Save room – these are Brisbane’s biggest openings still to come in 2026

Pici Restaurant & Bar, New Farm
After a decade leading the kitchen at OTTO Brisbane, acclaimed chef Will Cowper is embarking on a new venture with the opening of Pici this spring. Taking over the former Gerties Bar and Restaurant site on Brunswick Street in New Farm, the intimate neighbourhood Italian restaurant and bar will focus on handmade pasta, woodfire cooking and seasonal Queensland produce, reflecting a more personal and approachable style of dining. Will is partnering with his wife Gianna and local operators Andrew and Andrea Solomon to bring the concept to life, with Alkot Studio and Patricia Redmond Architects engaged to work on the restaurant’s interior and exterior look. Designed with warm timber, marble and burgundy tones, Pici will feature a 30-seat bar space, a 60-seat dining room, pasta-heavy menus centred around signature pici, woodfire-grilled seafood and meats, and a straightforward drinks list of classic cocktails and accessible Italian wines. Be sure to read our full scoop here.

NOMAD Brisbane, Fortitude Valley
NOMAD is heading north, with edition Group set to bring its acclaimed Sydney and Melbourne restaurant to Brisbane’s James Street later this year. The hospitality heavyweight has taken over the former Gerard’s space, marking its first foray into the Queensland market. Known for produce-driven cooking shaped by flame, smoke and the flavours of Spain, Morocco and the Middle East, NOMAD Brisbane will put its own spin on the established concept, with Queensland produce – particularly seafood – set to anchor a menu of lighter dishes and big flavours (NOMAD signatures including its woodfired spatchcock and ice-cream sandwich are set to make the journey north). The Gerard’s interiors will be reshaped by J.AR Office, retaining the distinctive rammed-earth walls while opening up the floor plan. The opening date is yet to be revealed, but locals can register their interest and join the booking waitlist via the restaurant’s website.

Pas de Chichi, Fortitude Valley
After selling La Cache à Vin in 2022, renowned Brisbane chef Thierry Galichet is returning to hospitality with Pas de Chichi, a humble French-style bistro set to open in The Valley in October. Taking its name from the French expression meaning “no fuss”, the 30-seat restaurant will pair classic bistro interiors with Art Deco touches, an alfresco courtyard and a nine-seat comptoir, with Thierry overseeing the concept, recipes and wine list while a team of young chefs brings his dishes to life. The menu will revisit classic French favourites while exploring dishes from across the country, accompanied by a tightly curated French wine list, classic cocktails and aperitifs, with Thierry aiming to deliver the warm, personable service for which his restaurants have become known. Get the full scoop here.

You might like

Best Of

The recap: Brisbane’s best new restaurants and bars of the year (so far)

Best Of

The recap: Brisbane’s best new cafes and casual eateries of the year (so far)

Nitō, South Brisbane
After establishing Clarence as one of Brisbane’s best restaurants, chefs Ben McShane and Matt Kuhnemann are expanding their Fish Lane footprint with Nitō, a 70-seat Japanese-inspired grill set to open in November. Drawing on Ben’s experience in Japanese kitchens, the restaurant will combine Japanese ingredients and techniques with locally sourced produce, offering raw seafood, snacks, small plates and large-format dishes cooked over charcoal, alongside claypot rice. Set beneath a car ramp in Stockwell’s 51 Fish building, Nitō will embrace the site’s lack of natural light with a dark, moody and grungy interior, creating a louder, punchier counterpoint to Clarence’s restrained aesthetic. The beverage program will feature sake, highballs, cocktails, Australian and Japanese wines and champagne, with the team aiming to create a Japanese restaurant that feels distinctly relevant to Brisbane. Click here for more details.

You might like

Best Of

The recap: Brisbane’s best new restaurants and bars of the year (so far)

Best Of

The recap: Brisbane’s best new cafes and casual eateries of the year (so far)

Sofia, Red Hill
Sofia, a new restaurant and wine bar from MasterChef alum Alana Lowes and chef Jack Stuart (Blume, Venner), is set to open in Red Hill this spring. The pair will be bringing an elevated yet approachable dining experience to the neighbourhood, transforming the former Olivetto’s site on Enoggera Terrace into a warm, wine-led local designed for everything from a glass and a bowl of pasta before the movies to a more serious meal. Jack and Alana will shape a modern European menu with recently appointed head chef Ryan Carlson (formerly of Agnes), favouring timeless, produce-driven cooking over passing trends, with some Stuart signatures – including his famed pig’s head sanga – potentially making a comeback. The wine list will span Australian and international drops, with a strong focus on female winemakers, while the cocktail offering will lean classic and the kitchen’s surplus produce will find new life in seasonal non-alcoholic drinks. Inside, expect a sophisticated but unbuttoned wine-bar aesthetic of tiled surfaces, banquettes, deep burgundies and terracottas. Read more here.

