Agnes Bakery
It’s the end of an era, folks. Agnes Bakery – one of Brisbane’s finest pastry purveyors – will fire up the ovens for the last time this Sunday, calling time on its beloved James Street location after more than three years of operation. It’s not all sad news, though. Agnes Bakery is closing in anticipation for the imminent debut of its successor, Idle – the brand-new bakery, market and neighbourhood kitchen from Anyday Group, which is opening soon in New Farm. To bid James Street farewell, the Agnes Bakery team will be giving away mini almond croissants to the first 100 customers making a purchase on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to pop in this weekend for one last box of buttery pastries, luxe loaves and sensational sandwiches, and keep your eyes on The Weekend Edition for more on Idle soon!

Festa Italiana
If you’ve spied more activity than usual down at Howard Smith Wharves recently, you probably caught a glimpse of Festa Italiana in full flight. The massive food and drink festival, which celebrates the quintessentially Italian concept of ‘la dolce vita’, was originally only supposed to run for two weekends. However, with hordes of pasta lovers, Aperol addicts and gelato geeks flocking in record numbers, the crew at Howard Smith Wharves has decided to extend the festivities for one more weekend. Festa Italiana will be back this Friday to Sunday, June 13–15, giving gourmands one last chance to visit for a fix of rigatoni alla vodka and porchetta-stuffed focaccia sandwiches from the Main Lawn kitchen, indulgent pastries and cannoli at the Dolce Room, artisanal deli goods from Italian Salumeria (now located at Ciao Papi), and spritzes from the Amalfi-inspired Aperol Garden.

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Blute’s Bar
Brisbane’s live-music scene received a crushing blow recently when widely adored West End venue, The Bearded Lady, closed its doors. In the wake of The Beardo’s departure, Fortitude Valley karaoke haunt Blute’s Bar is stepping up to fill the void, announcing it will now host live music five nights a week. Spearheading Blute’s Bar’s live programming will be Alyssa and Keeley from BallPoint Press – the crew responsible for booking The Bearded Lady’s stacked schedule of gigs. Live-music lovers should expect the same community-driven curation, while revellers can still count on Blute’s to be the place to keep the party going, with karaoke on until late.

FORM
Sick of your meal-prep lunch? If you work in The City, a brand-new wellness-oriented cafe is looking to supply inner-city snackers with delicious and nutritious eats. FORM, located in the foyer of 1 Eagle Street, is described as a next-generation wellness cafe and community hub that’s serving clean, functional food to fuel the mind and body. FORM’s menu, which is crafted by a head chef who is also a qualified nutritionist, is free from ultra-processed ingredients, seed oils and refined sugar. Instead, a range of wholesome eats like chia puddings, house-made fermented yogurt with maple and macadamia granola, and ‘FORM Your Own’ lunch bowls (customisable bowls featuring ingredients like miso roast cabbage, 18-hour roast lamb shoulder and red lentil dahl) are on offer. FORM is also pouring specialty coffee from Cavalier Coffee Roasters, with alternative milks available.

Shaman
Veteran Brisbane bar operator Peter Hollands, known for venues like Frog’s Hollow Saloon and Alice, is set to unveil his latest concept, Shaman – a subterranean cocktail bar opening in July beneath the historic 109 Edward Street in The City. Inspired by a fusion of ideas, Shaman draws creative energy from the music of Carlos Santana, particularly the albums Abraxas and Shaman, which helped shape its philosophical and aesthetic direction. The bar, co-run with general manager Tim Pope (formerly of Melbourne’s Par), will emphasise simplicity and balance, forgoing gimmicks in favour of thoughtful touches like fresh-juiced citrus, frozen glassware and table service. Its back bar will feature around 100 rums from key global regions alongside 50 tequilas, all supported by a concise, rotating cocktail list focused on margaritas, daiquiris and classics made on the fly. Designed to complement its moody, heritage-rich location, Shaman invites patrons to help define its identity and create a lived-in feel – as if the bar has operated for decades. Be sure to check out our interview with Pete Hollands about Shaman here.

Clarence
After three years of operation, Clarence – the acclaimed Woolloongabba neo-bistro known for its inventive produce-driven menu – is relocating from its charming heritage-listed Stanley Street site to a more accessible and high-profile location on Fish Lane in South Brisbane. Despite critical acclaim and a loyal following, co-owners Ben McShane and Matt Kuhnemann found their original location too isolated to build sustainable momentum, prompting the move to the precinct buzzing South Brisbane precinct, home to the likes of Southside, Maeve Wine, La Lune Wine Co and Julius Pizzeria. Their new 60-seat venue, designed by Alkot Studio, will blend Clarence’s warm aesthetic with a more polished, urban feel, while the menu will evolve to include more accessible options, expanded raw seafood offerings and large-format dishes – all while maintaining the restaurant’s core commitment to seasonal ingredients sourced from small producers. With a bolstered cocktail list and expanded wine selection, Clarence aims to transition from a once-in-a-while dining destination to a vibrant, weekly go-to. Read more about the news here.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].