brisbane cbd restaurants

The very best Brisbane CBD restaurants, from budget bites to casual and fine dining, and hidden gems can be found here in this curated guide.

Brisbane CBD's budget restaurants are mostly clustered around Elizabeth (little Korea town) and Charlotte Sts while other good cheap eats can be found on the riverfront at shipping container precinct Riverland and in laneway haunt Hellcat Maggie, Little Red Dumpling and Mamak Malaysian in Charlotte St as well as the Fudo Dori precinct in the old Elizabeth Arcade.

There are also plenty of good casual dining spots scattered around the CBD while reliable mid-range eateries include Oshin, Edward Street's ambient and hospitable Mr Edwards Ale House, Stanton upstairs in Queens Plaza, Wu Kong in Charlotte St  and slick little laneway bar eateries Corbett & Claude and Red Hook. 

Upmarket and fine dining restaurants are clustered around the Botanic Gardens and Riverside precinct, such as Supernormal, overlooking the river under 443 Queen St, Patina at Customs House, Chinese beauty Madame Wu, Opa Bar & Mezze and Tillerman with stunning river views, Jumbo Thai in the old Embassy Chambers and, in the City Botanic Gardens vicinity, Walter's Steakhouse. Other gems include Naldam House Brasserie, a splendid European-style brasserie in he base of heritage-listed landmark Naldham House, Longwang, a Hong Kong style 3-level laneway restaurant that is Brisbane's narrowest, Donna Chang & Boom Boom Room Izakaya in grand heritage-listed bank buildings, Rothwell's Bar & Grill in the historic Rothwell's building and Malt Dining, which can be found upstairs in Brisbane's first marketplace, circa 1860. 

More fine dining is found at Brisbane Quarter at North Quay, which is home to Persone by the Gambaro family and nearby, a hidden Japanese fine diner, Izakaya Publico and Sokyo at the newly opened Queens Wharf Precinct.