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Every exceptional cafe in Brisbane to tick off

No longer second fiddle to Sydney and Melbourne, every excellent cafe in Brisbane stands produce-proud while embracing bold creativity.

Whether I’m in the mood for a laneway gem, sun-soaked vistas or Pinterest-perfect decor, there’s always a cafe in Brisbane to instil pure joy. Just add locally driven produce and killer caffeine, and there’s no denying that breakfast and lunch are my favourite meals of the day. Here, my favourite cafes in Brisbane for outstanding daytime feeds.

The shortlist

Family-friendly spot: Wild Canary
Best coffee: Single O Newstead
Hottest opening: Freya
Best views: Mulga Bill’s
Best for dog-friendly dining: Little Black Pug

1. Mulga Bill’s

scenic nature views at Mulga Bill’s, Brisbane
Dine on a delicious breakfast with scenic morning views at Mulga Bill’s.

Best for: Morning views

I love Kangaroo Point for its incredible vistas across the river, and dining at Mulga Bill’s unleashes the good life alongside seriously delicious dining. Open for breakfast and lunch, the cafe remains unpretentious despite its million-dollar location, while a fun-loving menu of dishes, like the breakfast pizza with two woodfired eggs, keeps things forever light and breezy. Hot tip: don’t miss the chubby Olasagasti anchovies as a side. Genius.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Buoyant

Location: 155 Alice St, Brisbane

2. Cafe Disco

Best for: Groups

One of the most unique takes on brunch you’ll find in the city, Cafe Disco dances to the beat of its own drum. I love discovering new Bangladeshi flavours thanks to the team’s authentic, seasonally led ode to the South Asian cuisine, with highlights including grilled lamb, chicken and haloumi skewers, and a green chilli egg scramble. The coffee is also excellent (Passport Specialty Coffee for those playing at home) and they do cold brew, too.

Cuisine: Bangladeshi

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Friendly and local

Location: 69 Hargrave Rd, West End

3. Idle Bakery

freshly baked bread on display at Idle Bakery, Brisbane
Pick up freshly baked bread at Idle Bakery. (Image: Parker Blain)

Best for: Bustling energy

A flicker of Fortitude Valley’s magic evaporated when Agnes Bakery shut its doors in June 2025 but devotees of the long-loved corner hotspot are finding solace in the team’s second chapter: Idle Bakery. Sure, the buttery bliss remains a huge drawcard but there’s also the all-new hybrid deli concept that impresses (at-home charcuterie platters, sorted) while a killer menu of sit-down meals keeps visitors around longer. I like the mushroom toast with garlic, thyme and crème fraiche, but really, everything excels.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Chic and always busy

Location: 84 Merthyr Rd, New Farm

4. Freya

artisanal locally-baked bagels at Freya, Brisbane
Head to Freya for a bagel and a brew.

Best for: Lazy lounging

Love your bagels? Freya opened in October 2025, dedicated to the densely delicious superstar and truly out-of-the-box fillings. Classics are also on hand so the smoked salmon is popular, but these guys shake things up with artisanal creations like blueberry dough paired with blueberry cream cheese, plus a banoffee cream with banana and caramel. I’m a savoury nut so for me, it’s all about the breakfast bagel, combining egg, bacon, semi-dried tomato, dill, lettuce and mayo for all-rounded AM perfection – but whatever you choose, you’re in for a very delicious treat.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Instagram-ready

Location: 33 Railway Tce, Milton

5. Little Black Pug

the cafe interior at Little Black Pug, Brisbane
The pet-friendly Little Black Pug packs a punch. (Image: Toby’s Estate)

Best for: Fur parents

Named after the owners’ two pugs Bowie and Mate, Little Black Pug offers an international-inspired menu that packs a punch, dialling into beloved cuisines while embracing fresh local produce. Think the ‘Chimi Chimi Bang Bang’ scramble (either eggs or tofu) with coconut salsa, and the ‘Vegetaballz’ with beetroot and potato kofta and cauliflower. It’s also extremely pet-friendly with several creations targeted to four-legged friends exclusively. Let your bud choose from the warm ‘Puggy-cino’ or a meatball made from grain-free beef.

