Hotel Terminus, South Brisbane: This year will be a major one for the Ghanem Group (the hospo crew behind venues such as Donna Chang, Blackbird, Byblós and Lúc Lắc), with the launch of two significant venues in 2026. The first might take the cake for biggest project of the year, with the mid-2026 reopening of Hotel Terminus. Last March, the Ghanem Group revealed it had taken custodianship of the old Fox Hotel in South Brisbane, with works commencing on transforming the site into a multi-level dining, events and entertainment precinct, reinstating the Hotel Terminus name following a community vote. The group has been working with Space Cubed Design Studio on the mammoth project, which will include the restoration of the building’s original facade and a reworking of the site’s four levels. Once complete, Hotel Terminus will boast a ground-floor Fish Lane entrance leading into an 18-m-high atrium, a public long bar, gastropub-style bistro, gaming lounge and bottle shop. Above this will be dedicated event spaces and a private-dining room, while the top level will house the Vixen Room, a lush late-night destination for cocktails, snacks and live entertainment. Crowning the building will be Fox Rooftop, offering sweeping views across Brisbane’s skyline and cultural precinct. We hear Hotel Terminus is on track to open around the middle of the year – be sure to get up to speed by clicking here and 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.

Le Royale, Brisbane City: While 2025 was a milestone year for Anyday, the hospitality juggernaut isn’t slowing down in 2026. Following the group’s hattrick of openings – Idle, Golden Avenue and The French Exit – the team is set to start the year with another home-run swing with Le Royale. Taking shape inside the old Coal Board Building on Mary Street, Le Royale is described as a “late-night bar where the golden hour never quite slips into the eve.” We’ve been told that the venue will be moody and opulent, with burgundy banquettes, velvet curtains and a house band performing sets that segue through pop classics. Cocktails will be key to the offering, too – mixed with style and a touch of theatre. While the opening date is still being kept under wraps, word is we can expect Le Royale before the end of first quarter 2026.

You might like

Best Of

The best board games to play this summer

Best Of

Surf’s up! Where to find the best beaches near Brisbane

+81 Sushi Kappo, West End: Building on the success of his Ginza-inspired Aizome Bar, Hisatake Kamori continues his mission to introduce Brisbane to the art of omotenashi with +81 Sushi Kappo, an ultra-chic 12-seat kappo-style omakase restaurant opening off Montague Road on Thursday February 5, led by Tokyo-trained chef Ikuo Kobayashi, whose decades-long career includes tenures at Michelin-starred institutions such as Kyubey, Sushi Kanesaka, Sushi Saito and Sushi Iwa. At the counter, chef Kobayashi will prepare an ever-evolving, seafood-driven omakase menu shaped by edomae traditions, micro-seasons and meticulous technique, combining premium local produce with select Japanese imports and anchoring each course with his distinctive shari, reimagined in rare charcoal and spirulina-infused blue expressions. Grounded in precision, balance and purity of flavour, the experience is designed to be deeply personal and immersive, complemented by a refined beverage program curated by venue manager and head sommelier Sean Lam, featuring artisanal sake, rare Japanese whiskies, champagne and thoughtfully chosen wines, with optional pairing menus. Housed within a modern, minimalist interior defined by a monochrome palette, soft metallic textures and gentle lighting, +81 Sushi Kappo offers an intimate setting that culminates in an adjoining lounge for post-dinner Japanese whiskies and liqueurs. Want to know more? Click here.

You might like

Best Of

The best board games to play this summer

Best Of

Surf’s up! Where to find the best beaches near Brisbane

Aunty, Fortitude Valley: The busiest man in Brisbane hospitality, Michael Tassis, is continuing to strike while the iron is hot, with his 12th venue Aunty set to open in the coming weeks. Leveraging his knack for securing standout locations, Michael is transforming the former City Winery site on Wandoo Street into a 130-seat, warehouse-style restaurant and bar offering a refined take on modern Asian cuisine. Situated just off James Street, the 450-sqm space will feature an elevated dining room with an open kitchen, a front lounge with its own bar and snack menu, and a design by Clui Design and Allo Creative described as minimalistic, elegant and high-spirited. Drawing on lessons from Hong Kong-inspired Longwang, head chef Salvatore de Ponte will deliver a concise, polished menu spotlighting live seafood and premium proteins, complemented by a wine list curated by group beverage manager Ben Rolfe and a cocktail offering inspired by the kitchen. Once open, Aunty aims to become a lively, slightly off-the-beaten-track gem as the James Street precinct continues to evolve. Get the scoop here.

