When it’s the day before payday
Penny pinching until your next pay is deposited into your bank account? Don’t worry, as The City is brimming with cheap eats that will keep you cosy. There is nothing quite as comforting as a chicken katsu curry and ​Hanaichi in The City serves up some of the most scrumptious (and inexpensive) curries this side of the Story Bridge. If toasties are what tempt your tastebuds, make Melt Brothers your lunch pit stop and snag yourself a gourmet toastie with fillings like macaroni and cheese, maple bacon, smoky barbecue sauce, aioli, mozzarella and aged cheddar for under $10. Plenty of bargain-friendly gourmet sandwiches, wraps and fresh salads await at Harvest on George for the health-conscious folk, and more economical grab-and-go delights await at sushi slinger Sushia Izakaya in QueensPlaza.

When you forgot your lunch
Don’t you just hate it when you get to work and realise that your perfectly prepared lunch is still chilling on the bench at home? Us too, but that doesn’t mean you have to go hungry as there are plenty of tasty lunch options within arms reach. Tantalising Thai flavours abound at Som Tum Bar, where you can score a green papaya salad with marinated barbecue chicken. Poke lovers can get their fix at Cheeky Poké on Ulster Lane, which dishes up a mouth-watering selection of poke bowls, tacos and slurp-worthy soups. Craving baked goods? Pop down to Mica Express and devour French-inspired goodies like buttery croissants (baked on site every 30 minutes), bear claws, freshly made sandwiches, fruit-filled danishes and braised Tasmanian-lamb pasties. The broth-making champs at Ramen Danbo won’t let you go back to work hungry, with plenty of steamy options to sate your senses –  from the classic tonkotsu pork ramen with soft-boiled eggs and the rich and hearty se-abura ramen to the miso tonkotsu ramen.

When you’re in charge of an office birthday spot
It’s someone birthday in the office and you’re not only invited, but you have to figure out a cosy place to bring your work mates. Treat your colleague to a tempting Thai feast at Naga, where the flavoursome fare (hello, chicken and coconut curry soup) and lip-smacking cocktail list are only beat by the stellar views of the river. More decadent fare awaits at Adelaide Street gem Motorwagen, which dishes up nourishing midday delicacies like roasted quail with witlof, persimmon, orange and hazelnut as well as chickpea miso falafels with lemongrass chilli jam and spiked baba. Lap up more salivation-inducing eats at Leonard’s Bar & Bistro, which plates up hearty menu heroes like rack of lamb with herb and pistachio crumb, crushed potatoes and jus gras, and hand-rolled tagliatelle with forest mushroom and broccoli, finished with crème fraîche. Celebrate in style at LUCHA Kitchen + Bar, where you can dig in to comforting tea-infused fare like roast chicken with tea leaf-infused dipping sauces, fried king prawns with black tea and wok-fried beef eye fillet with oyster mushroom sauce.

When you want to treat yo’self
When it comes to wining and dining in style, Brisbane is a treasure chest of lavish feasting destinations. Discover old-world charm, top-tier service and enticing eats at Walter’s Steakhouse, and stick a fork into a 30-day dry-aged New York strip or the 200-g eye fillet. Over at Eagle Street Pier you’ll discover Italian-inspired spuntino and pasta joint COPPA, where you can feast on sizzling picks like pumpkin arancini, veal-and-pork meatballs, scallop crudo and pork-and-beef ragu. More Italian goodness awaits at inner-city restaurant Persone, a spot prime for indulging in bites like braised lamb shoulder with brussels sprouts, broccolini and salsa verde and spaghetti served with Western Australian lobster, tomato, chilli and garlic. More winter-warmers can be found at fine-dining institution Donna Chang, with tea-smoked duck breast with jackfruit and chilli bean salsa, spicy pork xiao long bao, and vegetable and bamboo crystal dumplings all gracing the menu.

This article was written in partnership with our friends at Queen Street Mall.