Cuisine: International

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: 6/1297 Logan Rd, Mt Gravatt

6. Alphabet Cafe

Best for: Slow mornings

Head to Alphabet Cafe for a special sweet something, plus breakfast classics often crafted from scratch. While a solid all-day food menu highlights seasonal produce, including the standout Vegan-friendly Farm Plate with vegetables, pickles and homemade dressings, the team also knock up a delicious new cake each week with past hits including a caramel latte cake slathered in icing, a spiced chocolate torte and mouth-watering cheesecakes.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 243 Boundary St, West End

7. Lait Noir

Best for: Groups

Embrace your inner Emily Cooper from Netflix’s Emily in Paris at Lait Noir, a Parisian-style cafe in the CBD. But while the cafe certainly transports you to the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, you’ll find plenty of locally embraced breakfast and lunch dishes to tempt your taste buds. Think: toasted wraps, avocado on sourdough and English muffins. Of course, traditional French pastries can, and should, also be devoured.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with French flair

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Tres chic

Location: G2, 144 Edward St, Brisbane

8. Single O Newstead

breakfast and coffee at Single O Newstead, Brisbane
The menu at Single O Newstead is to-dine-for. (Image: Patrick McKenzie)

Best for: Coffee lovers

The iconic Surry Hills cafe that launched Sydney’s coffee scene, Single O, pulls thick crowds in the heart of Newstead, too. Known for its signature beans, self-serve batch brew taps, and cult-adored oat iced latte, the spot lures serious caffeine addicts daily. The menu is similarly to-die-for, with creative flexes like a Matcha Brulee (brioche with matcha cream) stealing hearts and the ‘Avo Show,’ made with achiote cashew cheese, pickled fennel and smashed avocado, always impressing.

Cuisine: International

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Hipster

Location: 16 Austin St, Newstead

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9. Lisboa Caffé

chicken and herb tart at Lisboa Caffé, Brisbane
Chicken and herb tarts at Lisboa Caffé.

Best for: Sweet tooths

Famed for nailing a local version of the globally beloved pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), Lisboa Caffé is all about that sweet life. No visit is complete without sampling the star attraction, but the cafe also dishes up savoury breakfast items like bacon and egg rolls, toasted croissants and toasted sandwiches.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $

Atmosphere: European

Location: 58 Hope St, South Brisbane

10. The Green

an alfresco dining area under lush greenery at The Green, Brisbane
The Green is a lush Middle Eastern-inspired cafe.

Best for: Special occasion get-togethers

The Green is a lush Middle Eastern-inspired cafe filled with leafy plants in Fortitude Valley’s James Street. Not only will it offer sensational Instagram fodder, but this cafe in Brisbane will spellbind through its menu of celebrated and completely authentic dishes. My favourites include the baklava French toast, Turkish eggs with labne, and the Village Breakfast of falafel, egg, flat bread, humus and pickles.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Lavish

Location: Shop 1/27 James St, Fortitude Valley

11. St Coco Cafe

a dog standing outside St Coco Cafe
St Coco Cafe offers a relaxed hangout space for pet lovers.

Best for: Groups

St Coco Cafe is another photo-worthy cafe in Brisbane to add to the list. The aesthetic is rustic, full of cacti and succulents, and it’s pet-friendly too. Food-wise, there’s a big menu to satisfy any craving, with dishes spanning a bratwurst benedict, acai bowls and blackberry pancakes.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Chilled-out

Location: 3 Cupania S, Daisy Hill

12. Bear Boy Espresso

a cup of coffee with latte art at Bear Boy Espresso, Brisbane
Get your morning brew fix at Bear Boy Espresso.

