Where To Eat At South Bank Brisbane

Some 15 odd years ago, when I was first dating Hubby, we went on a little road trip up the North Coast of New South Wales, and over the border to Brisbane. We stayed at a hotel in South Bank Brisbane, at a little pub, and also swam at the man-made beach. Back then South Bank was just beginning. There was only a handful of spots to eat, but I could see the potential.

Fast forward to last month and I spent a night in that same hotel, Rydges, this time with my sister, her kids and my girls, so that we could check out how South Bank had changed, and the eateries they had on offer.

We checked into a junior suite at Rydges South Bank, which was beautiful and roomy, and right in the middle of all the action that South Bank offers. We stayed with my sister, and our four kids combined, so it was nice to have extra space to make room for everyone. The hotel is right next to all the eateries, a short stroll to QPAC, the galleries, and the parklands.

As for the spots to eat, well there are so many delicious spots. It’s a bustling area with cafes and restaurants every few metres, and new ones opening regularly. In fact, there was a new Poke restaurant, Suki, as well as Doughnut Time and Mister Fitz ice creams.

Not only is there food, but there’s amazing parks for the kids, swimming pools, a manmade beach, grassy areas, and events too. We stopped in after dinner and joined a Zumba class with the family, and had a blast.

Back to eating though, today I want to share some of the spots that we tried together, so that I could report back on what they offer and some photos of their goodies.

ESPRESSO GARAGE

I’m a breakfast person, so I could hear Espresso Garage calling my name as we sat down and checked out the menu… and when I spotted the haloumi, bacon and avocado stack… well I was totally sold. It’s the perfect, relaxed spot to find something for everyone in the family; coffee for those who need a caffeine kick, milkshakes for the little people and then delicious food for kids and adults alike.

MISTER PAGANINI

I’ll be dreaming about Mister Paganini for months to come after our visit. Their mushroom risotto is quite frankly, the BEST I’ve ever tried {and I’ve tried a few, I reckon} and their whole menu is drool worthy. It was kid-friendly, with Lacey loving the ability to watch the chefs make gnocchi right in front of her.

RIVER QUAY FISH

Located right on the water, this is such a beautiful spot to dine with the family. In front of the restaurant is a large grassy area that you can sit and watch the sun go down, and the ferries pass by. It’s the perfect spot to grab a glass of wine, or a cocktail {the mojito gets my thumbs up!} and let the kids burn off their extra energy while dinner is cooking. We ordered a whole heap of smaller plates, including fish tacos, pork ribs and haloumi. The kids opted for fish and chips, and gobbled them up.

DENIM CO

At the time we visited, Denim Co was located in a temporary location while their restaurant underwent a little renovation, but by the time you read this their new digs might be up and running and worth checking out. Their menu was hard to pick from, because everything sounded so good… including the chocolate waffles. The kids kept it simple with hash browns and avocado on toast, and we went for the balsamic mushroom and eggs, and pesto scrambled eggs. Don’t leave without grabbing one of their baked goods to go {Tim Tam brownie, hello!}.

NITROGENIE

Nitrogenie is like watching magic happen right before your eyes, with a little custard mix and the magic of Nitrogen you can see ice cream created in front of you with a puff of smoke and a little mixing. The lemon meringue is delicious, and perfectly created, and we all dug into that chocolate deliciousness too.

DOT. ESPRESSO

If you’re looking for something to grab and go, then you might like to check out dot. Espresso. It has delicious bliss balls, freshly squeezed juices, coffee, and when we visited the most amazing ANZAC muffins that I had to try and recreate when we got back home because they were that good.

ZEUS

Perhaps I’ve saved the very best for last, because this Greek eatery was EVERYTHING. The pictures show just how good a time we had, because we chowed down on so many delicious meals, and everything was made to perfection. The restaurant was bustling and busy, which is sign that it was a favourite among locals {evidence of a good place to eat, I say!}.

My family and I stayed as guests of Rydges, and ate delicious food thanks to Eat South Bank. Rydges South Bank has a special family offer, with rooms from $239 per night, and the following inclusions: Overnight accommodation, complimentary breakfast for children under 12 years and under in Bacchus restaurant, valet parking for one, children’s movie tray for up to two children (12 years and under on arrival).