The lush, verdant suburb betwixt the Brown Snake and the Farm, Newstead is your typical picturesque suburb powered by the buzz of the inner-city. People have dubbed it Brisbane/Meanjin’s answer to both Chelsea and the Flatiron District, a summation with which we here at Urban List heartily concur.
Case in point: Newstead’s food scene, which deftly caters to casual and fine diners without raising the dress code higher than a well-cut sports jacket. Expect charcuterie, good times, and a bangin' drinks menu when you sit down to one of the best restaurants in Newstead.
Stratton Bar & Kitchen
3 Stratton Street, Newstead
If you like Mrs Brown’s you’ll love Stratton, which comes to us from the same dynamic team. Taking over two old World War II hangars on Stratton Street (hence the name), this gorgeous eatery has kept the old curved roof and given the space a luxe industrial makeover that’s moody and atmospheric at night but stunning during the daytime when the glass ceiling overhead lets lashings of light down through the steal beams. But enough gushing over the interiors, on the menu you’ll find a mix of pan-Asian inspired eats and creative pizzas, along with a cocktail list that will have you staying far later than you planned.
Golden Pig
38 Ross Street, Newstead
This restaurant hardly even needs our praise (although we’re still going to give it) because it took home a Chef’s Hat at the Good Food Awards in 2020. The pan-Asian inspired menu is something to behold, and you can expect tasty highlights like scallops with miso butter, sweet and spicy Korean fried chicken or crispy smoked tofu. The fact that Golden Pig is inside an old warehouse is pretty cool, but even cooler is the fact you have the opportunity to get behind the grill with some pretty helpful cooking classes to take you to Gordon Ramsay level skills in seconds.
E’cco Bistro
63 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Since making the move from their original digs in the city, Newstead now gets to claim Phillip Johnson’s culinary institution as its own. Best known for setting the standard of fine dining in Brisbane, e’cco Bistro’s ability to adapt and revamp has secured its longevity at the pinnacle of our restaurant scene. These days, it's all about a four or five-course set menu, which takes away all the stress of trying to choose what to eat.
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.
Rogue Bar + Bistro
14 Austin Street, Newstead
Image credit: Rogue Bar + Bisto | Instagram
With intricate and bizarre flavour combinations, Rogue Bar and Bistro isn’t the place to get a basic feed. As the name suggests, these guys are known to go a bit off-script and their five-course degustation menus feature experimental dishes that’ll blow your mind clean away. The menu changes monthly too, so you'll always find an excuse to go back.
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Ruby My Dear
12 Longland Street, Newstead
The best way to describe Ruby My Dear, is that it gives Melbourne. A vinyl bar with a speakeasy vibe, Ruby My Dear slips artful jazz tunes onto the decks and elaborate cocktails out of the bar. Don’t pigeonhole it though, they’re also quickly establishing themselves as a foodie stronghold—think better-than-most Japanese bites and small plates like chicken skins with togarashi and fermented chilli aioli and crispy school prawns.
Monal Dining
48 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
If nothing else, we love the label ‘modern Australian’—the combo of cuisines we’ve collected here over the years is expertly displayed in restaurants that fall under this umbrella term, and Monal Dining may just be the best of all. In their breezy but sleek space on a corner of Skyring Terrace you can start off with snacks like tuna tartare on potato crisps, scallops marinated in apple and green chilli, and wagyu skewers, before moving on to pulled lamb-stuffed fried pastries and pork dumplings. For mains, the spice-rubbed char-grilled chicken doused in curry sauce is a hot favourite, with a handful of sides to pair it with.
Nonda
3002/76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Image credit: Nonda | Instagram
The word “Nonda” translates from Korean to mean “have fun with friends”—which is exactly what you’re meant to do at the Gasworks modern Asian-fusion joint. Korean, Japanese and Korean cuisines join forces at Nonda to create a sleek dining experience with a sophisticated menu. Grab something fishy off their raw bar menu, or chow down on their mains, like some old-school Korean roast chicken, slathered in green chilli and anchovy salsa. Before you leave, make sure to try their caramelised white chocolate and matcha tiramisu to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Maggie May
84 Longland Street, Newstead
No, we didn’t say super club, we said supper club. Yes, you read that right. Maggie May, our favourite supper club, is here to bring the 70s back. Don those halter necks and flared jeans and disco on over with your pals to bond over retro share plates designed to keep the gossip and good vibes flowing. The share plates range from a charcuterie board— with all your favourites—to southern friend chicken wings which pair perfectly with the charred octopus salad. Pop in on any Sunday to get the sweet sound of vinyls serenading you while you eat.
Mrs. Brown’s Bar & Kitchen
32 Commercial Road, Newstead
Big enough for group dinners and licensed enough for boozy lunches, Mrs. Brown’s is perfect for satisfying whatever mood strikes. Their menu is a spectacular feat of nibbles like dumplings, Korean fried cauliflower and cheese and chicken spring rolls, as well as larger share dishes like sweet and sour lamb ribs and rotisserie chicken. The must order though, is their haloumi paratha pancakes—trust us. Knock it all back with a bottle of Aussie wine or a cocktail jug and you’re laughing.
