The recap: the best new Brisbane restaurants, bars and cafes in August
August may have flown by in the blink of an eye, but Brisbane’s dining scene kept us well fed and hydrated with a string of some of the year’s most anticipated arrivals. The Anyday team finally unveiled Golden Avenue, an elevated Middle Eastern restaurant that made quite the first impression, while Sandgate Road welcomed Time & Temp, a red-hot artisanal bakery. Woolloongabba’s hidden gem found a new home in Fish Lane, a breezy coastal brunch spot opened in Scarborough, and Winnifred’s – a grand Champagne-devoted venue and the first of its kind – popped the cork in style.
Golden Avenue, Brisbane City
It’s been a milestone month for the Anyday crew, who have officially unveiled their seventh venue, Golden Avenue. Joining the ranks of acclaimed siblings Agnes, sAme sAme, hôntô, Biànca, LOS bar and, most recently, Idle, Golden Avenue had plenty to live up to – and it doesn’t just meet expectations, it ignites them. Marking the first inner-city venture for Anyday co-owners Ben Williamson and Tyron Simon, the Edward Street newcomer is a grand, vibrant oasis bringing the bold flavours of the Middle East to Brisbane’s heart. Skylights and retractable roofs allow natural light to spill into the space designed by J.AR OFFICE, imbuing the textured tiles, palm trees and pink juparana granite with a lively warmth. Modelled off Tyron’s favourite style of dining where “the table is covered with food and you eat your way out” — Golden Avenue’s humble yet expertly crafted menu invites guests to share dishes like buttermilk-brined fried quail, mechoui lamb shoulder, swordfish shish with hawaij sauce, and so much more. Step off Edward Street into Golden Avenue’s inviting atmosphere to be immediately enveloped in the smoky aroma of spices and the sounds of Habibi Funk of Brisbane’s electric new home of Middle Eastern feasting.
Time & Temp, Albion
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In case you missed it, that half-open roller door on Sandgate Road finally lifted in August, revealing a cosy artisanal bakery that sold out of everything from cardamom buns to rhubarb crumble danishes within two hours on their first day. On their second day, Time & Temp owners Palita Cai and Manning Young doubled their offerings and sold out again. It’s not hard to see why. With a humble ethos rooted in flavour and sustainability, Time & Temp showcases a rotating line-up of seasonally driven pastries made with ingredients like Pepe Saya butter, Wholegrain Milling Co. flour and Hunted+Gathered organic single-origin chocolate. Think maple pecan pie, cinnamon walnut scrolls and more, all paired with batch-brew pours spotlighting Brisbane’s best roasters. With vegan pastries, premium batch brews, tarts and cakes also on the horizon, it’s clear Time & Temp’s rise is only just beginning.
Clarence, Fish Lane
Woolloongabba’s hidden gem, Clarence, packed up shop earlier this year to make the exciting move to Fish Lane, one of Brisbane’s busiest dining precincts, giving Clarence 2.0 a chance to truly shine. Despite the big move, chefs Ben McShane and Matt Kuhnemann haven’t changed much about their Parisian-bistro-inspired restaurant, aside from taking a more comfort-food-focused approach tailored to Fish Lane customers. The sectioned a la carte menu remains produce-driven, with key suppliers like Neighbourhood Farm, Tommerup’s Dairy and Sunnybank Fish Market stocking the shelves. The hospitality duo has also expanded their dining experience to include lunch sets, happy hour, three-course roast lunch on Sundays and a late-night snack menu featuring a Clarence cheeseburger. Seasoned fans can still find old classics on the menu from Hervey Bay scallops with tiger milk, capers and radish, and smoked and glazed ham to wild-caught barramundi, dry-aged duck and wild-shot venison with blueberry, beetroot and white lasagne. With a space designed by Alkot Studio, featuring upholstered green banquette chairs, dark woods and their signature homely vibe, Clarence’s new digs are as refined its menu.
Landing Bakery, Scarborough
Scarborough finally has a taste of finer things now that Anytime co-founders Jack Wakefield (also of Good Company) teamed up with his friend Tom Cooney (Riser Bread) to bring the suburb the high-quality haunt it deserves. Jack and Tom didn’t announce their August opening day for Landing Bakery, but come 5:30 am, there was already a line of eager customers – a sure sign that the two are doing something very right. Pigmented materials, pine accents and the sandcast-concrete coffee counter take aesthetic inspiration from the seaside suburb which, paired with its edible offerings, curate a warm and welcome atmosphere for locals and coastal visitors alike. The small, quality-focused menu features citrus morning buns, ricotta and pumpkin miso rolls, and gochujang scrolls – perfect early-morning snacks before a trip to the beach. Landing Bakery also boasts its own specialty espresso blend crafted by Vox Roasters, featuring delicate notes of toffee, stone fruits and chocolate. Singlehandedly uplifting Scarborough’s brunch scene, Landing Bakery’s buttery treats are as fresh as its idyllic coastal location.
Winnifred’s, Fortitude Valley
For over a decade, Champagne connoisseur Megan Nunn has been lovingly crafting her love for the region into Winnifred’s, the largest Champagne venue and cellar in the southern hemisphere, which opened in early August. Home to 14,000 bottles of Champagne and 363 cuvees, the biodynamic and sustainably made collection honours the environmentally friendly spirit inherent to the region that serves as Megan’s muse. Winnifred’s also draws inspiration from Megan’s grandmother, the venue’s namesake, who she describes as generous, giving and always happy. “She used to say, ‘Those who laugh, last the longest’. She just always wanted to have a good time – and that’s what Champagne is,” Megan explains. The multi-story venue features five dining sections, each named after different sub-regions of Champagne, from 16-seat garden Coteaux du Petit Morin to the green marble and timber Vallee de le Marne bar and cellar. On the French-inspired menu, guests can find expertly crafted dishes from head chef Antoine Potier, including gnocchi ‘a la Parisienne’ and barley risotto with comte, local mushroom and black garlic. Megan has put as much consideration into the venue’s finer details as she did into the bottle selection, with a recycled brickwork facade, triptych artwork, framed lithographs, bespoke docket dishes and specially designed staff attire. This groundbreaking new venue aims to become first net-zero energy hospitality venue in Australia using its 96-panel solar array and twin batteries, making Winnifred’s one of the most ambitious and remarkable openings Brisbane has seen in some time.
Many more restaurants, cafes and bars opened this month. You can have a browse through the latest foodie happenings by clicking here.