The recap: the best new Brisbane restaurants, bars and cafes in July
While most of us enter hibernation mode in the middle of winter, Brisbane’s food scene tends to heat up. July was a massive month for foodies, with several new arrivals causing a stir. We welcomed the first Queensland outpost from a cult-favourite chicken shop, a new cafe from a pair of coffee-pouring legends, a pub serving nostalgia-laced Aussie eats, a sleek specialty bakery on King Street and a Asian-inspired eatery in the heart of Kenmore.
Chargrill Charlie’s, New Farm: Who could have predicted that one of the biggest openings of 2025 would be a charcoal chicken shop? To be fair, we should have known. Ask anyone from Sydney or Melbourne and they will tell you that Chargrill Charlie’s is a big deal. So when Sydney transplants Avalon McRae and Jack Gosiewski opened Brisbane’s first-ever Chargrill Charlie’s location in New Farm, chook lovers turned out in droves. Even today, a steady line snakes its way from Chargrill Charlie’s service counter, with hungry customers eager to fill a to-go box with succulent rotisserie chicken, nourishing salads and salvation-worthy sides. With more Chargrill Charlie’s locations in the works, there’s a good chance chookmania will continue for the foreseeable future.
Dragan and Marija Sestic converted their long-running cafe Dramanti into Mad Mile | Credit: James Frostick
Mad Mile, Wynnum: Twelve years is a long time in hospitality – especially for those running multiple businesses. Last year, after more than a decade caffeinating Wynnum locals, Dragan and Marija Sestic sold their cherished cafe Dramanti in order to take some time off to relax and reset. But the pull of hospitality was too strong – as they were eating their way through Europe on holiday, the couple were already discussing getting back into the game. Upon their return, Dragan and Marija took over their old digs once more and converted it into Mad Mile – a cafe boasting a refreshed look, a European-influenced menu, premium beans from Ona Coffee and a renewed focus on community. Though the Dramanti brand is gone, Mad Mile retains the heart of its predecessor, now driven by a simpler goal – to create a welcoming space where locals of all ages feel at home.
CHERN brings together flavours from Southeast and East Asia across its menu | Credit: James Frostick
CHERN, Kenmore: After the warm embrace they received opening their Chapel Hill restaurant Chalong last year, Nail Saengin and Garfield Pachnoi felt compelled to deepen their connection to the community by launching a second venue, CHERN, just one suburb over in Kenmore. The 50-seat eatery and bar expands beyond the southern Thai cuisine of Chalong to showcase Garfield’s broader culinary background in Asian fusion, drawing influences from Southeast and East Asia. The playful, flavour-packed menu features dishes like duck-and-chive dumplings, prawn-toast bao, sticky tamarind pork belly, char kway teow with pork belly, and grilled king prawns with tom yum sauce, all paired with a curated list of wines, beers (including a matcha IPA), and signature cocktails. CHERN’s relaxed, welcoming atmosphere is true to its Thai name – ‘chern’, meaning ‘to invite’ – and is a family-friendly, community-minded spot for casual dining.
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Bonnie Doon Public House has breathed new life into the site previously home to craft-beer bar Bloodhound | Credit: James Frostick
Bonnie Doon Public House, Fortitude Valley: Much like watching The Castle for the 20th time, a visit to Bonnie Doon Public House evokes a warm feeling of nostalgia and comfort. The Fortitude Valley pub, which took over the space formerly home to Bloodhound Bar, is an all-Australian oasis inspired by The Castle’s idea of humble paradise. Bonnie Doon blends the charm of a classic family home with a playful, retro aesthetic, spread across a sunroom-style front bar, stained-glass-lit back deck, and an upstairs pool room for events. Head chef Dylan Swepson’s menu leans into comforting Aussie favourites – think fairy bread, cob loaf, dagwood dogs, kangaroo meat pies and jaffles – paired with a proudly independent line-up of craft beers and natural wines. With cocktails and late-night eats also on offer, Bonnie Doon is honouring Bloodhound’s legacy for accessibility while inviting a new wave of memories in its welcoming, laid-back embrace.
Queen Amann serves riffs on the caramelised, buttery pastry kouign-amann | Credit: James Frostick
Queen Amann Bakery, Bowen Hills: When Larry Lim, Eddy Tice and Ania Kutek took over the former King Street Bakery site in Bowen Hills, they knew the expectations would be high. But instead of replicating the past, they launched Queen Amann Bakery – a distinct concept centered on the kouign-amann, a caramelised, buttery pastry now offered in inventive flavours like strawberry chamomile and bourbon chocolate pecan. Since opening, the bakery has been selling out regularly, thanks to a strong pedigree (Eddy and Ania also helm Cordelia Sourdough Bakehouse) and a menu that balances sweet and savoury delights, from pistachio croissants and Lamington doughnuts to focaccia and sausage rolls. With coffee by Five Senses, specialty Japanese teas, a crisp green-and-white aesthetic, and a focus on warm, welcoming service, Queen Amann is proving it can fill big shoes while carving out its own delicious niche.
Many more restaurants, cafes and bars opened this month. You can have a browse through the latest foodie happenings by clicking here.