Redlands Coast:
Eat & Drink

20 JANUARY 2023

Whether you’re there for a day, a getaway or a fully-fledged holiday, there’s a bevy of food and drink experiences awaiting visitors in the Redlands on Quandamooka land. A day spent beach-hopping along the Redlands Coast is bound to build up a robust appetite, so it’s handy that this bayside region – a cruisy, 35-minute drive from the centre of Brisbane – is home to a bounty of delicious surprises.

IN THIS ARTICLE
IN THIS ARTICLE
A family of three having picnic by seaside at Wellington Point.

With photogenic picnic spots, enviable weather and spectacular island views, the Redlands Coast provides an uplifting breath of fresh air. And yet, there’s more to this stretch of coast than meets the (hungry) eye. 

Dappled along the Redlands Coast, an enticing collection of cafes, restaurants and local producers are hiding in plain sight – from casual fish-and-chip purveyors to wine-focussed fine-diners. We’ve uncovered some of the best places to eat and drink in the Redlands, so you can make the most of your trip to this idyllic region.

Morning must-visits: where to have coffee and breakfast on the Redlands Coast 

There is no shortage of coffee nor breakfast stops on a road trip through the Redlands. Start your morning on a (caffeine) high at one of the Redlands Coast’s neighbourhood coffee shops, or fuel up at one of the seaside cafes where hearty breakfasts are the order of the day. 

For a farm-to-plate experience, the Wellington Point Farmhouse Restaurant and Café offers dishes brimming with local produce (much of it grown on site). And, better yet, you can visit the Market Hall store on your way out to gather the rewards of this enduring farm’s bountiful harvest.  

By the waterfront at Thorneside, Blue Tongue Pantry (with its adjoined deli-style store) serves up plentiful plates of kick-starting brekky. Here, the biggest challenge you’ll face is whether to opt for sweet or savoury.  

Recent Redlands addition, Thornlands’ Thistle Espresso serves life-giving espresso to go and bites for the road, from its charming, white-swathed shopfront.  

Adorned with florals and filled with the scent of aromatic coffee, The Bloom Room, Birkdale, is a favourite amongst brunchers, ‘grammers and those who prefer their breakfasts served with a side of visual appeal. 
 
In Victoria Point, Warra Warra café is pouring up reviving coffee alongside dishes inspired by First Nations flavours. Try the smoked salmon with lemon myrtle and desert-lime infused cream cheese.  

Sweet-tooths can unearth their new favourite sweet treat at Cleveland’s French-inspired La Bouche patisserie and pick up a freshly baked croissant they won’t forget anytime soon.  

Ormiston’s River City Coffee Roasters has become a go-to for expertly prepared coffee (with a slide of buttery, flaky pastry) for those who know their brews.  

For a dazzling view (and to watch pelicans at play) Redland Bay’s hidden gem Pelican Café offers diners a front row seat to local marine life. Go for the brekky burgers, stay for the wildlife.  

Also in Redland Bay, nature-surrounded LeToria’s is a petite café set among a sprawling nursery and offers an idyllic morning tea spot (where cake and coffee reign supreme). Drink a warming cup of coffee before meandering through the picturesque grounds. 

Low-key lunches and relaxed dinners: try these casual Redlands restaurants

The Redland’s pull off casual dining with ease – whether it’s seaside dining, picnic-ready take-away food or old-world pub fare. Here is where to find relaxed lunch and dinner food in this laid-back land. 

On Raby Bay’s lustrous harbour, Samson Fish Seafood (or ‘Samson’s’, to locals) is a must-visit for shared seafood platters and an appeasing vista – especially come sunset. And, nearby, Fiction Bar and Restaurant sets the scene for a relaxed afternoon or evening meal with its seafood-centric cuisine and inviting cocktail menu.  

Longstanding Grand View Hotel may be a historic Cleveland site, but its food and drink menus are grounded in contemporary pub fare – picture quenching craft ales, barramundi with mango salsa and smoked salmon carbonara.  

