Laneway bars, old-style saloons and subterranean sensations – where to eat and drink this festive season
The silly season is for feasting, frolicking and finishing off the year with loved ones by your side – and there’s no better place to do this than Brisbane City’s luxe line-up of eateries. From a few cheeky cocktails with the colleagues to post-Santa-photo feeds with the kids or romantic spots for date night, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to wine and dine this Christmas time.
Parent and kid-friendly restaurants
For days spent Christmas shopping with kids in tow – nothing beats finally resting your feet with a leisurely lunch of satiating snacks. Stop in at Comuna Cantina for some mouth-watering (and kid-approved) Mexican bites. With the likes of grilled corn with shaved ricotta and chipotle aioli, crunchy halloumi tacos and pulled-pork nachos on the menu, there’s plenty on the menu to refuel after an action-packed shopping trip.
If Christmas shopping has been a (tear-free) success, treat the youngsters to a chocolate thickshake from Betty’s Burgers. Brimming with top-notch burgers, chips, onion rings, frozen custard ice-cream and more, Betty’s is the perfect stop to curb your comfort-food cravings.
Hungry parents hankering for Asian cuisine should head to Harajuku Gyoza. The gyoza parlour will be dispensing its stellar selection of house-made dumplings all summer long, offering the perfect pockets of flavour for you and the kids to chow down on after a day out. With an outpost in Albert Lane, you can conveniently feast on the likes of crispy cheeseburger gyoza with ketchup, mustard and pickles or garlic-butter crab gyoza with a nori cracker during you Chrissy shopping sprees.
Date night-approved spots
Bars and restaurants across Brisbane are putting up the (metaphorical) mistletoe this season to spice up your pre-Christmas date nights. Grab that ‘To me you are perfect’ poster and head down the laneway off Elizabeth Street, where you’ll find Milquetoast, an inner-city bar that specialises in small plates and delectable drinks. On the menu, expect a tight list of British-inspired dishes as well as a cocktail menu of creative concoctions – all served up from Milquetoast’s cosy and casual space.
Another not-so-secret hidden gem where you can lap up flavoursome fare and tasty tipples is The Boom Boom Room, set in a former bank vault underneath Donna Chang. We suggest booking for the omakase banquet, which includes the likes of fresh sashimi, twice-cooked pork belly with miso apple and pork floss furikake, and a dessert of hazelnut ice cream sandos.
If you’re feeling like an adventure, escape to central Hong Kong in the 90s with Brisbane’s latest basement eatery, Central. Nestled on Queen Street, the impressive underground hideaway boasting a striking interior and intimate atmosphere. The sibling to Southside and Rickshore, the menu is unsurprisingly stacked with spades of deliciousness like house-made dumplings, raw plates and sensational snacks.
Longwang, Edward Street
SFW locales
The work Christmas party might be weeks away, but that doesn’t mean your appetite for an after-work tipple can wait. If you’re looking for somewhere to let off some steam with your work besties this busy season, Brisbane has you sorted. Those seeking a sophisticated sipping spot can stop by Dr. Gimlette, a fresh-faced cocktail bar boasting a bevy of balanced cocktails, outstanding old-world wines, roaming martini carts and a touch of theatricality. Those looking to swap the water cooler conversation for a stiff sip can meet up for 5:00 o’clock knock offs at Frog’s Hollow Saloon, Charlotte Street’s favourite whisky-slinging barroom.
For something fresh, flock to the once-forgotten laneway on Edward Street, where Longwang opened earlier this year. Hidden between two buildings, Longwang serves up a menu of modern Asian snacks and share plates with a delectable list of colourful cocktails – making it the perfect spot to toast to the work year.
The Lex at W Brisbane is a prime spot to catch up with the work crew. Inspired by the iconic steakhouses of Manhattan, The Lex lets you feast on a delicious menu of steaks whilst taking in a spectacular view of Brisbane River. Not to mention, there’s also a martini cart shaking up nine different martini concoctions. Bottom’s up!
Feasts fit for festive friends
Cheers to silly season with drinks and a view at Riverbar + Kitchen. This Eagle Street Pier favourite is the prime location for a waterfront sesh, where you can indulge in boozy slushies, cracking cocktails and seafood snacks like grilled half-shell scallops with caper and lemon and Moreton Bay bug sliders with pickles and kewpie.
Just around the river, Brisbane’s latest culinary institution opened its doors earlier this year. Naldham House has revived the iconic heritage-listed building with a brasserie and a swanky basement bar. With an exquisite interior by Anna Spiro, Naldham House serves up a menu of French-inspired plates and pours a hand-picked wine list. You can also descend downstairs to Club Felix for a round of after-dinner cocktails as well.
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Gather up your pals and sip the weekend away with Babylon’s bottomless brunch. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Levantine eatery is home to meze, mimosas and live music – backdropped by breathtaking river views. The sumptuous menu will tantalise your tastebuds with Middle Eastern culinary favourites like hummus, lamb pide and pan-fried halloumi.
Head on over to the Christmas in Brisbane website for all the details!
This article was written with our friends at The City.