The Best Restaurants in Brisbane for 2026

Essa has earned its reputation as one of Brisbane’s most respected dining rooms, built around bold seasonal cooking and a deep connection to Queensland producers. Led by chef-owner Phil Marchant, the restaurant works closely with farmers, fishermen and artisans, allowing the menu to evolve naturally with the harvest.

Elemental techniques such as wood-firing, smoking, curing and pickling shape dishes that feel grounded yet inventive, and regulars rarely encounter the same menu twice. Alongside its core offering, Essa runs collaborative Test Kitchen dinners and its relaxed Sunday School long lunches. A focused wine list and seasonally tuned cocktails round out an experience that’s confident, produce-driven and quietly distinctive.

Martin Boetz’s return to Brisbane with Short Grain brings decades of Thai expertise back to his hometown. Inside Fortitude Valley’s heritage Stewart & Hemmant building, the restaurant feels relaxed but purposeful, built around confident flavours and seasonal produce.

The menu balances sweet, sour, salty and spicy with precision – think vibrant salads, punchy seafood, slow-cooked meats and curries designed for sharing. The wine list, largely Australian with thoughtful international additions, is calibrated to handle spice and intensity rather than overpower it.

Set across nine rooms of a heritage-listed 1938 apartment building on Fish Lane, Marlowe is Fanda Group’s most refined offering yet. The elegant Modern Australian bistro draws inspiration from vintage Australian cookbooks, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.

The menu moves with the seasons, blending nostalgia and precision – think polished takes on classics, woodfire-grilled meats from a custom hearth and a raw bar spotlighting pristine seafood. A 200-strong Australian wine list and design that retains the building’s Art Deco character complete a venue that feels both grand and intimate, layered yet assured.

Set within the 125-year-old Stewart & Hemmant building, Rosmarino blends heritage brickwork with warm, contemporary Italian hospitality. The dining room is light-filled and inviting, while the adjoining courtyard – framed by greenery and perfect for intimate gatherings – has become a favourite for celebrations and boutique events.

The menu nods to Sicily while embracing broader Italian tradition. Expect house-made pasta, refined antipasti and slow-cooked mains, alongside degustation options for those wanting a more structured experience. A wine list favouring biodynamic producers and well-priced Champagne completes a venue that feels equally suited to date night, long lunches and micro-weddings alike.

Agnes isn’t just popular, it helped reshape Brisbane’s dining conversation. Set inside a moody heritage brick warehouse, the restaurant is built entirely around fire. There are no gas burners or conventional ovens here, only wood, charcoal and flame, with an open kitchen that glows through service and anchors the entire space.

Almost everything touches smoke or coals, from blistered seafood and dry-aged meats to vegetables transformed by heat. The menu shifts with the seasons, but the philosophy remains constant: bold produce, elemental technique and confident restraint. A thoughtful wine list and adjoining bar round out the experience, making Agnes as much about atmosphere as it is about what’s on the plate.

August delivers one of Brisbane’s most refined dining experiences from an unexpected setting: a beautifully converted church in West End. Soaring ceilings and original architectural details create a sense of quiet drama, while the mood remains calm and intimate rather than grand.

The menu centres on a seasonal tasting format shaped by premium Queensland produce and modern technique. Dishes are precise and layered without excess, each course building deliberately on the last. Thoughtful wine pairings enhance the progression, and BYO Sundays have become a favourite among local collectors keen to dip into their own cellars. It’s considered, confident dining that rewards attention.

Set along the river in South Bank, OTTO pairs polished Italian cooking with one of Brisbane’s most scenic outlooks. The light-filled dining room and generous terrace make it a natural choice for long lunches, celebratory dinners and occasions that call for something a little elevated.

The menu balances traditional Italian technique with premium Australian produce, moving through handmade pastas, pristine seafood and composed mains that favour finesse over excess. A well-curated wine list spanning Italian and Australian producers, alongside a sharp aperitivo-friendly cocktail offering, rounds out an experience that feels elegant, confident and built for lingering.

Joy is one of Brisbane’s most quietly extraordinary dining rooms. With just a handful of seats per service, the restaurant feels personal and immersive, designed for guests who want to settle in and give the evening their full attention.

Led by chef-owner Sarah Baldwin, Joy offers a frequently changing set tasting menu shaped by seasonality and technique. There’s no à la carte – every guest moves through the same carefully composed progression, each dish balancing delicacy with depth. Thoughtful wine pairings and warm, unobtrusive service complete an experience built on intention, precision and the pleasure of slowing down.

Set along the waterfront at Eagle Street, Opa brings bold Greek cooking and generous hospitality to the CBD. The open dining room and terrace take full advantage of Brisbane River views, making it a natural choice for long lunches, sunset dinners and celebrations that call for atmosphere.

The menu is built for sharing, moving through mezze, fresh seafood, chargrilled meats and larger plates designed to anchor the table. Greek wines, classic cocktails and spritz-style aperitifs keep pace with the food’s vibrancy. Lively, polished and made for groups, Opa is about plates landing, glasses clinking and evenings that stretch longer than planned.

Perched along the waterfront at Howard Smith Wharves, Stanley delivers polished Cantonese cooking in one of Brisbane’s most scenic settings. Inspired by Hong Kong’s Stanley Bay, the restaurant blends traditional technique with premium Australian produce, resulting in a menu that feels both classic and expansive.

Live seafood is a highlight, with coral trout, mud crab and lobster selected from the tank and prepared to order, while signatures such as Peking duck pancakes and Sichuan-style char siu anchor the offering. Generous banquet menus cater to everything from long lunches to celebratory feasts. Upstairs, Stan’s Lounge shifts the mood with cocktails and Cantonese-inspired bites, extending the experience well into the night.

The 203 has returned with a refreshed interior and a sharpened focus on what it does best: premium Australian beef paired with Italian soul. The dining room strikes a balance between polish and warmth, making it just as suited to date nights as it is to group celebrations that stretch late into the evening.

At the centre of the menu is a partnership with Stanbroke, ensuring top-tier cuts handled with confidence from paddock to plate. Expect expertly cooked steaks alongside house-made pastas and seasonal Queensland produce served in generous, share-friendly style. A 500-plus bottle cellar supports the food, while neighbouring Bar 203 adds cocktails and small plates in a more relaxed lounge setting — together delivering equal parts steakhouse substance and Italian warmth.

Golden Avenue was Anyday’s first CBD venture, bringing Levantine flavours and wood-fired intensity to a sprawling Edward Street space. Led by Ben Williamson alongside Executive Chef Adam Wolfers and Head Chef Tim Yates, the menu is built around charcoal grills and wood ovens, with smoke and spice woven through every dish.

Expect vibrant meze, flame-licked seafood and generous shared plates layered with preserved citrus, herbs and Middle Eastern spice. The striking 500-square-metre venue blends brutalist architecture with Moroccan-inspired details, complete with retractable roofs that open to the sky. Next door, GA offers a more casual bar setting with its own snack menu and extensive back bar, making Golden Avenue as versatile as it is ambitious.