Loving your mum might be an all-year-round affair, but that doesn't make Mother's Day any less special. Sure, you shouldn't need an official occasion to celebrate the woman who brought you into this world or any mother-type figure in your life — but you shouldn't pass up the chance to treat that pivotal person to a tasty feast, either.
Of course, trying to find the right place to head to is where things get tricky. Where do you take the person responsible for making you many a meal over the course of your lifetime? And can anywhere live up to home cooking? Any old burger or doughnut place just won't do, which is why we're here to help.
We'd take our mums and maternal influences to these top Brisbane eateries, and we think you should as well.
Tillerman, Brisbane City
Why treat your mum to one course, or three — or even five — when there's eight on offer at Eagle Street's holiday-inspired seafood-heavy restaurant Tillerman. Views come with the territory, naturally, but you might be too busy feasting your way through this hefty banquet to notice.
For $125, the spread starts with Mooloolaba tiger prawns, then includes dishes like Moreton Bay bug dumplings, pan-fried baby barramundi, roast duck breast and lemon tart for dessert. You'll pay for your drinks on top — and you have the choice between sitting inside or outside.
Yoko Dining, Howard Smith Wharves
Your budget mightn't cover taking your mum to Japan this Mother's Day, sadly, even though that'd be certain to make you the favourite child. But you can spend the date doing the next best thing without leaving Brisbane. At Yoko Dining at Howard Smith Wharves, this year's Mother's Day menu runs for lunch and dinner — if a midday meal doesn't suit.
With excellent river views to peer out at, you'll enjoy some of the best Japanese fare in Brisbane thanks to a $95 menu. Inclusions range from kingfish and ceviche with pineapple through to miso-glazed eggplant, a wagyu striploin set and raspberry mochi.
Allonda, Newstead
If your mum a start-the-day right mum? Does her idea of kicking the morning into gear — and yours — involve mimosas? So does Allonda's on Mother's Day, with the Newstead restaurant serving them from 8am.
Or, head by for lunch or dinner instead, which is when the a la carte menu will include market fish crudo and mushroom casarecce, plus a hazelnut swiss roll for dessert. Whatever time you pick, you'll be in one of Brisbane's recent standouts — and also a spot where European influences are a hefty drawcard. Also, you'll be paying as you go.
Settimo, Brisbane City
Do Guy Grossi's cookbooks line your mum's shelves? If she a fan of MasterChef? Has your mother had a chance to check out Grossi's new Brisbane eatery Settimo — and the Italian Australian chef's first in the Sunshine State capital at that?
A visit here for La Fiesta della Mamma means getting cosy at The Westin Brisbane restaurant over a menu curated by Grossi himself. For $89, think: antipasto, pasta, a choice of wagyu or swordfish, and millefoglie zabaione for dessert — all offering the eatery's blend of Italian and Australian tastes and vibes. And, with the venue taking its cues from the Amalfi Coast, you'll be able to pretend that's where you are instead.
Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane
Sure, if you're handy in the kitchen, you could treat your mum to brioche, prawn cocktails, duck liver parfait, pork tomahawks and white chocolate crème brûlée at home — or you could do it on a South Brisbane rooftop by the sky-high pool with views out across the city.
Lina Rooftop's Mother's Day spread is doing two seatings, one at 11.30am and one at 2pm. There's also two prices: pay $79 to also get a glass of rosé or $89 to get champagne. Either way, flowers for your mum are included.
The Lex, Brisbane CBD
Two words: bubbles cart. If you're sold already, that's understandable. That's what's on offer at The Lex, with the trolley bringing Chandon Brut tableside during your three-course meal — which will cost you $145. To also boost the mood, live acoustic music will echo through W Brisbane restaurant.
On the menu: yuzu-miso brine, umami mayo, pickled jalapeno and bagel crumb; grilled scotch fillet with Café de Paris butter, charred carrots and mashed potatoes; and New York Cheesecake with a raspberry coulis and fresh strawberries.