Bar Cooper’s, Coorparoo: Coming soon to Coorparoo, Bar Cooper’s is the latest neighbourhood-minded venture from Snug founders Leaham Claydon and Jianne Jeoung, which is set to open in between their cult-favourite cafe and newly minted sandwich spot Jane’s Deli in the coming weeks. Looking to become an approachable Modern Australian bistro inspired by elevated pub fare, Bar Cooper’s is designed as an easy, once-a-week local go-to, serving comfort-driven dishes like chicken schnitzels with brown butter and anchovy, dry-aged wagyu cheeseburgers, garlic-butter pipis and woodfire-roasted seafood, with a revived woodfire oven adding a flame-kissed edge. With around 45 seats split between a cosy interior and courtyard, a globally focused wine list, classic cocktails and a warm, timber-rich fit-out, Bar Cooper’s promises a relaxed, family-friendly spot where locals can drop in for dinner and feel right at home. Click here to find out what we know.

Venner, West End: George Curtis and James Horsfall, already busy running their inner-city wine bar and dining room Milquetoast, are launching a new venture – Venner, a 50-seat West End restaurant opening at the end of February in the former Gum Bistro space. Joining them is Jack Stuart, head chef of Blume, forming a trio that has devised a Neo-Nordic concept grounded in Australian produce, sustainability and disciplined creativity. Inspired by contemporary Scandinavian dining yet rooted in local ingredients, Venner will offer a la carte, set-menu, and Sunday brunch options featuring dishes like kangaroo æbleskivers, butter-poached trout roulade and venison tartare, with a strict focus on using every part of each ingredient. James will curate a 60-bottle wine list emphasising organic, biodynamic and seasonal choices, while Milquetoast’s Aidan Perkins oversees a minimalist cocktail program featuring aquavit-based drinks and seasonal ferments. The interior, designed with light timber, natural light and art, blends elegance and simplicity, creating a space for friends to gather and savour carefully considered food and drink that celebrate both Nordic restraint and Australian provenance. Read all about it here.

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.

Eclair at the Bay, Newstead: After five years delighting Byron Bay with its modern choux creations, cult patisserie Eclair at the Bay closed its coastal outpost last November ahead of a relocation to Brisbane. Early this year, founders and co-owners Pavel Stolarsky and Mary Martin will reopen Eclair at the Bay inside the former Cake & Bake site on Commercial Road in Newstead. The Brisbane flagship will house a purpose-built production kitchen and retail space serving the brand’s signature eclairs, profiteroles, craquelins, croquembouches, tarts and gluten-free mousse cakes, alongside bespoke celebration and event pieces. The move follows Eclair at the Bay’s rise from a pandemic-era home-delivery concept to a cult favourite led by Michelin-trained pastry chef Pavel, with the expanded space allowing for new flavours and seasonal experimentation. Read more 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.

La Bodega, Fortitude Valley: The team behind beloved East Brisbane taqueria La Bodega is set to debut a much larger second venue straddling Fortitude Valley and Newstead. Taking over the former Alfred E. Griffiths Service Station on Wickham Terrace, the new location will deliver the same flavour-packed Mexican-inspired fare locals love – including its cult slow-cooked beef birria tacos – alongside an upgraded cocktail program, significantly more space and dedicated areas for walk-ins, group dining and alfresco functions. Designed to meet growing demand for events while preserving La Bodega’s relaxed, come-as-you-are ethos, La Bodega’s imminent opening marks the next big step for the fast-rising hospitality crew. Get more info here.

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.