The James Street Food & Wine Trail is returning this weekend, running on Saturday 27 July, and the huge Market Day on Sunday 28 July, which closes down James Street from McLachlan to Arthur Street to transform the precinct into a huge urban picnic, filled with endless things to eat and drink.

This year’s Market Day line up has the highest number of participating food and bar venues to date, with new and iconic James Street venues like ēmmē, Sushi Room, James & Antler and Agnes Bakery  joining regulars like Gerard’s, Harveys and Hellenika out on the street. Between 10am and 5pm on Sunday 28 July, head on down to eat your way through bites like rooftop honey pork belly from Lobby Bar, wagyu skewers from ESSA, soft shell crab bao from Same Same and Agnes Bakery’s famous doughnut holes

With food in one hand, you’ll want a drink in the other, and there’ll be plenty of pop-up bars ready to supply one. Knock back Japanese-inspired cocktails from Sushi Room, palomas and tea highballs from The Nixon Room or charred pineapple mojitos from Sixes and Sevens, just to name a few. There’ll also be a live music stage and DJs scattered throughout the precinct and, as always, entry will be totally free.

Gelato Messina has of course come up with a limited edition treat for the special occasion, as they always do.  Introducing their Cinnie Bunstein—a doughnut gelato packed with cinnamon buns, peanut praline, baked cheesecake and brown sugar caramel that will be on offer all weekend. They’ll also be pulling out all the stops for Market Day, serving up Scoff It Down, a waffle cone filled with cheesecake gelato, chunks of baked cheesecake and biscoff spread; and the Only Crunch, Coco Pops-inspired gelato with milo fudge, marshmallows and coco pops covered in milk chocolate.

On the Saturday leading up to Market Day, some of James St’s residents will also offer one-off menu pairings, set menus and tastings, with Jocelyn’s Provisions, Cru Bar + Cellar, ESSA, ēmmē, King Arthur and The Lobby Bar serving up everything from loaded traditional lamingtons to four-course champagne lunches. 

You can browse the program for Trail Days and Market Day and plan your James Street Food & Wine Trail here. 

The Details

When: Saturday 27 July and Sunday 28 July
Where: James Street, Fortitude Valley 
Find out more here.

Following much anticipation since the initial announcement in 2022, Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann’s Supernormal will open in Brisbane on Tuesday, 23 July. As Brisbane’s dining scene continues to flourish, the Melbourne import pulls on the cuisines of international cities including Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong, all while celebrating the climate, produce and people of South East Queensland.

The move is the first interstate expansion for McConnell’s Trader House group (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Supernormal, Meatsmith, Marion Wine Bar, Gimlet, Apollo Inn and a slew of other high-profile Melbourne venues). And while Supernormal’s sibling venue Bar Miette – a Euro-inspired all-day diner with everything from Scandi breakfasts to Gildas and seriously strong Martinis – opened several weeks ago, Supernormal is the opening that gourmands in the Sunshine State have been most eagerly awaiting.

Both venues have been designed by ACME, who were in charge of the design behind Total Fusion Platinum and previously worked with McConnell and McGann on the interiors for Melbourne’s Apollo Inn and Gimlet.

Unlike Melbourne’s paired-back neon-lit and contrasting white surrounds, Supernormal Brisbane has taken on a more tropical brief, with warm tones, rattan details, green terrazzo and timber.

“It feels like the right evolution for Supernormal. Whilst the design sets the two restaurants apart, there is a DNA that runs through them that is grounded in the food, the service, the drinks and the sense of location,”  McConnell said in a statement.

Located on the riverside level, the grand dwelling has views to the Story Bridge, with both indoor and riverside dining for up to 150 guests, plus an upstairs private dining area for up to 50.

The menu is structured much like Melbourne’s — think whitebait and bug fritter;  whole steamed coral trout with brown butter and lime dashi; delicate spanner crab tossed through hand-rolled noodle salad with sesame; and rump cap with green peppercorn sauce. While many of the dishes are new, there are also a couple of signatures Supernormal fans will be familiar with, such as handpicked lobster on brioche rolls; golden fried vegetable dumplings with a crisp lattice; and scallop roasted in an ultra-umami kelp butter.

