Now Open: Brisbane’s Dining Scene Has Levelled Up in 2026
Eating well
By Kiri Johnston | 2nd March 2026Brisbane’s dining scene has kicked off 2026 at full tilt. From precision-led Japanese omakase to cult-status sandwiches and nostalgic New York-style slices, the city’s newest openings are redefining where (and how) we eat. This is your dining hit list for 2026 so far, listed alphabetically, but each worth booking on its own terms.
+81 Sushi Kappo, West End
+81 Sushi Kappo delivers one of Brisbane’s most intimate and refined dining experiences this year. This 12-seat, chef-led omakase is guided by Chef Ikuo Kobayashi and shaped by Japanese restraint, precision and seasonality. Australian produce is treated with meticulous technique, while select elements are sourced from Japan. Every detail from pace, plating, progression, is intentional. It’s less dinner, more ceremony.
Now open: 259 Montague Road, West End.
Aunty on Wandoo, Fortitude Valley
Wandoo Street has a new resident, and she answers to Aunty. Open seven days from 11:30am till late, this modern Asian diner is bold, fiery and built for sharing. The menu leans Cantonese with a rebellious streak — big flavours, clever twists and plates designed to spark conversation. Close enough to James Street to feel part of the action but tucked away enough to keep her secrets, Aunty is already shaping up as a go-to for long lunches and lively group dinners.
Now open: 11 Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley.
Bar Cooper’s, Coorparoo
A little wood-fired bar and bistro has sparked to life in Coorparoo — already staking its claim as a neighbourhood essential. Bar Cooper’s is firing up Australian bistro fare with a quietly confident, community-first spirit. Dinner runs Wednesday to Saturday, with Sunday lunch anchoring the weekend. Warmth, simplicity and the unmistakable glow of a wood-fired oven working late into the evening set the tone.
Now open: 321 Chatsworth Rd, Coorparoo.
Clouds Coffee, Shailer Park
Southside coffee lovers, this one’s for you. Clouds Coffee has arrived in Shailer Park with a community-first energy and strong beans to match. Backed by the extended family behind Salt Coffee Roasters, the café delivers quality-driven coffee, a full menu and a space built for regulars. Early starts, good energy and caffeine on tap, exactly how all mornings should begin.
Now open: 5 Belbora Road, Shailer Park.
Cult Coffee, Teneriffe
Opened on Christmas Eve, Cult Coffee has quickly built a loyal following in Teneriffe. The concept is simple: back to basics. Quality suppliers, a menu that doesn’t overcomplicate things, and all-day breakfast executed properly. Pouring Coffee Supreme beans, the offering spans fresh juices, generous sandwiches and classic morning staples. The space is light, easy and community-driven — a neighbourhood café with substance.
Now open: 4/113 Commercial Road, Teneriffe.
Green Cup, New Farm
Melbourne-born Green Cup has officially landed in Queensland, opening its first local outpost in New Farm’s Little Lane precinct. Known for its cult-favourite traditional blend açaí, the brand brings a more refined take on the classic bowl — thick, balanced and built on quality ingredients rather than sugar highs. Quick, fresh and designed for grab-and-go mornings or post-riverwalk refuels, it taps neatly into Brisbane’s ongoing appetite for health-forward dining.
Now open: 84 Merthyr Rd, New Farm.
Johnny Gio’s Pizza, New Farm
“Dat Pizza Guy” has officially arrived in New Farm. Johnny Gio’s is serving thin, crispy brick-oven pizzas designed for sharing (or not). Open from midday on Sundays and evenings Monday to Saturday, it’s already winning over locals with classics and crowd-pleasers like the Burrata Queen. Delivery is available via app, but the full experience includes popping in and soaking up that neighbourhood pizzeria energy.
Now open: Shop 5, 84 Merthyr Road, New Farm.
Kosta’s Takeaway, Newstead
If you haven’t heard someone yell “Bloody malaka!” across Newstead yet, you will. Sydney-born sandwich slinger Kosta has officially brought his VIP-style sangas north. With an unapologetically old-school philosophy — bread, meat, flavour, in a box — Kosta’s Takeaway is all about “classic, not basic”. Expect loaded, Mediterranean-leaning sandwiches made for eating with your hands, strong coffee and zero fuss. Already a hit across Sydney, the Brisbane outpost is drawing lunchtime crowds chasing serious flavour without the frills.
Now open: 76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead
La Bodega, Fortitude Valley
Awarded Queensland’s Best Mexican Restaurant in 2025, La Bodega continues its reign in 2026 with birria tacos now on the menu and its signature frozen margaritas flowing. Open seven days for lunch and dinner, it remains a Valley staple for vibrant, high-energy dining with serious flavour credentials.
Now open: 608 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
Le Royale, Brisbane City
Anyday’s newest CBD opening, Le Royale, is Brisbane’s after-dinner escape and the answer to the bar you are never quite ready to leave. Located upstairs from The French Exit, the venue is driven by live music, with rotating house bands reinterpreting familiar pop songs into jazz syncopations. The cocktail list leans into flavour and seasonality, with cinematic nods woven through drinks and dishes. With interiors by Tamsin Johnson and a glowing giallo sienna marble bar, it’s dark, cinematic and designed for those who love a night out.
Now open: Upstairs, The French Exit, 169 Mary Street, Brisbane City
NIIWA, James Street
A Japanese garden-inspired dining experience has bloomed on James Street. NIIWA pairs modern Japanese cuisine with cocktails and late-night energy, complete with live DJs on Friday nights. Designed for long evenings, food, drinks and atmosphere, it’s a polished addition to the precinct’s ever-evolving hospitality lineup.
Now open: 10/65 James St, Fortitude Valley
Restaurant Venner, West End
Now open in West End, Restaurant Venner delivers contemporary Australian dining guided by Scandinavian principles. Cooking with Nordic discipline and an Australian respect for produce, Venner focuses on clarity, restraint and ingredient-led execution. Ingredients lead, technique follows, and only the requisite elements reach the plate. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm, with Sunday brunch service, the Boundary Street venue is thoughtful, refined and quietly confident — a space built around friendship and food with integrity.
Now open: 237 Boundary Street, West End
2026 is already shaping up to be a defining year for Brisbane hospitality. From ceremony-level omakase to neighbourhood institutions in the making, the city is building momentum.
