Argentinian Steakhouse San Telmo Is Bringing The Heat To Brisbane

Edward Street is heating up with the arrival of an Argentinian steakhouse honed in Melbourne and reimagined for Brisbane. 

San Telmo has spent the last 15 years cementing itself as an institution on the competitive Melbourne dining scene, and now they’re bringing their fire-fuelled fare to the River City—marking the group’s first Queensland venue. 

The 100-seat venue is a nod to old world dining rooms and Art Deco entries of Buenos Aires to create a warm yet moody sibling that’s up to par with the original San Telmo. Push past the imported solid timber door sourced directly from Argentina and you’ll be rewarded with a deeply immersive dining experience, with checkerboard floor tiles, walnut hues and pendant lights crafted from vintage Argentinian soda bottles. 

Image credit: San Telmo | Fergus Hurst

San Telmo’s theatrical live-fire cooking at the open charcoal parrilla makes its opening all the more timely, beating the winter blues from the dry-age chamber. Bonus points if you nab one of the ten seats by the kitchen with a direct view of the chefs at work—including Head Chef Mikey Dalton who has relocated from the Melbourne venue to Brisbane for the occasion. 

The menu takes its cues from asado: the South American ritual of gathering to eat with your nearest and dearest over hours. Likewise, you can expect shared plates and exceptional beef at San Telmo  across premium cuts and dry-aged specials, plus Queensland-exclusive dishes that nod to its new location like the spanner crab bomba. Other highlights include the grilled corn or braised beef empanadas, tune carpaccio with charred mandarin and sweet pepper escabeche, and the O’Connor flank tartare with porcini and pickled mushrooms.

Image credit: San Telmo | Fergus Hurst

You also must save room for dessert, because their cult-fave flan has made its Queensland debut as a silky sweet treat, alongside dulce de leche panqueques, chocolate mousse and alfajores—traditional South American cookies made with dulce de leche and coconut. 

“The Brisbane menu will still have the DNA of San Telmo, fire cooking, bold flavours and a strong Argentinian influence, but I'm excited to put my own stamp on it through Queensland produce and introduce Brisbane to asado-style dining,” said Dalton.

Image credit: San Telmo | Fergus Hurst

On the drinks front, you can sip your way through exclusive imported Argentinian wines like Mendoza malbecs and Patagonian pinots usually requiring a passport to enjoy. There will also be strong Australian representation on the list, Fernet-Branca (a cult-classic Italian digestif), Quilmes (a popular Argentinian beer), and bespoke imported vermouths. 

San Telmo is in good company on Edward Street, with neighbours like Golden Avenue and The French Exit across the road and even an upcoming silken tofu gelato store. 

Image credit: San Telmo | Fergus Hurst

"Brisbane has incredible momentum right now, and there's a real appetite for venues with personality and a clear point of view,” said director and opening restaurant manager, Ben Robinson. “For San Telmo, the move north felt like the right city at the right time, and Brisbane has met us with real energy for exactly what we do."

San Telmo Brisbane is open daily from 11:30am until late at 60 Edward Street, Brisbane CBD. Book here.