The Wickham, Fortitude Valley
When The Wickham celebrates Mother's Day, the iconic Fortitude Valley pub does so in its own way. In 2024, that means putting on a bottomless drag high tea. For $79, you'll get a two-hour all-inclusive brunch package that will dish up finger sandwiches and compressed cucumbers to eat. You'll also get drinks, too.
Plus, Yana Michelle and Vollie LaVont will be your hosts — a drag mum-and-daughter combo, aptly — and DJ Sammy will be spinning tunes. It all starts at 10am and this is an 18-plus event.
Maggie May, Newstead
There aren't many drawbacks to Mother's Day, unless you and your mum aren't all that fond of catering to someone else's schedule. Can't make the usual breakfast, brunch or lunch timeslots? Maggie May in Newstead is a supper club — a 70s-inspired one, too — so it's big on options from morning through to dinner.
You can opt for a $49 Mother's Day breakfast, of course, which spans three courses (starting with seasonal fruits and yoghurt, then serving up a breakfast platter, then finishing off with crepes). Or, go for the $69 set menu for lunch, which also includes a trio of plates, with choices such as coal-roasted chicken and grilled barramundi. You can also tuck into the regular culinary lineup as you like.
Byblos, Hamilton
Pick your river vantage, any river vantage — that's the Brisbane story, with eating in sight of the city's snaking waterway one of the easiest things to do in this sunny city. That includes in Hamilton, where Portside Wharf's Byblos is marking Mother's Day with a $69 feast from 11.30am onwards.
As well as the river vista, you'll be working your way through Lebanese dishes — which in past years have included falafel, fried filo pastries, minced lamb and grilled barramundi with roasted pepper ratatouille. Arrive hungry, of course.
Bacchus, South Bank
Sometimes, fine-diner Bacchus at South Bank themes its menu to match shows at QPAC, such as the Beauty and the Beast musical. And sometimes, it celebrates big occasions with a special offering — such as the venue's $89 Mother's Day high tea.
Food options include reuben sandwiches, sweet potato croquettes, truffle egg pillows, raspberry tarts, macarons, scones and chocolate caramel — and you can pay more for endless sparkling. A word of warning: this one is usually very popular, so much so that there's three sittings this year, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Iris Rooftop, Fortitude Valley
By now, you've probably realised that there's a Mother's Day option for your maternal figure no matter what type of cuisine she favours — and which country she'd rather be in. Iris Rooftop atop Hotel X on Brunswick Street is going with Spanish fare, thanks to an $98 banquet lunch that ends with Basque cheesecake.
Or, make a date for morning tea instead and you'll get a Sunday-morning favourite, aka bottomless mimosas, to go with your food. That option costs $95, and runs till 11.30am.
Gemelli Italian, New Farm
If your mum loves Italian food — and, let's face it, everyone does — then a meal at Gemelli Italian is the perfect way to spend your Mother's Day lunch. The James Street venue is doing a sharing-style feast, with options including crispy polenta cubes topped with beef tartare and slow-cooked egg yolk, butterflied Mooloolaba king prawns, scotch fillet with confit cherry tomatoes and maritozzo alla panna to finish up. The word you're looking for: yum.
Yes, the dessert alone should get both you and your mum excited. If there's ever a day to eat a cream-filled bun, it's this one. You'll pay $90 per person for this Italian spread, with drinks costing extra.
Donna Chang, Brisbane City
When it comes to spending quality time with your mum and eating quality food at the same time, we can't recommend Donna Chang's Mother's Day yum cha offering highly enough. For $98 each, you'll get to dive into a menu of pork and scallop hargow, Moreton Bay bug dumplings, cumin-spiced lamb buns, wagyu beef and black pepper puffs, rock lobster rolls, and passionfruit cream bao buns. Well, that's just the start.
The vibrant restaurant is located in a heritage-listed sandstone building and was awarded our Best New Restaurant of 2018, too — so, you know it'll be good enough for mum.
