There's so much to get excited for in Brisbane in the coming years, from a heap of incredible new developments to the Olympics, which right now seems like forever away but you can bet is going to be here in the blink of an eye.
As we hurtle towards 2032, we've already caught wind of more than a few epic restaurants, bakeries and bars that will be hitting Brisbane soon—here’s all the new openings we’re most looking forward to checking out (hopefully) before the year is out.
Ballers Clubhouse
Fortitude Valley
Sipping cocktails not enough to entertain you on a night out anymore? Then you’ll want to know about the massive new bar hitting the Valley soon, one described as an “adult’s playground on steroids.” Originally from Melbourne, Ballers Clubhouse is heading for Brisbane, taking over the old site of King Of Kings restaurant on Wickham Street. If you haven’t heard of this crazy, neon-lit venue before, it's basically the ultimate entertainment venues, featuring a karaoke gum ball machine, shuffle boards, high tech darts, ping pong and so much more. As well as incorporating Ballers’ signature games and activities, the Brisbane venue will also feature their interactive cocktails, including creations like The Houdini’s Escape, which comes served in a miniature safe with a code to crack before you can sip your prize, and the Smoky Skull Heist Negroni, which arrives in a black briefcase enshrouded in smoke. It's scheduled to open in 2025, stay tuned for more info.
The Fifty-Six
Brisbane CBD
After opening not one, but two of Brisbane’s most beautiful new venues last year, DAP & Co. are at it again with the announcement of the final venue to land inside the heritage-listed Naldham House. Joining the ground floor bistro The Brasserie and upstairs cocktail bar Club Felix in 2025 will be The Fifty Six, a vibrant new Cantonese restaurant led by chef Gerald Ong. Serving up contemporary takes on beloved Cantonese dishes, the eatery will pay homage to the influence Chinese culture and cuisine has had on Brisbane and Australia’s food landscape with dishes like steaming crystal skin dumplings with Moreton Bay bug and wok-tossed Mooloolaba prawns with curry leaf and salted egg. It's officially opening on Thursday 13 February and bookings just opened—get yours in here.
Landers Pocket
Skygate (Brisbane Airport)
Image credit: Landers Pocket | Supplied
The airport isn’t where you’d expect to head to find a good brewery, but that’s just where Brisbane’s newest spot for craft beer is landing soon—or at least within spitting distance of. Opening in the Skygate precinct (where you’ll find DFO) in early 2025 is Landers Pocket, a mammoth sports and entertainment venue that will house a craft brewery, distillery, golf driving bay, mini golf, beer garden, padel tennis courts and outdoor amphitheatre all under the one roof. The craft brewery and distillery portion will be in the expert hands of Green Beacon Brewing Company, while the golfing side of things will be managed by Golf Central‚ so you can be sure this will be one slick operation, no matter what you’re more keen for. That’s all the details we have for now, but stay tuned for more or sign up for updates here.
Delia Group's First Brisbane Venue
West End
Image credit: Shane Delia | Supplied
If you haven’t heard of Shane Delia, you will soon. The Melbourne-based chef and restauranteur is behind some of the city’s most loved venues, with Maha, Maha North, Maha East and Jayda all under his belt at Delia Group—and in the first half of next year, he’s bringing his passion for bold flavours, rich spices and diverse culinary traditions to Brisbane. The group’s very first venture north, the new restaurant will be located inside the Thomas Dixon Centre, West End’s state-of-the-art performance centre. Currently home to Queensland Ballet, the centre is set to become a vibrant cultural destination blending events and dining across multiple different events and activation spaces, with Delia’s restaurant just one delicious element. More details are coming soon, but for now Delia has said, "I'm excited to be launching a restaurant in Brisbane. It's long been a desire of mine to open a venue in this city - what is continually proving to be a vibrant new culinary destination in Australia." Stay tuned.
