Just when you thought Brisbane’s buzzing foodie nexus Newstead was completely chock-a-block with dining destinations, the suburb surprises us with more. Proving there is no such thing as nimiety when it comes to nosh, new-age Thai restaurant and cocktail spot Som Saa opened at the base of the Energex head office building on Reddacliff Street in June 2021. Som Saa’s ownership crew has teamed up with Icatha Hospitality Solutions to deliver the concept, which is striking a midpoint between authentic and atypical with its menu of Thai eats. Som Saa’s team of Thai chefs is heroing wok and grill-based dishes (think pad Thai, panang curries and stir-fries), while the restaurant’s bar is complementing the culinary effort with beers, wines and a rotating selection of cocktails. The site itself accommodates more than 80 patrons across indoor and outdoor spaces, with an oasis-style aesthetic reminiscent of Koh Samui’s lavish resorts giving Som Saa a luxurious appeal.