Best for: Vibrant mornings

I was delighted to see the Glitter Strip’s homegrown Bear Boy Espresso open alongside a set of trendy boutiques in quiet Windsor. Built right at the end of a 100-year-old classically restored character building, there’s nothing old-fashioned about this spot as activewear-clad (there’s a Pilates studio within the retail stretch) queue for their morning brew. Additionally, the food offers hearty indulgence with standouts including the Japanese-inspired ‘Don’t Poke the Bear’ Karaage chicken bowl with sushi rice, chicken and waffles, and tacos with either chorizo or haloumi.

Cuisine: International

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Buzzy

Location: Shop 8, 180 Albion Rd, Windsor

13. Morning After

dining at Morning After, Brisbane cafe
Indulge in a hearty breakfast at Morning After.

Best for: Sun-lit indoor dining

This bright and airy Brisbane cafe is the perfect antidote to sore heads and tired eyes. As the name Morning After suggests, you’ll find new life care of fresh, locally sourced ingredients whipped into hearty showstoppers. The all-day menu includes ricotta hotcakes with salted caramel Chantilly cream, a chilli prawn omelette, Polish potato pancakes with sauerkraut, and a Kapow wagyu mince mix with rice and green beans.

Cuisine: International

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Trendy

Location: Corner Vulture St and Cambridge St, West End

14. Industry Beans Newstead

a waiter serving a diner at Industry Beans Newstead
The airy cafe is perfect for a laid-back brunch. (Image: Industry Beans Newstead)

Best for: Elevated mornings (and great coffee)

Housed inside an airy warehouse, Industry Beans Newstead is a breath of fresh air. Dine on their seasonal all-day brunch menu which features the likes of a fig and goat’s cheese omelette, sweetcorn fritters and chilli barramundi folded eggs. They also offer a children’s menu and an extensive coffee list that invites you to choose your preferred coffee beans.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 18 Proe St, Newstead

15. Andonis Cafe & Bar

breakfast with coffee at Andonis Cafe & Bar, Brisbane
Andonis Cafe & Bar serves up generous breakfast plates.

Best for: Groups

Andonis Cafe & Bar can be found in various locations across Brisbane but I love the Yeerongpilly location for its always-friendly staff. A mammoth menu is often the drawcard – and I don’t just mean the number of dishes. The ‘Andonis OG Big Brekkie’ comes with a warning regarding its oversized proportions, and there are chicken tenders loaded with eggs benedict to also tempt. Make sure you’re hungry.

Cuisine: Comfort food

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Energised

Location: 4/281 Station Rd, Yeerongpilly

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16. Lune Croissanterie

croissants at Lune Croissanterie
Lune makes some of the finest croissants in the world.

Best for: Grab-and-go indulgence

A household name for pastry fiends in Melbourne and Sydney, Lune Croissanterie has two shops in Brisbane – one in the CBD and one in South Brisbane. In addition to serving up creations The New York Times declared among “the finest in the world," this cafe offers specialty coffee and other sweets including Kouign Amann and cruffins, with monthly specials utilising seasonal ingredients.

Cuisine: Pastries

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Trendy

Location: CBD – Entrance on Burnett Ln, Shop 10/79 Adelaide St, Brisbane City,
South Brisbane – Shop 1/13-17 Manning St, South Brisbane

17. Citron Bayside

the exterior of Citron Bayside, Brisbane cafe
Citron Bayside is an idyllic summer destination.

