7 romantic restaurants in Brisbane for the best date night
As the capital of Queensland, the city of Brisbane has a lot to offer. Home of the popular Brisbane Zoo, made uber-famous around the world by Steve Irwin, Brisbane also has a popular koala sanctuary for even more wildlife. Food-wise, the city is known for lamingtons, which are coconut-covered square cakes.
You'll never run short of great things to do in the city. Aside from the nightlife at the many Brisbane bars, the South Bank is loaded with cultural hotspots, like the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre. Plus, the city's idyllic setting on the Brisbane River is perfect for romantic strolls.
When it comes to food and romance, you can do a lot better here than a lamington. Brisbane is full of some of the most romantic restaurants around and will offer options that are fancy, totally casual, or somewhere in the middle. International cuisine is popular here, so you're not stuck with a traditional steak restaurant or strictly Australian food - not that Aussie food isn't good, it's just nice to have a choice.
Before heading out on an unforgettable evening at one of the best romantic restaurants in Brisbane, unload your unnecessary items first. A Bounce luggage storage in Brisbane can take care of unwanted suitcases, backpacks, shopping bags, and anything else you don't want to carry around.
Now, let's get right to our favorite romantic restaurants in Brisbane:
La Vue Waterfront Restaurant
The name of this romantic restaurant couldn't be more spot on. For some of the best waterfront dining in the area, La Vue is the place to be. The dining room's windows offer stunning views of the water and Story Bridge, which might be the only thing that could steal focus from the food here. The restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine with a distinctly French flair. They love to use premium ingredients like truffle oils, foie gras, and fresh Australian seafood to create amazing menu items.
Given the sophisticated atmosphere and price point, this restaurant is probably best left for special occasions, but regardless of why you come here, the setting, food, and service are sure to impress anyone. It might come as a bit of a surprise that there are no tasting menus here, although they do offer set menus for holidays like New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day.
Our recommendation
Reservations are essential here, so don't risk showing up without one - you'll be turned away. Ordering from the a la carte menu might seem a bit daunting due to all the enticing choices. But don't let that get you down, we're here to help. We recommend the Tiger prawns thermidore or the Savoy chicken as your main. If you have room for more, start with the poached pork belly with pear or the soup du jour.
Location
1/501 Queen St, Brisbane City
Price level
$$$
Black Hide Steakhouse
No guide to the best romantic restaurants in Brisbane would be complete without an excellent steakhouse - it's a classic date night option for a reason. Black Hide offers a traditional venue complete with white tablecloths, dark wood, and floor-to-ceiling street-facing windows. There is also an outdoor seating area if the weather is cooperative, which it usually is in Brisbane.
Black Hide's goal is to be inclusive, and they even have a separate vegan menu, which, as we're sure you can imagine, is unheard of for a steakhouse. They also have a set menu for AU$99 with an entree, main, and dessert. Each course has about three options to choose from.
Our recommendation
Aside from the fixed menu, you should definitely get a steak here. The restaurant has an exclusive partnership with Stanbroke Beef, located about an hour and a half inland from Brisbane. A top choice off the menu is the Wagyu, available in a few different sizes. The steaks come with Wagyu fat roasted potatoes, and you can add a side of seasonal beans to complete the meal.
Location
36 Caxton St, Brisbane City
Price level
$$
ZA ZA TA
This restaurant is located in the suburb of Fortitude Valley in the Ovolo Hotel and is part of the vibrant 1000 Ann Village. It's less than 10 minutes from the center of Brisbane, so ZA ZA TA is ideal for a vegetarian date night, especially if you enjoy Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Voted Queensland's best vegetarian restaurant in 2022, you know that the food here is going to be fabulous.
Generally, the food here relies on an Israeli influence, but the menu offers so much more. Their aim is to mix old-world and modern flavors to create something truly unique. It's safe to say that you won't miss the meat when you dine at ZA ZA TA at all.
This is a relaxed space with an open kitchen and an overall colonial yet contemporary decor. You can order a la carte or get a little fancy with their Taste of ZA ZA TA tasting menu that's available in both vegetarian and vegan options for AU$85 per person.
Our recommendation
The halloumi doughnut with chilli jam is the perfect starter - just don't get it confused with dessert. For your main, go with the BBQ cauliflower shawarma.
Since you're already in Fortitude Valley, head to the nearby Iris Rooftop bar at Hotel X to prolong your evening. Aside from being one of the best Brisbane bars, the views from here are incredible, especially when you're sipping on fancy cocktails.
Location
1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
Price level
$$$
Deer Duck Bistro
Although the name of this Brisbane restaurant may not sound all that romantic, don't let the name fool you. Antique furnishings, soft lighting, aged silver cutlery, and walls adorned with Renaissance and other old paintings all combine to offer you the ideal date night location at Deer Duck Bistro. This lovely eatery is about two blocks from the Brisbane river, so you can easily take a romantic stroll along it before or after dinner.
