Brisbane Quarter’s arrival was heralded by the opening of the five-star W Brisbane, marking the renowned international hotel brand’s return to Australia and the first five-star hotel to arrive in Brisbane in 20 years. W Brisbane certainly made (and continues to make) a splash, offering more than 300 vibrant suites, marquee restaurant Three Blue Ducks, poolside rooftop bar WET® Deck, AWAY® Spa, hair salon Edwards and Co and much more.

Things really kicked up a notch with Brisbane Quarter’s official launch in September, which saw the arrival of the precinct’s two signature restaurants, Persone and Heritij. Persone comes from Brisbane hospitality veterans Gambaro Group, the family’s first official foray into Italian cuisine, celebrating their Calabrian heritage. The menu takes diners on a regional culinary tour of Italy, featuring the likes of tuna crudo with negroni syrup, Bistecca alla Fiorentina and rabbit ragu. Next door at Heritij, heralded Michelin-starred chef Manjunath Mural has brought Indian gastronomy to the precinct, teaming up with long-time friend Sridhar Penumechu (Broadbeach’s Saffron Indian Gourmet) and Nick Pinn (Malt Dining, Vaquero, DRUM) to redefine Indian dining. The food offering comprises of delights such as Kashmiri lamb shanks, charred silverbeet with masala caviar and more. Both restaurants boast never-before-seen views of the Brisbane River across to South Bank and beyond, with the dining areas spilling out to wrap-around outdoor terraces.

Brisbane Quarter’s openings didn’t stop there – much-loved casual diner NYC Bagel Deli brought its mouth-watering hand-rolled bagels (think fillings like smoked salmon with spring onion and dill cream cheese, The Reuben and 12-hour pulled pork) and The Simple Life Cafe arrived with brunch eats, delectable treats, coffee and grab-and-go bites. Wil Valor has relocated his flagship Brisbane store to the precinct, offering bespoke suits, jackets, shirts and shoes for the most dapper of gents, and The Emporium Barber will be on hand early next year for lunchtime grooming with a cheeky beer or coffee on the side. This year has been a huge one for the precinct but it’s showing no sign of slowing down – expect a suite of new openings next year, including new Japanese-inspired eatery IKU Noodles. Keep an eye on The Weekend Edition for updates!

This article was created in conjunction with our friends at Brisbane Quarter.