warm, yet professional feel to the restaurant. Bacchus menu is sure to give diners a warm feeling inside too, as the menu consists of a multitude of great dishes utilising a number of ingredients to create indescribable flavours.
Bacchus is closed during Sunday and Monday, but is open 5:00pm – 10:00pm every other day of the week.
E’cco Bistro – Brisbane
E’cco Bistro has been in Brisbane for more than 20 years and is still a favourite among local Brisbanites. The restaurant offers tasty, filling meals, dégustations and desserts. You will never be disappointed by what is on your plate at E’cco Bistro.
Like most restaurants, E’cco Bistro offers diners a contemporary function space suitable for a wide range of events including corporate meetings, group dining and personal celebrations. E’cco Bistro’s multipurpose function space is able to hold 45 people for stand-up events and 30 people for sit-down dining. What makes E’cco Bistro’s function stand out among the rest is the fact that a number of unique and tasty canapés diners can enjoy at their leisure.
E’coo Bistro is open from Tuesday to Saturday, which the restaurant being open from 12:00pm – 2:30pm between Tuesday and Friday, and 6:00pm until late between Tuesday and Saturday nights.
Birds Nest Restaurant – South Brisbane
If you are after authentic Japanese cuisine, this is the place to go. You will feel as close to being in Japan as possible here, and if it is your first time, we suggest the Omakase (chef’s selection) which consists of 7 courses.
Bird’s Nest was founded with a love of Yakitori (a kind of skewered chicken) in mind, with the owners of Bird’s Nest, Emi and Marie, each sharing more than a decade worth of hospitality experience between them, studying the art of Yakitori all over Japan before coming to Australia.
Though relatively small in its ability to only seat 50 people, which also includes two exclusive areas for larger groups and counter diners, Bird’s Nest sacrifices size for great food and friendly staff who are truly connected to their work.
The decor of the restaurant is dark and sleek with a few interesting furnishings that truly tell diners that Bird’s Nest is a Japanese restaurant. Better still is the fact that diners can be entertained while eating if they sit near the counter, watching the chef prepares meals with grace and efficiency.
Bird’s Nest is open every day of the week between 5:30pm – 11:00pm.
Tartufo – Fortitude Valley
Recently named as one of the top ten restaurants in Brisbane, Tartufo is an Italian restaurant that is certain to satisfy customers with its flagship pizza dish. Tartufo offers its diners a great European dining experience, especially for lovers of pizza and those seeking traditional Italian cuisine.
Tartufo’s menu is inspired by the traditional food of Naples and the surrounding regions of Tuscany, all made with produce within 200km of Brisbane to ensure quality and freshness. With this in mind, the owners of Tartufo change their menu with the seasons to ensure their food is always fresh and plentiful, and of course, never boring or stale.
With a wonderful wine bar and as a popular place for functions, Tartufo offers its diners a surplus of choice, capable of holding over 130 people for each function. The wine bar also offers desserts, just like in Italy, making a visit to Tartufo a great culinary experience with a sweet ending.
Aria – Brisbane City
Owned by famous chef Matt Moran, Aria has one of the best seasonal menus in Brisbane. It also has one of the best views of the Story Bridge and Brisbane River as you will not be disappointed with this well-rounded dining experience with star power in under its belt.
Located on Eagle Street Pier, Aria has it all: a great view, some of the best food Brisbane has to offer, and a stylish interior oozing class, all owned by famous chef and TV personality Matt Moran. Better still, the restaurant uses local, Australian produce and has an award winning wine list that would make any restaurateur jealous.
The restaurant itself has a large dining area complete with an expansive view from its large windows. The chairs, tables and even the carpet used in the dining halls are all resonate a theme of elegance, wealth and style while still retaining their appeal and comfort, all for the enjoyment of Aria’s diners.
Aria is open Monday to Friday between 12:00pm – 2:30pm for lunches and 5:30p – 10:00pm for dinner services. Aria is also open during the weekend with opening time during Saturday between 5:00pm – 10:00pm, while being open between 5:30pm – 9:30pm on Sunday.
Also read: Best Places to eat at Southbank
Guide to Best restaurants in Brisbane based on different cuisines.
Italian Restaurants in Brisbane
Thai Restaurants in Brisbane
Indian Restaurants in Brisbane
Chinese Restaurants in Brisbane
Vietnamese Restaurants in Brisbane