Supernormal is set to open on Tuesday 23 July 2024. Bookings are now open via the Supernormal Brisbane website.

Brisbane’s multi-billion dollar Queen’s Wharf precinct has named August 29 as the date for the first of its multi-stage openings with the long-awaited The Star Brisbane.

Nearly nine years after it was formally announced and two years past its original projecting finishing point, The Star Brisbane has announced it is finally opening at least some of its doors, with a series of restaurants, bars and public spaces launching through late August and September, starting from August 29.  

“We are thrilled to be commencing our phased opening to coincide with Brisbane’s biggest party, Brisbane Festival,” said The Star Brisbane Chief Executive Officer Daniel Finch.

“Fittingly, public spaces will be among the first areas to be opened and that includes the viewing platform on Sky Deck, Miller Park, and of course the Neville Bonner Bridge linking Queen’s Wharf to South Bank.

Finch said the 1440 seat Event Centre wolud be opening its calendar “from early September” and the 340 room Star Grand hotel would have “bookings to open very soon”.

Announced dining and leisure openings include the LiveWire live entertainment  venue, celebrity chef Luke Nguyen’s Fat Noodle, Japanese restaurant Sokyo, cocktail bar Cherry and a sprawling Sports Bar. Restaurants in the Sky Deck and The Terrace areas are reportedly under final fit outs and will open progressively through the remainder of 2024.

The main Casino floor and premium gaming rooms will also be part of the initial openings.

Areas to open progressively from August into September and throughout the remainder of 2024 as part of the first phase of a multi-staged opening include:
• Public Areas: 7.5 hectares of public space including Neville Bonner Bridge, upgraded Bicentennial Bikeway, Miller Park, Sky Deck viewing platform, Leisure Deck on Level Seven
• Newly created green space The Landing to open after Riverfire
• Sky Deck: Trio of restaurants will open progressively during first phase
• The Star Grand: 340 hotel rooms including four penthouses, three swimming pools, Sokyo restaurant (Japanese)
• Event Centre: 1,440 seat ballroom with pre-function bar, outdoor terrace and views to the Story Bridge
• The Terrace Dining, Level Four: restaurants will open progressively during first phase
• Level Five & Six: LiveWire, Sports Bar, Fat Noodle (South-East Asian), Food Quarter, Cherry, Main Casino Floor and Premium Gaming Rooms
• Leisure Deck: Gymnasium, more food & beverage outlets

Areas to open as progressively as part of the next phase of a multi-staged opening will include:
• Dorsett and Rosewood hotel tower
• Velo Café end of trip facility
• Luxury Retail destinations
• The Terrace Dining, Level Four: Ice-creamery, Asian dining and more geographical themed dining
• Heritage buildings: Activated with experiences, retail and food & beverage

The Queen’s Wharf project – delivered by the Destination Brisbane Consortium, a joint venture between The Star Entertainment Group and Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium – hopes to be a revitalising agent for the Brisbane CBD and night-time economy. 

A fresh ranking of the happiest cities on the planet has been released, and five Australian capital cities made the cut. Ranked at number 1 in Australia, and 21 worldwide in the 2024 Happy City Index, Brisbane was the only Australian city to receive a gold rating.

Compiled by the Institute for Quality of Life, the index ranked 250 cities worldwide on governance, environment, economy and mobility and the impact they have on their citizens’ happiness.

Aarhus in Denmark topped the list, while other Australian cities included Melbourne (41st), Perth (61st), Hobart (87th) and Sydney (116th).

Demand for Brisbane units has seen price growth supercede houses in data released this week by Chief Economist Nerida Conisbee.

In her May report, Ms Conisbee noted Brisbane in the top 3 best performers nationally, beating Sydney and Melbourne price growth.

Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane continued their runaway growth in May with all cities now recording year-on-year growth of in excess of 14 per cent. Brisbane continued its strong run with prices up over 16 per cent for units in the last 12 months, a percentage above house prices. 

Price growth trends are likely to be similar in coming months. Inflation data released yesterday shows that it’s not coming down quickly and the expected timing of a rate cut remains for early next year. 