Continuing the stalwart hotel hopping, newly renovated the Alexandra Hills Hotel – and its steak and seafood restaurant – presents a scenic spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch. 

Established in 1930, the Cleveland Sands Hotel has become an icon on the Redlands Coast. Its chic bistro, courtyard and bar spaces offer a range of contemporary eats – from Buddha bowls to Ox beef cheeks.  

Newly arrived in Victoria Point is Oscar Oscar Bar & Eats, an Asian-inspired tapas venue that draws in diners with its fragrant dishes and live music.  

Thorneside’s sophisticated yet relaxed Pippy Fish Café keeps visitors and locals fed with its refined seafood and beverage menus – think oysters and crisp white wines – alongside quintessential takeaway options.  

A short ferry ride from Victoria Point lands you on the tiny island of Coochiemudlo, where Curlew Café resides. At this café and convenience store, pastas, burgers and sandwiches keep beachgoer spirits’ high.  

Dining, drinking and celebrating: the Redlands’ best bars and restaurants

When the sun sets over the Redlands Coast, here’s where to dine, drink and celebrate.  

The French Table in Cleveland provides a taste of (you guessed it) France’s famed foods, via its simple yet elegant dishes. Expect to sample the likes of escargot, truffled gnocchi, confit duck, deep-fried camembert, and crème brulé. 

Jumping over to the Mediterranean (or Lakeside, Victoria Point), Opa Greek Cuzina is a fun-filled, lively restaurant that serves some of the best souvlaki this side of Santorini – ouzo cocktail optional. Neighbouring Opa, Lakeside visitors can also stroll down to popular Elysium Restaurant and Bar in pursuit of tapas, cocktails, and live music. 

Amid the lavender-lined hills of Mount Cotton’s Sirromet Winery lies Restaurant Lurleen’s – a celebrated, fine-dining restaurant where the house chefs’ culinary creativity flourishes. Enjoy a degustation, or order a la carte, for a memorable meal matched with the estate’s wines.  

Built in 1853, Cleveland’s The Courthouse Restaurant is steeped in local history. This fine-dining locale boasts old-world charm – reflected in both its building and menu. And, just around the corner, on the edge of the bay, nautical-led restaurant The Lighthouse shines a light on locally caught seafood with bayside views. 

When it comes to post-dinner drinks, The Bench, Cleveland, is favoured among beer afficionados, while Old Bill’s Bar, Wellington Point, beckons in whisky and spirit devotees.  

An image of a group of four people having a picnic on the grass at Sirromet Winery.

Picnic at Sirromet Winery, Mount Cotton

Epicurean pleasures: artisanal eats and take-home treats

Be it bread, wine, fresh pasta or locally grown produce, find an edible or drinkable souvenir to savour your time on the Redlands Coast.  

Allow the scent of sourdough to lure you into Mount Cotton Sourdough Bakers and challenge yourself not to leave with bags filled with cakes, bakes, scrolls and rolls.  

Find spreads for your breads at Lang’s Gourmet, Capalaba – a gourmet producer of artisan crafted goods that’s been keeping pantries stocked with delicious condiments and teas for 35 years.  

Dinner’s sorted with a fresh, melt-in-your-mouth pasta, pick-up from family-run, wholesaler and café Al Dente in Capalaba. Stock up on fresh and frozen pasta, fresh sauces and tiramisu.  

Of course, few pasta dinners would be complete without a glass of wine, and Mount Cotton’s Sirromet is the place to find your new favourite drop. Discerning drinkers can visit its Cellar Door to sample its drops and grab bottles to go. 

It would be remiss of beer lovers not to head to the lauded Bacchus Brewing Co., tucked in between the warehouses of Capalaba for a growler to take home. Or, for a non-alcoholic drink, Cleveland’s Alchemy Cordial has all your cordial, iced tea, and syrup needs covered.  

And, in case you haven’t sampled enough of the region’s finest seafoods by this point: head to Costa’s Seafood in Capalaba or Bayside Seafood in Wellington Point to collect ingredients for your next meal.  

A distant shot of a couple sitting on a tree trunk on a beach