Dining and Drinking

Arriving in Brisbane, the enthusiastic gastronome faces a Herculean challenge when narrowing down dining options. The city's rich vein of cultural diversity creates a more assimilated food style and a genuine sense of the geography and culture. The term "Asian" has never been so all encompassing with many restaurants sampling a variety of styles with wondrous results. The city's location upon the rich waters of Moreton Bay creates a haven for seafood connoisseurs, and the fertile soils contribute to the supply of succulent meats and vegetables. The Queensland harvest is truly mouth-watering.

Central Business District

You can find just about anything you'd like downtown. Tudor England can be explored at the Shingle Inn. Many of the local pubs supply excellent food to accompany your choice of drink, including Friday's and Gilhooley's. The same locations offer regular, late night entertainment, including live bands and drink discounts. For the traveler on a tight budget, the Down Under Bar and Grill offers food and drink at prices that help guard your finances without spoiling your evening. Pane e Vino and Picasso's are two places where you can indulge in pizza and pasta. Gianni's Restaurant serves authentic Australian fare, like Oven Roasted Guinea Fowl.

South Bank Parklands

The impressive South Bank is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, but offers no less in the way of food and drink. Many of Brisbane's finest restaurants, including the Parklands Bar and Grill, can be found here with a range of styles from traditional Australian to Indian. To enjoy a pint of beer and watch the world go by, the Plough Inn is an ideal spot. Tasty, traditional fare can be found at the River Canteen and Stone Restaurant & Bar. Dine with a view at Cafe San Marco or grab some fish and chips at Capt'n Snapper.

Fortitude Valley & Chinatown

Fortitude Valley is Brisbane's one-stop entertainment district with a bewildering array of dining sideshows and bar offerings. Perhaps the most famous meeting place is the sprawling Dooley's Hotel, which seems to adopt a different personality on each visit. Live music, good food and some genuine Irish craig make this a hard place to leave. Also try out sensational cuisine at the Tibetan Kitchen and Taj Mahal. Go Greek at Purple Olive or grab some tapas at Gertie's Bar & Lounge.

A city would not be complete without its own Chinatown, and Brisbane can proudly boast one of the most traditional such areas in Australia. Situated at the heart of the Valley, this is not a purpose-built or newly developed center for the benefit of travelers, but more a complete Asian community, going about its daily business. Garuva Hidden Tranquility Restaurant & Bar, Asian House and Chinahouse Seafood Restaurant are some of the best culinary options in this community.

Milton, Paddington & Rosalie

To the west of downtown, and under the shadow of Milton's imposing Ale House Brewery, Park Road's fashionable café precinct is the place to be seen. The cuisine is largely Italian, despite the miniature Eiffel Tower. Sample an award winning pizza at Arrivederci Pizza Al Metro, dine by candle light at Alberto's Italian Restaurant or alfresco with the local Ferrari owners at Rue De Paris. Bamboo Shoot is a popular spot for Chinese cuisine, while Oz Sushi features all you can eat buffets every night of the week.

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