Since this restaurant is technically in a Brisbane suburb of Auchenflower, the prices are quite reasonable for what you get, and the competition for tables isn't nearly as intense as it is in the city center.
Featuring European cuisine, the tasting menus are the star of the show at Deer Duck. There are six options in total: regular five-course, short course, and long course options, and the same three again that are made vegetarian. You can also order a la carte if you prefer more control over your menu.
Our recommendation
Since this is a date night you're planning ahead for, you probably want to pull out all the stops and go with the long tasting menu. Whether you choose meat and fish or the vegetarian selection, you're in for a real treat. A total of nine courses will be brought to your table, and the regular menu features things like venison (as you might expect from the restaurant's name), scallop sashimi, and roasted quail breast. For vegetarians, highlights include miso-marinated roasted eggplant and roasted pumpkin with red lentils. Without wine, these tasting menus will set you back AU$155 per person.
Location
396 Milton Rd, Auchenflower
Price level
$$$
La Lune Wine Co.
This laneway bar is one of the best romantic restaurants in Brisbane for a few reasons. The first is their amazing wine list that offers countless different varieties from all over the world. The second is their delicious six-course tasting menu that's an absolute must when dining here.
The restaurant's philosophy is to provide a stylish and modern wine bar with creative drinks and food items, and they definitely succeed. The restaurant's interior is full of wood on the floors, at the bar, and on the wine shelves. This is complemented by the painted yet exposed ductwork, black walls, and white tiles that brighten up the space a bit. The result is a venue where you'd be lucky to spend a date night.
Our recommendation
When you make your reservation, as you really should do, request a table by the window for a lovely view out to Melbourne Street. As for the menu, if you don't go with the tasting menu, the market fish or the spiced chicken with market greens are definite winners.
Location
Shop 3/109 Melbourne St, South Brisbane
Price level
$$$
Donna Chang
Located in the Brisbane CBD's Adina Apartment Hotel and specializing in Cantonese and Sichuan fare, Donna Chang isn't your typical Chinese restaurant. The dining room here could easily be featured in a design magazine with white marble, plush banquettes, an abundance of plants, and a contemporary bar area. Basically, Donna Chang can give you a crash course on how to meld modern and traditional decor perfectly.
Since food is such an important component of a romantic meal, it's important to note that this restaurant nails that too. While you may not think of Chinese as the most romantic cuisine, Italian and French usually win that contest, but Donna Chang is certain to change your mind.
Our recommendation
A top choice here is one of the many tasting menus. They do an AU$90, AU$120, vegan, and celiac tasting menu, so one of these is sure to appeal to you and your date. The regular tasting menus range from 10 to 13 courses and are full of fresh ingredients and tons of variety. With any of the tasting menus, two people are required, so the only catch is that you'll both have to get the same one.
Location
3/171 George St, Brisbane City
Price level
$$$
Alchemy Restaurant & Bar Brisbane
One of the nice things about having a romantic meal in Brisbane is that you don't have to break the bank to experience something special. Alchemy Restaurant is perfect for date night when you don't have a ton to spend but still want a picturesque setting and top-notch service.
Alchemy has a prized riverside location, and the scenic riverfront is visible from the dining room. The best views are from the front of the restaurant, so if you're making a reservation, try to request a spot close to the door, which might seem counterintuitive. To make things easy, their website offers online bookings.
At its heart, Alchemy is a modern Australian restaurant with an unmistakable Italian influence. In fact, the menu headings and dish titles are actually written in Italian. But don't worry, the item descriptions are all in English. You'll be able to choose from pasta, risotto, fresh fish, and meat here, along with varied antipasti options.
Our recommendation
For something fairly safe, go for the lamb loin. If you're a little more daring, try the tortellini con coniglio, which is rabbit tortellini, porcini mushroom foam, Pecorino cheese, and rabbit ragout.
Location
175 Eagle St, Brisbane City
Price level
$$
Conclusion
When it comes to planning romantic dinners in Brisbane, the sky's the limit. You can go the economical route or blow the budget entirely. Brisbane restaurants will tempt you with cuisines ranging from modern Australian and Italian to Mediterranean, Chinese, and Middle Eastern. And with impressive views all over the city, one of the best rooftop bars in Brisbane is always the perfect way to end your evening.
While all these tasting menus and fancy dishes can cost a pretty penny, you can save money in other places. For instance, the street food scene in Brisbane is fantastic and can offer a cheaper way to eat while you're in town. Besides, who says you can't have a lovely date night eating street food? Regardless of what kind of food you choose or how much you shell out, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a memorable and romantic night in Brisbane.
