Brisbane Restaurants and Dining

(Brisbane, Queensland - QLD, Australia)

Brisbane's reputation for dining out has improved tremendously in the last decade and there is no shortage of exceptional eateries in Brisbane, including a number of award-winning restaurants. Many of Brisbane's restaurants are now considered to be amongst the best restaurants in Queensland and Australia. The stylish inner suburbs in central Brisbane, Chinatown and around Brunswick street in the Fortitude Valley area of Brisbane are home to some of Brisbane's premier restaurants and cafés.

There are an enormous and quite diverse selection of restaurants and eateries located throughout Brisbane, serving cuisine from all around the world. Restaurants in Brisbane are generally very reasonably priced, with excellent facilities. Many of Brisbane's restaurants also have outside 'alfresco' seating areas, with scenic views of Brisbane city, the breathtaking Brisbane River and nearby Moreton Bay areas.


The majority of Brisbane's restaurants are located in and around central Brisbane. Popular areas for dining in Brisbane include Brisbane's Riverside Centre and Eagle Street Pier on the north-eastern riverfront; the South Bank Parklands, Caxton Street and Given Terrace in Brisbane's Paddington district; Park Road in Milton; and Boundary Street and Hardgrave Road in the West End of Brisbane, where you will find many of Brisbane's best restaurants. Other areas of Brisbane with impressive restaurants include Breakfast Creek, Milton, New Farm, Petrie Terrace and Spring Hill.

For some of the most authentic and tasty Chinese and Cantonese food in Brisbane, look no further than Brisbane's impressive Chinatown district, in the lively multicultural area of Fortitude Valley, where you will find a large number of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean restaurants. Most of the restaurants in Brisbane take reservations for both lunch and dinner, so it is advisable to book in advance to ensure a seat.

Opening Hours

Restaurants and cafés in Brisbane and Queensland usually open throughout the week, with many serving food from 07:00 to 22:00 or later. Sunday and Monday nights are the most common closing days for those Brisbane restaurants not open every day. Most of Brisbane's restaurants open for lunch and dinner, while Brisbane's numerous street cafés, coffee shops and hotels are the most popular venues for breakfast in Brisbane city centre.

B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own)

Outside many of Brisbane's restaurants you will see the letters 'B.Y.O.' or 'B.Y.O. Only', which shows that the restaurant allows you to bring your own beverage. Restaurants in the Brisbane and Queensland area must have a licence to sell alcohol, but are able to serve it if you bring it with you when you dine at the restaurant. Most of Brisbane's licensed restaurants will also happily allow you bring you own beverages, although there may be a small corkage charge.

Wine and Beer

Wine lists in most of Brisbane's restaurants are almost completely comprised of local Australian wines only. This is hardly suprising in Brisbane, with so many world-class vineyards nearby, producing famous wines such as the rich red wines of Coonawarra to the more delicate dry white wines of the Clare Valley. Throughout the world, Queensland wines are recognised as being some of the most consistently high-quality wines, rich in variety and diverse in flavour. Some of the Brisbane's larger restaurants also serve wine from other countries, as will a number of Brisbane's restaurants that specialise in specific types of cuisine.

Breakfast

Breakfast in Brisbane is widely considered to be one of the most important meals of the day and breakfast has become an increasingly enjoyable and friendly social event. Starting around 06:00, breakfast in Brisbane is usually served until 11:00, although many restaurants, cafés and eateries in the city of Brisbane do serve all-day-breakfasts, especially during the weekends.

Lunch

Lunchtime in the Brisbane and Queensland area can vary greatly, ranging from a gourmet business lunch in a trendy restaurant or wine bar in Brisbane's Central Business District (CBD), to a freshly-made sandwich, or 'sanger', purchased at one of Brisbane's numerous, inexpensive sandwich bars. Lunch is generally eaten between 12:00 to 14:00 and Brisbane is also home to countless fastfood restaurants and outlets, including burger bars, traditional Aussie fish and chips, pizza takeaway outlets and barbecued food.

Alfresco Dining

The extremely mild and pleasant climate in Brisbane makes this city ideal for dining 'alfresco', during the day or night. Many restaurants in Brisbane have outside seating of some kind, whether it is just a simple balcony area or a large group of tables with scenic views of the city or the Brisbane River. Other restaurants in Brisbane and Queensland are so open in design, with enormous walls of windows, that it almost feels like you are sitting outside. When making a reservation at restaurants in Brisbane, one question that you will often be asked is whether you would like to sit inside or out.

Dinner

Dinner is an important and very social event in the lively city of Brisbane. Many locals in the Brisbane and Queensland area regularly dine out for dinner, between 18:00 to 22:00, and eating out has become an important leisure activity in Brisbane. The city of Brisbane is home to such a diverse selection of restaurants, brasseries, bistros and eateries to choose from that you are almost spoilt for choice. Dinner in Brisbane restaurants ranges from fairly inexpensive bar food snacks to the most sumptuous meals, in gourmet restaurants with luxurious surroundings.