Goros
Fortitude Valley
Start warming up your vocal chords, because a vibrant, multi-level Japanese bar is opening in the Valley next year, and it comes from one of Sydney’s biggest hospitality groups. Solotel, who are also behind Riverbar & Kitchen here in Brisbane, is the team behind Goros, Surrey Hills’ iconic izakaya cross nightclub—and next year, they’re bringing it to us. Spread across multiple levels with room for up to 500 patrons, the Brissie spin-off will feature crazy karaoke rooms and a menu of Japanese spirits, sake shots and cocktails, as well as izakaya-style eats. Doors will be opening sometime in early 2025, so stay tuned.
Dakabin Hotel
Dakabin
Image credit: Dakabin hotel | Supplied
Moreton Bay residents, you are in for a treat next year. Comiskey Group, the team behind iconic pubs and hotels like Bribie’s Sandstone Point Hotel, Noosa’s The Doonan and Eumundi’s The Imperial Hotel, have just dropped a sneak peek at their plans for Dakabin Hotel and our mouths are open. Set to open in early 2025, the landmark pub will feature a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining and a huge statement fireplace surrounded by sunken lounges, a sports room, a kids room and more, all of it so stunningly designed we might be willing to take a road trip north. Stay tuned for more details or follow along for updates here.
The Wright House
Woolloongabba
Coming to South City Square from the Talisman Group soon is The Wright House, a massive brewpub and steakhouse that is going to make a serious splash when it finally lands. The huge two-level venue will feature tanks brewing Aether Brewing beers, an open, wood-fired kitchen, and both indoor and outdoor seating areas. The bit we’re really excited about though, is The Office, a hidden, Mad Men-inspired steakhouse that seats just 30 diners. With a fit out that will feel like an old school office, here you’ll be tucking into juicy steaks and saucy ribs paired with baked potato and mac ‘n’ cheese. Whichever venue you’re more keen to get a booking at, stay tuned for more details soon.
Stilts And Mulga Bill's
Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Tassis Group | Supplied
Considering just how many bridges crisscross the Brisbane River, it was only a matter of time before we got our first restaurant on a bridge, and the new green bridge currently under construction from Kangaroo Point to the city is set to score just that. Not one, but two dining venues will eventually call the bridge home (what an address to have, right?), with Tassis Group, the team behind eateries like Opa, Massimo and Yamas just named the successful tenderer for the site. The first, Stilts, will be a luxe celebration Queensland's unique lifestyle, and feature plenty of local ingredients on the menu. The second, Mulga Bill’s (named for Banjo Patterson’s poem), will be all about casual, all-day dining, dishing up wood fired pizzas, picnic boxes and grab and go pastries and coffee—perfect for commuters using the bridge to head to work. Considering the bridge is yet to span the river, we’ve got a while to wait to check them out, but the opening of both venues is currently expected sometime in 2024.
Tamborine Cheese
Hamilton
No trip to Tamborine is complete with a visit to Tamborine Cheese, whether it’s to get a morning snack or pick up a bag full of cheesy goodies to take home. If you find yourself craving their creamy wedges between road trips though, you’re in luck, because the cheese makers are coming to Brisbane, opening an artisanal deli at Portside Wharf. Offering up more than 40 varieties of locally crafted cheese as well as cured meats and customisable cheese boards, the deli will feature seating inside and out with room for up to 50 people, and serve up a selection of wines and cocktails to compliment those cheese boards. It's set to open in early 2025, and you’ll catch us there scoffing brie when it does, so stay tuned.
Marble Korean Steakhouse
Hamilton
Image credit: Lowry Group | Facebook
2024 was a big year for Hamilton’s Portside Wharf, with a slew of new openings hitting the waterside precinct, including Dumbo, The Ballpark and Mademoiselle. They’re not slowing down just yet though, with still more fresh venues set to land in the new year, one of which will be Marble Korean Steakhouse. With the fitout currently underway by Lowry Group, the Clui Design designed spot will be as luxe as they come, with a dark and moody interior that boasts multiple dining areas and bars. That’s all we know for now, but stay tuned for now, and for an official opening date early next year.
You’ll find Brisbane's best new restaurants of late here.
Image credit: Baller Clubhouse | Supplied