Known for its multicultural community and epic op shop offering, West End is an inner-city suburb that brings people from far and wide for one very good reason: to feast.
One of Brisbane/Meanjin’s most eclectic neighbourhoods, you’ll find every cuisine under the sun. From modern Australian to authentic Greek, spicy Mexican, and more, you’ll find more flavours than your fork can handle. Below is your definitive guide to the best restaurants in West End. Eat your heart out.
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Layla
Corner of Montague Road and Raven Street, West End
Nestled within the heritage-listed walls of the Thomas Dixon Centre, you’ll find a dimly-lit and moody space specialising in spicy Middle Eastern and Sri Lankan flavours dubbed Layla. From acclaimed chef Shane Delia, take a seat in the dramatic dining room or sunny outdoor courtyard for a menu that starts with small plates such as king crab dressed in coriander and lime, pistachio-crusted quail, and their signature flatbread that’s brushed in toum and served alongside smoky dips. Mains include eight-hour slow roasted lamb shoulder, swordfish with burnt orange and fennel, and roast duck with walnuts and pomegranate—resulting in a flavourful journey that’ll stick with you long after your last bite.
Voglia
405 Montague Road, West End
When you’re in the mood for a little Italian, Voliga is the place to find a seat. Located at the Montague Markets in a bright and breezy spot, you’ll find classic Italian cuisine with a modern twist, to keep what’s coming out of the kitchen creative and comforting. From handmade pastas and hand stretched pizzas to juicy burgers and garden-fresh sides, eat your way through Volgia’s menu—you won’t regretti the spaghetti.
Flying Colours
63 Vulture Street, West End
Image credit: Flying Colours | Instagram
From the funky folks who brought you Valley laneway bar, Super Whatnot, comes this ambient warehouse garden bar and restaurant that’s bound to become your local. Flying Colours is all about simple food, fine wine, and good times, and they deliver that in spades. Offering a menu comprised of ‘pizza’ and ‘not pizza’ options, you’ll find dishes of brown butter brussels, spiced cauliflower, and garlic butter clams alongside tasty pizzas such as the ZuZu—a funghi crema, zucchini, cavalo, jalapeno, and lemon taleggio combo that’ll blow your freaking mind.
Gum Bistro
237 Boundary Street, West End
Say g’day to one of West End’s most cosy and considered neighbourhood spots. Taking over the former Pasta Club space, Gum Bistro is a 40-seat restaurant on Boundary Street with a seasonally shifting menu that swings from snacks to substantials. Open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday, brunch Friday to Sunday, and lunch on Sundays only, Gum’s menu highlights the best of Queensland’s local produce alongside a carefully considered wine list put together by their in-house sommelier and one half of the founders, Phil Poussart. Expect plates of crudites and Riser sourdough with cultured butter alongside lamb rump, crispy potatoes, and leafy greens for those later-in-the-day meals, and egg soldiers, mushrooms on toast, or lamb pie for your first meal of the day.
August
19 Dornoch Terrace, West End
Image credit: August | Instagram
While it might be unconventional to open a restaurant in a 136-year old church, August is the refreshing European-inspired food option West End has been missing. Keeping the exposed rafters, polished timber floorboards, and stained glass windows of the former Methodist Church, Owners Brad Cooper and Matilda Riek (both ex-Florence and Bar Francine) have breathed new life into the space with contemporary artwork, modern furniture, and fully functioning kitchen you can witness in action from the dining room floor. Here, the team has put a unique spin on Euro fare while keeping the options uncomplicated, though changing seasonally. You’ll find mud crab omelette, pesto, potato, and green bean pasta liguria, and Moreton Bay prawn risotto alongside heartier dishes like stuffed lamb saddle with winter peas, duck with braised cabbage, French butter beans, leafy salad, and french fries, plus a mix of Italian, French, and Australian wines. Shall we book?
Cordeaux Social Club
462 Montague Road, West End
Part cafe, part wine bar, part restaurant, Cordeaux Social Club is a friendly neighbourhood spot run by the cool kids who know how to make a mean sandwich. Open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, Cordeaux plates up an eclectic mix of snacks, toasties, and hand cut fries, perfect for munching on in their courtyard or along the footpath. As for the sips, you’ll find a curated list of wines and cocktails on offer. Keep an eye on their socials for supper club events and jazz nights.
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Pilloni
166 Hardgrave Road, West End
Image credit: Pilloni | Instagram
Simple meals are often the best ones, and Pilloni nails the brief with every offering. Serving up Italian fare (but not as you know it), this upscale spot pays tribute to the dishes of Sardinia over popular saucy pastas and pizzas found in the Amalfi region. Boasting a sleek cocktail bar inside as well as a warm and dimly lit dining room, the menu revolves around open-fire cooking, with everything grilled in front of your eyes. Using the finest local ingredients, ethically sourced meats, and line-caught fish to craft dishes that are bold, rustie, and flavourful, Pilloni’s menu will take you on a journey through Sardinia—and you didn’t even get jet lag.