Bowie is Newstead’s premier dog daycare and grooming facility, housed within the acclaimed Long Island Brisbane. In collaboration with the award-winning developer, Cavcorp, Bowie is revolutionising what you can expect from dog care and yet another chapter in enriching the lives of Newstead locals.

Bowie is incredibly pleased to offer locals a full array of services that include Grooming, Daycare, size-based playgroups, personalised enrichment and more. With a state-of-the-art facility that includes canine-engineered play surfaces, cognitive obstacles, dog treadmills and luxury hydro stations, Bowie lives by the idea that our dogs deserve the world – so we built them one.

Bowie is located on Lower Ground next to the carpark entrance. Visit Bowie via Long Island Piazza, entrance down the stairs (below group fitness).

For further information contact info@bowiedogs.au or visit bowiedogs.au to pre-enrol your dog!

Dual temperature sheets, magnesium cream, and cutting-edge sleep companion technology.

These are just some of the items on the menu for a good night’s shut-eye at the new wellness suites’ in one of Brisbane’s newest residential towers.

While the sleep tourism trend is becoming more common in luxury hotels, local developer, Cavcorp, is bringing sleep-focused innovation to the city’s rental market, with the release of a number of dedicated ‘sleep suites’ in its Luminare development in Newstead.

It was after a recent stay at New York’s famous Equinox Hotel that Cavcorp founder and managing director Damien Cavallucci decided to introduce the innovative trend to his wellness-lifestyle developments.

Eight two- and three-bedroom suites on level two of Luminare have been released to the market for long-term lease at rates ranging from $1400 and $2200 a week.

Mr Cavallucci said the new suites were aimed at wellness-focused corporate executives and interstate and international tenants looking for a Brisbane base.

“We’ve found a unique spot to be in where we are offering hotel-style apartment living for people who are migrating or working up here for six or 12 months,” he said.

“At the moment, there’s nothing like this in Brisbane. There’s nowhere here for successful people who want amenity that feels like a hotel.

“We saw a gap in the market for quality rentals with designer furniture and wellness features, not just on the rooftop, but actually in the apartments.”

The suites’ features include double-glazed acoustic and tinted windows, temperature regulated sheets, electric blockout curtains, dimmable mood lighting. five-star hotel Ultra Plush mattresses, electromagnetic frequency (EMF) sleep switches, sleep packs including magnesium powder and cream, and custom built-in bedheads with control switches.

Travertine bathrooms have been designed with multi-jet showers to provide hydrotherapy benefits such as muscle relaxation and increased circulation, while heated flooring and towel rails help reduce humidity.

As part of the lease, tenants will be given a ‘wellness membership’ to Total Fusion Platinum across the piazza, allowing access to its recovery rooftop amenities such as a cold plunge, dry and infra-red saunas, steam room, snow cave, altitude training chamber, salt cave, 25m magnesium pool and recovery zone.

The suites are fully furnished by Jardan and Grazia & Co and feature artwork by Dina Broadhurst.

The kitchens feature leathered quartzite breakfast bars, integrated V-Zug appliances, and Nespresso coffee machines.

Tenants can also expect custom rugs, work-from-home spaces, and smart televisions.

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker stayed at the Calile Hotel during his recent stint in Brisbane with the band, but would drive to Total Fusion Platinum to use the wellness facilities between shows.

Travis would just give me a call and swing by and jump in the cryo (cryotherapy chamber) in the morning to wake himup.” Mr Cavallucci said.

But he said having wellness facilities in the one apartment and Total Fusion Platinum’s amenities literally next door would be much easier for guests such as Mr Barker in the future. “We’re just trying to give everyone the opportunity to have the best sleep ever, and have it in a format which is really quick and easy.” Mr Cavallucci said.

Book your private appointment of the Wellness-Suites, or learn more here: https://cavale.au/rental/207-20-festival-place-newstead-qld-4006/

A glitzy new steakhouse arrives on James St, adding to the already world-class lineup of food destinations within walking distance of Newstead.

When opening a new restaurant on James St, you need to come correct on this glitzy slice of Brisbane’s food and beverage scene, which boasts some of the most celebrated eateries in the city – Hellenika, Gerard’s, Essa, SK Steak and Oyster, Same Same and Bianca among them.

