Felons Brewing Co. under Brisbane’s Story Bridge with a small boat passing on the river at sunset

Where to Eat in Brisbane in 2025: Local Food Guide

by | Apr 10, 2025 | News

🍽️ Where to Eat in Brisbane (2025 Edition): The Ultimate Local Guide

Your insider’s list of the best restaurants, cafés, pubs, and hidden gems when looking for where to eat in Brisbane

Brisbane’s food scene is absolutely thriving. Once considered a quiet culinary underdog, the River City is now packed with vibrant restaurants, trailblazing chefs, cosy neighbourhood gems, and a buzzing dining culture all its own.

Sure, Sydney and Melbourne still dominate headlines—but Brisbane has found its flavour. It’s more relaxed, more creative, and way more local. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or you’ve lived here for years, there’s always something new—and something classic—to eat and enjoy.

This is your ultimate local guide to where to eat in Brisbane in 2025—from budget bites to romantic dinners, iconic venues to low-key faves. Let’s dig in.

🥡 Best Budget Bites: Where to Eat in Brisbane for Less

Big flavour, small bill—these are the spots locals love when value matters.

  • Happy Boy (Fortitude Valley): Modern Chinese with chill vibes and standout cumin lamb.

  • The Vietnamese (Paddington): Rich pho, crisp vermicelli salads, and super fresh herbs.

  • Momo Chicken (CBD & Sunnybank): Crunchy Korean fried chicken and ice-cold beer.

  • Taro’s Ramen (Various): Umami-rich broths, house-made noodles—comfort in a bowl.

🍷 Mid-Range Favourites: Where Value Meets Vibe

Great atmosphere, great food, and a touch of polish—these are your go-to’s for casual-but-special meals.

  • Factory 51 (Coorparoo): Rustic-chic warehouse with woodfired pizza, sourdough pasta, and a candlelit courtyard.

  • Greca (Howard Smith Wharves): Greek feasting by the river. Order the saganaki—you won’t regret it.

  • Same Same (Fortitude Valley): Thai flavours that pack a punch and cocktails that don’t miss.

  • Biànca (Fortitude Valley): Soft-hued interiors, handmade pasta, and modern Italian flair.

🥂 Fine Dining in Brisbane: When You Want to Go All Out

Celebrating something big? These spots deliver unforgettable dining experiences.

  • Agnes (Fortitude Valley): Wood-fired cooking, smoky depth, and sophisticated simplicity.

  • Montrachet (Bowen Hills): French indulgence with impeccable service.

  • Esquire (CBD): Seasonal degustation showcasing modern Australian flavour.

  • OTTO (South Bank): Refined Italian with river views and silky risotto.

☕ Best Brunch in Brisbane: Mornings Done Right

Great coffee, creative plates, and sunshine make these cafés weekend staples.

  • Pawpaw Café (Woolloongabba): Tropical and vibrant, with Southeast Asian influences.

  • Morning After (West End): Breakfast carbonara is legendary.

  • The Green (Fortitude Valley): Lebanese brunch meets leafy courtyard escape.

  • Florence (Camp Hill): Light, minimalist, and home to dreamy baked goods.

🌇 Dining with a View: Scenic and Delicious

Food always tastes better with a backdrop. These spots serve both.

  • Stokehouse Q (South Bank): Riverfront seafood and golden hour glow.

  • Greca: A repeat mention—for the view and the vibes.

  • Riverbar & Kitchen (CBD): Casual riverside meals and sunset cocktails.

🌍 Craving Global Flavours? These Spots Deliver

From Tokyo to Tulum, here’s where Brisbane’s culinary passport takes you.

  • Honto (Fortitude Valley): Japanese done in a cool, moody setting.

  • El Planta (South Brisbane): Zesty vegan Mexican that surprises.

  • The Green: Middle Eastern share plates, grilled meats, creamy labneh.

🍻 Best Pubs with Seriously Good Food

A cold drink and quality feed? Yes, please.

  • The Norman Hotel (Woolloongabba): The home of serious steak.

  • The Regatta (Toowong): A riverside classic with heritage charm.

  • The Plough Inn (South Bank): Great people-watching, hearty pub fare.

