Cafes Brisbane | The Weekend Edition

Mica Brasserie breathes new French-inspired life into Breakfast Creek Wharf

09 Apr 2020

It seems – quite clearly – that Shannon Kellam isn't one to rest on his laurels. The award-winning chef and restaurateur, together with his wife Clare, is behind Bowen Hills favourites Montrachet and King Street Bakery, and this year is set to see a huge expansion for the family-owned business. The duo – and its powerhouse team – has taken over culinary operations at the new Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct (the home for LSH Auto Australia’s Mercedes-Benz Brisbane dealership and Queensland’s Sotheby’s International Realty), with a multifaceted plan to roll out over the year (government restrictions permitting). One of the first stages is casual riverside eatery MICA Brasserie, a patisserie, bar and bistro set to bring the once-tired Breakfast Creek Wharf back to life. more

Food & Drink

How to support the local Brisbane hospitality scene during the coronavirus threat

06 Apr 2020

UPDATE March 23, 2020: We told you we'd be regularly updating this, as the coronavirus situation is rapidly evolving. As of midday Monday March 23, the federal Government has forced the closure of all pubs, clubs, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor places of worship, gyms and indoor sporting venues. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to operate, but only to offer takeaway and delivery services. Currently hotels can operate in an accommodation-only capacity, and supermarkets, convenience stores, banks, petrol stations, pharmacies, food delivery services, bottle shops, hairdressers, beauticians and freight and logistics services can continue to operate. COVID-19 is a serious virus, which means we need to take serious steps to overcome it. As you can see from the latest Government protocol, this usually comes at the expense of small businesses – especially our bars, cafes and… more

Food & Drink

Welcome Savour Cafe – a New Farm mainstay gets a new lease on life

26 Mar 2020

UPDATE: In the wake of government-mandated restrictions on dining, Savour Cafe's dine-in component is currently suspended. Thankfully, the cafe is serving plenty of goodness to take away, which means you can still get a taste of the venue's fare – we're talking the full cafe menu, cabinet treats and take-home meals! Since its inception, New Farm's Vue Lounge has been a pillar of the suburb's cafe scene, and owners Matt and Dan Jefferis are chiefly responsible for the cafe's success. After taking over Vue in 2005, the brothers have established the eatery as a reliable go-to spot for coffee, brunch and drinks, but now the team is starting a new chapter. Earlier this month, Matt and Dan revealed the results of a recent rebranding, renovation and repositioning of the Vue space. Savour Cafe is Vue evolved – expect the same welcoming community spirit with some tasty tweaks that'll have… more

Food & Drink

A taste of Tassie – Banjo’s Bakery opens new full-service cafe and drive through

26 Mar 2020

Although the current travel restrictions mean we won't be able to take a trip to Tasmania any time soon, thankfully we don't have to go far at all to snag a signature slice of the state. Storied bakery and cafe chain Banjo's is opening its first Brisbane location in Darra today, Wednesday March 25, bringing the western suburbs a plethora of buttery baked goods, freshly made sandwiches and ready-to-eat meals. The concept also boasts a drive-through, which makes it a handy go-to spot in this period of social distancing! more

Food & Drink

The round-up: venues that are temporarily closing during the COVID-19 outbreak

26 Mar 2020

As of midday Monday March 23, the federal Government has forced the closure of all pubs, clubs, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor places of worship, gyms and indoor sporting venues. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to operate, but only to offer takeaway and delivery services. That doesn't mean that every local business you know and love is going to magically switch to takeaway and delivery – for some, this is not feasible. The following is a list of Brisbane venues that will be shutting doors entirely for an indefinite period of time during the COVID-19 outbreak. We will be updating this list as much a possible to convey the closures as we hear of them. For more information on these listed closures, including a projected timeframe for how long they might last, be sure to visit the venue's website and socials. more

Food & Drink

On your bike – caffeine and cycling hotspot Tandem Coffee Co. heads to Paddington

