Brisbane Restaurants

  1. Ben's Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant

    There's a reason why people flock to this Asian diner at weekends and it's not just for the food. Up to 300 people come here on Friday and Saturday nights drawn by a shared love of spring rolls and karaoke. Everyone - and we mean everyone - gets up to sing.

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  2. Breakfast Creek Hotel

    Undoubtedly the most famous watering hole in Brisbane, this beautiful building is a local institution. It's been serving up juicy steaks for hungry carnivores since 1969 and prides itself on being one of the few pubs left in Australia to serve beer 'off the wood' (wooden casks).

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  3. Café San Marco

    This place by the river has an interesting menu that includes everything from Hervey Bay scallops to marinated dolmades. It's a friendly spot and there are some good kid-friendly options.

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  4. Continental Café

    The Paris-themed Continental Café is a popular weekend breakfast haunt. It also sees diners queuing up mid-week, hungry for a piece of nostalgia from the 'Continental Classics' menu.

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  5. Customs House Brasserie

    If you're only going to splash out once while in town do it here, where the river view is so good that you won't even notice what's on the menu. So take it from us, the seared scallops with lime and pink peppercorn butter sauce, and the roast lamb loin with caramelised beetroot, are simply divine.

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  6. E'cco

    One of the finest restaurants in the state, E'cco is a must for any culinary aficionado. Expect masterpieces like Flinders Island lamb, tomato and goat's cheese couscous and apple tzatziki and olive jus. The interior is suitably swish and you'll need to book well in advance.

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  7. Fatboy's Café

    This modern cafe in the heart of the Valley's happening Brunswick St Mall is extremely popular with a youngish crowd. It's a great place to sip a coffee and watch the Saturday market throng, or check out the weekend night owls and go through slice upon slice of their delicious gourmet pizza after a couple of drinks at Ric's next door.

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  8. Govindas

    In most cities of the world, the Hare Krishnas offer up tasty, filling meals for a pittance. Brisbane is no exception. Govinda's is an upmarket, restaurant-style version of the usual outfit, and is slightly more expensive - but it's still great value. There's no religious pressure - just hearty curries and hurtfully sweet desserts.

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  9. Gunshop Café

    The exposed brick walls, '60s-inspired swirl cushions and wicker lamp shades that sparkle like disco balls give Gunshop Café an upmarket retro feel. But cool décor aside, the food here is phenomenal. There's always something quirky on the menu - such as the smoked salmon with green ants when we visited - and the breakfasts are so good they've won awards.

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  10. Happy Days

    This no-nonsense hole-in-the-wall serves up steaming Vietnamese and Chinese dishes in record time. There's the usual range of stir fried rice and noodles, and lots of veggie options.

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  11. Java Coast Café

    Java Coast Café is the perfect place for that morning caffeine kick, and for enormous muffins, fresh fruit salads and simple lunches. Enjoy it all in the sun-filled garden.

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  12. Jazzy Cat Café

    Situated in a beautifully restored Queenslander-style home, the Jazzy Cat has a distinct bohemian feel, relaxing music, tons of mags and papers to read, a covered veranda and plenty of character. The international cuisine is lovingly prepared and presented, and tasty to boot. It's a perfect place for an evening meal or a lazy afternoon coffee.

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  13. Kookaburra Café

    It's the enormous pizzas that draw folks to Kookaburra Café; that and the gourmet sandwiches, spag bol and old school trifle. Take it away or dine in the cheery outdoor courtyard.

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  14. Little Larder

    It's worth searching out this lovely café, and not just because it makes damn fine coffee. Try the thick French toast or pesto scrambled eggs and you'll soon understand what all the real fuss is about.

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  15. Mecca Bah

    You can't book at this swanky Middle Eastern-themed restaurant, but that's OK because it serves great cocktails while you wait. If you're with friends then choose a pile of dishes to share: the Lebanese sausages and chickpea battered mussels are particularly yummy, as are the lamb pizzas.

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  16. Metro Café

    Metro Café is a small, no-nonsense diner serving up generous breakfasts and piping hot coffee for busy folk on the go, as well as burgers, soups and sandwiches for lunch.

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  17. Mondo Organics

    A beautifully designed space encompassing dark woods, crisp white linens and stone flooring, it serves as the stage for mouth-watering, innovative dishes created using entirely organic produce. It also runs a cooking school for those who really love the food.

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  18. New York Slice

    New York Slice's enormous slices of tasty pizza are perfect for everyone from budget-conscious travellers to clubbers on their way home in the early hours of the morning.

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  19. Pandemonium Café

    This is a fun '70s-style café filled with op-shop tables, battered vinyl sofas and crocheted cushions. Breakfast is served all day but there are also home comfort foods such as sandwiches, burgers, and bangers and mash.

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  20. Sassafras

    A sunny café with a hippy flavour, this place buzzes at weekends. Try the Dr Seuss-inspired green eggs and ham or any of the beatnik favourites such as scrambled tofu or chickpea and fennel cakes.

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  21. The Deli New Farm

    Everything on the menu at this innovative, fully licenced restaurant is organic, including the export-grade meats. The urban timber surrounds provide a contemporary environment in which to savour wonderful meals made from the best produce on offer. The menu caters to vegetarians, vegans and the wheat- or dairy-compromised.

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  22. Three Monkeys Coffee House

    Three Monkeys Coffee House is a hugely popular but cosy coffee den, filled with comfy chairs and cushions. The coffee and spicy Chai tea come in soup-like bowls and the cakes are delicious.

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  23. Tibetan Kitchen

    Traditional Tibetan, Sherpa and Nepalese food is dished up here in this colourful restaurant that's especially good value for large groups. Pick up your grog from the bottle shop across the road.

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  24. Tukka

    Tukka is one of Brisbane's most famous specialty restaurants and prides itself on delivering 'new wave' Australian. If you fancy dining on emu fillet, seared Tasmanian wallaby or kangaroo carpaccio then this is the place to come.

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  25. Verve Café

    You'll find a cool, arty crowd hanging out at this underground bar-café-restaurant that creates very good modern Italian food accompanied by some fine wines. On Thursdays there is live music and a DJ spins tunes at the weekend.

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