🌙 Where to Eat in Brisbane – Late-Night Eats

Because hunger doesn’t care what time it is.

  • Jimmy’s on the Mall (CBD): Open 24/7 and ready to feed the night owls.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Brisbane

These venues keep parents happy and kids even happier.

  • Victoria Park Bistro (Herston): Epic views and built-in playground.

  • The Glen Hotel (Eight Mile Plains): Space, variety, and easygoing vibes.

  • Little Big House (South Bank): Bright, casual, and park-adjacent.

  • Factory 51: Kid-friendly Italian with pizza, pasta, and space to move.

💕 Romantic Spots for Date Night

These restaurants deliver atmosphere, flavour, and that little extra spark.

  • Factory 51: Handmade pasta, glowing candlelight, rustic charm.

  • Agnes: Sultry, smoky, and seriously special.

  • Deer Duck Bistro (Auchenflower): Heritage romance and multi-course elegance.

  • Greca: That river breeze and golden hour glow? Magic.

🗺️ Neighbourhood Bites: Where to Eat in Brisbane by Suburb

  • Coorparoo: Factory 51, Florence, Little Red Dumpling
  • West End: Morning After, Chop Chop Chang’s, The Gunshop Café
  • Fortitude Valley: Agnes, Biànca, Same Same, Mosconi, Honto
  • South Bank / South Brisbane: Julius, OTTO, The Plough Inn
  • Newstead / Teneriffe: Beccofino, E’cco Bistro, Rogue Bistro
  • Woolloongabba: Norman Hotel, Pawpaw Café, 1889 Enoteca

🍤 Must-Try Queensland Dishes

These local icons are worth seeking out.

  • Moreton Bay bugs – Stokehouse Q

  • Sand crab lasagne – Il Centro

  • Lemon myrtle pavlova – Bacchus

  • Lamingtons – Jocelyn’s Provisions

  • Barramundi – OTTO Brisbane

  • Ravioli with coral trout & crab – Factory 51

🍸 Bars That Serve Great Food Too

  • Snack Man: Wine + dumplings = perfection.

  • Southside: Big cocktails, bold Asian bites.

  • Stranded Bar: Small plates, natural wine, cool tunes.

  • Bar Brutus: Tinned seafood, euro snacks, adventurous flair.

🌱 Vegan & Vegetarian That Goes Beyond Basic

  • El Planta: Game-changing vegan tacos.

  • Yavanna: Burgers, mac, fried “chicken”—all plant-based.

  • ZA ZA TA: Israeli vego street food with flair.

  • Grown: Seasonal, sustainable, and beautifully plated.

  • Greenhouse Canteen: Cocktails + comfort food = win.

🕵️‍♀️ Hidden Gems Locals Love

  • Gigi’s: Family-run Italian in the suburbs.

  • Pizzeria La Prima: Authentic pizza, no fuss.

  • The Wolfe: Intimate fine dining, native ingredients.

  • Florentino’s: Local staple serving pasta with soul.

  • New Asian Kitchen: Big flavours, quiet profile.

🍺 Best Breweries for Beers + Bites

  • Felons Brewing Co.

  • Ballistic Beer Co.

  • Sea Legs Brewing

  • Stone & Wood Brisbane

  • Range Brewing

  • Green Beacon Brewing

  • Slipstream Brewing

  • Brisbane Brewing Co.

🥂 The Final Word: Brisbane Is One Tasty City

Whether you’re grabbing ramen on the run, hunting for the perfect first date spot, or planning a long-overdue dinner with the whole crew, Brisbane’s food scene never lets you down. It’s not just about the meals—it’s the memories they help create. The catchups over pasta. The birthdays with pizza and wine. The surprise discovery of a neighbourhood gem you never knew existed.

One of the best parts of eating out in Brisbane? The people. The chefs, baristas, bartenders, and servers who make every experience feel personal. The energy here is relaxed, unpretentious, and full of passion.

So go on—book the dinner, plan the brunch, try something new. Your next favourite meal is waiting somewhere in this city.

Start in Coorparoo. Book a table at Factory51.com.au and enjoy handmade Italian in one of Brisbane’s most loved—and most local—dining spaces.

FACTORY51

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