Brisbane is buzzing with exciting new restaurants, bars, experiences and luxury stays, offering travellers and locals plenty of reasons to explore the city this May.
From the sky-high views at the Summit Restaurant on Mt Coot-tha to the city’s first-ever wheelchair-accessible bridge climb, the Queensland capital is showing off its creative flair and inclusive spirit.
Foodies can dive into bold Middle Eastern flavours at Layla in West End, sip on natural wines at Wild Legs in Newstead, or enjoy Euro-style dining and disco vibes at Penelope Bistro in Fortitude Valley. For something more laid-back, L.P.O. brings a local wine store twist to Tarragindi, while the Beaumont and Isoletto Pool Club deliver classic Aussie hospitality with a luxe edge.
On the experience front, Story Bridge Adventure Climb now offers an accessible climb for wheelchair users – a world first – and Pineapple Tours has launched a hop-on, hop-off city loop ideal for flexible sightseeing. For immersive regional escapes, Eat Local Month in the Scenic Rim and Reveling luxury tours blend produce, culture and nature in spectacular style.
Big-name events and exclusive accommodation deals
Brisbane’s events calendar is stacked with must-see shows and headline acts. Ballet Preljocaj’s Swan Lake comes exclusively to QPAC in late May, while Open Season returns to venues across the city with a stellar line-up of music from 25 May to 30 July. Affordable Art Fair Brisbane hits Bowen Hills from 8 to 11 May, and the Brisbane Marathon Festival gets hearts racing on 1 June.
Meanwhile, footy fans are counting down to the long-awaited clash between the Wallabies and British & Irish Lions on 19 July at Suncorp Stadium. And in hotel news, the city eagerly awaits the arrival of InterContinental Brisbane in June, as well as Donnie’s, Idle and Taboo – three hot new food and bar venues coming soon to Fortitude Valley and New Farm.
