The City:
Best coffee spots

18 JANUARY 2023

Brisbane takes its coffee pretty seriously and The City has no shortage of cafés to satisfy your every order. Whether you like a short black on the sidewalk or a specialty latte to go, you’ll find what you’re looking for at one of these high-quality coffee spots. Uncover hidden coffee nooks, find our favourite local roasters and cold drip, pour over and French press your heart out with the best coffee in Brisbane.

Brew Café & Wine Bar, Burnett Lane

As the name suggests, Brew Café & Wine Bar does a mean brew of both caffeinated and alcoholic kinds. Wander down Burnett Lane and stop in at the underground bunker bar, pouring on weekdays from 7am until late and from 8am on weekends. For something a bit different, try a turmeric beetroot velvet chai or matcha latte.

Coffee Anthology, Charlotte St

A coffee aficionado’s nirvana on Charlotte St, Coffee Anthology is a proud purveyor of unusual blends and single-origin beans. Broaden your horizons and try the 1+1 special of a 5oz milk-based coffee with an espresso on the side.

Coffee Iconic, George St

Serving a delicious house blend, single-origin coffee and batch brews in a hideaway café on George St, Coffee Iconic’s offers the perfect pick-me-up. Take the time to enjoy a barista-made coffee, brunch or lunch in their secret garden courtyard – a real inner-city oasis. Open from 7am on weekdays and from 8am on Saturdays.

Edward Specialty Coffee, Edward St

Edward Specialty Coffee is just what The City’s ‘bean’ waiting for. The sophisticated, minimalist space at the base of the Anzac Square building specialises in thoughtfully sourced and meticulously brewed coffee. The weekday café is open from 6.30am. Be sure to check out the pour-over menu of White Horse Coffee and four origin varietals on rotation.

Espresso Engine, various locations

With six locations in The City, Espresso Engine is gearing up to meet your every coffee need. Each location delivers fast and delicious coffee, eats and treats. You can find Espresso Engine coffee spots on Turbot St, Mary St, George St, Charlotte St, Ann St and Green Square.

Felix for Goodness, Burnett Ln

Nestled on Burnett Lane, Felix for Goodness is a charming café that also puts on a stellar brunch and lunch spread. Pair your long black or latte with mouth-watering meals or top off the perfect Sunday brunch by adding a mimosa to your coffee order.

Gather Bistro, Ann St

With a spacious and warmly lit interior, Gather Bistro is not just a pretty space. The multi-faceted eatery is an all-day venue, opening for breakfast and lunch as well as afternoon drinks. Grab a coffee to go from the takeaway window, settle into a seat just inside or linger over buckwheat waffles or soft-scrambled eggs as you sip a Five Senses brew at the communal dining table. 

Industry Beans, Adelaide St 

Offering the ultimate coffee experience to the Brisbane community, Industry Beans boasts a welcoming and immersive environment for your new coffee drinker to the coffee aficionado. Industry Beans is the one and only venue to offer the coffee bubble cup, combining cold-brew coffee with coffee-soaked tapioca pearls. 

John Mills Himself Café and Bar, Charlotte St

The location might be secret but John Mills Himself Café and Bar is a local favourite. Housed in the Heritage-listed John Mills Building you can access this hidden gem via a laneway off Elizabeth St. Supporting local and, where possible, organic produce, the café rotates its three-grinder selection between The Single Guys, Cup Coffee Roasters and Uncle Joe's Coffee House blends. Choose your own bean or let the baristas recommend the blend best suited to your tastes.

Laced Espresso, Adelaide St

From hearty toasted bagels to fresh hot coffee, Laced Espresso is the perfect kickstart on those early morning commutes. The menu is bolstered by fresh baked goods sure to curb those sweet-tooth cravings and offers matcha lattes for those craving a coffee alternative. The café is open from 6.30am to 2.30pm on weekdays.

Le Bon Choix, Edward St

Whether you’re looking to dine in, recline under the shady tree or grab a takeaway coffee with a side of French pastry, Le Bon Choix is a great choice. You may come for the coffee, but we challenge you to leave without sampling something decadent from the dessert cabinet. Our top picks are bamboleo – a mixed fusion of mango mousse, passionfruit and banana jelly – and arguably some of the best almond croissants in Brisbane. This French patisserie serves coffee and freshly baked goods seven days from 6.30am. 

Marchetti Café, Edward St

Housed in Tattersall’s Arcade, Marchetti Café is inspired by the décor of traditional cafes in Italy and France, featuring marble horse friezes and terrazzo tiled floors. Take a seat at one of the tables or pull up a stool at the window bench with an Allpress coffee and soak up the European ambience.

MÁS Espresso, Eagle St 

Kickstart your morning with Australia’s award-winning Bellissimo coffee beans at MÁS Espresso and round out the day with their signature sangria. With state-of-the-art technology and modular seating to create privacy, it is the ideal space to host your next business meeting or organise an industry event.

Meet Me in the Morning, George St

Whether it’s a warm brew or iced coffee to wake up those senses, Meet Me in the Morning has you covered. Meet Me in the Morning uses ST. Ali coffee, a Melbourne-based, ethical and sustainable speciality roaster. The coffee cart is open from 5am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Nodo Donuts, Elizabeth St

As well as serving a selection of gluten-free and dairy-free treats, Nodo Donuts is known for its delicious hot beverages. Try the single-origin batch brew or add something new to your flat white with a shot of wattleseed caramel syrup. Nodo Donuts’ drinks menu also includes a range of unique specialty lattes and summer-friendly iced coffees.

Public Café, Ann St

Public Café sits at the base of Heritage Lanes off Ann St. The lobby coffee spot is laden with high-performing specialty equipment geared towards producing quick and consistent coffee. They serve up a range of iced and hot coffees using ST. Ali beans and have a simple but tasty all-day food menu.

Ricochet Espresso, Edward St

Using Blackstar beans from the local West End roaster, Ricochet Espresso’s hole-in-the-wall café offers a winning combination of quick coffee, great staff and good vibes. Located at the top of Edward St, Ricochet Espresso is ideally located for busy workers hurrying to their destinations.

Santa Monica Express, Ann St

Combine a warm, buzzing vibe with a breezy beach fit-out and you get Santa Monica, the Californian-inspired bar and dining venue. Visit their ‘express’ window for your morning caffeine hit and a bite to eat – you know the coffee must be good when there’s a large crowd gathering there every morning.

Strauss Café, Elizabeth St

Tucked down a laneway on Elizabeth St is coffee haven Strauss Café. The owners know their stuff, the baristas are talented and the coffee offerings change regularly. Rotating bean selections may include a single origin from Colombia or a filter blend from El Salvador, sourced from Cup Coffee Roasters.

The Coop Espresso Bar, Eagle Lane

Situated between Queen St and Eagle St on Eagle Lane, The Coop Espresso Bar is a go-to coffee spot for The City’s riverside office workers. Take advantage of their afternoon coffee deals for a post-lunch pick-me-up.

The Maillard Project, Charlotte St

Specialty café and coffee roaster The Maillard Project is bringing breakfast up a notch in The City. Stop by for unique blends and beautiful breakfasts and pick up a pastry while you’re at it. The Maillard Project’s point of difference comes in the form of knowledge, with the café housing a roastery and training hub. 

Friends enjoying a drink at Riverbar.