Newstead Social
2 Masters Street, Newstead
Image credit: Newstead Social | Facebook
This underground bar and eatery covers all the bases, from weeknight dinner deals and trivia nights to Saturday night cocktails and bottomless Sunday brunches. One from the team that brought us Ling Ling’s, Cindy Chows and Soul Pantry, Newstead Social has the event calendar and menu of an elevated neighbourhood pub but the interiors of a glam cocktail bar (albeit with a heap of screens for the footy), so you get the best of both worlds. Whether you visit for the UFC and $17 parmies on a Thursday night or get dolled up for two hours of mimosas on Sunday morning, Newstead Social is your new local.
Duck Fat
3b/63 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Duck Fat is taking French cuisine out of its stifling snooty box and Brisbane-ifying it, weaving through a thread of fun, not taking itself too seriously, and quietly shining. All the French cuisine classics are on the menu here, sans white tablecloth and accented waiters (you can find that at their sister venue La Belle Vie). After a creative cocktail or three, dine on Nicoise salad with a twist, baguettes with imported French pure butter and celebrity mains like the duck magret de canard with honey sauce, roast potatoes and or one of their indulgent French ‘pizzas’ from the wood-fired oven. Merci.
Smokey Moo
1/68 Longland Street, Newstead
When a restaurant dedicates almost their entire menu to one item, you know it’s got to be pretty spectacular—and for Smokey Moo that’s their slow-cooked smoked meat. This restaurant has been on the scene since 2018 but relocated to Newstead in 2020, bringing a loyal, meat-loving fan base with them. The urban wild west vibe interior creates the ideal cowboy ambience without the feeling that you should be rounding up some cattle in a few hours, while the slow-cooked cuts are smoked over black wattle and macadamia wood for eight to twelve hours—mouth-watering is an understatement. There’s also an extensive cocktail menu well worth checking out.
Ping Pong
76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Image credit: Ping Pong | Instagram
Pink is one way to describe this Newstead favourite, but so is delicious, flavoursome and experimental. Brought to you by the crew from Morning After and Yolk this Newstead restaurant offers Thai flavours with a creative flair dabbling in everything from curries to stir-fries, noodles and snacks. The plates are all great for sharing and obviously if you’re wanting some new bright pink, Insta-worthy photos with your group this is the ideal venue. The beef rendang curry is a must as are the cocktails and boozy slushies.
Milky Lane
76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
There are some who firmly believe the bigger, the better. If this is you, Newstead is home to your dream burger joint. Milky Lane is famous for their legendary over-the-top burgers, desserts and drinks—so if you’re jumping on the health train this isn’t the destination for you, unless it’s a cheat day. Food wise, buckle in and prepare to get your drool on—celeb-inspired burgs like the Chic-Kanye, Kevin Bacon and The Beyondce set the tone, with other honorable mentions going to their thigh-slapping sides of mac 'n' cheese croquettes, loaded fries and Southern fried pop-korn chicken with cheese gravy dipping sauce. They update their menu with new, eye-opening creations all the time so it’s totally important, if not essential, to make a few trips.
Botany
1/76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Long lazy lunches and cocktail filled afternoons are standard practice at Gaswork’s prime corner spot. This garden-inspired restaurant and bar covers everything from breakfast and lunch, to dinner and drinks. Heavily Euro inspired, the list of eats includes the likes of Moreton Bay bug sliders, byron bay chicken parmigiana and pork belly bao buns. If you prefer a simple wine to an extravagant cocktail, their offerings are endless with Australian, New Zealand, Italian and French wine options.
Cheeky Poké Bar
63 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Image credit: Cheeky Poké Bar | Instagram
When does a bowl stop being a salad and start being poké? The answer lies in poké’s Japanese and Hawaiian pedigree, which sees sashimi, nori paper and all the other components of sushi served in a bowl of plenty. But Cheeky Poké takes it one step further, offering their colourful, clean poké in taco form for those days you just can’t be doing with flatware.
Santorini Restaurant Grill Bar
5 Kyabra Street, Newstead
Winner of the best Greek restaurant in Queensland in 2022, Santorini Restaurant Grill Bar is a must-try. Their eight-page beast of a menu boasts all the Greek classics: yiros, souvlaki, moussaka, Youvetsi —you may not know how to pronounce them, but you’ll sure know how to eat them. The fully blue and white space is reminiscent of the classic Greek aesthetic, completed by archways filled with murals of Santorini itself.
Reef Seafood & Sushi
76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
Hanging their hats on oceanic delights, Reef Seafood offers up the tastiest seafood in Newstead, fresh from the waves. Their fish and chips are as premium as you’d expect, with Asahi-battered or panko-crumbed fillets on offer, but thanks to the exquisite freshness of the flippers in the cabinet, you’d be nuts to pass up a chance to sample a tropical seafood platter, packed with lobster, prawns, moreton bay bugs and more.
Looking further afield for somewhere to eat? Head here:
Image credit: Stratton Kitchen & Bar | Facebook
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