The Anyday hospo crew (Honto, Agnes, sAme sAme) brought brilliant but simple, old-school Italian fare to the Valley when they opened Bianca in 2021. 

The heritage-listed sandstone building on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets is home to one of the best Chinese restaurants in Brisbane with Donna Chang. 

Bacchus has been among Brisbane’s go-to spots for an opulent restaurant experience since it opened in 2012 and it remains consistently and ambitiously good.

Like stepping into the heart of old-time Europe, 1889 Enoteca offers traditional Roman fare with a wine list that’ll make oenophiles weak at the knees and a beautiful interior to match.

For 22 years, e’cco Bistro wasn’t just a place to eat in Brisbane — it was one of the places to eat in Australia. In 2018, it said goodbye to Boundary Street and hello to Newstead, re-emerging with a more casual fit-out and a Brazilian charcoal grill.

When The Calile (arguably the best hotel in Brisbane) opened its doors on James Street in 2018, it didn’t just add a gorgeous hotel to the bustling strip. It also saw laidback-yet-sophisticated Greek restaurant Hellenika open its doors. 

There are no prizes for guessing what’s on Sushi Room’s menu. Again, a venue located at The Calile Hotel, the focus of this stellar spot is right there in its name.

Paddington’s Nota has a philosophy of “simple yet satisfying meals”, according to de Kort. The modern Euro menu aims to be uncomplicated and approachable, while always highlighting quality ingredients and big flavours.

Whenever the craving for a taste of France strikes, C’est Bon has Brisbane covered. Five mornings a week, it functions as a creperie over breakfast and brunch, making spanner crab-topped crepes made with buckwheat flour from Brittany. 

You don’t have to veer off the beaten path to find Woolloongabba’s Detour — physically, at least. Diving into its menu? That’s another thing entirely. When was the last time you ate emu tartare, gunpowdered wagyu brisket?

After earning years of Michelin-star restaurant experience in France, Brisbane-born chef Dan Arnold returned to his hometown with Restaurant Dan Arnold bringing refined, creative dining to the heart of the Valley.

If you’ve ever visited Tokyo’s izakaya and music bars, you’ll be well prepared for Yoko Dining. Tunes spun on vinyl, an infectious energy and a retro-futuristic feel transport guests to the buzz of Shinjuku’s bar scene.

At the start of 2021 Otto Ristorante made the move to South Bank in the striking, ultra-scenic riverfront space. At this Brisbane restaurant, head chef Will Cowper still leads the charge, championing southern Italian dishes made with regional Aussie produce.

A visit to two-Hatted Montrachet should be on the cards for any Brisbane foodie — especially anyone who is a devotee of true French cuisine. And don’t forget the wine. It boasts one of Brisbane’s most impressive restaurant wine programs.

When Brisbane favourite Longtime shut up shop, it marked the end of an era. Thankfully, when one door closes, another one opens — in this case, upscale eatery Same Same from the same crew.

Perched on Robertson Street, this Fortitude Valley restaurant opened in 2021 under the lead of ex-Gauge chef Phil Marchant — who brought a strong focus on local produce and harvest-driven dishes to a striking split-level space just off James Street.

Nestled into one of the best spots in the city — the Howard Smith Wharves precinct — every aspect of this Greek restaurant has been designed to capitalise upon the scenic location and Brisbane’s sultry climate.

Pork katsu sandwiches, salmon tartare tacos, raw slices of kingfish paired with yuzu ponzu, and smoked eggplant chilli ramen — they’re just some of the inventive dishes on the menu at Alden Street’s moody Japanese restaurant Hôntô.

The concept behind this Brisbane restaurant couldn’t be more straightforward: it’s a celebration of the joy of food — and hospitality in every sense of the word. It’s able to be achieved at this Bakery Lane space because it seats just ten people.

Step inside Agnes’ three-level space in Fortitude Valley to find a trio of drinking and dining spaces. Those keen on a drink can head downstairs to the wine bar or up to the rooftop.