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Best Restaurants in Fortitude Valley

Exterior of Short Grain Restaurant in Fortitude Valley in the evening

Updated: Apr 27, 2025

Fortitude Valley may be known for its bars, clubs and as a late night entertainment precinct but it is also home to some of Brisbane's best restaurants. While James Street has the lion's share of upmarket restaurants by leading Brisbane chefs, so has the refurbished historic Hemnant Building, and if you venture off the beaten tracks into the laneways and side streets of the Valley you'll find hidden gems that are culinary delights.

From Japanese to Greek, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Korean, Mexican and Middle Eastern, as well as bespoke mod Oz dining, here are 30+ fab restaurants that should be on every Brisbane foodie's list to visit:

Penelope Bistro + Bar

Exterior of Penelope Bistro & Bar

Penelope Bistro & Bar is a glamorous dining, drinking and dancing den which is reminiscent of a chic European supper club

Fatcow on James St

Exterior entrance and doorway, Fatcow on James St Fortitude Valley

The top-tier steak and seafood restaurant brings a world of sophistication, timeless glamour and exemplary service

Short Grain Fortitude Valley

An exquisite Thai-flavoured diner by esteemed chef Martin Boetz (of Longrain fame), located in a heritage-listed building

Cloudland Garden Restaurant

Elegant dining are on ground floor at Cloudland Garden Restaurant Fortitude Valley

A game-changing addition to the iconic Fortitude Valley playground, having taken over the entire ground floor as a permanent restaurant

Exterior lit up Facade of Petite Restaurant

A stunning two-level contemporary French restaurant and wine bar located on a Fortitude Valley corner

Establishment 203 Fortitude Valley

A stunning European brasserie-style steak and Italian fine dining restaurant and bar secreted away

Perspective Dining

Perspective Dining Fortitude Valley

The historic TC Beirne building is home to a secret 12-seater chef's table dining room, serving Michelin-worthy degustations

SK Steak and Oyster

Vie of dining room from top floor at SK Steak & Oyster

Mad Men meets James Bond at Ada Lane's stunning world class restaurant and bar

Exterior of Warisan Indonesian Restaurant Fortitude Valley

Warisan is a funky Indonesian hawker style eatery and bar located off the beaten track down a Fortitude Valley side street.

Etna Fortitude Valley

A stunning old world pizzeria and wine bar has made its home in the heritage-listed 1890's Hemmant Merchants building

Mosconi Fortitude Valley

An old war igloo in a Valley side street has been converted into a chic 2 level European wine bar and restaurant

Tartufo Ristorante Wine Bar

Diner in large brasserie style dining room inside Tartufo Ristorante Wine Bar in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley

Upscale Italian restaurant Tartufo is like a grand European brasserie that has been beamed into the palm tree lined streets of Emporium

Hizola's Kitchen & Bar

Entry of Hizola's Kitchen Bar Fortitude Valley

A sleek contemporary Cantonese restaurant and bar from the folks behind the Gold Coast institution Mr Hizola's, located just off James Street

Rosmarino Ristorante & Wine Bar

Rosmarino Ristorante & Wine Bar Fortitude Valley

This stunning split-level Italian bar and restaurant occupies the refurbished 1890's Hemmant Merchants building

Baja

Baja Brisbane Fortitude Valley

A little slice of Baja California has come to the Valley with this cool subterranean Mexican bar eatery

Honto Fortitude Valley

Honto is a stunning dark moodily lit Japanese restaurant and bar hidden away in a Fortitude Valley back street

Mr Vain Fortitude Valley

A stunning 90's themed laneway bar and eatery in the basement of a heritage-listed building

Mr Duncans Fortitude Valley

Mr Duncans is a chic, contemporary restaurant and bar in the heart of Fortitude Valley with 4 distinct kitchens under the one roof

TAMA

TAMA Dining Fortitude Valley

A stunning fine dining restaurant housed within the beautifully refurbished historic GPO Hotel in Fortitude Valley

The Lodge Bar & Dining

Lit-up exterior of Rodd & Gunn's The Lodge Fortitude Valley

An exquisite 2-storey restaurant and bar housed in a stunning heritage-listed Queenslander

Gemelli James Street

Gemelli James Street

This slick contemporary Italian dining oasis brings delectable Italian cuisine to a prominent Valley corner

ESSA Restaurant & Bar

Open Kitchen in Essa Restaurant Fortitude Valley

ESSA has opened its doors to a luxe new level of bespoke dining

Carmen Tequileria

Carmen Tequileria Fortitude Valley

A chic resort-style Mexican restaurant and boutique tequila bar located on James Street

sAme sAme is a stunning contemporary 2-level Thai restaurant and bar in the Valley's chic Ada Lane

La Costa Fortitude Valley

A glamorous Italian Riviera-inspired restaurant and bar behind the heritage facade of the Valley's first picture theatre

Justin Lane Fortitude Valley

A stunning pizzeria and rooftop bar occupying two adjoining heritage-listed Queenslander cottages on a Fortitude Valley corner

Sushi Room Fortitude Valley

This bespoke Japanese fine dining room occupies an exquisite minimalist architectural space in the base of The Calile Hotel

Happy Boy Fortitude Valley

Happy Boy is Fortitude Valley’s cool contemporary go-to for some of the best, most authentic Chinese food in Brisbane

Bisou Bisou Fortitude Valley

This stunning contemporary Mediterranean brasserie and bar is found in the base of the glamorous X-Hotel

Hellenika James St Fortitude Valley

Hellenika is a glamorous Greek taverna sitting poolside on the first level of James St’s boutique Fortitude Valley hotel The Calile

Kenjin Fortitude Valley

The glamorous Japanese restaurant and bar in Fortitude Valley has a secret night club out back

Harvey's Bar & Bistro

Harvey's Bistro, Fortitude Valley, James Street, Brisbane

This upmarket bistro in a cool summerhouse style setting has become something of a James Street institution

Bang Bang Fresh Noodle

Plate of nnodles, Bang Bang Fresh Noodle Fortitude Valley

This little noodle bar in the Valley dishes up the fattest and freshest, authentic Chinese biang biang noodles in town

Agnes

Spread over three levels in a repuroposed historic warehouse, this stunning restaurant is totally fire-powered

more

Joy.

This 10-seater restaurant tucked away in historic Bakery Lane is one of Brisbane's hottest dining destinations, with an ever-changing chef's menu

more

Still hungry for more suggestions on where to eat out in Brisbane, head to our comprehensive Eat & Drink section HERE! Happy grazing!

Image credits:

Agnes - courtesy of Agnes Facebook page

Joy - courtesy of Joy restaurant website

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