Idle, New Farm: New Farm’s current renaissance is set to continue into 2025, with the team at Anyday (the hospitality juggernaut behind top-tier restaurants Agnes, Biànca, sAme sAme, LOS and hôntô) making a move into the suburb in the coming months. The team will be relocating and transforming Agnes Bakery – its lauded pandemic-born bakery concept turned James Street staple – into full-service cafe Idle. The venue will see the team expand the offering beyond its signature pastries, breads and cakes, delivering a menu of cooked-to-order seasonal dishes and salads, alongside take-home fridge and pantry fillers like house-churned butter, handcrafted sauces and marinades. Agnes Bakery will continue trading on James Street until Idle’s debut. That’s not all the Anyday crew has in store for 2025, with some big plans underway over in The City …

Golden Avenue, Brisbane City: In the second half of the year, Anyday will lift the cloche on Golden Avenue at 67 Edward Street in the heart of Brisbane City – a Middle Eastern-inspired eatery boasting a lush, garden-inspired terrace. Golden Avenue will draw upon the expertise of Anyday co-owner and chef Ben Williamson and group head chef Adam Wolfers, with both culinary maestros leveraging their mastery of Levantine cuisine to create a modern menu that will feature hot and cold mezze, flatbreads, charcoal-grilled meats, seafood and more. Following Golden Avenue’s debut, Anyday will shift its focus to more expansion plans, including two restaurants and a cocktail bar that will be housed within the heritage-listed Coal Board Building at 169 Mary Street. Details on these concepts are being kept close to the chest, though one can assume that it will be a massive deal for the ongoing growth of Brisbane’s inner-city dining scene.

The Fox Hotel, South Brisbane: Ghanem Group – the hospitality heavyweights known for top Brisbane restaurants Donna Chang, Blackbird and Byblos – has announced its takeover of the Fox Hotel, which has been closed since suffering severe flood damage in 2022. The group has revealed plans to reopen the South Brisbane institution in late 2025 after extensive refurbishment undertaken in collaboration with Space Cubed Design Studio. The renovation will span all four floors, blending the hotel’s vibrant history with modern dining and drinking experiences. New features will include a Fish Lane entry, a ground-floor bar and bistro, a late-night cocktail lounge, a gaming area with a bottle shop, two function spaces, and a rooftop terrace offering views of The City. Click here to get the whole scoop!

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Gigi’s Osteria, Newstead: A little while back, we hinted that the team behind celebrated eateries Beccofino and Julius was working on something new. The anticipation has almost killed us, but we’re excited to reveal that 2025 is the year we finally get to experience it. Come mid-year, Paolo Biscaro, Cordell Khoury and the team will lift the cloche on Gigi’s Osteria – a smart Italian eatery nestled in the ever-growing Long Island precinct in Newstead, joining the likes of Baker D. Chirico and Evra Marketplace. Gigi’s will be more refined than its older siblings – although a woodfired oven will be at the centre of its kitchen, we’re assured it certainly will not be a pizzeria. Instead, expect generous bowls of glistening handmade pasta, melt-in-your-mouth grilled fish and meat dishes kissed with the smoke of woodfire. The osteria will also boast a considered wine list, featuring an impressive selection of Italian and Australian drops. We’ll have more details on Gigi’s Osteria in the coming months, including its yet-to-be-announced chef. Keep an eye out for updates! 

+81, West End: In the final weeks of 2024, a striking Ginza-inspired cocktail bar opened on Montague Road in West End. The ten-seat +81 Aizome Bar – an intimate blue-hued marvel – immediately set a new standard for high-end cocktail experiences in Brisbane, with master mixologist Tony Huang applying his cutting-edge ‘neo cocktail’ techniques to the menu. But +81 Aizome Bar was only part one of a greater whole. Taking shape next door was +81 – a kappo-style restaurant offering a full Japanese dining experience. Boasting a sleek and moody fit-out designed by Alexander Lotersztain, this restaurant is shaping up to be one of the most impressive arrivals of 2025. And best of all? You don’t have long to wait – +81 is tentatively set to open in February.

