Overview
Finding a good lunch in the middle of a workday is getting harder than it should be. You're either stuck paying premium prices for something that feels a bit too fancy for 1pm on a Tuesday, or settling for a forgettably sad sandwich because you've got 30 minutes to spare and three emails marked "urgent." But there is a sweet spot: a proper meal that feels like a break and doesn't torch your lunch budget.
In Brisbane, Fortitude Valley venues Cloudland Garden, Valley Hops Rooftop and Empire are offering $18 lunch deals. The idea is simple: avoid the dreaded desk lunch, step out for some fresh air, and get a full plate of pub-style comfort food without the usual $30 ($40 if you're getting a drink) price sting. Think steak frites, schnitzels, fish'n'chips, Wagyu burgers and wood-fired sangas. Here's what each venue is slinging at lunchtimes in the Valley.
Valley Hops Brewing
Valley Hops Brewing
Located on Cloudland's rooftop, Valley Hops Brewing is a craft brewery and is the most relaxed of the three. From Wednesday to Sunday, Valley Hops offers wood-fired sangas that come in four flavours: prosciutto, salami or mortadella with fior di latte, rocket and tomato, plus a vegetarian roast pumpkin option, all built for a quick but satisfying lunch stop. They also offer an $18 steak frites featuring a 200-gram butcher's cut steak, mouth-watering chips and béarnaise sauce. Yum.
Cloudland Garden
Cloudland Garden
Down in Cloudland Garden, things skew a little more indulgent. Running Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm, the menu feels closer to a restaurant lunch than a casual pub feed, but still comes with an $18 price tag.
The standout is the Chicken Cotoletta alla Vodka. It features 300g of herb-and-parmesan crumbed chicken schnitzel, topped with tomato and vodka sauce, nduja and provolone, served with slaw and fries. The menu also includes steak frites, beer-battered market fish with house tartare and lemon, and a King River Wagyu cheeseburger on a potato bun with all the classic fixings. With its sprawling tables and indulgent decor, Cloudland Gardens is a great shout for a more elevated lunch (without the elevated bill).
Empire
Empire
Empire is a Brisbane institution. Set inside a heritage Fortitude Valley landmark, Empire delivers hearty pub fare, cold drinks and live entertainment. For their lunch deal, Empire is serving $18 specials all week long. It offers the most "classic" pub-style menu of the three Cloudland venues, leaning heavily into familiar favourites that work whether you've got 20 minutes or two hours.
Expect chicken schnitzel with slaw and fries, steak frites, fish'n'chips, and a Wagyu cheeseburger, plus a wood-fired sanga made with beef schnitzel, mozzarella, rocket and horseradish mayo. The Chicken Cotoletta alla Vodka is also on offer, giving the menu a slightly more elevated option without losing the pub comfort feel. Be careful heading here for Friday lunch, as it could easily turn into a night out, complete with a dancefloor.
Across all three venues, you can expect hearty portions, delicious dishes, and a price point that won't ruin your weekly budget. It's a win-win.
Book a table or walk in for $18 lunch deals.
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