We all think it’s getting out of bed, but the first task of every morning is seeking out breakfast. Without the promise of crisp waffles, gooey eggs, or even just a strong cup of (decent) coffee, Brisbane would cease to function. What can we say? We’re a bunch of early rising, coffee chugging, nourish bowl-loving brunchers. Perhaps it’s all that non-weather of ours…
Lucky for Brisbane locals, then, that this town plays a strong hand when it comes to breaking the fast. Don’t DIY, here’s where you’ll find the best breakfasts in Brisbane.
West End The hype around Morning After sets it apart from the upturned milk crates demarcating most West End cafes. The astroturfed clad cafe on the corner is most easily recognised on weekends by the queue of people snaking down the block. And while queuing certainly doesn’t denote merit or a guarantee a good meal, in this case it absolutely does. Morning After is worth the wait (plus, locals know to stick it out—the queue moves fast). On their minds are a cup of 5 Senses coffee and one of Morning After’s signature breakfasts: the breakfast MaMuffin (just like Macca’s, only fancy) and the breakfast carbonara.Â
West End Thanks to their reliance on seasonal harvest there’s no such thing as an old faithful at Plenty. Omelettes with organic greens and pumpkin puree, poached eggs on thick-cut sourdough, French toast specials (recent iterations include sherry poached pear, candied pecans, House made chocolate halva, sesame tuille, and orange crème fraiche) and loaded sandwiches stuffed with locally cured pastrami, the all-day breakfast menu changes constantly, flirting with new flavours but sticking firmly with the hearty classics. The Plenty kitchen has a sweet tooth, baking enormous cakes sold by the slice—think, chocolate mud cake, lemon chiffon, and mango coconut. Serving specialist coffee, selling a fantastic array of house pickled veggies and condiments, you just have to go in and spin the wheel with the trust and faith that it will always land on something seasonal, sustainable, and made entirely from scratch.
Fortitude Valley While trips to Europe are still off the table, breakfast at Hellenika is the closest we’re going to get to a Mediterranean summer. Housed on the rooftop of The Calile Hotel, book a table poolside (the only Brisbane breakfast joint to boast views poolside) and go full Hellenic with the rizogalo (rice pudding), crab omelette, or firm favourite ‘eggs on eggs on eggs’—lashings of taramasalata, salmon roe pearls, and perfectly boiled eggs on house bread, all washed down with a strong and syrupy Greek coffee.Â
Kiki
South Brisbane Trading exclusively in Bellissimo coffee, Doughluxe doughnuts, Chouquette pastries and a short menu of banh mi, Kiki’s little brick kiosk breaks up the banality of the commuter coffee route.
Huddled in a newly refurbished nook of Fish Lane, it serves as the perfect commuter pit-stop, its lush plants spilling out across its alfresco courtyard. The perfect spot to demolish a banh mi.
Toowong Evoking the same convenience and reliability as their suburban namesake, locals flock to Corner Store from right across town whenever they need a break from the malaise of the city. Executive chef Dylan Brace and head chef Jordan Mckenzie have a laser-sharp focus on the locality of ingredients, the bulk of their produce coming straight from said garden; the dedicated organic herb and veggie patch out the back. Corner Store’s approach to their menu is slightly fancy comfort food, served generously, in a revamped, century-old cottage, complete with a garden overlooking the property’s gardens.Â
New Farm A vision of pink on Brunswick Street, the doyenne Miss Jones has charmed the pants clean off the Brisbane breakfast set. Head chef Emily Bartholdt is hot on the tools, tweaking an already abundant menu with classics (the eggs benny loaded with hickory smoked pork shoulder) to lofty new heights. Get amongst instant classics like mango Weiss granola, kiss my peach açai, and the Australian icon that is smashed avocado, only sexed up with maple pepitas, roast beetroot, garlic hummus and snowpea sprouts. Wash it all down with Single O Paradox Blend coffee. That Miss Jones, she’s a real morning pulse-racer.
New Farm James Street in Fortitude Valley is known for its swanky offerings, but while King Arthur may rub shoulders with the high end of town, this Brisbane bolthole keeps things real when it comes to morning meals. They know you want a fresh, tasty refuel at any time of the day, which is why their brunch menu is available from open to close.Â
Think classic breakfast buns with chilli jam, haloumi, and fried egg, nourish bowls, and indulgent dishes like red velvet waffles, yuzu custard semifreddo, poached stone fruit and crumble. Even with two storeys and outdoor seating, this small but mighty cafe still has people spilling into the street for want of their daily cakes and pastries piled high behind the counter.
