Overview
It was a great idea back in 2021, when Brisbane's dining scene was struggling through the early part of the pandemic. Returning for its fourth event in 2024, it's still an ace concept now. Dine BNE City is all about getting folks out and about to eat and drink around town, enticing diners with a month of specials and deals — so mark the entirety of June in your calendar (plus the day before) and prepare to get feasting.
The just-dropped lineup is a choose-your-own-adventure affair. You can make plans for every lunchtime, after-work drinks and dinner across the month — or you can pick and choose your favourites, or make a date with the headline events. Whichever works for you, no one in Brisbane can claim not to have dining options in June. Some involve igloos. Others require blindfolds. Some are just about budget-friendly options.
Eight big-ticket sessions sit on the 2024 Dine BNE City program, the first of which will kick off the culinary festival on Friday, May 31. That's when you'll be heading along to outdoor dining event Fireside at St Stephen's Cathedral to make the most of the last night of autumn.
Also happening before winter officially rolls in, chalets will be back at Customs House from Tuesday, May 14. From there, the rest of Dine BNE City's key events only take place in June, such as Gather Bistro giving its rainforest garden bar a workout, Brisbane Quarter putting on a progressive dinner that'll take you between various restaurants, and Madame Wu doing a wine and cocktail dining experience. Or, there's as Tasmanian wine dinner at Tillerman, Walter's Steakhouse and Wine Bar hosting a Sunday roast special and The Boom Boom Room's International Sushi Day feast.
If you're looking to liven up your midday breaks, that's where the Let's Do Lunch program comes in. Some places are doing meals for $25, and others for $35. Some specials include drinks, others don't. At the first price point, Santa Monica has lobster rolls, Riverland Brisbane is doing spanakopita with house wine and The Walnut will give you a southern fried chicken burger with a beer, for starters. And at the second, Frog's Hollow Saloon is pairing toasties and house cocktails, Brisbane Phoenix has a Cantonese roasted lunch on offer, Malt Dining is serving up brisket burgers with fries and a pint, and bento boxes come with a beverage at Bar 1603 — and the list keeps going on.
At quittin' time, you can undertake a bar safari — because that's what this part of the lineup is called. Prices vary, but you can go for oysters and mini martinis at Alba Bar & Deli, meze and mimosas at Babylon Brisbane, bug bánh mi and champagne at Cuvee, and bug sliders and beer at Wet Deck.
Then, for something more substantial for dinner, Vintaged Bar + Grill has a tomahawk experience for two, Tenya Japanese Restaurant & Bar is doing set menus, there's a salaryman banquet at Harajuku Gyoza in Albert Lane and Settimo is plating up supper menu just for the month. Over at The Lex, evenings are all about steak, salad and sips. Or, hit up Donna Chang for mini banquet featuring the restaurant's signature dishes.
Dine BNE City runs from Friday, May 31–Sunday, June 30, 2024. Head to the festival's website for further details.