La Lupa
3/321 Montague Road, West End
Inspired by central Italian cuisine, La Lupa is a Roman-style pizzeria with an epic natural wine selection to accompany your carbs. Begin with their seasonal starters like roasted Roman artichokes with ricotta and bottarga or burrata with asparagus, yolk, pistachio, and vincotto before moving on to their classic pizzas and pastas.
Lefkas Taverna
170 Hardgrave Road, West End
Image credit: Lefkas | Instagram
As Brisbane’s biggest Greek community, it comes as no surprise to find more than a few of our city’s best Greek restaurants sporting the 4101 badge, and lording it over them all is Lefkas— a quintessential taverna and local institution. Serving up fuss-free, traditional cuisine with a very friendly price tag, you’ll find all the classics—so expect nothing more, nothing less. Best of all, Lefkas is BYO and if you stay long enough, you’ll dance the Zorba with the owner and staff. Opa.
El Torito
146 Boundary Street, West End
Dip your chip into authentic homemade Mexican cuisine at El Torito. A lively joint in the heart of West End, El Torito plates up the usual suspects— tortillas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and nachos—made fresh, served hot, and in generous quantities that are kind on your bank account. Add a couple of margaritas or tequila sunrises to your table order, and you and your amigos are good to go.
Rich & Rare
97 Boundary Street, West End
Image credit: Rich & Rare | Instagram
Hipster bars, Greek feasts, and sunny brunch spots are on every corner in West End, but finding a sophisticated spot to get a juicy steak? Now that’s a challenge—that is, of course, before the arrival of Rich & Rare. Specialising in succulent, dry-aged steak (there’s 15 on the menu to choose from), and freshly caught seafood, this upscale eatery offers premium fare with pretension. With cuts that range from 180g eye fillet to a jaw-dropping tomahawk, the menu also offers fresh oysters, cold seafood platters, steak tartare, and truffle mushroom spaghetti, along with a steak burger for those who like a dish they can grab with two hands. There are also lunch specials, banquets, and The R&R Experience for those who like to feast like kings.
Bar Francine
29A Vulture Street, West End
With its cottage setting, salvaged furniture, and mismatched plates, Bar Francine feels like your cool friend’s place—if they happened to have a well-stocked bar and a creative menu of pescetarian eats. The kind of spot where you’ll stop in with the intention of having one drink and walk out three hours later after two bottles of wine and a dozen snacks, it’s a welcome addition to the West End restaurant scene from the team behind South Brisbane’s El Planta.
Yamas Greek
45 Mollison Street, West End
When it comes to food, sharing is caring: just ask the crew at Yamas Greek. A bright, breezy, and cheerful spot on the edge of West Village, you and yours can work your way through the menu along with a couple of Santorini Sours. Start things off with warm pita bread, dips, and halloumi chips, before digging into calamari, gooey saganaki, and hearty plates of rich moussaka, braised beef pasta, or the extravagant dry aged t-bone. Taste the flavours of Greece—no passport necessary.
Mama Taco
4/59 Hardgrave Road, West End
Image credit: Mama Taco | Instagram
Cosy, cool, and contemporary, Mama Taco is all about Mexican street food, mezcal, agave, and tequila—a recipe for a surefire good time. Here, everything is made from scratch using traditional Mexican prep and cooking techniques, chillies are fermented in-house, and the meats are slow-cooked over a woodfire grill, making this little hole-in-the-wall one of the best spots in town to get your hot sauce hit. Slinging lobster, duck, rump, and eggplant tacos alongside a crispy tortilla salad, ruby snapper with chilli, avocado, lime, cilantro, and grapefruit, the menu is packed with more flavour than your amigos can count, while their cocktail list features all the Mexican classics to pair with it. Bring on the salt.
Little Red Dumpling
5/61 Hardgrave Road, West End
For a casual night out where a satisfied stomach is guaranteed, make your way to Little Red Dumpling. A vibey hole-in-the-wall establishment, expect to pile your plates up high as you order dishes designed to be shared. From BBQ pork buns to fried chicken bao, wonton in chilli sauce, and dumplings en masse, get your fix, grab and beer, and let the good times roll. The time for bao is nao.
Ippin
Level 2/97 Boundary Street, West End
Image credit: Ippin | Instagram
A quick stop at a sushi train is great, but a top-tier experience at Ippin is better. This fine dining spot comes with all the bells and whistles of an upscale restaurant, with starchy tablecloths, quality produce, and five-star service. Park up in one of the sleek booths and work your way through the impressive menu of nigiri, sashimi, and sushi— just leave room for the charcoal grill menu. Pair your bites with Ippin’s signature cocktails like the Umami Apple for a truly unforgettable meal out.
Caravanserai
1 Dornoch Terrace, West End
A 4101 institution that’s been serving Turkish delights for decades, Caravanserai provides a relaxed, welcoming, and judgement-free zone where you can tuck into a hefty plate of spiced kofta meatballs. From meze to mains, you’ll find faves like hummus, halloumi, and babaganoush, as well as char grilled eye fillet steak, chicken breast marinated in spiced yoghurt, and filo pastry cigars. Sultans, your feast is waiting.
Looking for more restaurants in the near neighbourhood? Head here:
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- The Best Restaurants In Brisbane's CBD
- The Best Restaurants In Woolloongabba
Main image credit: Layla | Supplied
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