12 Mar 2020

Over the years coffee and cycling have become intrinsically linked – so much so that now packs of lycra-clad bodies are a common sight at your local weekend go-to. It makes sense, then, that the two interests would eventually come together under one roof. Last week Paddington welcomed a new cycle house and coffee dispensary rolled into one. Tandem Coffee Co. has moved from its former home in Grange to set up on Latrobe Terrace, hawking hot brews, fresh pastries and choice gear for speedy two-wheelers and the local coffee crowd alike. more

Food & Drink

Discover Brisbane City’s newest hidden gem Anytime Coffee

27 Feb 2020

While it's true that some of the best food and drink experiences are sometimes the ones you discover by chance, often we don't have the patience to go wandering when all we're craving is a cup of coffee. If you are caffeine deprived and similarly impatient, allow us to clue you in on a must-try newcomer serving top-notch brew in the heart of Brisbane City. Anytime Coffee is a secretive and cosy laneway dispensary that is well worth your patronage – all you have to do is find it! more

Food & Drink

Farewells on Florence Street – Sourced announces its closure

06 Feb 2020

After nine years, countless coffees and scores of rye sourdough crumpets, heralded Teneriffe cafe and one-time grocer Sourced has announced its closure, with its last day of trade slated for Sunday February 9. more

The Locals Next week:

Food & Drink

Salisbury welcomes chic coffee specialists Supernumerary Coffee

23 Jan 2020

To describe something as supernumerary is to say it's in excess or above the requisite number required. When Robertson locals and ardent coffee lovers Simon Flanagan and Chin Wu decided to open a specialty brew-slinging nook of their own, they knew they were entering a scene already flush with terrific coffee shops. While labelling their brand-new caffeine spot excessive may seem self-effacing, Simon and Chin's Supernumerary Coffee is named thus with tongue placed firmly in cheek. As any serious sipper knows, you can never have enough top-notch coffee sources, especially when the experience on offer is as considered and polished as Salisbury's newest pitstop. more

Food & Drink

Sip and socialise at South Brisbane’s new coffee spot Cups on Melbourne

23 Jan 2020

When it comes to coffee options in the inner south, our cups runneth over with must-try choices. Throwing its hat into the ring for our patronage is spiffy newcomer Cups on Melbourne, the latest caffeine dispensary from the crew behind Cups and Wells. more

Food & Drink

Stop time and unwind at Manly’s colourfully chill cafe Groundhog Social

16 Jan 2020

Have you ever pondered what you'd do if you were trapped in a recurring Groundhog Day-like time loop? Perhaps you'd catch up on your reading, or consume all those TV shows you've been meaning to watch. We'd hazard a guess that the foodies amongst us would be jubilant at the prospect of bingeing their favourite eats over and over again without consequence. Well, Manly's Groundhog Social is a new hotspot that aims to deliver the same kind of precise and consistent experience every time you take a seat. If you're seeking a delicious day starter or a sedated sundowner, Groundhog Social's got you, babe. more

Food & Drink

Sip and snack from day to night at East Brisbane newbie Neesh Bar & Restaurant

16 Jan 2020

Usually describing something as niche is to remark on its specialised and specific appeal – for example, choosing only to eat Hawaiian-style pizzas would indicate you have niche tastes, while the films of John Waters boast a niche audience. Neesh Bar & Restaurant – East Brisbane's new go-to for brunch, lunch and evening snacks – is playfully flipping the word on its head, serving up an inclusive menu of fare imbued with a dash of creativity. more

Food & Drink

Get pepped – specialty coffee nook The Hideout opens on Adelaide Street

16 Jan 2020

We can't lie, returning to the daily grind after the recent festive period required some exceptionally strong coffee. If you're still dragging your feet into 2020 thanks to some post-holiday blues, brand-new specialty coffee nook The Hideout might have just the thing to put a spring in your step. Opening today, Monday January 13, The Hideout is pouring brew using beans from some of Australia's finest roasters, and is shaping up to be the kind of cafe that makes you look forward to going to work. more

