This year has been a whirlwind of lockdowns, cancellations and rescheduling. Despite this, Brisbane's hospo scene continues to bloom with new openings and revamps aplenty. One eatery that has taken the time to freshen up during the lockdown period is Woolloongabba's The Pearl. To celebrate its new ownership, this bistro beauty has a fresh menu of seasonal flavours and fine fare that's just waiting to be plated up. more
South Brisbane's burgeoning Fish Lane precinct is evolving next month, with its anticipated Town Square addition nearing completion. The public green space will not only revitalise more of the laneway's length, but it will also be home to several new culinary concepts from some top-tier operators. The crew behind lauded Burleigh Heads venue Rick Shores will be bringing multi-level restaurant Southside and express-service coffee and banh mi kiosk Kiki to the strip, while the brains behind Julius Pizzeria will be doubling their presence on Fish Lane with aperitivo and spuntini joint Bar Brutus. Here's what we know ... more
After the year we've had, we all deserve a few cold ones. Woolloongabba's new two-level craft-beer brewery Easy Times Brewing Co. is has opened its doors, offering sanctuary for folks seeking a stress-free space to sink a few, encouraging guests to leave their issues at the door while they enjoy good drink, good food and good times. This beery newcomer is already receiving high praise from craft-beer enthusiasts and industry personnel alike, and with a seasoned barbecue crew on board providing some finger-licking fare and plenty of creative beers in the brewing pipeline, Easy Times has become the easy choice for relaxed revelry. more
The Kangaroo Point cliffs boast some of the best views in all of Brisbane, which is why diners need to be incredibly excited for the arrival of Joey's – the brand-new restaurant and bar that is taking full advantage of the cliff's stunning vistas. Several of Brisbane's hospitality elite have come together to craft a venue that blends quintessential sun-dappled Queenslander vibes with a chic and summery European feel, which is definitely a combination we can get behind! more
In a perfect world, every street would boast some combination of three local essentials – a cafe, a bar and a delicatessen – of its own. It's wishful thinking, sure, but there's good news for locals that live on or closer to the northern end of Brunswick Street. Lloyd's General Store is a new three-in-one hotspot has just opened where Brunswick Street meets Gregory Terrace. Serving coffee and croissants by day and wine and charcuterie by night (as well as acting as a providore the entire time), Lloyd's is comfy, convenient and oh so charming. more
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
They say necessity is the mother of invention. We say that COVID-19 closures may just be the mother of some epic new food products. more
Life is all about balance – lettuce on your burger and botanicals in your gin. Meet a stylish new contender on the liquor shelf, Impression Gin. more
We love a classic sausage sizzle as much as the next person, but South Bank will really be taking things up a notch with an all-burners-blazing weekend of international bangers, bevvies and live music on the Little Stanley Street lawns this November. more
In the wise words of Ricky Gervais: "Dogs make me happy. Beer makes me happy. A beer that saves dogs makes me very happy." Mate, we couldn’t agree more. more
In some sad news for Brisbane's dining scene, the team behind Fortitude Valley restaurant and bar Little Valley has revealed that the venue will not be reopening following its COVID-19-enforced closure earlier in the year. more
This week we were gifted with the great news that Melbourne is finally coming out lockdown, with the city's cafes, restaurants and pubs able to reopen come Wednesday October 27. To help the city's struggling hospo industry get back on track, dining and drinking destinations across Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers are joining forces for a new initiative, aptly called Byron for Melbourne. From Friday November 6, the charitable collaboration will see various venues in the beachside towns raise awareness and money all in the name of a good cause. more
The silly season is fast approaching, and that usually means a few trips to the bottle-o for some celebratory bubbly. Helping you streamline the sparkling stuff straight to your home is Fizztopia, a new online bottle shop that exclusively sells bubbly beverages. Created with fizz fans in mind, the store stocks a tried-and-tested range of craft beers, ciders, seltzers, sparkling wines (hello, pet nat) and even non-alcoholic alternatives that taste just like the real deal. more
From news of a new inner-city coffee bar from Industry Beans to an overwater cocktail bar, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know (while also supporting our local hospitality industry). When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more
From delectable discs of garlic bread to a brand-new way of ordering, Brisbane City’s Vapiano pizza and pasta bar has a number of new surprises tucked up its revamped sleeve. more
Of contemporary cinema's pantheon of visionary directors, Quentin Tarantino is perhaps the most singular of the bunch. His knack for crafting visceral filmic masterpieces has earned him a huge following, and his two-part saga Kill Bill is a cult favourite for many. A martial-arts epic that has endured thanks to its stylised cinematography, iconic action scenes and effortlessly cool aesthetics, the film's impact continues to materialise in unforeseen ways. Fortitude Valley’s newest bar and eatery Kiddo (named after Kill Bill’s lead character Beatrix Kiddo aka The Bride aka Black Mamba – played by Uma Thurman) is taking some cues from QT’s blood-soaked tale of revenge, creating a unique hospitality experience that channels QT's style through its vivid decor, menu of Japanese-fusion eats and selection of creative cocktails. more
After years living in the shadow of the bustling boulevard that is Boundary Street, West End's Montague Road is flourishing, becoming a high street in its own right thanks to an influx of hospitality and residential projects. Recently the street has welcomed the likes of Superthing, Grown, Brisbane Distillery Company, Ehden Bar & Kitchen, Ballistic Beer's alehouse and La Lupa, and now a new mixed-use development is bolstering the local dining scene further. Montague Markets has welcomed the first wave of its hospitality tenants – Voglia, Jia by Fat Dumpling and The Cheeky Bean – all of which are owned by seasoned operators looking to tap into West End's lifestyle. more
It's been a weird year for Brisbane's nightlife, but as revellers gradually slink back to their favourite watering holes, Fortitude Valley's bar scene is starting to not only show signs of a bounce back, but also some growth. The Happy Horsemen, the hospitality collective behind bars like Black Bear Lodge, Blute's Bar and The Brightside has shaken up its portfolio, transforming understated cocktail joint Barbara into rough-and-tumble live-music bar O'Skulligans. If you're keen to take a walk on the dark side, don your battle vest or leather jacket and scope out Warner Street's new rowdy resident. more
The mantra for any food business operating in Brisbane this year should be 'slow and steady'. Sweetshop Specialty Coffee has been operating under this philosophy since quietly opening for coffee and snacks only back in June, but now the Stuartholme Road haunt is looking to make its presence known to all with the activation of its brand-new kitchen. If you're serious about your morning cup or are simply looking to branch out on your next brunch journey, make a trip to this Bardon beauty a top priority. more
You might not be able to travel overseas for the foreseeable future, but you can now take your senses on an international culinary adventure with an exclusive Silk Road Degustation dinner. The distinguished team behind Botero House will draw on their childhood memories spanning India, England and Australia to create a story-driven meal inspired by the ancient trade route. more
