The recap: the best new Brisbane restaurants, bars and cafes of October
The year is flying, folks – we’re rounding into the final stretch of 2025, with only a few weeks until the start of the festive season. There’s still a lot of year left, though – especially where Brisbane’s dining scene is concerned. October was jam-packed with a lot of exciting arrivals, from fire-powered birria joints and experimental ramen spots, to two new rooftop sanctuaries and a contender for Brisbane’s best sandwich slinger. Here’s what we loved in October …
Birria Boy, Woolloongabba: Injecting a fiery new energy into Woolloongabba’s Clarence Corner, Birria Boy is the latest (and boldest) move from chef Andy Ashby and the AW Hospitality crew, transforming the former Clarence site into a terracotta-toned taqueria brimming with west-coast Mexican flavour. Swapping C’est Bon’s French finesse for woodfire flair, Andy has delivered a tight, rustic menu built around birria tacos – filled with 15-hour wagyu beef and lovingly marinated Meredith goat – alongside tempura prawns, duck carnitas, and share plates like pork neck with mole negro and banana-leaf Murray cod. An impressive bar stocked with artisanal tequila, mezcal and Mexican lager fuels the fiesta, making Birria Boy a playful, late-night spot that perfectly spices up Stanley Street’s ever-evolving dining scene. Though framed as a pop-up, judging by its early popularity we have a sneaking suspicion that Birria Boy might be sticking around.
TABOO, Fortitude Valley: October was a big month for Brisbane’s rooftop bar scene. After some cyclone-related delays, TABOO – the sky-high Thai-inspired restaurant and bar from the Mr. Vain team – finally made its anticipated debut atop The Constance Hotel in Fortitude Valley. Guests have flocked to get a peek at the polished monochrome-green sanctuary, crafted and executed in partnership with MarketPartner. Rooted in tradition, yet determined to walk its own path, TABOO is showcasing Thai cuisine through a modern lens – starting with brunch. Head chef Alec Kapitz (previously of Cloudland) and group executive chef Benson Skelton have collaborated on a daytime offering featuring Thai-style eggs Benedict with crispy roti, pork belly and red curry hollandaise, and scrambled eggs with Mooloolaba king prawns. This taster acts as a prelude to a soon-to-launch lunch and dinner service, which will encompass seafood, curries and market-style street eats.
Janus Deli, Slacks Creek: Born from the ashes of their beloved D Point Ten doughnut empire, chefs Dean and Ryan reinvented themselves a few years back with Janus Deli – a bold fusion of Korean flair and American deli tradition that’s quickly become one of the Gold Coast’s hottest sandwich spots. The duo’s brand-new Slacks Creek outpost is both a buzzing deli and production hub, serving up loaded sandwiches, crispy Korean-style fried chicken, decadent doughnuts and Biscoff-topped cinnamon scrolls, all fuelled by Paradox coffee and a mission to create “happy moments for all.” With graffiti-splashed walls, ample seating and a menu that swings from truffle toasties to galbi meatball subs, Janus Deli proves that great endings make even better beginnings – and this arrival marks one of the most exciting new food chapters of the month.
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Above Rooftop, Fortitude Valley: Ovolo The Valley has pulled off one of the year’s most impressive transformations with Above Rooftop – a Mediterranean-inspired sanctuary perched high above Fortitude Valley. Once home to the hotel’s gym and sauna, the reimagined space now shimmers with mosaic tiles, citrus-toned lounges and a glittering pool at its heart. Crafted in collaboration with BSPN Architects, the venue blends Brisbane’s subtropical ease with European flair, while chefs Justin North and Kya Knights deliver a share-style menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired bites alongside bright, inventive cocktails by award-winning mixologist Jake Down. Equal parts intimate and elevated, Above Rooftop isn’t just another bar with a view – it’s Ovolo’s crown jewel and a must-visit destination this summer.
Danbo Labo, South Brisbane: Pushing the boundaries of Japan’s most beloved comfort dish, Danbo Labo is the bold new experimental arm of Ramen Danbo, opening beside its South Brisbane flagship on Merivale Street. Conceived as a ramen laboratory, the sleek green-walled space serves as a creative playground where tradition meets innovation – starting with a fully vegan menu that reimagines Hakata-style tonkotsu, miso and negi-goma ramen using soy-based broths rich enough to fool even die-hard meat eaters. With one-bite gyoza, omusubi rice balls and a mission to test the limits of ramen craftsmanship, Danbo Labo cements itself as one of Brisbane’s most intriguing new openings – proof that even Japan’s most time-honoured cuisine still has room to evolve.
Many more restaurants, cafes and bars opened this month. You can have a browse through the latest foodie happenings by clicking here.