Alfi Eatery & Bar, Everton Park
Ghanem Group is also heading north this year, with plans to open Alfi Eatery & Bar at Everton Plaza in mid-2026, marking a significant suburban expansion for the group. Designed as a large-format, Mediterranean-leaning concept for families and long, leisurely gatherings, the 800-sqm venue will be Everton Plaza’s largest food-and-beverage offering, featuring a light-filled 350-seat restaurant centred around an open kitchen and sweeping U-shaped bar, plus a 200-seat greenery-framed courtyard with dual access from South Pine Road and Stafford Road. Inspired by the Amalfi Coast, interiors will showcase natural timbers, Italian stone, curved forms and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, complemented by an Italian-inspired menu and robust drinks list. Read more about it here.

Zio Porco, Newstead
Ripiena co-owner Nicolo Campagnari is introducing a taste of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region to Brisbane with Zio Porco, the city’s first dedicated tigelleria. Opening in Newstead later this year, the intimate eatery will specialise in warm tigelle and piadina filled with premium cheeses and cured meats, alongside a tightly curated drinks list designed to evoke the relaxed ritual of the Italian aperitivo. By focusing on just a handful of menu items done exceptionally well, Zio Porco promises to deliver one of Brisbane’s most distinctive and authentic new casual dining concepts. Get the scoop here.

QUIVR Sound Room, Fortitude Valley
One of The Valley’s best music collectives has announced an exciting expansion. QUIVR is making room for its next chapter with the Sound Room, a 170-capacity, sound-first addition to its Winn Lane home where club culture meets wine-bar sophistication. Set to open in early September, the new space (equipped with a custom sound system and flexible performance space) will combine hi-fi listening, electronic sets and live music with wine, cocktails and small plates. Designed as a place for Brisbane’s music community to listen, linger and explore, Sound Room will also give QUIVR the room to welcome bigger local, interstate and international acts while continuing to champion the emerging talent and queer community at its core. Get the full scoop here.

205 North Quay, Brisbane City
Since opening in 2025, Cbus Property’s 205 North Quay has established itself as one of Brisbane’s most ambitious new city-shaping developments – and now its ground-floor is set to evolve into a vibrant hospitality hub. In partnership with Eurest, Cbus Property has unveiled plans for a new retail precinct featuring five distinct food concepts designed to transform the tower into a destination beyond the workplace. Already open is Herschel, a light-filled lobby cafe serving coffee, matcha, pastries and grab-and-go bites, with Mavis (specialty coffee and baked goods), Böhl (fresh, wellness-focused meals), a premium micro market and the headline act, Pozzo’s – a Mediterranean-inspired eatery centred on pizza – all expected to launch by July 2026. Backed by a central production kitchen and event facilities, the precinct aims to cement 205 North Quay’s role as a new civic and lifestyle hub for Brisbane’s inner city. Click here for more info.

PALMA, Woolloongabba
The Talisman Group, the team behind Sasso Italiano and South City Wine, is entering the cafe space with PALMA, a bright all-day eatery set to open in February at South City Square in Woolloongabba. Located at the base of the Hillyard House tower, PALMA will feature a light-filled, laneway-style setting with retractable walls offering sweeping views over the Secret Garden, creating a relaxed, open-air atmosphere. Open daily from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm, the venue will serve acai bowls, croissants and brunch favourites in the morning, followed by burgers, sandwiches, salads and pasta for lunch, alongside St Remio coffee and a curated selection of beer and wine. Get more info here.

Norman Northside, Enoggera
Northsiders, get ready – Brisbane’s iconic Norman Hotel is heading your way. Norman Northside – a striking three-storey Spanish-inspired pub – is now officially under construction at the corner of Wardell Street and Samford Road. Set to open in late 2026, the Enoggera newcomer will offer everything fans love about the Woolloongabba original, from premium flame-kissed steaks and in-house butchers to the legendary 1-kg challenge. While beef remains the undisputed star of the show, the menu will also feature a refined line-up of pub classics and non-steak favourites, complemented by local craft brews, a sharp cocktail list and a wine program that’s heavy on bold Australian reds. The 400-seat venue will house multiple private-dining rooms and a rooftop beer garden built for long, lazy afternoons. Norman Northside will continue the sense of community that has defined the steak-slinging institution since 1889 – offering space for cooking classes, casual catch-ups and milestone celebrations. With doors set to open in late 2026, the countdown is on for Enoggera’s newest neighbourhood pub.

Want to stay up to date with all of Brisbane’s exciting hospitality news? Be sure to subscribe to receive Pavement Whispers in your inbox every Tuesday morning.