Here at Urban List 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 food is also pretty important to us, so when we discover an awesome Brisbane BYO restaurant we get a tad 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.
Lefkas
170 Hardgrave Road, West End
If you love Greek food as much as we do, you’ll want to hit up Lefkas for an authentic immersion in all things Mediterranean. You’ll be sure to find something new to tickle your tastebuds, as well as platters loaded with chicken and lamb souvlakia, octopus, calamari, haloumi, tzatziki and pita. BYO is on offer Wednesday and Thursday, and with corkage just $8, it’s worth bringing a backup bottle.
Himalayan Cafe
640 Brunswick Street, New Farm
A cozy dining retreat for locals since 2002, Himalayan Cafe offers hearty meals with vibrant interiors adorned with traditional Tibetan decor. You can’t go wrong with the coconut and tomato chicken curry with veggies and herbs, paired with the house-made garlic and chilli bread. The menu also features Nepalese classics like momo (dumplings) and sizzling stir-fries, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Best of all, it’s BYO, making it an affordable night out with your crew.
August
19 Dornoch Terrace, West End
Image credit: August | Ranyhyn Laine
August in West End is all about effortless elegance, dishing up innovative European-inspired dishes in a 136-year-old heritage listed church. For their iconic Sunday lunch bookings, they serve a $90pp set menu that changes weekly and with the season, showcasing one-of-a-kind dishes like foie gras stuffed chicken crown and roast lamb leg in pappa al pomodoro. It’s BYO, so you can bring your favourite bottle to sip and share at the table, with a corkage fee of $15 per head.
Kent Road Bistro
85 Kent Road, Wooloowin
Wooloowin’s charming Kent Road Bistro has quickly become a staple Brisbane BYO restaurant for locals seeking unique French and Italian-inspired dinner fare. The menu changes frequently, showcasing fresh seasonal ingredients in dishes like fillet mignon with hash brown, onion jam, and red wine jus, as well as beetroot and labneh ravioli with baby spinach and horseradish butter. With a corkage fee of just $8, you can feel better about splurging on desserts of peach tart with crème fraîche sorbet and candied pistachio or decadent chocolate brownie with hazelnut mousse and praline.
Pochana
163 Elizabeth Street, 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 wine 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.
You might also like:
Golden Pig Restaurant
38 Ross Street, Newstead
Image credit: Golden Pig | Facebook
Book yourself in for a feast at Golden Pig, complete with steamed pork belly bao, sweet and spicy Korean fried chicken and braised duck leg in curry sauce with pineapple. Be sure to secure a table 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 with honey and kaffir lime ice cream.
Deer Duck Bistro
396 Milton Road, 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.
Little Greek Taverna
1 Browning Street, 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 $4.50 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.
E’cco Bistro
8/63 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Image credit: E'cco Bistro | Facebook
E’cco Bistro, a cornerstone of Brisbane’s dining scene since 1995, is known around these parts for its Euro-inspired menu and the smoky magic of a Scheer Parilla grill. E’cco serves up refined dishes like coal-grilled whole market fish with harissa, currants, and sorrel, as well as suckling pig porchetta with slow-cooked beans and chimichurri within its chic American oak and marble interiors. Recently reintroducing their popular BYO nights, you can now sip your own way every Wednesday and Thursday evening or Friday lunch and dinner for $35 corkage per bottle.
Brisbane Phoenix
300 George Street, Brisbane CBD
Bringing its yum cha mastery and sleek interiors to Brisbane from Sydney in 2019, Phoenix now firmly stands as one of the go-to Chinese spots in our CBD. With specialty chefs crafting crab xiao long bao, prawn and garlic chive dumplings, and steamed BBQ pork buns daily, you’re in for an epic feast. $25 corkage allows you to BYO beverage and dine in their opulent black, red, and gold dining room, perfect for group gatherings or a weekend yum cha brunch.
Sugo It
3/190 Oxford Street, 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.
Caravanserai
1 Dornoch Terrace, West End
Image credit: Caravanserai | Facebook
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 is short and sweet, so guests are encouraged to BYO—not that we need the encouragement.
Giardinetto
366 Brunswick Street, 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–now that’s value for the heart of the Valley.
OTTO
River Quay Green, South Bank
Brisbane’s classiest BYO spot may just be Otto Ristorante. For lunch and dinner on Wednesdays and Thursdays you can gather your group together for that special occasion and bring your best bottle of vino to toast in style. Dine on Head Chef Will Cowper’s seasonal Italian à la carte menu, with sommeliers on hand to assist with wine pairings and bottle popping–you’ll feel like you’re being treated to the ultimate VIP restaurant experience.
Spread
82 Bennetts Road, Camp Hill
Image credit: Spread | Facebook
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.
Cinco Bistro
589 Old Cleveland Road, 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 try the likes of snapper fillet in yellow coconut curry, or their pizza range including a bangin’ tandoori chicken number. BYO is available Tuesday to Thursday and Friday lunch 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.
Ichiban Sushi
Level 1 Queen Street Mall, Brisbane CBD | 2/180 Fairfield Road, Fairfield
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.
Red Galanga
3/112 Bennetts Road, Norman Park
Image credit: Red Galanga | Facebook
Indulge in a taste of the orient with BYO at Red Galanga. The menu is packed with goodies guaranteed to get you drooling, like crispy slow cooked pork belly with caramelised chilli sauce and nam jim. Guests are free to bring a bottle any night of the week, with doors opening from 4.30pm. Be sure to make a booking for Friday and Saturday sittings, or risk missing out on some of the best Asian cuisine in town.
Looking for spots that excel in both the food and drink department? Look no further than:
Image credit: Lefkas | Facebook
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.