The recap: the best new Brisbane restaurants, bars and cafes of March
March arrived in a blur this year, with calendar squares filling faster than we can cross them off. As Brisbane officially shook off its summer haze and hurtles headfirst towards Easter, the city’s dining scene continued to evolve. A clutch of standout venues emerged in March, each offering its own form of escape. From velvet-draped jazz bars, covetable patisserie confections and bold reimaginings of Vietnamese cuisine to tropical-inspired rooftop escapes and hacienda-style haunts, these arrivals captures the spirit of a month that never seemed to slow down. Here’s what we loved in March …
Le Royale, Brisbane City: Tuxedo-clad jazz ensembles. French-inspired bar snacks. Inventive cocktails. A night out at Le Royale is nothing short of an experience. The latest venue to open inside Anyday’s thriving inner-city enclave is positioning itself as a true late-night haunt – a reliable destination for those looking for a post-theatre feed, one last drink or a place to boogie until the wee hours. Here, Anyday head honcho Tyron Simon blends his nightclub roots with his modern restaurant experience to create a late-night music lounge and cocktail bar. Its richly layered interior, designed by Tamsin Johnson, delivers a moody, immersive escape – creating a venue where music, food and atmosphere converge to help shape Brisbane’s evolving identity as a global, all-hours destination.
Eclair at the Bay, Newstead: While relocating from the idyllic coastal surroundings of Byron Bay for the concrete-clad streets of Brisbane might raise an eyebrow to some, there’s strong reasoning behind Pavel Stolarsky and Mary Martin’s decision to relocate. The duo’s COVID-era eclair delivery venture Eclair at the Bay had long grown beyond what the seaside town’s fluctuating tourist base could support, so the couple packed up their cosy patisserie and brought it north to Newstead, where it now operates on Commercial Road. The new space blends a chic European aesthetic with a larger production kitchen, enabling a broader range of French-inspired pastries, including signature eclairs in classic and experimental flavours, alongside tarts, craquelins, and celebration cakes made with premium ingredients. Despite leaving Byron behind, Mary and Pavel have retained the brand’s name as a nod to its origins and a long-term vision of opening in bays across Australia, marking this move as the next step in a much bigger journey.
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Rừng, Fortitude Valley: If anyone is committed to showcasing the versatility of Vietnamese food, it’s restaurateur Tuan Nguyen. After delivering his home cuisine with venues like Ngon and Quê, Tuan is looking to prove that Vietnamese fare can be elevated to new heights with Rừng, a new 110-seat restaurant and bar in Fortitude Valley. Set within a character-filled, multi-level warehouse, the venue blends rustic, heritage elements with contemporary, jungle-inspired design, Rừng dishes up a regionally diverse menu that moves beyond familiar staples towards inventive dishes such as pork and taro spring rolls, and a unique bún riêu chawanmushi. The beverage program follows suit with Vietnamese spirits and creatively infused cocktails, while additional features like private karaoke and function spaces expand the experience beyond dining. With Rừng, Tuan is pursuing an ambitious vision to redefine Vietnamese cuisine in Brisbane, delivering a bold, immersive take on a richly diverse food culture.
Ruma, New Farm: As Little Lane took shape on the corner of Merthyr Road and Brunswick Street in New Farm, rumours swirled regarding what kind of venue would be calling the building’s rooftop level home. Last month, we all found out. Ruma – the newest venue from couples Daniel Tuivaiti and Katrina Mead, and Chris and Jess Mead – has transformed the elevated perch into a tropical-inspired venue that mixes island inspirations with a chic, contemporary aesthetic. Designed with Alkot Studio, the space blends terracotta textures, custom concrete furnishings and island-inspired decor into a series of distinct yet cohesive zones. In the kitchen, head chef Felipe Oliveira delivers a modern Australian, share-style menu infused with native ingredients, while the bar complements the offering with a curated list of tropical-leaning cocktails and classics. Capturing a sense of escapism and community, Ruma has quickly positioned itself as a lively, all-occasion destination in one of Brisbane’s fastest-evolving neighbourhoods.
Comuna Cantina, Newstead: Is Comuna Cantina’s Newstead location Tim Johnson’s best venue yet? There’s definitely a case to be made. For one, the venue’s location near Waterfront Park is a versatile, all-day destination that caters to everything from casual coffees and park meetups to celebrations and date nights. With help from Alkot Studio and Unita, Comuna Cantina’s hacienda-inspired aesthetic has been expertly realised, with custom furnishings and vibrant desert tones feeling not only stylistically coherent, but visually stunning. And then there’s the food. Comuna’s popular Mexican-inspired offerings – tacos, fajitas, nachos and other Mexican-inspired delicacies – are as delicious as ever, while the bar (stocked with an extensive tequila selection) is equipped to dispense all of the hits. Comuna Cantina’s arrival marks a shift for the brand into a broader place-making experience, delivering the goods beyond dining alone.
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