Café culture

You won’t need to follow your nose too far to sniff out the heady aroma of quality coffee.

The award-winning Bellissimo roasts and serves coffee from beans sourced from across the world from 6am until 6pm, as well as an all-day dining menu. Also on Oxford St is Mugged, a hole-in-the-wall takeaway spot popular with locals, and Riverbend Cafe, a sun-dappled sipping and reading spot on the deck of Riverbend Books. Pore over the extensive breakfast menu at Ambrosia & Co and choose from flavoursome dishes such as lobster benedict, shakshouka and vanilla crepes.

Linger a little longer at Sister Cafe, a street-side pastel paradise on Hawthorne Rd, which serves fresh and quirky breakfasts from its inventive, seasonal menu. The breakfast gnocchi is worth the visit alone. A couple of shopfronts away is Nodo, a sanctuary for coeliacs. Everything on its menu – from hearty breakfasts to decadent doughnuts – is gluten-free. The nearby Paper Cup Coffee Co is run by passionate and enthusiastic coffee lovers who roast their own beans.

Riding Rd is also home to a buzzing café scene. Little Hideout Cafe is a hidden oasis with a pet-friendly back deck and a balanced menu of healthy, fun and indulgent food. Willow Café is a top spot for breakfast, lunch, coffee catch-ups and boozy brunches. Its Eggs Bene selection alone caters to almost every appetite, craving and dietary need. For grab-and-go coffee, try Microlot Coffee House or The Chemistry of Coffee. 

Casual dining

Leafy streets and river breezes make for a perfect atmosphere for casual lunches and dinners. Hawthorne Road houses a bustling dining precinct with cuisine from across cultures. Take your tastebuds around the world with authentic offerings at Downtown Istanbul, Mameek Kitchen, Mucho Mexicano, Cartel Del Taco and Marinara Restaurant.

If you’re craving the fresh flavours of Asia, settle in at Vietnamese Mint, grab a sushi fix from Sushi Mura, dumplings from Yum Yum Gyoza House or a pad Thai from Thai Legend.

Oxford St is burger central with fresh, wholesome and budget-friendly burgers and sides at Betty’s Burgers, Grill’d and Ribs & Burgers. 

Pull on a bib and prepare to get messy at King Crab Co. which brings the mess and the fun back to dining out with its 'crab in the bag' concept. For finger-lickin’ fish and chips, visit Hawthorne Seafood Market, select from the fresh catches on display and chat with the staff about how you’d like it cooked. 

Finer dining

For a relaxed yet refined meal or to celebrate a special occasion, score a seat on the back deck at Il Molo. Sunset drinks followed by contemporary Italian at this riverside location is a blissful way to spend a Brisbane evening. You can also sample authentic Italian fare at Sugo Mi – its pizzas are known to draw devotees from all corners of Brisbane. Select a table under the yellow and white-striped umbrellas, order a prosecco or Peroni and prepare for an Italian experience at Mina Italian. Try the fig and buffalo mozzarella salad or opt for a Queensland twist on a classic and order the Squid Ink Spaghetti Gamberi with Mooloolaba prawns.

Pawpaw Asian Kitchen has a lush, plant-filled interior and an extensive menu perfect for big groups and intimate dinners alike. Melrose is an open rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant where you can sit under the blue sky by day or stars by night. Choose your gourmet adventure with bar and a la carte menus as well as banquets catering to all appetites and dietary requirements including vegetarian and vegan.

After 6pm, Bellissimo café transforms into Besitos, a pop-up dining experience hosting seasonal and one-night dining events. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can even privately book the converted warehouse space. 

Pubs and bars

Join the locals at Revel Brewing Co for a tasting paddle of brews made fresh on-site as well as one of its cheesy wood-fired pizzas. Head a few metres down the road and sample a local brew at the nearby The Oxford Tap House. It pairs a traditional drinking hall atmosphere with gastropub eats.

For a relaxed pub experience, Oxford 152 has earned a reputation as an outstanding bar and restaurant rolled into one. Sample a local craft beer while feasting on Brisbane's fresh produce – all in a slick and modern atmosphere.

Il Molo serves spritz and snack specials during Aperitivo Afternoons from 3pm to 5pm every Wednesday to Sunday and Melrose welcomes everyone for drinks before and after dinner at its dedicated cocktail bar from Wednesday to Sunday. 

Something sweet

Start the day right at Darvella Patisserie. Its almond croissant is 10/10, sandwiches, wraps and bagels are fresh and light and its speciality pastries blend intriguing ingredients with surprisingly moreish results. 

As the day winds to an end, it’s only natural you finish your food trail through Bulimba and Hawthorne with dessert. Besides serving exceptional pizza and pasta, Sugo Mi also operates a gelato bar, secreted down a laneway behind the restaurant. Further along Oxford St is Bennie Adams Ice Cream Bar, a cosy little ice creamery with a colourful display case that will leave you stumped for choice. Gelatissimo serves up to 30 flavours a day from its bright shopfront and Nom Nom Natural Gelato offers a range of vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free scoops.