Cafes
The year in review: Brisbane’s best cafe openings of 2023
Food & Drink

The year in review: Brisbane’s best cafe openings of 2023

07 Dec 2023

As the final weeks of 2023 sees Brisbane shifting gears into holiday mode, we're getting ready to reflect on what the past 12 months have brought us. While this year wasn't a huge one for brand-new brunch slingers, it was big on sandwiches, bakeries and boutique coffee spots. We've collated a list of what we think are some of the year's best new cafe openings, from the viral sensations to the quiet achievers. In no particular order, here are our picks ... more

Cafes
Want to get on the nice list? Gift the coffee lover in your life an Industry Beans bundle this Christmas
Food & Drink

Want to get on the nice list? Gift the coffee lover in your life an Industry Beans bundle this Christmas

28 Nov 2023

With December 25 less than a month away, it’s time to start getting serious (if you haven’t already) about ticking off your loved ones’ wish lists. For the coffee aficionados on your gifting list, look no further than Industry Beans Newstead’s gift bundles, which are chocked full of must-have coffee accessories and available in store from November 29 to December 24. With bundles starting from $35, there is something for specialty brew purists and unadulterated caffeine cravers. more

Cafes
Nouveau Cordeaux – one of West End's best bar and nosh spots is evolving
Food & Drink

Nouveau Cordeaux – one of West End’s best bar and nosh spots is evolving

16 Nov 2023

Some exciting things are happening at the Orleigh Park-end of Montague Road. Cordeaux Social Club, one of 2022's most well-received cafe and bar openings, has just cut the ribbon on a brand-new courtyard space, complete with an outdoor bar and shaded picnic tables. That's not all that's new – an expanded licence means Cordeaux is opening later on weekends, and it has a whole new menu of small plates and substantials to enjoy alongside fun wines and cocktails. Take a peek ... more

Cafes
The Black Lab Coffee Co. unveils its new Albion HQ, espresso bar and barista gym
Food & Drink

The Black Lab Coffee Co. unveils its new Albion HQ, espresso bar and barista gym

26 Oct 2023

One of Brisbane's most ubiquitous specialty coffee roasters is growing up. The Black Lab Coffee Co. has recently opened the roller door at its Albion warehouse headquarters to the public, inviting them to nab a brew from its new espresso bar while also encouraging the coffee community to sharpen its skills with its 24/7 training space. It heralds an exciting new phase for the roaster, which has big plans for 2024. Here's what we know ... more

Cafes
Get the first look at Butter – Gaythorne's sunny new cafe serving sambos, sausage-and-egg muffins and Single O brew
Food & Drink

Get the first look at Butter – Gaythorne’s sunny new cafe serving sambos, sausage-and-egg muffins and Single O brew

26 Oct 2023

Gaythorne locals can stop Instagram refreshing and rubbernecking as they drive down Samford Road – Butter Cafe is now open. The newest concept from a pair of brunch-slinging experts launched late last week, causing an immediate stir with its deli-style toasties stuffed with pastrami and American cheese, Japanese-style sausage muffins and quaff-worthy iced cappuccinos. We popped in to take an up-close look at the offering – here's what we saw ... more

The Locals Next week:

Cafes
Industry Beans | Best cafes, bars and restaurants in Newstead
Food & Drink

The round-up: here are Newstead’s best cafes, bars and restaurants

19 Oct 2023

Recent years have seen Newstead evolve into a nexus of high-end hospitality, rivalling The City and Fortitude Valley as Brisbane's go-to dining destination. From izakaya-style vinyl bars, widely regarded breweries and flame-powered eateries to coffee-slinging outposts from nationally regarded roasters, if there's one spot guaranteed to deliver great nosh, it's Newstead. We've gathered our favourite cafes, bars and restaurants in the area into one handy list – here are our picks ... more

Cafes
Coffee by day, vino at night – West End cafe and wine bar GoodGood lives up to its name
Food & Drink

Coffee by day, vino at night – West End cafe and wine bar GoodGood lives up to its name

12 Oct 2023

Tucked inside a converted warehouse on a West End backstreet is GoodGood, a coffee slinger from the Little Peaches crew that has been operating under the radar for a little while now. In great news for local oenophiles, GoodGood has recently started opening in the evenings as a wine bar, pouring natty wines and mixing up OG cocktails, while also dishing up crispy pizzas as snacks. We took a look inside – read on for our findings ... more

Cafes
A top barista drops the needle on Straits – Coorparoo's new coffee joint that's pouring all year round
Food & Drink

A top barista drops the needle on Straits – Coorparoo’s new coffee joint that’s pouring all year round

12 Oct 2023

As the sun began to rise on Monday October 9, those walking down Leicester Street in Coorparoo may have heard the slow-burn intro of Dire Straits' 'Once Upon A Time In The West' leaking out onto the street through the windows of a cosy weatherboard-clad space at the junction of Derby Street. Those that followed their ears inside will have discovered Straits, a brand-new perk palace that is serving ripper coffee and spinning a curated selection of vinyl. Take a peek inside ... more

