Albion: What To Eat, Drink And Do In 2025
Locals might want to keep it hush-hush, but Albion has quietly transformed from a sleepy industrial pocket into one of Brisbane/Meanjin’s coolest up-and-coming ‘burbs. It’s the kind of hood where converted warehouses hide wine bars, croissants sell out before ten, and your barista probably knows your dog’s name (and treat preference).
There’s really no reason to leave this inner north-east gem—it’s got everything you need and then some, from neighbourhood cafes for your morning flat white to wellness havens for a bit of R&R. And if you’ve got the kids in tow, don’t worry, there’s plenty of family-friendly fun to round out your weekend plans.
With so many things to do in Albion, we’ve teamed up with our mates at Aussie and their property search experience to spill the beans on where to eat, drink and chill out in 2025. Check out our insider’s guide below and see why this northside favourite is officially having its moment.
Know what you want? Skip to:
- The Best Restaurants In Albion
- The Best Cafes In Albion
- The Best Bars And Pubs In Albion
- The Best Things To Do In Albion
The Best Restaurants In Albion
Hervé’s Restaurant & Bar
Craft’d Grounds, Level 1/31-37 Collingwood Street, Albion
Step into Hervé’s and feel fancy without trying too hard. This 80-seat venue pairs moody lighting with French-inspired dishes that will make you say c’est magnifique! out loud. Expect dishes like coal-grilled Moreton Bay bugs and rich Madagascan chocolate for dessert, all washed down with something from a 150-bottle wine list that spans the globe. Hervé’s nails that classy-but-not-pretentious vibe, making it one of the best restaurants Albion has for a romantic date night… or just pretending you’re in Paris for an evening.
Olive Thyme
293 Sandgate Road, Albion
Albion’s taking us globe-trotting again, this time straight to Anatolia, Türkiye. Set in a heritage-listed space, Olive Thyme is a charming restaurant with leadlight windows, Turkish ceramics, and colourful cushions that make you feel like you’re sitting in Aladdin’s cave.
The menu is stacked with house-made dips, fresh pita, and traditional dishes with a modern twist. Don’t miss the lahmacu—a super thin flatbread topped with minced meat, veg and herbs—or the hand-rolled hazelnut baklava for dessert. As a food fanatic who just returned from a trip to Istanbul, this is exactly what a proper Turkish feast should feel like.
Hudson Corner
10 Albion Road, Albion
If comfort food had an HQ, it would be Hudson Corner. This American barbecue-style restaurant and alehouse brings all your fave soul food classics to a cosy street corner in Albion. Imagine Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls, but with less coffee and more beer—though Hudson’s does serve a mean cup of joe in the mornings.
On the menu, you can expect smoky, slow-cooked ribs, juicy brisket, and pulled pork that practically falls off the bone. Add craft beers on tap, and you’ve got the ultimate casual hangout for after-work drinks and a feed.
The Best Cafes In Albion
Fonzie Abbott
40 Fox Street, Albion
Set inside a converted warehouse, Fonzie Abbott in Albion is a roastery, brewery and distillery all in one. It’s also the iconic coffee roaster’s flagship cafe, so you know the bean juice is guaranteed to be excellent. The industrial-style interiors are just as top-notch: high ceilings, big tables and loads of natural light.
It’s one of this writer’s favourite spots in Brissy for reading on a solo date or WFC (work from cafe, for the uninitiated), either outside in the sunny laneway or upstairs in the quiet nook that overlooks the leafy street and park. And the food hits just as hard, with the likes of smashed avo, hearty breakfast bowls, buttery pastries and a rotating cake cabinet to choose from.
Time And Temp
337 Sandgate Road, Albion
This IYKYK café and bakery is hiding behind an unassuming roller door in Albion, and it’s tiny (just 45 square metres), so it’s all about quality over quantity. Expect a rotating lineup of nine irresistible baked goods, from flaky croissants to cardamom buns and seasonal danishes, paired with batch-brewed coffee from Proud Mary and Timbertrain. Run by Manning Young and Palita Cai (Falco alumni), it’s guaranteed to deliver—just get in quick before all the pastries go.
Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters
97 Sandgate Road, Albion
Located in the Albion Fine Trades precinct, Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters is a love letter to coffee nerds (ahem). Founded by husband-and-wife duo Alex and Stephanie Ridgway, this cafe roasts its own beans daily, so you know you’re bound to get a good cuppa. For your first visit, opt for their award-winning Golden Ticket blend—it’s chocolatey and fruity with hints of blueberry.
Set in an old Mercedes-Benz workshop, the space has high ceilings, polished concrete, and even a leafy courtyard with sprawling herb gardens that supply the kitchen. As for food, the menu offers crowd-pleasers like avocado toast, sangas and house-baked sweets. It’s a beautiful spot to bring a book (or a friend) and settle in for a couple of hours.
