Queensland

More than three hours north of Brisbane, this tiny wine bar is proving well worth the drive, writes ELLIOT BAKER.

Two of Brisbane’s finest hospitality talents bring glitz and glamour to the new (and improved) GPO building.

Melbourne’s Komeyui has a slick new Brisbane outpost and it’s bringing a little Zen interconnection to the everyday.

Same Same's main room provides dining drama aplenty: flames flashing, woks hissing in the central open kitchen, bustling communal tables channelling Thailand's streets through a glamorous lens.

This pint-sized, chef-run venue isn't quite a portal to Shibuya, but it does leave the Gold Coast behind.

Don’t let the location – in the heart of Maroochydore’s new CBD, surrounded by construction – put you off.

Good times (and good tunes) are in abundance at this Brisbane newcomer.

Housed in an historic inner-city terrace, Clarence doesn't appear avant-garde but it's quietly radical.

Bandita’s freewheeling wood-fired take on Mexican cuisine is a breezy crowd-pleaser.

Bring an open mind to this benchmark for innovative Levantine cooking. You’ll experience familiar flavours in novel ways and encounter ingredients not found elsewhere, thanks to tireless chef Adam Wolfers.

Take a seat in this light-filled, gallery-like corner room, and prepare to have your senses stimulated by Matt Blackwell’s nuanced cooking.

Surrender your credit card, this is A-list luxury.

Elska requires commitment. The simply furnished, dégustation-only venue has just 12 tables and opens three days a week.

GT visits the stately Noosa stayer as it sails towards its second decade. It's in sparklingly good form.

A rich, multi-layered menu that draws from Lebanese, Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions, and is boosted with an arsenal of techniques.

Forget what you know about gallery restaurants. Brisbane's GOMA is a cut above the rest.

New riverfront lodgings means Otto is an even more alluring prospect for diners keen to push the boat out.

Come for the tasting menu, stay for the snacks.

A Gold Coast diner that deftly balances the old-school and the on-trend.

If you ever think the quirkiness will overwhelm, just trust the chef and know it'll all work out for the best.

Sure it's a scene, but this Fortitude Valley diner is also approachable.

An elegant take on progressive dining.

The elevator pitch might be elegant share-style street food, but expect more.

Surf, turf and a touch of glamour.

With a focus on top-quality produce, the sum is greater than its parts at this Burleigh gem.

With Lee Ho Fook and Longrain alumni running the show, expect delights of the earthly and culinary kind.

REVIEW The Fish House could coast by on the view alone: its front windows, usually open, overlook the sweep of the Gold Coast; in the distance the skyscrapers of Suerfers Paradise rise from the blue water like Emerald City. Burgers and watered-down soft drinks would make a killing. Instead, chef Damien Styles doubles down on […]

REVIEW Spending a few hours at Spicers Tamarind Retreat feels like an escape. Even if you’re not staying the night, you can still enjoy the lush rainforest backdrop from the restaurant and chill out. The Tamarind is driven by warm, friendly service and the dining pavilion takes inspiration from Thailand, with the menu meandering around […]

REVIEW There’s a sense of mystery to Etsu Izakaya. A barn door devoid of signage is all that can be seen from the road, but slide it open and an Aladdin’s cave awaits. The long, dimly lit space is moody, almost whimsical, featuring floor-to-ceiling Japanese-inspired murals, a curved timber wall blending into the ceiling and […]

REVIEW From its neo-teahouse aesthetic to a menu marshalling ideas from across South East Asia, Mamasan is a restaurant in tune with the zeitgeist. Outdoor tables might be perfect for observing Broadbeach’s human circus, yet pride of place is by the pass, where eaters are treated to close-ups of the bustling kitchen. You can almost […]

REVIEW The name may sound a little pretentious, yet this buzzy venue is anything but. A merging of the Cavalier Supper Club and Justin Lane has created a rambling, eclectic space, which includes a hip rooftop bar offering ocean glimpses, savvy bartenders and mist sprays to keep things super-chilled in summer. It delivers on many […]

REVIEW Cossetted away from the Hastings Street crowds, just above the street-level bar in the Sheraton complex, Noosa Beach House has all the trappings of a superior resort hotel – cluey, courteous staff, soaring white interiors, pared-back timber furnishings and a wine list that holds its own. And then there’s the drawcard of chef Peter […]

REVIEW The contented diners vying for tempura-battered Moreton Bay bugs and juicy chicken thighs with yuzu honey and slivers of radish may have stumbled up from the casino below. But, truth be told, most are here expressly to dine at Kiyomi. The buzzy venture, sibling to Sydney’s Sokyo, is headed by Nobu alumnus Chase Kojima. […]