Cafes
Croque the block – James & Antler is serving gooey croques and soft-serve frappes on James Street
Food & Drink

Croque the block – James & Antler is serving gooey croques and soft-serve frappes on James Street

12 Oct 2023

The team behind one of the year's best new cafes is looking to go two-for-two in 2023. Mitch & Antler is putting one of its most-popular menu items, the heavenly croque madame, in the spotlight at its new sibling concept James & Antler. This handy sandwich, salad and soft-serve dispensary is now open on James Street and is serving up salivation-worthy riffs on the classic croque (including a hearty version bursting with bolognese and bechamel), deli-style baguettes and specialty coffee. Check it out ... more

Cafes
Get comfy at Second Home, Wynnum's new sky-blue specialty coffee nook
Food & Drink

Get comfy at Second Home, Wynnum’s new sky-blue specialty coffee nook

21 Sep 2023

Wynnum locals have been hiding a secret from the rest of Brisbane. Since April, local coffee lovers have been getting their morning fix from Second Home – a pint-sized caffeine dispensary serving ultra-smooth brews made using Five Senses, tea from Ripple Effect Tea Co. and Brasserie Bread pastries. While it's no longer the bayside's best-kept secret, Second Home is still serving some of the finest brews around. Take a closer look ... more

Cafes
If you know, you know – seek out The City's best-kept secrets
Food & Drink

If you know, you know – seek out The City’s best-kept secrets

21 Sep 2023

It's no secret that Brisbane City is a treasure trove of places to sip, snack and shop. That said, not every must-visit spot is easy to find. While some sit in plain sight, other haunts hide underground, down laneways or are disguised by unrelated shopfronts. For many of these places, it’s not so much about their concealed location, but more about the lesser-known menu items, that are, in our opinion, simply under-hyped. If you’re feeling inspired to seek out some of The City’s best-kept secrets, then we suggest you continue reading … more

Cafes
The round-up: what's open on the King's Birthday public holiday
Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on the King’s Birthday public holiday

20 Sep 2023

Heads up, pals – Monday October 2 is a public holiday. That means you've got a day to fill! If you'd rather not be cooped up in the house, might we suggest rounding up a crew of chums and making a booking at one of Brisbane's cafes or restaurants? We've compiled a handy list of places that will be trading throughout the day – have a gander! more

Cafes
Pioneering specialty roaster Single O has opened its first Brisbane coffee bar in Newstead
Food & Drink

Pioneering specialty roaster Single O has opened its first Brisbane coffee bar in Newstead

07 Sep 2023

For many coffee drinkers, the name Single O is synonymous with quality. The long-running Sydney-born roaster is known for its innovative and sustainable practices, with its Surry Hills cafe a pilgrimage destination for those seeking a top-notch from-the-source experience. This week, Single O opened its second-ever Australian cafe, lifting the cloche on a cosy coffee bar in Newstead. Equipped with a Queensland-first self-serve coffee-on-tap counter and boasting a tight menu of its Surry Hills favourites and pastries from Agnes Bakery, any latte lover should make a visit a priority this weekend. more

Cafes
Gather goes Euro – The City eatery unveils a new menu of Italian-inspired bistro bangers
Food & Drink

Gather goes Euro – The City eatery unveils a new menu of Italian-inspired bistro bangers

31 Aug 2023

Proving that Brisbane's appetite for Italian cuisine is insatiable, Gather Bistro at Heritage Lanes has just unveiled a brand-new lunchtime menu filled from top to bottom with a host of modern dishes from lo Stivale. Serving butterflied quail with lentil salsa, risotto with porcini puree and black truffle, and affogato doused in Allpress espresso, if Gather Bistro isn't on your lunchtime hit list, it should be now. more

Cafes
Mercatus Deli, a Euro-style provisioner stocked to the brim with goodies, opens in The City
Food & Drink

Mercatus Deli, a Euro-style provisioner stocked to the brim with goodies, opens in The City

24 Aug 2023

What do Cantabrian anchovies, jars of pickled sweet white garlic, bags of Tipo 00 pasta flour and free-range pork terrines have in common? They're all available right now at Mercatus Deli. This European-inspired vendor of artisanal goodies is stocking a mind-boggling array of small goods, sweets, pantry fillers, fresh baguette sandwiches and specialty coffee, plus loads more. It's now open on Creek Street – take a peek inside! more

Cafes
ZA ZA TA | Brisbane's best vegan spots
Food & Drink

The round-up: fill up on goodness at Brisbane’s best vegan spots

17 Aug 2023

Put your presuppositions in the bin – plant-based food is not just salad and steamed vegetables. Vegan cuisine is becoming increasingly prominent due to the rise of dietary requirements and a conscientious focus of what we put in our bodies. For those of you who can’t stomach the thought of canning the cutlets and trashing the T-bones in favour of salad, please relax – we aren’t here to sway you to veganism. What we will say is that dining as a vegan can be hard in our predominantly meat-eating society, but also very rewarding – even if you love bacon and eggs. We’ve chosen to point out Brisbane’s best vegan spots well worth sampling. more