BRISBANE:
Best healthy food

18 JANUARY 2023

Gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, but certainly not flavour-free – these Brisbane restaurants and cafes serve up mean clean eats and healthy food options, sans processed anything. Eat your heart out on a guilt-free, clean-eating rampage through Brisbane.

Botanica Real Food | Multiple Brisbane locations 

The name says it all. Treat yourself to a clean breakfast, lunch or dinner with ready-to-go salads, savoury tarts and sweets made from super-fresh ingredients with no nasties added. They also bake cakes with premium ingredients on site every morning – check out the mouth-watering flavours of the individual gluten-free Bundt and streusel cakes.

Our pick: The kale and sourdough crouton salad sells out quick – hop it for this leafy goodness early. 

Coco Bliss | Multiple Brisbane locations 

Acai is the main attraction here. As a breakfast, lunch or dessert alternative, Coco Bliss blends organic acai with a combination of fruits and superfoods that’ll satisfy any clean-eating appetite. The mostly raw, gluten-free and vegan menu includes nourishing savoury bowls and toast toppers, too. 

Our pick: Apple crumble acai bowl 

Charlie’s Raw Squeeze | Multiple Brisbane locations 

From juices, soups and smoothie bowls to more substantial toasties, wraps, stacked pancakes, desserts and takeaway salads, Charlie’s Raw Squeeze is the spot for all your plant-based, raw and superfood eats. Dishing up the goods at multiple locations around Brisbane from breakfast to dinner, why not stop in for a post-exercise treat or smoothie? 

Our pick: Vegan chocolate nice cream with raw ‘snickers’ slice 

Raw Energy | Brisbane City 

Get your wholefoods café fix in The City. Raw Energy has a no-frills approach to delivering delicious in-season food for city-goers. Perfect for eating-in or grabbing a healthy breakfast, lunch or energy bowls and smoothies on the go with gluten-free, macro-friendly, vegan and kids' options available on the all-day menu. 

Our pick: Super muesli energy bowl 

Nodo Donuts | Multiple Brisbane locations 

This is where you would go if you were only allowed one last meal. Everything is gluten-free, sometimes vegan and all tastes absolutely amazing. Visit the café locations at South Bank, Camp Hill, Hawthorne and Newstead to nosh on the menu of seasonal eats that includes the likes of Neapolitan waffles and bang bang eggs benny or grab the famous gluten-free baked donuts to go. 

Our pick: The birthday donut or special monthly flavours

Insane Acai Bar | West End 

The breakfast food of champions is the acai bowl – a superfruit that's super tasty and super good for you. Helmed by the affable Elie, this popular West End acai café has a top array of fruity bowls, freshly squeezed juices, superfood smoothies, raw vegan slices and cupcakes, sweets and nice cream available to enjoy in or takeaway for a healthy treat. 

Our pick: The lamington bowl and green monster smoothie

Fishbowl | Newstead 

Purveying buddha bowls and poke meals, Fishbowl serves up the freshest and tastiest ingredients with Japanese dressings and all the best toppings. Choose from the delicious hot or cold bowls options or DIY your salad or carb base; add chicken, fish, vegetables or tofu; and then add fresh toppings to taste. Yum! 

Our pick: The miso soba bowl 

Quench Juice Bar | Fortitude Valley, Newstead 

Not just juice, Quench will nevertheless sate your hungry-thirsty reflex with healthy juices, smoothies, gelato, fruit salads and acai bowls plus tasty sandwich and wrap options. Fuelled with the freshest produce from The Standard Market Company next door to its outlets, we also love the healthy and nutritious snacks for post-gym, lunch or meetings. 

Our pick: Chermoula chicken wrap and coffee espresso frappé 

Cheeky Poke Bar | Brisbane City, West End, Newstead, Greenslopes

The family-run fave Cheeky Poké Bar now has four locations around Brisbane, so you’re never far from a Hawaiian and Japanese-inspired bowl of delish. With locally sourced produce and the freshest ingredients, it’s a healthy mouthful that you’ll want to eat again and again. Order a signature bowl or enjoy your fresh fix in a handy nori or wonton taco. 

Our pick: Tofu nori tacos

VegeRama | Brisbane City

Find a mixture of plant-based and fully vegetarian curries, pizza, burgers and clean treats at VegeRama, The Taste of Good Health. The meals on offer span Italian lasagnes to Indian dosas plus raw sweet treats and healthy burgers. The counter salads and hot meals combos are also very popular with the lunchtime rush. 

Our pick: Masala dosa or medium salad combination 

An image of some European dishes with hands holding the food and glass of wine.