Is there anything more indulgent than a long lunch? When you’ve got good food and drink, great company and the whole afternoon to knock yourself into a food coma it makes any other daytime activity seem pretty drab.
Here at Urban List, we're bonafide experts at long, leisurely lunches—we do take a lot of them, all over Brisbane/Meanjin, afterall. To ensure you get maximum enjoyment from your next long lunch locations, we've wrapped up the best places in Brisbane to take a long lunch.
Stanley
5 Boundary Street, Brisbane CBD
If you’re long lunching at Stanley, you’ll want to be picky with your seating and request a table outside on the deck, with those glorious Story Bridge views in front of you. Inside is beautiful, don’t get us wrong, but there’s something about eating Peking duck pancakes and dim sum with a river breeze (and hopefully a bottle of wine) that screams long lunch.
Manly Boathouse
4 Trafalgar Street, Manly
A long lunch with actual water views, not just the murky river? For that, you’ll need to head to Manly, where the Manly Boathouse is dishing up some serious beachy vibes alongside epic eats. Whether you opt to eat in their airy, all-white dining room overlooking the harbour or book out one of their little boathouses, you can feast on snacks, seafood and steaks while you work through their lengthy list of cocktails.
Hellenika
1/48 James Street, Fortitude Valley
Image credit Hellenika | Facebook
Housed on the rooftop, and overlooking the very classy open-air pool of boutique hotel, The Calile, Hellenika is peak summer hangs, giving off serious Greek island vibes, which translates very simply as the perfect day-to-night, drinking and dining haunt James Street was hanging out for. If you want to really take your long lunch up a notch, ask for booth by the pool.
Opa
123 Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD
Greek food is the ultimate shared feast, and when it’s dished up in a venue as good-looking as Opa, it just takes the whole experience to the next level. Depending on your group size, you could be dining in one of the massive circular tables lining the river, or in one of the stunning plush booths overhung with greenery. Either way, you’ll be drooling as soon as the food arrives.
Kiff & Culture’s Artisan Food & Drink Tour
Various Locations
We take your suggestion of lunch and we raise you a lunchtime tour that takes in a pan-Asian banquet, a wine tasting AND a beer or gin sampling session at some of Brisbane’s coolest venues. Yeah, we thought you’d like that. Kiff & Culture’s Brisbane Artisan Food & Drink Tours include all this and more, complete with transport between the venues in a funky minibus. Get a group together and block out a whole afternoon for a private tour.
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Greca
3/5 Boundary Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Greca | Facebook
Part of the Apollo family that has laid roots in Sydney and Tokyo, Greca is a contemporary Greek taverna poised on Brisbane’s shores. Taking up prime waterfront real estate, Greca is the perfect setting for Greca’s Greek feasts, being both close to the water and an example of a modernised classic. Notable standouts on the menu are the slow roasted lamb shoulder and the grilled saganaki drizzled in local honey, but the Full Greek set menu is your best bet if you want the full gustatory tour.
Otto
1 Sidon Street, South Bank
Since moving over to their new riverside perch in South Bank, Otto has gotten more enticing than ever, with even better views than before to go with their top notch Italian eats, particularly on a sunny afternoon over a Brisbane lunch. Best of all, you can start or finish your meal (or both) in the bar right next door, where the Aperol spritzes are plentiful and the views are just as good (if not better).
Julius Pizzeria
77 Grey Street, South Brisbane
Julius Pizzeria is easily one of the best pizza joints in Brisbane. Big call, but true. You’ll be hard pressed to find something on the menu that won’t hit the spot. The calamari is too tasty for words, while the Number 1 pizza’s name says it all: it’s freaking delicious.
Same Same
46 James Street, Fortitude Valley
Image credit: sAme sAme | Facebook
There’s no such thing as having just one or two courses at Same Same—it’s banquet-style all the way, and you’ll definitely need more than a quick hour to polish off every dish. You can either let the kitchen decide what that banquet involves for you, so you’ve got more time to knock back a spicy chilli margarita, or you can just go hard on eats like fried master stock chicken ribs, lamb shank massaman curry and grille scallops in curry butter.
Libertine
5/61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane City
Not only is Libertine one of our fave spots for date night option, but it's perfect for long lunches. The courtyard dining area is just the place to settle in to for an afternoon of drinking lychee cocktails while you tuck into lamb dumplings and crispy pork belly with a side of DIY green papaya salad.
Bar Alto
119 Lamington Street, New Farm
A riverside seat on Bar Alto’s breezy deck, a pot of mussels in chilli, tomato and garlic sauce with a side of crusty bread in front of you and a glass of pinot grigio in hand—now that’s what we call living. A stalwart in Brisbane’s long lunch scene for almost two decades, this Italian spot really knows how to serve up a chilled afternoon.
Babylon
145 Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Babylon | Supplied
Before you ask, yes, Babylon is the sister venue to the Sydney restaurant with the same name, and it shares the same focus on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare. However, the Sydney location can't compete with Brisbane's stunning views of the Story Bridge and its riverside bar, perfect for basking in that midday sun with a drink in hand. The restaurant itself is a visual delight, featuring terracotta bricks, red marble tabletops, and dusty pink banquettes. The menu is designed for sharing, so bring a crew—and make sure to order the pan-fried halloumi.
