We love a good wine list as much as the next person, but you know what we also love? Holding on to our hard earned dollars for more than a nano second after we get paid. But good food is life also pretty important to us, so when we find an awesome Brisbane BYO restaurant we get a bit excited!
And no, we’re not talking about the local Chinese restaurant you started frequenting as a uni student so you could BYO four bottles of wine and order one serve of satay sticks to share because your parents told you that your friends couldn’t come over for mid-week drinks again. We’re talking places with rad food and a killer atmosphere, places you wouldn’t expect to let you bring your own wine to. These are the best BYO restaurants in Brisbane.
Golden Pig
Newstead
Book yourself in for a feast at Golden Pig, complete with crunchy duck bao buns, sweet and spicy Korean fried chicken and sticky lamb ribs with dried mandarin. Be sure to book on a Thursday to take advantage of their $15 BYO corkage, so you can save your dosh for dessert. Trust us—you won’t want to miss their deep-fried banana ice cream.
Lefka’s Taverna
West End
If you love Greek food as much as we do, you’ll want to hit up Lefka’s Taverna for an authentic immersion in all things Mediterranean. These wallet-friendly dishes rarely grace Aussie menus, so you’ll be sure to find something new to tickle your tastebuds. BYO is on offer Wednesday and Thursday, and with corkage just $8, it’s worth bringing a backup bottle.
Pochana
Brisbane CBD
We’re already drooling just thinking about the crispy pork belly with red capsicum relish at Pochana. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the tasty Thai street food on offer and although they have a variety of colourful, fruity cocktails, the option to BYO is an added bonus for those wanting to save a few dollars—or if you’re looking for an excuse to order that extra entrée.
Spread
Camp Hill
Did somebody say burrata and BYO? Two of our favourite things meet and mingle every Wednesday and Thursday night at Spread in Camp Hill. Serving the most generous portions we recommend sharing plates with the whole table so you can all savour some of the delicious ragu bolognese and garlic and honey pizza with truffle arancini balls while you enjoy a bottle of your favourite bubbly.
Deer Duck Bistro
Auchenflower
Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, Deer Duck Bistro is a discreet spot upping the Brisbane fine-dining ante, proving award-winning, beautiful fare is not just reserved for the CBD. Gorgeous décor aside (its eclectic French-style space and shamelessly romantic lighting is way cute), Deer Duck’s menu is a what’s what of local produce and ethically sourced ingredients. From Tuesday to Friday (excluding public holidays), match your BYO bottle with their a la carte menu. Just keep in mind the $20 corkage fee and max of one bottle per two people.
Sugo It
Bulimba
What once began as a backyard pizza oven has quickly become one of the best Italian pizzerias in Brisbane. One of a number of foodie favourites on vibrant Oxford Street, Sugo It is a licensed venue, but runs a BYO night every Tuesday for $8 corkage per bottle, with the proceeds donated to their charity of choice. Not a bad excuse to pop a bottle for those in need.
Red Galanga
Norman Park
Indulge in a taste of the orient with BYO at Red Galanga. The menu is packed with goodies guaranteed to get you drooling. Guests are free to bring a bottle any night of the week, with doors open from 5pm. Be sure to make a booking for Friday and Saturday sittings, or risk missing out on some of the best Asian cuisine in town.
Giardinetto
Fortitude Valley
Practically a Brisbane institution, Giardinetto’s fairy-lit courtyard has been serving up hearty and homely Italian fare since way back in the 1960s. Known for their home-style spaghetti marinara, scalloppine al funghi, and fettuccine carbonara, this is the place to be when you’re craving Nonna’s cooking. While the restaurant is fully licensed, patrons are welcome to BYO wine for just a small $3 per person. Not bad value for the heart of the Valley.
OTTO
South Bank
Brisbane’s classiest BYO spot may just be Otto Ristorante. For lunch from Wednesday to Friday and dinner Wednesdays and Thursdays you can gather your group together for that special occasion and bring your best bottle of vino to toast in style. Have a taste of modern Italy with a three-course choice menu for $150 per person and sommeliers on hand to assist with wine pairings and bottle poppings, you’ll feel like you’re being treated to the ultimate VIP restaurant experience.
Caravanserai
West End
A rustic cottage lit by colourful twinkling candles and lights, Caravanserai is our go-to for traditional Turkish fare. We’re talking Turkish pide, walnut-stuffed dates, prawn kebabs, and (everyone’s fave) haloumi on crispy flat bread. Their own drinks list short and sweet, so guests are encouraged to BYO—not that we need the encouragement.
Cinco Bistro
Camp Hill
Over on Brisbane’s east side, Cinco Bistro has garnered a reputation as a local foodie haven. The restaurant has been named as one of the top 500 in the country, so it’s worth swinging by to take a squiz at their menu. BYO is available Tuesday to Thursday for just $9.50 per person, but if you book on a weekend, you’ll have to order your bevvies from the in-house menu.
River Quay Fish
South Bank
Serving up fresh, flavoursome seafood alongside stunning city views, any self-respecting foodie has no doubt ticked River Quay Fish off their list. But how about a River Quay Fish picnic? Book a spread of fish and chips, pizza and calamari for two or four people and bring along a bottle for the ultimate riverside dining experience. There’s no corkage, just be sure to BYO your own blanket to spread out on too.
Wagaya
Fortitude Valley
Head on down to Chinatown for the Valley’s most futuristic Japanese eatery. Wagaya will greet you with darkened aisles of carved wooden booths, separated by rattan screens for that traditional Japanese feel. Their touch screen menus facilitate ultra-fast service, so you can quickly get to sampling their extensive range of Japanese cocktails. BYO is a mere $7 per head, so maybe skip on the sake and splash your cash on their fresh sashimi platters, delicious yakitori, and mouth-watering udon.
Ichiban Sushi
Queen Street Mall And Fairfield Gardens
What better way to knock off work than to head down Queen St Mall for some BYO drinks at Ichiban Sushi? Serve yourself some tasty salmon rolls or chicken katsu off the train and pop open a cold one after a long day, it’s the perfect inner city spot to have a few drinks and unwind over some mouth-watering sushi.
Little Greek Taverna
West End
Authentic Greek cuisine is calling our names, so we’re heading down to Little Greek Taverna in West End with a bottle of wine at the ready, because of course, its BYO. For just $4 a person you can bring your own beer or wine from home and pair it with a delicious lamb souvlaki or moussaka and mouth watering lemon potatoes on the side.
Looking for more foodie inspiration? Treat yourself to a feed with 15 of Brisbane’s best restaurants to feast at right now.
Image credit: Golden Pig, Spread, Otto