Artie & Mai
340 Sandgate Road, Albion
Once you’ve pulled up a seat at Artie & Mai, you’ll find it’s pretty hard to get up again (especially if you’re having a yap sesh with your best mates). This charming cafe is full of quirks, from exposed brick walls to plant-filled corners, that make it feel as cosy as your second home.
The food is equally as inviting: comforting triple-melt toasties, ricotta pancakes, baked goods and—of course—barista-made coffee. Drop this local gem in the group chat for your next catch-up and watch your popularity soar.
The Best Bars And Pubs In Albion
Adela Wine Bar
281 Sandgate Road, Albion
Next time you’re scrolling IG and it seems like everyone but you is soaking up the sun in Greece or wandering the cobblestoned streets of France, don’t get Euro-envy. Go to Adela Wine Bar instead. This European-inspired spot will make you feel like you’re at a pavement cafe in Italy, sipping glasses of vino and forgetting what time it is.
There are elegant small plates to go with Adelia’s premium wine selection, which includes over 150 bottles of small-batch, terroir-focused drops. Insider tip: ask about their wine flights—they’re the easiest way to try something new without committing to a full bottle.
New Tricks
26 Collingwood Street, Albion
Part rustic cellar door, part gin distillery, New Tricks is Albion’s latest opening. A farm-style hideaway in an old warehouse, complete with leather lounges and moody lighting, these digs are basically made for a Sunday sesh. Their rotating menu of gins and spirits means you can try something new on every visit, and the knowledgeable staff are always happy to guide you through a tasting. Gin enthusiasts, this one’s for you.
The Albion Hotel
300 Sandgate Road, Albion
Packed with character, The Albion Hotel is your go-to for a proper pub experience. Built in the 19th century, this historic watering hole has been serving locals and visitors since the days of horse-drawn carriages. But don’t let the heritage fool you—inside, it’s a whole new vibe.
Following a $5 million refurbishment led by Cayas + Ward, the interiors have been reimagined with a warm, Italian twist. From the sports bar and dining spaces to the beer garden and function rooms, you’ll find exposed brick, timber accents, arched doorways, and modern seating that’s a world away from the pubs of yesteryear.
Breakfast Creek Hotel
2 Kingsford Smith Drive, Albion
Yes, it’s famous—and yes, it’s worth a visit. The Breakfast Creek Hotel is a historic multi-venue pub built in 1889 on a bend of the Brisbane River. More than that, it houses one of the largest rum bars in the southern hemisphere: the colossal Substation No. 41 Rum Bar. This bucket-list spot is as quirky as it is impressive, with walls lined with rums from around the world.
With six unique bars, a tropical beer garden, and the iconic Spanish Garden Steakhouse (their premium steaks are as much a drawcard as the rum bar), it’s easy to see why this is one of Brisbane’s—and dare we say, Australia’s—most-loved pubs.
The Best Things To Do In Albion
Albion Fine Trades
97 Sandgate Road, Albion
This all-in-one precinct has a bit of everything under one sleek, industrial roof. There are wellness havens, culinary hotspots and homewares boutiques that you could easily spend hours browsing inside (we especially love the French antiques at the colourful Magnolia Interiors store). Add an extra hour to your coffee run to go for a wander, stock up on salads from Botanica Real Food or artisanal treats from Jocelyn’s Provisions. You won’t regret it.
The Bathhouse Albion
64 Nariel Street, Albion
Tucked inside Albion Fine Trades, The Bathhouse Albion is the kind of place that makes you want to cancel your weekend plans just to soak in serenity (even their website home page is soothing). The European-inspired luxury zones include hot and cold pools, saunas, steam rooms, floatation therapy, and lush hydrothermal experiences. With plush robes and a welcome drink of herbal tea, the Bathhouse is the perfect place to convince yourself—and your bestie—that midweek self-care is not just allowed, it’s essential.
Craft’d Grounds
31/37 Collingwood Street, Albion
Housed in a beautifully restored 100-year-old timber mill, this artisanal precinct is home to a variety of local makers. First up, there’s more dining hotspots than you can poke a stick at—from Collingwood Black Espresso + Bar to Sprout Bakery, Hervé’s and Drift Lager Bar and Cellar.
Then there’s the packed calendar of gigs to attend. Think ‘Food Truck Friday’, DJ parties set in event space The Black, and pop-up arts and craft markets. Keep tabs on their IG page for upcoming event announcements.
Keen to make Albion home? Try Aussie’s property search tool to access suburb insights, personalised property reports and over 140,000 listings, giving you everything you need to find, buy and own in your favourite suburb.
Editor's note: This article was produced in partnership with Aussie. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.
Image: Supplied.