Restaurant News

Brisbane's best cafés

Brisbane is embracing the cult of espresso like never before. Here are some of our favourite places in town to grab a coffee.

First Pour
Brisbane is embracing the cult of espresso like never before. Coffee can certainly be a quasi-spiritual experience with a pilgrimage to pared-back Reverends Fine Coffee (372 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley). There's equal devotion shown at The Rogue Rennard (106a Latrobe Tce, Paddington, 0434 720 106), which also provides tasty snacks and cool company.
At BlackStar (44 Thomas St, West End, 07 3217 2323) more dark arts are astir. Try one of their three varieties of hand-bottled, cold-pressed coffee to slake a thirst on a sultry day. Campos (11 Wandoo St, Fortitude Valley, 07 3252 3612) has outlets around town but its original laneway is still the business, complete with cupping room. 
At Dandelion & Driftwood (1/45 Gerler Rd, Hendra, 07 3868 4559), old-style staff deliver new-fangled caffeine complete with tasting notes. Bunker (21 Railway Tce, Milton, 0422 124 767) is a leafy hole-in-the-wall that refreshes the parched, and Melbourne offshoot Veneziano has First Pour (369 Montague Rd, West End, 07 3846 0011), bringing in different single-origin micro-lots each week for your brewing pleasure.
Brother Espresso's Fifth Battery Café and Roastery (23 Warry St, Fortitude Valley, 07 3852 5356) grinds its stuff in a funked-up Nissen hut, while veteran Gunshop Café (53 Mollison St, West End, 07 3844 2241) provides delicious boom for buck. Expect an even more eclectic mix at Southside Tea Room (639 Wynnum Rd, Morningside, 07 3899 5859), courtesy of Patience Hodgson and John Patterson of local band The Grates.
The Low Road Café (25 Eildon Rd, Windsor, 07 3161 4127) also comes with a side of cool, plus veg-friendly options. Head to Sourced Grocer (11 Florence St, Teneriffe, 07 3852 6734) to refuel on caffeine while stocking the larder.