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Paddington just scored a new laneway Italian restaurant, one that’s sleek and stylish enough for date night but also relaxed enough that you won’t feel out of place popping in for a casual weeknight dinner. Landing right on Given Terrace, Fratelli is easy to spot by its red and white striped awning, with seating available in the stone-walled dining room or outside on the breezy deck. 

Hidden away just off Oxford Street in Bulimba you'll find Melrose, a dreamy restaurant and bar that has just been taken over by experienced husband and wife duo, Paul and Anna Adams. Originally designed to feel like one of Bali’s luxe beach clubs and resorts, a fully retractable roof means this spot has all the rooftop vibes—we recommend getting a booking for just before sunset, so you can get the full effect but still finish your meal under the stars.

The team behind Mitchelton’s hottest cafe Mitch & Antler have taken one of their best-selling menu items, the croque madame—a magnificent sourdough toastie packed with smoked ham, manchego and egmont cheese and mustard and leek cream, topped with a fried free-range egg—and placed it front and centre in their newest addition to the James Street precinct, James & Antler. Don’t let size fool you, this container cafe may be tiny but it is serving up massive flavour. 

In case you hadn’t noticed, Newport on the Redcliffe peninsula has scored a slew of delicious eateries recently, all of them worth the drive north. One of those eateries is Quê Dining, a sleek and stylish new Vietnamese spot from the team behind Paddington’s Ngon. As well as a stunning dark green fit out, here you’ll find elevated Vietnamese fare that will leave you wanting more. 

Opening on 12 October is C’est Du Gâteau, Brisbane’s newest French bakery and patisserie. Landing on Grey Street in South Bank, this heavenly spot comes to us from two French pastry chefs, Sebastien and Fred, who’ve worked their way around Europe and Brisbane, and are now keen to share their croissant-making skills with the South Bank masses. 

We're finally going to live out our dreams of weekly spa and sauna sessions, thanks a stunning open-air bathhouse in West End. The Gold Coast's Soak Bathhouse has opened a second wellness centre in Brisbane, this one on the rooftop of West Village. Yes, a rooftop bathhouse. 

Any carb-lover will know that the bread course at a restaurant is infinitely better than any loaf you’ll get at home—you know you shouldn’t fill up on it, but nevertheless, you always do. Well, at Newstead’s slick new eatery, Bosco, you might want to order an extra serve, because it’s baked right there by iconic Brisbane bakery, Brewbakers, who are now sharing their cavernous warehouse space with the Euro-inspired bar and grill. 

Greek restaurants and hipster bars West End has aplenty, but one thing it definitely isn't overflowing with is sleek, sophisticated spots where you can get a good steak. That changed with the arrival of Rich & Rare, a restaurant from the team behind Opa, Massimo, Yamas, and Fosh, where you can choose from a line up of no less than 15 different steaks. 

Southern chefs seem to be moving to the Sunshine State at an unheard of rate, and the latest to join the crowd is Martin Boetz, the ex-executive chef of Melbourne’s (and Sydney’s, before it closed) iconic Longrain. Brisbane-born, Boetz has returned to his home city with a bang, opening a new Thai restaurant and deli in the heart of the Valley, Short Grain. 

Joining Fortitude Valley’s vibrant King Street precinct is Bar Gusto, a restaurant bar that brings the magic of Italian summertime to Brisbane. The menu boasts authentic flavours from chef Francesco Tucco’s hometown of Imperia, on the Italian Riviera—think crisp wood-fired pizzas, pastas (of course) and antipasti, paired with an extensive and expertly selected list of local and international wines—all to be enjoyed in their restuarant, or on their open-air, outdoor deck that wraps around a century-old, fairy-lit fig tree. 

Martini lover? Whether your usual order is a dirty, pornstar or espresso variation, you’ll find it on the menu at West End’s intimate new cocktail bar, Midtown. Set to open on 8 September, this 40-seater is joining the buzzing Fish Lane precinct, taking over the space where Butler used to reside. With Daniel and Amelia Miletic, owners of One Fish Two Fish, at the helm, you can expect to find evidence of their extensive international travels weaved through the venue, from atmosphere and branding to the dishes coming out of the kitchen.

There’s nothing we love more than an aesthetically pleasing venue with a dining menu to match, and the CBD’s The Wolf is ticking all those boxes and then some. Part deli, part providore, part wine store, with a restaurant and bar involved as well, the gourmet destination is owner Fabian Rebelo’s second foray into the Brisbane hospitality scene, the first being Queen Plaza’s Stanton Cafe & Bar. 

The news that Super Whatnot was closing was a shock to us all—but perhaps especially to those who regularly stopped by on a Friday afternoon for a post-work tipple. Well, while the Super Whatnot team just opened their new venue over in West End, the empty space left behind in Burnett Lane was a cause for excitement for some—specifically, the cocktail-loving crew behind Death & Taxes and Dr Gimlette. 

SWOP Clothing Exchange sells sustainably sourced vintage and preloved gear. You can find their funky shop as you wander along Boundary Street in West End. Step into their eclectic world of plants, concrete floors, tunes and a whole lot of high-quality pre-loved clothes. 

Magpie Goose is an Aboriginal-owned, ethically made label with a unique view of garments as an artistic platform to share culture through. Each statement piece is a conversation starter part of a limited collection crafted in Sydney, from bright and bold fabrics screen-printed by artisans. They promote care to Country by using 100% natural fibres that are long-lasting, but still soft on your skin and the Earth. 

Ardo’s is Hawthorne’s new Spanish-influenced wine bar from the City Winery team, and their third Ardo's in Brisbane, with several more to come—a win for vino lovers all over town. As with their first two locations in Newstead and Graceville, the bar is fashioned as a neighbourhood spot for a few wines, some friendly banter with the knowledgeable staff and a bottle of something special to take home.

Taking over the old home of Welcome To Bowen Hills on King Street is Claw, the latest offering from Potentia Leisure, who you may know from their other venues, Soko, Lina Rooftop and the recently opened Carmen. Inspired by classic California crab shacks, this 1000-seater eatery is seriously massive, with endless seating both outside in the laneway and inside underneath an array of Americana on the walls.