It’s a switch-up from Fatcow’s original, temporary location, which was in the old Cha Cha Char premises at Eagle Street Pier while Dexus prepared its $2.5 billion overhaul of that precinct.

“I’ve always enjoyed what James Street does, so when this was presented to me, it was too good to refuse, so we went full steam ahead. But every operator here is at a higher calibre, and it feels like they all have the same drive and passion.”

Fatcow opened on Wednesday on the ground floor of the old boutique David Jones store on the intersection of James and McLachlan streets. The obvious restaurant to compare it to is SK Steak & Oyster at the opposite end of the precinct, but Fatcow is a different beast to that slick Simon Gloftis-owned operation, which is arguably the modern yardstick for steakhouses in this city.

Where SK is light and bright during the day and carries itself with a quiet glamour in the evening, Fatcow has been given a darker, moodier and slightly glitzy treatment by regular Tassis designers Clui Design.

The venue is furnished in black leather, timber and parquet floors, with white marble counters and mirrored ceilings. A signature feature is the tiled acoustic panelling that lines the venue’s walls. Much of the seating is arranged in intimate booths sectioned off from one another by sheer white curtains.

Steak is of course the hero of head chef Garry Newton’s menu, with Black Angus cuts ranging from a 180-gram, grass-fed eye fillet up to a 28-day dry-aged 800-gram T-bone that goes for $220. There’s also a wagyu menu from which you can order a 150-gram, 12-score A5 eye fillet for $165, or a fourth-cross tomahawk or rib on the bone that cost $22 and $38 respectively by the 100 gram.

All steaks are cooked on a parrilla grill over iron bark and served with a complimentary side, with sauces and other add-ons such as eggs and foie gras available for extra.

The wine list runs to more than 300 bottles and includes the requisite big Australian shirazes and cabernets alongside impressive selections of champagne, burgundy, New Zealand pinot and vintage Italian reds. There’s also a cocktail list that mixes signatures and classics, and includes an Old Fashioned menu.

“I’ve tried all my life to put value in things,” Tassis says. “If you’re going to spend $100 in my restaurant, I try to appreciate every dollar. For that price, I want to give you the best service, the best food, the best wine I possibly can, whether it’s $100, $200 or $50 – everyone’s welcome.”

Open daily 11.30am-late

10 James Street, Fortitude Valley, (07) 3123 5325

fatcowrestaurant.com.au

The Oxford Economics Residential Property Prospects report, reveals the city’s median unit price could jump more than 21 per cent in three years.

Maree Kilroy said a huge 44 per cent of the median gross household income in Brisbane was dedicated to weekly mortgage repayments.

“It’s very much a demand exceeding supply story,” Ms Kilroy said. “Demand fundamentals are expected to remain strong, with Queensland positioned at the front of the pack in terms of population growth.

“Brisbane has a lot of infrastructure being built, and it’s got the Olympics, so optimism around potential returns for investment is quite bright.”

Ms Kilroy said the pace of price growth was expected to slow towards the second half of this year, but would likely accelerate again if interest rates are cut.

“The consensus is we have hit a peak for rates and I think that’s boosted buyer sentiment,” she said.

“We expected fiscal 2026 to be the peak for Brisbane (house prices). We’re expecting the median house price to grow around 7 per cent that year.

“We expect when rates start to come down, affordablity will improve for those where saving for a deposit isn’t an issue, but for first homebuyers it’s still a massive hurdle.”

PropTrack economist Eleanor Creagh said the demand/supply imbalance in Brisbane would continue to drive price growth.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the price of a new home for an owner-occupier was 4.9 per cent higher on average than a year ago.

“This is partly the result of cost pressures in the new home building market,” Ms Wawn said.

“Building approvals are too low, meaning more needs to be done to encourage new housing supply.

“Whether it’s detached housing or higher density, the same constraints apply, including planning restrictions, lack of capacity to undertake critical infrastructure so land is home-building ready, high taxes and charges, slow approval processes, and workforce shortages.”

The popular Brisbane Pop-up for Baker D. Chirico announced today the hugely anticipated launch of their Easter Special Hot Cross Buns.

