When it comes to romance, the French know what they’re doing. That’s why French-inspired restaurant Greenglass is one of our top picks to dine with your date in The City. Found in an elevated heritage loft space next on George Street, this bright and breezy eatery serves up French bistro-inspired lunches and dinners with the likes of baked scallop a la Bretonne with leek, bechamel and croutons, house-made gnocchi with Swiss brown mushrooms, asparagus and porcini cream, and braised beef cheek bourguignon with bacon, roast potato, carrot and shallot all gracing the menu. The flavoursome fare serves as a backdrop for the impressive wine selection – so if you and your lover enjoy a cheeky vino or two, you’re in luck.
Malt Dining
If you’re looking for somewhere intimate to take your date, then Malt Dining is the spot for you. Boasting old-world sophistication and a fantastic food offering, Malt is spread over three levels in one of Brisbane’s most iconic inner-city buildings, Wenley House. The multifaceted venue features a moody street-level bar, a private dining room in the cellar and an upstairs fine-dining restaurant. Malt’s Asian-influenced menu encompasses tongue-tantalising savoury dishes like Tasmanian ocean trout sashimi with Granny Smith apple, daikon and wasabi, and maple-roasted duck leg with organic carrot, fennel and burnt-apple hoisin. Sate your sweet tooth with The Malt Brownie with smoked miso caramel, roasted pear and honeycomb – they say dessert is the way to the heart, after all.
Boom Boom Room
Underneath beneath beloved locale Donna Chang sits Boom Boom Room Izakaya, a hip Japanese-inspired bar that will set the scene for spoiling your special someone. The dimly-lit bar and eatery slings a bevy of brilliant snacks like freshly shucked oysters with rice-vinegar mignonette, kingfish tartare with yuzu, buttermilk, dill oil and cucumber, pork katsu sandos with mustard mayo and bulldog sauce, and soft-shell crab handrolls with pickled radish and tartare sauce. Boom Boom Room Izakaya also serves a killer libation list, with cocktails aplenty (the Paper Crane with Nikka Days, Amaro Nonino, Aperol, yuzu, lemon and passionfruit will send hearts fluttering), worldy wines and some of Japan’s finest whiskies, sakes and beers on offer.
Neapolitan hospitality takes centre stage at Brisbane City cocktail bar and eatery Toscano Bar + Kitchen, a primo place to perch with your partner. Found just across the road from Stamford Plaza on the corner of Edward Street and Alice Street (ideal for a cheeky staycation), the cosy venue boasts a lounge-style dining space and a chic bar area where you can devour an array of Italian delicacies. It will be love at first sight when you lay your peepers upon the menu of delicious nosh with appetisers such as deep-fried polenta sticks with gorgonzola mousse and pancetta, and crumbed ricotta gnocchi with cherry tomato salsa and stracciatella, as well as larger plates like pizza and panuozzo (traditional pizza sandwiches) sure to satisfy. Pair your meal with a refreshing spritz or a local wine for a match made in heaven.
Alchemy Restaurant + Bar
Known for conjuring vibes of the romantic kind, Alchemy Restaurant + Bar offers sweeping views of the Story Bridge and Brisbane River. Inspired by classical French cuisine, Alchemy is renowned for its gastronomic delights that are sure to put you under their spell. Enchanting entrees include the spiced lamb cigar with eggplant puree and citrus yoghurt dressing, and the kingfish crudo with lemon, pistachio and mint. For your main meal, savour the likes of the marinated spiced quail with pancetta, peas, shallots, sauteed potatoes and white-wine sauce. If dessert tempts you and your darling dearest (when does it not?) indulge in the creme caramel with rum sultanas, cookie crumble and chocolate ice-cream.