Source : the age
Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s month-long food fest, Dine BNE City, is back for 2026, once again hawking all that is great and open late (or late-ish) in the CBD.
This year, there’s a difference, with breakfast added to the itinerary. Dine BNE’s Morning Edition is helping address the city centre’s growing collection of serious cafes. There’s also plenty of low-impact lunch action this year.
All in all, there are 130 offers and events for Dine BNE City 2026. Here’s our pick of the best.
Modern Spiced Brunch at Intersection
Adam Wang’s Intersection dining precinct is arguably the best breakfast spot in the CBD right now.
Countless people go for celebrated sub-venue Coffee Anthology, which has been ranked one of the top coffee shops in the world, but neighbouring Fika dishes up some exceptional food also.
For Dine BNE, it’s serving Indian spiced golden corn pakoras with tomato chutney, green chilli sauce, poached eggs, and an avocado and herb salad. It’s being offered with a premium wet chai for $25 for all of June.
Hong Kong Fish Burger and Beer at Central
Central, Fanda’s brilliant J.AR-designed Queen Street bolthole, has been peddling this Hong Kong-style fish burger since late January.
It takes a classic McDonald’s style Filet-O-Fish and reimagines it through a Cantonese lens, finishing it with gem lettuce and a house-made tartare that’s packed with green chilli and spring onion oil.
For Dine BNE, it’s served with thick cut fries and a schooner of crisp lager for a wallet-friendly $30 lunch or dinner.
Set Lunch at Aloria
Aloria is leaning into its occasion dining setting on the Sky Deck atop The Star for this generous lunch set.
For $75 diners have a choice of four entrees and two mains, with sides served for the table.
You can also add dessert for $18, choosing from a cheese plate or chef Shayne Mansfield’s killer urban honey cake.
Donna’s Dumpling Academy at Donna Chang
Chinese restaurants tend to be notoriously protective of their dumpling IP, so it’s nice to see Donna Chang throwing open the kitchen doors for this unique yum cha experience on June 21.
This $125 dumpling class will be led by head chefs Tom Smith and Lyndon Tyers, working alongside the restaurant’s dumpling master Wai Sik Tam.
It includes a drink on arrival, followed by a yum cha banquet in the restaurant’s plush dining room. Spots will be limited so book well ahead for this one.
Tillerman Supper Club
Tillerman has quietly developed a reputation as one of Brisbane’s best seafood restaurants since opening in 2022.
For Dine BNE it’s going late-night with this set menu that features ceviche, octopus and swordfish steak, paired with a glass of wine for $49.
Where to sit? The Hogg & Lamb designed dining room is fancy enough, but maybe request a table out on the river to match the seafood theme.
Nonna’s Favourites at Doughcraft
This popular Mary Street Italian is using Dine BNE to bring back its Nonna’s Favourites menu.
For $78 diners get a three-course feast that features arancini to start, a slow-cooked lamb shoulder ragu pappardelle with artichokes and pecorino for a main, and tiramisu (one of the better takes in town, served in a stovetop espresso maker) to finish.
Adult Happy Meal at Blackbird
Blackbird is keeping the kitchen open late for Dine BNE with its Adult Happy Meal.
Diners (well, drinkers in the bar, actually) can choose between “boujie” chicken nuggets (thighs braised in white wine with a mirepoix before being turned into a mousseline) with fries or the Blackbird cheeseburger with fries, served with a glass of sparkling, for $35.
There’s a bunch of upgrades available too: a Martini or a glass of Tattinger for $10; and Oscietra caviar for $20.
The Paella Plate at Mulga Bill’s
Tassis Group’s riverside Mulga Bill’s is leaning into Dine BNE, serving its popular woodfired lamb and chicken paella for two for $41 per person with a wine, beer or sparkling.
Available for dinner only.
Marvellous Mushrooms Chef’s Table at The Brasserie at Naldham House
The Brasserie at Naldham House is presenting this intimate event in collaboration with Urban Valley Mushrooms, exploring the role of mushrooms throughout the history of European cuisine.
Diners can expect five courses of produce-driven cooking that will range across the continent from the Mediterranean to the Baltic.
Dishes include a king brown mushroom duxelles served in a tart shell with a mushroom puree, raw king brown puree and green oil; a chicken ballotine chasseur with a trio of mushrooms, crisped golden enoki and truffle; and a savoury doughnut with pickled coral mushrooms, fermented mushroom and Ossau-Iraty cheese.
Dine BNE City runs June 1-30.
Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-at-large at Broadsheet Brisbane, and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, the Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, among many others.
