With a vibrant southeast Asian community in the city, there are many restaurants in Brisbane CBD that focus on the region. There are also several new places that take a modern twist on traditional cuisines and other popular global dishes.
If you want to add a touch of luxury to your Insta feed, head to the new-look Rogue Bistro and get your hands on their six-course degustation menu. Or, if your heart is set on pasta, nab a seat at Nicolo’s intimate James Street diner. Here are some of the best restaurants in Brisbane city that offer unique menu.
Aria Restaurant
The restaurant’s menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and local produce. Some dishes feature Asian influences. The restaurant also offers a variety of desserts and wines. It is the perfect place for a romantic dinner.
A decade ago, Matt Moran’s Aria Brisbane opened its doors at Eagle Street Pier, bringing a level of refinement to the city’s fine dining scene that was, to be blunt, missing. A fine venue, with jaw-dropping views of the river and Story Bridge and a wine list longer than your arm, it is still one of the city’s best spots for a Big Night Out.
Its service is attentive without being intrusive, and the food – whether it’s the scallops or duck confit – is always exquisite. A basic wine pairing takes these dishes from good to spectacular. The restaurant is popular among tourists and locals. Visitors are impressed with democratic prices.
Malt Dining
Malt Dining is a luxurious three level food, wine and bar venue. The restaurant combines rustic decor with modern Australian cuisine and fine service. It is located in the historic Wenley House building in Brisbane’s inner city. The building was once one of the city’s working class market buildings and the interior reflects this with exposed brick, timber flooring and double-hung windows.
The menu focuses on close to source dining and caters to a variety of dietary requirements. Some dishes include swordfish with raspberry and yoghurt, red braised pork belly with pineapple, and gnocchi with rhubarb, cumin mascarpone, and crispy rhubarb. The drinks list is impressive with many single malt whiskeys on offer and a comprehensive cocktail selection.
This is a great place to visit for a romantic dinner or a group of friends. The service is excellent and the drinks are very well priced. There is also a good selection of desserts.
Black Hide by Gambaro
Located in the revitalised Treasury building, Black Hide by Gambaro pushes the boundaries of traditional steakhouse design. The space, which won Restaurant of the Year at the Queensland Restaurant & Catering Awards, showcases a tasteful bovine theme with a divinely rich atmosphere. Guests enter through a cleverly crafted knife handle door that leads to the black label room, a private dining area created from one of former Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s offices.
The menu focuses on premium Australian beef sourced from family-owned and operated Stanbroke Beef and Cattle Company who operate eight cattle stations across northern Queensland. The hero cuts include an eye fillet MB9 and sirloin MB9. Guests can also enjoy seafood dishes, including live lobster and Moreton Bay bug and a variety of tasty shared plates.
All dishes are served with wagyu fat roasted potatoes and a choice of sauces. There is a full wine list and plant-based pals are catered for with a vegan menu.
Fat Noodle
The cosy restaurant features lush Asian décor and a large dining room. Guests can choose from one of the arcaded verandahs overlooking Reddacliff Place, the back-lit bar giving a lantern-like effect or be seated in the grand dining area under the 3000+ chopsticks hanging garden. The menu is extensive with dishes showcasing Luke Nguyen’s signature melange of flavours.
The venue is also home to a bar which offers a wide selection of wine, beer and cocktails. The drinks are a perfect complement to the restaurant’s exotic South East Asian creations. From the Fiery Dragon and Blissful Snake to a Green Tea Cosmopolitan, there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s taste buds.
The restaurant focuses on Vietnamese street food and also incorporates elements of Chinese, Japanese and Malaysian cuisine. The dynamic mix of Asian flavors is a surefire winner with the local Brisbane dining scene.
MAYA Mexican
Taking over the space of the beloved Eleven Rooftop Bar, MAYA Mexican offers a fresh take on contemporary twists on traditional Mexican dishes. The restaurant’s menu combines overtones of Coastal Pacific, Yucatan and Sonoran with local Queensland produce.
Olive trees, sheaths of brightly coloured flowers and sheer curtain-fringed cabanas set the scene for a relaxed dining experience. With a 270 degree view of Brisbane city skyline, Story Bridge, Mt Coot-tha and the Valley rooftops, it’s easy to see why MAYA has become one of the hottest spots for long Mexican lunches, drinks in the afternoon and dinner with friends by night.
The drinks menu features a curated selection of Mexico’s agave spirits including highland tequilas and small batch mezcals along with house margaritas (piquant chilli mango and refreshing watermelon are crowd favourites). For a drink deal, American Express Delicious Members can enjoy the weekday lunch special for $35 which includes a taco tasting plate and a Patron Tequila Margarita.
Alchemy
Located with stunning views of Story Bridge and Brisbane River, Alchemy Restaurant and Bar offers both indoor and outdoor dining with a sophisticated atmosphere. The menu is inspired by modern Australian cuisine and features subtle French influences. It also serves delicious desserts such as the honeycomb and strawberry mousse, and frozen chocolate orange. Alchemy is a great place to celebrate an occasion or special event.
The word alchemy has many definitions, but it has always been associated with magic and transformation. It refers to the process of turning base metals into gold, and it has been an important part of chemistry history. It has also been used to describe the transformation of the human spirit into a more exalted state.
Today, we see the term “alchemy” in beauty and cosmetics, referring to a more thoughtful approach that incorporates wisdom, ritual, and non-toxic ingredients. It’s even starting to make its way into the food and beverage industry, where we see restaurants referencing the term in reference to their use of liquid nitrogen.