“People go crazy for them,” says Allona Goren, baker Daniel Chirico’s partner. “In our Melbourne Stores, we are known to clock records on the Thursday before Good Friday, selling anywhere between three and four thousand of them… We are excited to bring this same taste & hype to our Brisbane pop up!”

Soft and sweet, sourdough that is mixed with Australian sultanas, orange purée and a custom spice mix. Then baked, glazed and crossed with a white icing

Grab them by the unit or by the dozen. Trays of half a dozen buns are conveniently pre-packaged in thei signature Baker D.Chirico checkered bags. Ready for you to take home & enjoy with your loved ones.

Opening Hours:

Good Friday 29th : 7:30am – sold out
Saturday 30th : 8am – sold out

Located at the Long Island Piazza Pop-Up | 18 Longland Street, Newstead

Published earlier this year, the prestigious publication elevated Brisbane to its annual travel list for its “food, art and vertiginous views”, declaring it “a city gearing up for its Olympic moment”.

The global honour comes hot on the heels of TIME Magazine including Brisbane among its World’s Greatest Places of 2023, Fortitude Valley restaurant Agnes Restaurant crowned Gourmet Traveller‘s 2023 Restaurant of the Year and The Calile Hotel ranking 12th in The World’s 50 Best Hotels awards.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said making The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2024 was the latest in a string of accolades for Brisbane.

“Our time has come. The world is recognising that Brisbane keeps getting better and this latest accolade from The New York Times is further proof,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Last year, both TIME Magazine and travel bible Frommer’s recognised Brisbane as a must-do destination in addition to the awards we won for having Australia’s best restaurant and hotel.

“Between our sub-tropical climate, world-class lifestyle precincts like Howard Smith Wharves and enviable access to natural assets, including Moreton Island, visitors from across the globe are discovering that Brisbane is an incredibly attractive place to be.

“Our relaxed outdoor lifestyle, clean and green suburbs and vibrant economy have also made us the fastest growing capital city in Australia with huge numbers of people from southern states eager to call Brisbane home.

“All this success is no accident and I’m confident our emergence as a must-do destination and great place to live will boost local business, create jobs and help make Brisbane even better.”

The New York Times reported a groundswell of excitement and revitalisation as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, drawing attention to the world-class $3.6B Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct and its 250m-long Sky Deck with bars and restaurants overlooking the Brisbane River.

In further admiration of Brisbane’s sky-high aspirations, the article enthusiastically reviewed Brisbane Powerhouse’s Vertigo restaurant – a vertical dining experience four stories high – as well as the cultural hub’s annual celebration of queer arts and artists, Melt Open.

Brisbane’s booming dining and leisure scene again drew deserved focus, praising the skilled chefs at Agnes Restaurant, spotlighting The Calile Hotel as “an oasis in the middle of the city” and previewing Queen’s Wharf Brisbane’s four new hotels including The Star Grand which is due to open later this year. 

The striking scandi-chic restaurant from the owners of Paddington hotspot NOTA, Launches brand new Breakfast Menu.

It’s not often that we get to saunter into one of Brisbane’s best restaurants for an early morning feed, but that is exactly what we plan on doing over at Allonda, which has just launched a brand-new breakfast service. The chic Newstead restaurant has expanded its offering with a modern-European-inspired take on some classic day starters, available from Tuesday to Saturday between 7:00–10:30 am.

The menu is headlined by Allonda’s take on the Dutch baby (a large German-style pancake that looks a bit like a Yorkshire pudding), which is available three ways – with Turkish eggs, garlic yoghurt and paprika butter, with smoked salmon, poached eggs and hollandaise, or with bacon and scrambled eggs. Other options include a piadina with cavolo nero, asiago and prosciutto, a charred B.L.A.T., a breakfast bowl boasting Gilly’s leg ham, a soft-boiled egg, beets, greens and pickles, and wild mushrooms on toast.

The eatery is also pouring cups of specialty coffee from Bellissimo and cold-pressed juice from HRVST ST. Though walk-ins are welcome, those wanting to guarantee themselves a table for brekkie can make a booking via Allonda’s website.