sAme sAme 

A favourite dining destination within the popular Calile precinct, sAme sAme delivers a mouth-watering share-style menu combining the fun and flavour of Thailand with the best local ingredients. Sample the restaurant’s most popular dishes via a chef-determined banquet or order your favourite street-eats a la carte.  

Gerard's Bistro  

Gerard’s Bistro is a James St mainstay and Brisbane icon. Masterfully melding local produce with Middle Eastern flavours and techniques, premium Australian ingredients such as Shark Bay scallops and Mooloolaba king prawns go hand in hand with shirazi salad and muhammara in a colourful menu that’s designed for sharing.   

Hellenika  

A visit to James St isn’t complete without a feast of delicious Greek food and people-watching at The Calile’s luxe poolside taverna, Hellenika. Style and swagger can be found everywhere you look, from the glam group dining poolside cabanas to the waiters’ posh pink blazers, expansive wine list and Greek favourites cooked to perfection.   

SK Steak & Oyster  

As the central grand piano and white tablecloths suggests, SK is far from your traditional steakhouse. A sibling venue to the adjacent Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster exudes sophistication through simplicity. Order a steak and build out your meal with a selection of sauces and sides or indulge in the decadent seafood offering that includes prawn, bug and lobster cocktails, and of course, oysters.   

The Lodge Bar & Dining  

Melding fashion, food and wine, The Lodge Bar & Dining is Queensland’s flagship experience by New Zealand luxury label Rodd & Gunn. Located in a gorgeous, renovated Queensland in the heart of James St, guests can browse the latest Rodd & Gunn collection and enjoy a fine dining experience simultaneously. The menu is inspired by New Zealand’s natural environment, featuring locally sourced produce and fresh seafood and a modern wine list where New Zealand wines take centre stage.  

Sushi Room 

This intimate 60-seater in The Calile lobby showcases the freshest and highest-quality ingredients with an emphasis on sustainable and local produce. The minimalist interior design accommodates a mix of intimate and group dining settings that mirrors Sushi Room’s philosophy: nuanced, considered, harmonious. 

Ribs & Burgers 

For casual fare that doesn’t compromise on quality, you can’t go past Ribs & Burgers. The Sydney success story is one of Australia’s original boutique-style burger bars, serving up hearty burgers (made with grass-fed, hormone-free, 100% pure beef patties), succulent ribs and wings and good old-fashioned sides in a fuss-free setting.

Harveys 

Harveys is a Brisbane culinary institution and a celebration of place and its people. This all-day modern bistro is a favourite for locals due to its prime location, leafy outlook and relaxed approach. The menu is similarly unpretentious, with veteran chef and owner PJ McMillan cleverly using thoughtfully grown and harvested local produce to create simple, flavourful food.

Nearby neighbours 

Although not *technically* on James St, these neighbouring restaurants are worth the slight detour! 

Mosconi, Arthur St 

Mosconi takes hole-in-the-wall social dining and kicks things up a gear, capturing the best of Mediterranean influences and techniques with hyper-local produce. Expect playful takes on classic dishes plus one of Brisbane’s best wine lists. 

ESSA, Robertson St 

The hype surrounding ESSA has remained since its much-anticipated opening in 2021 – and it’s more than justified. Simple but considered, the conscious kitchen embraces collaboration with local farmers and providores. Our advice? Surrender control to the talented team of chefs with the set menu. 

Happy Boy, East St  

For relaxed social dining in Brisbane, you don’t get more bang-for-buck than at Happy Boy. Indulge in one of Brisbane’s best-value banquets or build your own feast with a selection of small plates, wok dishes and rice and noodle sides.