Dark Blue, Fortitude Valley: The brains behind one of Fortitude Valley’s most beloved wine bars is set to open another boozy haunt in the entertainment precinct this year, with Hannah Wagner of Dark Red fame expanding to the other side of Ann Street to open Dark Blue. The 30-seat cocktails and wine bar is estimated to open on Winn Lane in March, with Hannah taking over two neighbouring spaces – which folks might recognise as the former home of Gemini Brow Studio, Winnston Hair and clothing store The Outpost – and transforming them into a single venue boasting a timber-heavy New York-inspired loft aesthetic. Once open, Dark Blue will pour vino from winemakers based in Portugal, Spain and Argentina, as well as an ever-changing range of cocktails (think pre-batched options that can be dispensed quickly). Unlike Dark Red, Dark Blue will offer a small selection of eats – think tasty toasties and imported snacks like tinned sardines and Spanish crisps from Superbon. Fans of Hannah’s pooch Daisy will be pleased to know that the adorable pooch will be making appearances from time to time, including on Dark Blue’s coasters!

TABOO, Fortitude Valley: Later this year, the team behind Mr. Vain will be opening Thai-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar TABOO. Described as a ‘sanctuary in the sky’, TABOO will sit atop The Constance Hotel in Fortitude Valley and will boast a polished monochrome-green colour scheme. When it comes to its interpretation of Thai fare, TABOO’s offering will be rooted in tradition, but will have its own modern flavour. The share-style menu will feature market-style street eats, seafood and curries, while the bar’s beverage program will feature a 100-strong wine list (including a clutch of effervescent pet nat vino) and a number of punchy, flavour-forward cocktails. Read all about TABOO here.

Evra, Newstead: Newstead continues to gun for the title of Brisbane’s epicurean epicentre, with more and more bars and eateries slotting into vacant spaces around the suburb. Late last year, the team behind Evra at Long Island opened Los Angeles-inspired grocer and casual nosh spot Evra Marketplace. Soon, the crew will lift the cloche on a 120-seat restaurant next door, which we hear will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner showcasing coastal and country produce sourced from local growers and producers. These dishes will be complemented by a beverage program featuring classic cocktails as well as a sturdy wine list.

Josie’s, Stanthorpe: John Speranza and Amy Harker are set to open Josie’s, a new restaurant taking shape in Stanthorpe, later this year. The Josie’s concept began in 2022 as a Brisbane-based pop-up and quickly gained popularity for its unique menu (which blends Italian, Korean, and South American influences) and DIY ethos. After settling in Stanthorpe, a town known for its thriving tourism and regional food scene, the duo found a historic space on High Street for their permanent location. The 36-seat restaurant will focus on high-quality, locally-sourced produce, with a menu that combines a la carte and set-menu options, including dishes like Nashville-style fried chicken with ‘nduja butter and stracciatella. The drinks list will feature creative cocktails and an all-Australian wine selection, highlighting local producers from the Granite Belt and New England regions. The restaurant will open in mid-2025, maintaining its punk roots while aiming for a more refined, mature dining experience.

Hai Hai Ramen, West End: Crowded House Hospitality, the crew behind beloved venues such as Remy’s, Ham on Rye and Superfly Pizza, is set to open a second location for its uber-popular ramen concept, Hai Hai. In January 2025, the team will cut the ribbon on the new outpost, which will be located on Boundary Street in the site most recently home to Chop Chop Chang’s. With more room to work with, the Hai Hai team will be relishing the chance to build on its killer menu, with a core selection of ramen and sides bolstered with the addition of more izakaya-style snacks, substantial mains and a range of rotating specials. The site will also boast a bigger bar, which means Hai Hai’s beverage offering will also be expanded – we’ve been told to expect plenty of shochu highballs, Japanese-inspired cocktails and beers.