Lina Rooftop
74/80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane
Nothing says summery long lunch like a rooftop bar with its own pool, and Lina Rooftop is no exception. This elevated hotspot offers more than just stunning views of Brisbane, it features a top-tier restaurant that perfectly complements the chic setting. Relax in the sunken lounge with friends or lounge by (or in) the pool with a cocktail in hand. The restaurant will deliver Mediterranean-inspired dishes right to you, making it the ultimate spot for high-altitude indulgence.
Essa’s Sunday School
181 Robertson Street, Fortitude Valley
Long lunches are beyond easy at Essa’s Sunday School. On Sundays, they break bread, let their hair down, turn up the music, and serve a big family-style lunch from 12pm. Designed to be shared and frequently changing, they post the menu on Instagram weekly, with a sample stored on their website to give you an idea. The booze flows freely too, and they can cater to dietary reqs upon request. Forget about work the next day with kick-ons in The Nixon Room after 2pm.
Massimo
123 Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Massimo | Facebook
Combining Italian cuisine with waterfront views and a superb selection of seafood, it's easy to see why Massimo is one of Eagle Street Pier’s most popular dining spots. This isn’t your average seaside trattoria—Massimo, from the team behind Otto, Fat Cow and Longwang, among others, brings traditional Italian dining into a sleek, modern style with a generous dose of Mediterranean hospitality. The interior design at Massimo channels the Amalfi Coast with a Brisbane twist. Bright pops of orange create a coastal and inviting atmosphere. Paired with views of the Brisbane River and a warm midday breeze, it's the perfect setting for a long lunch of antipasti and aperitifs.
Victoria Park Bistro
309 Herston Road, Herston
Just two kilometres from the city, Victoria Park's Bistro offers a serene escape from Brisbane's hustle. Nestled next to the Victoria Park Parklands with stunning city skyline views, it's perfect for soaking up the lush surroundings. The Bistro excels in outdoor ambience with various alfresco dining options, including the main restaurant, terrace, and beer garden. For lunch and dinner, you'll want to park up in the beer garden with a pint in hand and check out their seasonal menu. Enjoy a classic woodfired pizza or a sumptuous burger, or explore drool-worthy dishes including grilled local prawns with salsa verde, chargrilled lamb skewers, or classic fish and chips.
Bosco
8 Austin Street, Newstead
Though Bosco is running a sleek operation in its warehouse home, one taste of the menu inspired by the olive oil regions of Europe in Spain, Italy and France and you can’t help but picture a Saltburn-esque life. The fire-roasted plates transport you to a beachside bonfire in Spain with friends…ok dreams aside, the team behind Bosco fires up an ever-changing menu of European eats, with delicious drops to match. Hailing from the team behind Bar Alto, you know that culinary excellence will be upheld.
Establishment 203
6 Marshall Street, Fortitude Valley
Image credit: Establishment 203 | Instagram
Not many restaurant openings got foodies quite as excited as Establishment 203 has. With celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue (alumni of Billykart Kitchen, Benders Bar and London’s River Cafe and with Jamie Oliver at Monte’s) at the helm of it all, Establishment 203 offers pasta and antipasti alongside a rich, beef-heavy menu. Speaking of beef, the owners of this restaurant are the agricultural mega powerhouse Stanbroke. They own six vertically integrated cattle stations in the gulf region of northern Queensland, overseeing every stage of beef production, from breeding and feedlotting to processing—and now, straight to the table. For your lunchtime soiree, gelato sandwiched in brioche, sorbets, and elevated tortes provide a fitting conclusion to the menu.
Mexicali
1/142 Oxford Street, Bulimba
Hailing from the Goldie, Mexicali is not only an expert at whipping up a Baja-style crispy fish taco fresh from Queensland’s ocean, and an unbelievably delicious birria taco—they also know how to throw down the perfect long Brisbane lunch. Perhaps the best part about Gold Coast institution Mexicali opening in Brisbane though, is their famous bottomless banquets. Available any day, any time, you can add a drinks package to any banquet menu for 90 minutes of beers, sangria, margaritas, wines, and soft drinks for $65pp. With banquets starting at $40pp, you can enjoy the entire experience for $105pp, feasting on corn chips, quesadillas, tacos, and chilli salt squid while sipping on classic margaritas.
Casa Chow
4b/148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Casa Chow is brought to you by the duo behind Sasso Italiano, a fellow resident of the up-and-coming foodie precinct, South City Square. You can expect great things from this high-energy bar and restaurant, and beyond that, you can certainly expect the perfect long lunch. Casa Chow focuses equally on drinks and food, with a DJ booth providing a backdrop of Latin beats as you wine and dine. You’ll want to stay all afternoon just to gaze upon their stunning interiors.
Of course, any good restaurant makes a long lunch spot if you have enough courses, so check out these spots too:
Image credit: Stanley | Facebook
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