Explore Brisbane’s culinary scene via CityCat with this ferry foodie trail
As Brisbane’s growth has accelerated over the past decade, its food scene has also evolved – both in terms of complexity and scope. Pockets of restaurants, cafes and bars continue to pop up all over town, with something new to try opening nearly every week. While visiting more than one dining precinct in a day might seem like a stretch, there’s one method of transportation that connects some of Brisbane’s buzziest hubs – the CityCat! If you’re looking for a unique way to visit some of The City’s best dining spots, tap on the CityCat (it’s only 50 cents) and follow this floating foodie guide.
Stop one: Racecourse Road
Our pick for your first port of call is Racecourse Road, Ascot’s thriving shopping and dining district. Kick things off with a visit to Sarni, one of Brisbane’s best sandwich slingers. The crew here put a cheffy spin on the humble sanger, serving a tip-top selection of two-handers filled with the likes of fried chicken with katsu curry sauce, brisket with smoked-soy barbecue sauce, pork meatballs with marinara, mortadella with stracciatella and pesto, and falafel with tahini yoghurt and hummus. If your outing takes place on a Sunday, one of Sarni’s brekkie sandwiches – featuring the likes of chorizo sausage, fluffy egg and cornflake-crusted fried chicken with burnt butter – is a great day starter. Get a salted Vietnamese iced coffee to go – you’ll want to keep energy levels high as we go.
Stop two: Bulimba
Up next is Oxford Street in Bulimba – a leafy boulevard home to an assortment of sensational snack spots. We suggest starting your outing here at Darvella Patisserie, a much-loved bakery and cake spot from the crew behind Pawpaw Cafe and Citron. Inspired by the storied patisseries of Europe, Darvella focuses on buttery pastries, delicious delicatessen eats, specialty coffee and boutique beverages. Pull up a seat and enjoy a flaky croissant and a flat white (or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a limited-edition Kinder Bueno iced chocolate) before heading down the road to the heritage-listed Bulimba Ferry House where you can hop on the CityCat to stop number three.
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Stop three: Teneriffe and Newstead
Two suburbs on the rise, Teneriffe and Newstead are bona fide hospitality hotspots, with a bunch of new nosh spots turning the area into a go-to for foodies. Jump off the CityCat at the Teneriffe ferry wharf and follow Skyring Terrace to Gasworks Plaza. This precinct is home to a cluster of cafes, bars and restaurants, including our next dining destination, Ping Pong. Tucked away near the Gasometer at the heart of the plaza, this vibrant restaurant and bar is a feast for the senses. Step inside Ping Pong’s pink-hued surroundings and get ready for a flavour-packed procession of Thai-inspired eats, including fried-chicken bao buns, betel-leaf wraps, barbecued chicken skewers, massaman curry and more. Ping Pong also pours a great selection of wines and cocktails, if you’re in the mood for a tipple. When you’re done, wander back along the Riverwalk to the CityCat terminal and head to our next stop.
Stop four: New Farm
Just around the river bend sits Brisbane Powerhouse, a Council venue that is both a cultural institution and a great spot for dining. The CityCat disembarks at the New Farm Park terminal, which is a short stroll from Mary Mae’s, a riverside venue beloved for its open-air atmosphere, casual appeal and broad-ranging all-day menu of eats. Grab a table and order a selection of nibbles like mushroom arancini, creamy burrata with prosciutto and grilled-barramundi tacos, or, if the weather is primo, you can pick up a pre-ordered picnic hamper to take and enjoy in the park. By this point the sun might be getting low in the sky, which means it’s time to pack up and hop back on the CityCat for our final stop.
Stop five: Howard Smith Wharves
There’s no better place to be when the sun sets than at Howard Smith Wharves. As soon as you hop off the CityCat, turn left and make tracks for Mr. Percival’s – an overwater cocktail bar that serves dynamo cocktails and a menu of eats stacked with sensational seafood. Grab a table overlooking the water and devour a seafood platter piled high with Mooloolaba king prawns, Sydney Rock oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, scallop crudo and spiced tuna crudo, or divvy up a crispy pizza or two. When you’re done, simply take a CityCat back in the direction you came from and enjoy the twinkling of The City skyline as you leisurely make your way home.
This article was written in partnership with our friends at Brisbane City Council, who have helped shape lifestyle precincts like Howard Smith Wharves, Oxford Street, Gasworks Plaza, Racecourse Road and Brisbane Powerhouse.