Cloudland, Fortitude Valley
No one forgets a trip to Cloudland, one of the most eye-catching spots in Fortitude Valley, especially inside. This Mother's Day, your mum can fall into that category as well. The Ann Street spot is doing a buffet in its Rose Room, costing $89 each.
This feast comes complete with carvery and charcuterie stations, where roasted pork belly, beef sirloin, artisan cured meats and duck fat potatoes (and more) await. There's also a dessert cart, plus a stacked menu of salads and accompaniments — and you'll get full access to all of the above from 11.30am–2pm.
Eat Street Northshore
Eat Street, Hamilton
Can't decide what kind of dishes your mum would like this Mother's Day? Know that she'd much prefer to pick herself — and browse and stroll while she tucks into a bunch of different things? Then Eat Street at Northshore Hamilton is your ideal go-to, in what it's badging 'Brisbane's longest Mother's Day lunch' from 12–8pm.
There's a $5 entry free, and then it's a pay-as-you-go affair as you and your mum hit up whichever stalls take her fancy. The added bonus: those river views. Well, that and the cocktails that'll also be available to purchase.
Valley Hops Brewing, Fortitude Valley
Taking your mum out for a Mother's Day lunch can still be a casual affair, especially if she likes cold beers, rooftop spots and impressive views. That's the combination on offer at Fortitude Valley's aptly named Valley Hops Brewing, which sits above Cloudland on Ann Street.
The brewery is running its usual menu while celebrating the date — so if your mother is a fan of pizza, as we all are, she'll have options. Other bites include calamari, smoked chicken wings, blackened carrot and butternut salad, and a range of burgers.
Nikki To
Greca, Howard Smith Wharves
Maybe you and your mum share fond memories of a Greek getaway. Maybe she's always wanted to visit the Mediterranean, but just hasn't gotten around to it. Either way, you can help her pretend that she's on holidays by taking her to lunch or dinner at Greca.
Howard Smith Wharves' riverside eatery just has that feel to it, and that's before you even get to the food portion of its Mother's Day banquet. For $90 per person, you can the afternoon eating taramasalata with fresh pita, octopus with pickled chilli, vine leaf-cured reef fish, chicken souvlaki and spiced lamb ribs — with chocolate and yoghurt pudding for dessert.
City Winery, Fortitude Valley
Don't go forgetting that Brisbane has its own winery right in the middle of the city. No, there's no vineyard onsite — but City Winery in Fortitude Valley has the rest of the vino-making and -drinking essentials covered. And on Mother's Day, it has lunch on offer as well.
For $80, with sittings at 12pm and 2pm, you'll feast your way through a three-course lunch. That price includes a complimentary glass of bubbles — but if you want to pick up any drops for your mum to take home with her as a gift, that'll cost extra.
Zennieshia Butts
The Belvedere, Woody Point
You'll have company if you choose The Belvedere, Woody Point's 123-year-old waterside pub that just relaunched after a major $10-million-plus revamp late in 2023, as your Mother's Day haunt. The venue seats over 1000, which is a lot of mums and families. You'll also have three days to celebrate, with the bar in mother-commemorating mode across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The regular menu will greet you — and if this isn't the perfect occasion to try the signature lobster pie, when is? The Belvedere will also welcome the Aperol kombi to sling cocktails from 11am, and give mums a gift when buying an Aperol. A photo wall will let you take snaps of the festivities, and you can nab flowers at a pop-up stall.
Covent Garden, West End
If sampling gins from around the world is something that appeals to you — we mean, your mum — we suggest you book a Mother's Day table at Covent Garden. It's doing its usual gin-fuelled brunch from 11am–2.30pm, which'll set you back $49 complete with two hours of unlimited shared cocktails.
Also on the menu: red or white wine sangria, and a grazing-board spread featuring cured meats, cheeses, pickled vegetables and crackers, plus that breakfast and brunch staple, aka bread, too. Our advice: don't plan a big afternoon afterwards, so that you and you mum can kick back and make the most of your boozy meal.