Brisbane

Brisbane’s G&T Festival Is Finally Happening

Brisbane, are you ready for an unmissable four-day gin celebration?

fever tree g&t festival brisbane

Let the celebrations be-gin. After Covid-19 postponements in 2021, the long-awaited second stop on the Fever-Tree G&T Festival tour is officially happening.

From Thursday, April 28 to Sunday, May 1, Brisbane will host an unmissable four-day celebration of gin and tonic.

Festivalgoers can expect three-hour immersive sessions with 20 local and international gin distillers throughout the weekend, highlighting the very best in gin that Australia has to offer paired with the world’s finest tonics from Fever-Tree premium mixers.

Explore the Gin Village where you can sample gins, or discover your favourite tonic at the Tonic Discovery Bar. There will also be workshops and discovery talks to expand your knowledge of gin and tonic, and of course, plenty of food including an oyster and prawn bar. Live music and garden games will keep everyone entertained throughout the day.

The new gin-based Orange & Grapefruit Aperitif ‘Sunset Bitter’ from Noosa’s Seabourne Distillery will be available to taste for the first time, paired perfectly with Fever-Tree’s Mediterranean Tonic. Plus, stay tuned for more yet-to-be-announced releases to taste and enjoy as part of the experience. The festival will also welcome family-owned craft distilleries from around the country, like Earp Distilling Co. from Newcastle, NSW and Moore’s Dry Gin from Erina, NSW.

Tickets include entry into the Fever-Tree & Howard Smith Wharves Gin and Tonic Festival with access to the ultimate mix of distillers, six complimentary mini G&Ts (valued at $20), an exploration of over 20 gins, from both international and craft gin distillers, live music, and workshops.

Purchase your tickets here.

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Brisbane

Where to Find the Best Italian Restaurants In Brisbane

All your Italian cravings are sorted.

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.

best italian restaurants brisbane

Gemelli

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.

best italian restaurants brisbane

Bar Tano

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.

best italian restaurants brisbane

Otto Ristorante

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.

best italian restaurants brisbane

1889 Enoteca

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.

best italian restaurants brisbane

Bianca

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.

best italian restaurants brisbane

Mosconi

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.

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