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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
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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
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Short Grain
Short Grain Fortitude Valley
An exquisite Thai-flavoured diner by esteemed chef Martin Boetz (of Longrain fame), located in a heritage-listed building
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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
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Petite
Exterior lit up Facade of Petite Restaurant
A stunning two-level contemporary French restaurant and wine bar located on a Fortitude Valley corner
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The 203
Establishment 203 Fortitude Valley
A stunning European brasserie-style steak and Italian fine dining restaurant and bar secreted away
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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
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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
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Warisan
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.
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Etna
Etna Fortitude Valley
A stunning old world pizzeria and wine bar has made its home in the heritage-listed 1890's Hemmant Merchants building
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Mosconi
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
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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
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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
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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
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Baja
Baja Brisbane Fortitude Valley
A little slice of Baja California has come to the Valley with this cool subterranean Mexican bar eatery
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Honto
Honto Fortitude Valley
Honto is a stunning dark moodily lit Japanese restaurant and bar hidden away in a Fortitude Valley back street
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Mr Vain
Mr Vain Fortitude Valley
A stunning 90's themed laneway bar and eatery in the basement of a heritage-listed building
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Mr Duncans
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
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TAMA
TAMA Dining Fortitude Valley
A stunning fine dining restaurant housed within the beautifully refurbished historic GPO Hotel in Fortitude Valley
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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
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Gemelli James Street
Gemelli James Street
This slick contemporary Italian dining oasis brings delectable Italian cuisine to a prominent Valley corner
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ESSA Restaurant & Bar
Open Kitchen in Essa Restaurant Fortitude Valley
ESSA has opened its doors to a luxe new level of bespoke dining
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Carmen Tequileria
Carmen Tequileria Fortitude Valley
A chic resort-style Mexican restaurant and boutique tequila bar located on James Street
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sAme sAme
sAme sAme is a stunning contemporary 2-level Thai restaurant and bar in the Valley's chic Ada Lane
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La Costa
La Costa Fortitude Valley
A glamorous Italian Riviera-inspired restaurant and bar behind the heritage facade of the Valley's first picture theatre
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Justin Lane
Justin Lane Fortitude Valley
A stunning pizzeria and rooftop bar occupying two adjoining heritage-listed Queenslander cottages on a Fortitude Valley corner
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Sushi Room
Sushi Room Fortitude Valley
This bespoke Japanese fine dining room occupies an exquisite minimalist architectural space in the base of The Calile Hotel
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Happy Boy
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
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Bisou Bisou
Bisou Bisou Fortitude Valley
This stunning contemporary Mediterranean brasserie and bar is found in the base of the glamorous X-Hotel
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Hellenika
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
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Kenjin
Kenjin Fortitude Valley
The glamorous Japanese restaurant and bar in Fortitude Valley has a secret night club out back
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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
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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
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Agnes

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

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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

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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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