Where to dine out with a view in Brisbane
Whenever we have guests staying from interstate or overseas, the one thing that’s for certain is that we’ll want to show off our city. Naturally, one great way to do this is dine some place nice with an epic view.
We’re done the hard yards and gathered Brisbane’s finest restaurants and cafes that’ll have you popping bottles by sunset over the river, in front of mountain ranges and by the bay.
Cheers to the good life.
Riverside views | City views | Mountain views | Bay views
Enjoy the best seat in the house right under the Story Bridge, on the edge of the sparkling Brisbane River. No matter what flavour you’re chasing, the wharves have got something to surprise you. Try some authentic Greek at Greca (you HAVE to get the saganaki), or funky Japanese at Yoko Dining, or if you’re feeling fancy, fine dine on Cantonese at Stanley Restaurant or traditional but trendy Italian at Ciao Papi.
For an incredible dining experience take a seat on the terrace beneath the striking historic Customs House on the Brisbane River. Enjoy fresh produce and a specially crafted seasonal menu designed for sharing.
A classic choice for riverside dining, the Eagle Street Pier precinct’s unwavering popularly might have something to do with top restaurants and views they offer. If we listed them out individually we could be here a while, so let’s just promise you can’t go wrong with the fine diners along this stretch.
As the name suggests, expect a degree of magic when dining at the award-winning Alchemy. Head chef Brad Jolly offers both a la carte or degustation menus to enjoy with uninterrupted views of the Story Bridge.
This restaurant boasts mindfully sourced local produce used to create exciting share dishes packed with flavour. With a stunning view out of the river as you look out towards South Bank, you can drink in the hustle and bustle of the city while you relax with a drink in hand.
In one corner of South Bank, right down by the river, this award-winning, architecturally designed patch of grass is surrounded by excellent all-class restaurants. Dine on Italian cuisine at Popolo or Otto, French at Aquitaine, seafood at River Quay Fish and modern Australian with an Indonesian influence at The Jetty.
Older sibling to South Bank restaurant The Jetty, il Molo at Bulimba is a favourite spot for late breakfasts and long lunches at the end of Oxford St. Drop in for a relaxed vibe and modern Australian menu. Keep an eye out for Saturday supercars.
Catch the CityCat out to Brett’s Wharf stop at Hamilton and wander over to the Portside precinct. Here, Lebanese-inspired Byblos is the place to be on Sunday afternoons. It serves a modern Lebanese tapas menu.
Next door to Byblos, Gusto di Gianni is a favourite family Italian bistro. Drop in for apperitivo and stay for dinner. Be warned, cruise ships often dock at Portside and this can block your views of the river – best check.
Filling the upper-level verandah of the Brisbane Powerhouse, Bar Alto is an excellent choice for good Italian by the river. Plenty stop in pre or post-show for a bowl of pasta and a cheeky red wine.
Also in the Brisbane Powerhouse, Mary Mae's takes up the lower, riverfront level in the building. The combined kitchen and bar serves a range of soulful bites, sharing platters and comfort food pairing well with summery cocktails and crisp wines.
One of Kangaroo Point’s best-kept secrets, Medley Café & Restaurant fronts the river on the quieter side of the point. Pull up a chair on the expansive deck to eat around the world with its exotic lunch menu that includes a Fijian cassava curry, Indonesian bebek betutu, South African lamb sosatie and more. Medley is also open for breakfast and dinner.
Another little-known patch of Brisbane, this cafe sits next to the tiny Northside river beach (where you can rent a kayak for pre or post-lunch paddle). It serves breakfast and lunch.
Ride the elevator to the 11th floor and you've arrived at Maya. Brought to you by Eleven Rooftop Bar, this little patch of Mexico in the sky is where the local produce-inspired menu channels Mexican influences. Enjoy lashings of tequila, mezcal and sotol and peruse the impressive cocktail list.
Another of Brisbane’s best-kept secrets – have you seen the view from the deck at the Jazz Club? Sitting on the river opposite the CBD, watch the sky turn all shades of pink and orange and the skyscrapers light up as the sun sets. Best of all, the food is inexpensive and the drinks at RSL prices.
Well, the name says it all really – The Summit Brisbane sits at the top of Mt Coot-tha, a popular spot for tourists and locals to soak in views of the whole city. Enjoy food made from the freshest local ingredients with cutting-edge flavours and style.
For destination dining at its finest, head out to Spicers Hidden Vale in Grandchester in the Ipswich region and feast on fine local food. Head chef Ash Martin is behind the pans, pulling together unique dishes using locally sourced produce alongside that grown on site. Hidden Vale is home to its own brood of pigs and has a massive kitchen garden filled with herbs, leafy greens and more.
The Binna Burra Kitchen, offering spectacular views from its mountaintop perch, sources Scenic Rim ingrediants for its tantalising menu and to ensure its providore store is carrying a cornucopia of fresh local produce.
Vineyard and brewery Ocean View Estates has both a cellar door and restaurant. Tony Tierney heads up the kitchen that explores a modern Australian menu with Japanese and French fusion twists. Order a la carte or opt for a degustation while enjoying vineyard views. There is also the option to grab a pre-made picnic hamper and enjoy among the vines, or do a "Vine & Bine" tasting – pairing both beers and wines with courses.
French food oozes romance, and no restaurant does it quite like Lutece. Dine on the famous sand crab lasagne or half duck while admiring floor-to-ceiling views out to the west.
The Kooroomba Kitchen is an experience you won’t quickly forgot. With stunning mountain views and a seasonal menu, head chef Ray Boyer knows what he’s doing when it comes to paddock-to-plate dining.
Enjoy two or three courses overlooking lush rainforest in the heart of the Scenic Rim at Pethers. The kitchen uses primarily locally sourced goods from the region, or its own garden.
The epic views over Bribie Island and Pumicestone Passage aren't the only prized item here. The venue just took out national Regional Hotel of the Year at the 2016 Australian Hotels Association awards. Drop in for lunch, enjoy an afternoon sitting on the rolling green lawns with a bucket of prawns from the oyster shed or head there for a mini festival.
Each morning the head chef drops by the trawler boats out front in Scarborough Harbour to pick from the daily catch. It means Tempest Seafood serves the freshest local fish in its wide variety of dishes. Tempest also has a teppanyaki grill with multi-course banquet and a la carte offerings.
Located within the Mon Komo Hotel, Cabana is a great spot for sunset drinks with water views and bistro eats with a Caribbean twist.
By the bayside in Redcliffe Preece’s At The Jetty is a popular and classic choice for breakfast.
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