Grassfed – Brisbane's best vegan spots — Cafes

Food & Drink

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

16 Jan 2020

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

Food & Drink

The round-up: what’s open on the Australia Day public holiday

02 Jan 2020

We know you don't need to be reminded, but we've got a long weekend coming up. It's a great opportunity to catch up with friends or family, but the trick is knowing where to go. The Australia Day public holiday falls on Monday this year, so to ensure you don't get caught off guard when your local closes for the day, we've compiled a list of spots that will be operating on Monday January 27. more

Food & Drink

The year in review: 2019’s biggest openings

19 Dec 2019

After the blockbuster year Brisbane's food scene experienced in 2018, you'd be forgiven for thinking that 2019 would be hard-pressed to to follow suit. Now that we sit on the precipice of a new decade, we've got the perfect vantage point to look back on the year that as. From our point of view, 2019 has not only matched 2018's gargantuan effort, but has even surpassed it! This year Brisbane was the beneficiary of several new restaurants, bars, cafes, breweries and live-music venues – with homegrown heroes and international names establishing must-try venues all over town. From Howard Smith Wharves consolidating its position as Brisbane's go-to dining precinct to the emergence of Fortitude Valley's Ada Lane as a hospitality juggernaut in its own right, 2019 has proven to be a landmark year in Brisbane's history. To celebrate this milestone stretch, we've cast our eye back over 2019 and… more

Food & Drink

South Bank gets sweeter with the addition of nodo’s newest locale

12 Dec 2019

In late November, beloved purveyor of sweet treats, sublime brunch and salubrious coffee nodo opened its fourth location in as many years, this time at South Bank! In no time, fans were flocking to the shady space to get their fix, cementing nodo's position at the top of Brisbane's brunch pyramid. Although this sort of reception is unsurprising, it's still a testament to not only Brisbane's undying love for gourmet goodies, but also to nodo's beatific brand of hospitality. more

Food & Drink

Savour vegan eats and specialty coffee at Fortitude Valley newcomer Froth on Brunswick

05 Dec 2019

The past few years have seen the word 'froth' take on new meaning. On the one hand, it still refers to the light foam one might savour on top of a beer or freshly brewed cappuccino. Alternatively, 'to froth' is to experience a heightened level of excitement at the thought of something – perhaps at the prospect of a killer surf, a jam-packed festival line-up or great brunch? It all works! California Lane's newest eatery Froth on Brunswick is giving locals the chance to experience froth both ways. Sip on a perfectly frothed coffee or froth over its menu of vegan-friendly eats – either way you'll be frothin' satisfied. more

Food & Drink

Goodfolk Cafe opens its brunch and coffee nook in the heart of Bardon

05 Dec 2019

The Rainworth General Store in Bardon boasts a storied history as a community hub, from its days as a trading post to its more recent iteration as home for coffee hotspot Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters. Two enterprising locals have stepped in and given the venue a new lease on life – transforming it into a bustling suburban foodie hub that feels as much as a home as a brunch-time destination. After a transitional soft-launch period, the venue – now known as Goodfolk Cafe – is starting to hit its stride. Guests can expect nourishing and consistent fare, delectable specialty coffee, sustainable hospitality practices and a natural and comfortable interior vibe that you'll want to experience multiple times a week. more

Food & Drink

An icon reborn – New Farm Deli officially reopens to the public

05 Dec 2019

If you ask any regular what the best aspect of New Farm Deli is, they'll tell you it's the people that work there that make it what it is. If you asked owners Vince and Maria Anello for their thoughts, they'd say their customers make New Farm Deli special. In the wake of the fire that tore down their longstanding food hub, Vince and Maria only thought of the greater community. Product could be replaced, walls could be rebuilt – old always becomes new, and new always becomes old. For the Anello's, New Farm Deli signifies family and community as much as food, and they are imbuing that passion and spirit into the mortar of the foundations of New Farm Deli 2.0. After five months of construction, New Farm Deli officially reopens to the public today, embarking on a new chapter while retaining the same welcoming spirit that made it a local institution in the first place. more