Overview
Because sometimes dessert should be the main deal, that's why. If you've left it too late for dinner or are still hungry once it's finished, head to one of these five fine establishments that cater to the sweet tooth. From ice-cream and brownies to brioche dumplings and something billed as 'Death Row', the concoctions you'll find here take dessert to the next level.
1. Freestyle Tout
Freestyle Tout is the stalwart of the Brisbane dessert scene. At any given time, the Fortitude Valley and West End locations are packed with hordes of Brisbane's sugar-deprived. Lunch and dinner menus are available, but the sweets are Freestyle's calling card (and who wants to eat savouries anyway?). Everyone has their own Freestyle favourite, but common picks are the sticky date pudding with caramel sauce, the white chocolate raspberry brioche dumplings, and the Little Bit of Queensland (macadamia white chocolate slice with caramel sauce and icecream).
Emporium, 50/1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley and Cnr Browning and Melbourne Streets, West End; www.freestyletout.com.au
2. Mud Dessert Bar
Do you love tapas? How about dessert tapas? At Mud Dessert Bar in Bulimba, an eight-course dessert tapas sitting will only set you back $30, and possibly set you forward a few kilos. This is a serious dessert menu that ventures off the standard fare found at most restaurants. Classics like lemon tart and banana split sit next to banoffee and strawberry shortcake. Chocolate lovers, however, won't care about this; they'll be too busy burying themselves in the decadent and aptly named Death Row: chocolate mousse, ganache, sponge, bavarois, brulee, cheesecake, icecream and homemade chocolate tequila. Smile and say cavity!
1/190 Oxford Street, Bulimba; www.muddessert.com.au
3. ShliX
One of Brisbane's best gelato joints, ShliX is the place to go for a slightly more casual dessert experience. Grab a basic cup or cone, or splurge on a banana split or a sundae if you're feeling a bit special. New and novelty flavours are often being added to rotation, but of the regular flavours the peanut butter is unbeatable.
364 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley; shlix.com.au
4. Dello Mano
A recent addition to the Brisbane dessert race, Dello Mano are serious about their chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate fudge, chocolate souffle, chocolate truffles, chocolate tarts … you get the picture, right? Stealing the show, though, is the huge signature line of Belgian chocolate brownies, a batch of which were famously ordered by Ashton Kutcher for his birthday in 2011. They do brownie gift boxes as well, so while you're there, pick up something special for a loved one (or just for later).
29 Doggett Street, Teneriffe; www.dellomano.com.au
5. Alfred's Cafe and the Alfred & Constance Late Night Dessert Cafe
Brisbane's favourite hipster superclub isn't content just sating the masses with its tropical tiki cocktails and endless tap beers; it also wants to feed your sweet tooth. Alfred's Cafe is a sugary Mecca during the day, and once the sun goes down, the Alfred & Constance's Late Night Dessert Cafe (open until midnight) wakes up as a part of the Vanguard Beer Garden. Confused? Us too. The point is, sweets are never too far away.
Cnr Alfred and Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley; brisbane.concreteplayground.com.au/restaurants/92946/alfred-and-constance.htm