The Best Places in Brisbane to Treat Your Mum on Mother's Day (or Any Day)

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 $129, the spread starts with blue swimmer crab, then includes dishes like Moreton Bay bug dumplings, pan-fried baby swordfish steak, wagyu 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 an $80 menu. Inclusions range from oysters and white fish tacos to miso-glazed eggplant, wagyu skewers and coconut mochi.

Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane

Sure, if you're handy in the kitchen, you could treat your mum to salt and pepper calamari, burrata, pork tomahawk and tiramisu at home — or you could do it on a South Brisbane rooftop by the sky-high pool with views out across the city.

That's one part of Lina Rooftop's Mother's Day celebrations, with two seatings: at 12pm and at 2pm, both for $89 (plus an extra $79 for prosecco or $110 for champagne). The other is brunch, costing $125, running from 11am–2pm and featuring prawns, oysters, scallop tartare, tuna belly, three hours of drinks and more.

The Lex, Brisbane CBD

If any day is designed for bubbles, it's this one. That's what's on offer at W Brisbane restaurant The Lex, with its $110 three-course Mother's Day meal starting with sparkling wine.

On the food menu: smoked wagyu carpaccio, yellowfin tuna tataki and burrata with caramelised pumpkin to share; a choice of New York strip, grilled snapper, charred eggplant and organic chicken breast as a main; and either cheesecake or dark chocolate and olive oil tart for dessert.

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 you can head by for either lunch or dinner.

Either way, the cost is $75, which spans three courses. If brekkie is where it's at for you and your family, though, there's also an option to start the day, but you'll be simply picking from the usual menu.

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 $74 and $99 banquets from 11.30am onwards.

As well as the river vista, you'll be working your way through three courses, no matter which feast you go for. Dips, spiced lamb pastries, mozzarella filo pastries and sweets are on each menu, but the $74 banquet also features falafel, lamb kofta, marinated chicken tenderloin and more — and the $99 swaps them for the likes of handmade cheese rolled in za'atar, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and baked salmon.

Bacchus, South Bank

Sometimes, fine-diner Bacchus at South Bank themes its menu to match shows at QPAC, as it did last year with the Beauty and the Beast musical. And sometimes, it celebrates big occasions with a special offering — such as the venue's $89 and $99 Mother's Day high tea.

It's cheaper to head by on the Saturday, which is why there's two prices. Food options include curried egg sandwiches, crab sliders, veggie balls, macarons and scones — 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 on the Sunday, 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 drinks, to go with your food. That option costs $95, and kicks off at 9.30am.

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 mandarin puffs, soft-shell crab bao and pineapple 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 rosemary 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.

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, confit duck spring rolls 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 $80 per person, you can the afternoon eating taramasalata, king prawn saganaki and stuffed lamb shoulder, chicken souvlaki — with fig filo pastry tart for dessert.

Zennieshia Butts

The Belvedere, Woody Point

You'll have company if you choose The Belvedere, Woody Point's 123-year-old waterside pub that 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.

The regular menu will greet you — and if this isn't the perfect occasion to try the signature and prawn pasta, when is? The Belvedere will also be hosting a mini market setup in its courtyard, 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, other shared cocktails, 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.

Top image: Nikki To.