CBD Finding somewhere decent for breakfast in the CBD is a sensation similar to hitting the jackpot. Finding somewhere slinging specialty coffee, homemade jams, and a seasonal and nourishing all-day menu—all under the same roof (!) – is almost unheard of, so the fact Felix does all three so well make it quite the catch. Hidden along Burnett Lane, Felix’s all-day brunch is varied from indulgent blow-outs to considered vegetarian and vegan. Chocolate sourdough hotcakes with salted caramel cashew cream, roasted pears, and buckwheat brittle, chimichurri scramble with scrambled eggs, chimichurri salsa, daikon, and chilli pickle and paprika oil, and vegetable-stuffed ‘hippy bowl’ of veggies, seasoned nuts, and seeds, and served with a creamy vegan dressing. If you drop in for a coffee, be prepared to leave with an arm full of impulse buys, notably their irresistible cakes which adorn the counter and their displays of glass jars, full of pickled veggies, jams, and condiments, just aching to be taken home.
The best restaurants come steeped in tradition. Luckily Brisbane is in full supply of rustic pizzerias channelling Napoli-style dough and candle-lit trattorias, serving steaming bowls of ragu. Whether you want hearty and full-flavoured dishes or modern takes on Roman dining, there’s an Italian restaurant for every occasion.
Here’s where to find Brisbane’s best Italian feasts.
Fortitude Valley If you need to book a long lunch or simply want to indulge in a rich, comforting bowl of pasta, pull up a seat at Gemelli. This large Italian restaurant sits on the corner of James Street—one of Brisbane’s most popular shopping strips—and is the perfect pit stop to fuel up after a long morning of shopping. The menu boasts home-style family recipes and generous servings, including pasta served in bread bowls. We recommend the gnocchi al forno. The pillowy soft gnocchi is bathed in Napoli sauce, topped with buffalo mozzarella and cooked in a wood-fired oven. Don’t forget to pair it with a cocktail or glass of wine.
Fortitude Valley Next door to Gemelli is Bar Tano, the sister restaurant sharing the same la dolce vita approach to Italian food and drink. Stop in for a refreshing Aperol spritz, soak up a sunset, or stay after dark and let loose at a late-night disco. Bar Tano is reminiscent of taking an evening passeggiata through the cobbled pathways of Sicily, where bars and restaurants overflow with personality and exuberance. The food, which includes antipasti and salumi, is by Gemelli, so you know it’s going to be good. As for the bar, it’s charming and intoxicating. An afternoon at Bar Tano will transport you to Italy.
South Brisbane Otto’s signature bright outdoor furniture is hard to miss when you’re taking a stroll on the River Quay Green South Bank. The recently renovated restaurant commands riverfront views making it a destination, not just a restaurant. Most weekends, you will find it filled with locals and visitors, sharing pizzas and toasting cocktails. The menu is packed with homemade pasta and larger mains for sharing. However, the heavily awarded restaurant is best known for its  Champagne lobster and bottarga spaghettini—a must-try.
Woolloongabba 1889 Enoteca is the kind of establishment where the servers are Italian, and the walls are exposed brick. Step in and be transported to Rome, with authentic Roman dishes laid out on white Bretagne dinner plates and hosts an extensive and lauded wine list. The pasta is all housemade and can be ordered as an entree or main. We suggest ordering the slow-cooked pork and beef ragu wrapped around pappardelle.
Fortitude Valley Are you looking for somewhere romantic for dinner? Bianca is a beautiful Italian restaurant with waiters flittering around a buzzy dining room. Despite its modern and slick decor, there’s nothing pretentious about the dining experience here. Curly graphics, monogrammed serving ware, and pops of colour keep it light and fun. As for the food, it’s a straightforward menu of snacks, entrees, house-made pasta dishes and a range of main courses. If you need something lighter, you can order from the antipasti section and dig into little creamy bags of burrata, mortadella, sardines, and marinated mushrooms.
Fortitude Valley This unassuming warehouse hides an exceptional 60-seat Italian restaurant serving up an innovative menu drawing on the family’s Italian-Australian roots. Think Moreton Bay Bug risotto, lamb ragu, local grilled fish with fennel, and yellowtail kingfish Crudo. The wine list draws from Australian winemakers and some tipples from Europe’s biggest regions.