Best for: Groups

Open all day, Citron Bayside is a sun-loving destination with coastal breezes flowing and dishes to delight. The Caprese avocado toast offers a fresh twist on the classic and I like to pair it with a refreshing iced matcha. Cheat day? Go for the fluffy buttermilk pancakes with mascarpone.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with Mediterranean influences

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Holiday vibes

Location: 354 Main Rd, Wellington Point

18. Wild Canary

breakfast at Wild Canary, Brisbane cafe
Wild Canary is renowned for its unique and savoury offerings. (Image: Simone Gonzalez)

Best for: Families

The rhythm of the seasons is vitally important to the chefs at Wild Canary, a cafe in Brisbane renowned for embracing its beautiful natural surroundings. Additionally, it’s not unusual for children to be a second thought in the kitchen – but not here. A dedicated kids’ menu compiles six unique offerings, including crumbed chicken and chips, while adults will appreciate the lunch menu’s bubbles, beer and wine.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Serene (even with the little ones)

Location: 2371 Moggill Rd, Brookfield

19. Petrichor & Co

dining at Petrichor & Co, Brisbane
Petrichor & Co combines Colombian and Latin American flavours for a flavourful surprise.

Best for: Laidback dining

Meaning ‘the pleasant smell of earth after rain’ in ancient Greek, Petrichor & Co is inspired by Colombian and Latin American flavours. I love the 12-hour slow-cooked pork tacos with pineapple salsa, plus there’s dulce de leche mousse pancakes and a stellar baked sweet potato and zucchini cake that always dazzles.

Cuisine: Colombian and Latin American

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Bustling

Location: Shop 1/33 Racecourse Road, Hamilton

20. Lokal + Co

Best for: Morning tipples

A touch of Scandinavia in Brisbane? Yes, please. Lokal + Co’s sleek timber and white-walled cafe wears its Nordic influences lightly – think potato served with house-cured salmon gravlax with coriander chutney and cucumber labneh. A morning cocktail? With various mimosas (lychee and cinnamon included) and other classic cocktails, it’s a lovely boozy brunch spot.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with Nordic influences

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Lively

Location: 6 O’Connell St, West End

21. The Brooke

brunch and coffee at The Brooke, Fortitude Valley
Enjoy brekkie staples at The Brooke.

Best for: Business

Sitting in front of a heritage-listed former church in Fortitude Valley, The Brooke is a quiet cafe that provides a delightful escape from Fortitude Valley’s energetic atmosphere. I like this spot if I’m ever needing to catch up on work or meeting a client. The menu is quiet, too, with a handful each of small bites and larger brekkie items, in addition to sweets including homemade cookies that span the indulgent flavour scale.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Soothing

Location: 116 Brookes St, Fortitude Valley

22. Snag & Brown

the cafe exterior of Snag & Brown, Brisbane
Walk your dog to the pet-friendly Snag & Brown for a morning coffee.

Best for: Fur parents

A quaint little cafe in Brisbane around 15 minutes from the CBD, Snag & Brown offers an extensive all-day menu with all your favourite breakfast items, including a lavish sausage and potato benedict, and sweets. It’s also pet-friendly with its own dog park – a fenced area at the back of the outdoor seating, where dogs can go off-lead – and serves up dog-friendly snacks.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Local

Location: 97 Ekibin Rd, Brisbane

 

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Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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A gourmand’s guide to eating your way around Hamilton Island

(Credit: Nikki To)

From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

Catseye Pool Club

Catseye Pool Club
Catseye Pool Club offers stunning beach views. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

Sails Restaurant

Sails Restaurant hamilton island
Settle into casual poolside dining. (Credit: Nikki To)

A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

Bommie

cuttlefish dish at Bommie restaurant Hamilton Island Yacht Club
Head to the Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a taste of Bommie. (Credit: Nikki To)

Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

Pebble Beach

qualia Resort Pebble Beach
qualia Resort guests can dine at Pebble Beach. (Credit: Lean Timms)

Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

Beach Club Restaurant

Beach Club Restaurant hamilton island
Book in advance for Beach Club Restaurant. (Credit: Nikki To)

A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

hamilton island Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher
Join this immersive wine experience. (Credit Eleanor Edström)

There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

coca chu

table spread at CocaChu
Get a taste of Southeast Asian flavours. (Credit: Nikki To)

Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

Marina Cafe

hamilton island MArina Cafe
Take in harbour views and comfort food.

Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.

Discover your foodie getaway now at hamiltonisland.com.au.