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Detour The year in review: what you loved in 2017 Mac From Way Back Miss Jones The year in review: what you loved in 2017 The Cloakroom Bar

The year in review: what you loved in 2017

What. A. Year! Although 2017 has flown by, we’re still amazed by all of the fantastic things we got to experience throughout the year. Brisbane boomed with all sorts of happenings, from new bars and eateries to killer events to some massive news-worthy bombshells that already have us looking ahead with anticipation. We figured the best way to recap the year that was is to list what resonated with you the most over the past 12 months. Without further ado, here is the best of 2017!


Food & Drink
No matter what happens to us throughout the year, we can always count on Brisbane’s food scene to bring the goods. From new eateries and watering holes to salivation-inducing round-ups, here were our top-ranking Food & Drink stories of the year …

Detour
Damon Amos’ gorgeous gastronomic temple has been a constant favourite amongst The Weekend Edition readers and it’s easy to see why. Fantastic culinary experimentation (edible ants, anyone?), an inclusive menu (the kitchen is gluten-free and caters to vegans, vegetarians and carnivores) and a great drinks list all have helped establish Detour as a favourite, which will likely be the case for years to come.

Mac From Way Back
Until Dane Coote put wheels to pavement with the Mac From Way Back food truck, we had no idea that mac’n’cheese could be this versatile. Then Dane took over the kitchen at Sabotage Social and our minds were collectively blown. Would we eat spicy chilli chorizo and decadent truffle mushroom mac’n’cheese every day of the week if we could? Hell yes we would! Mac From Way Back allows us the ability to fulfil our dreams.

Miss Jones
One of the most charming cafes of the year is not only pretty in pastel pink but also plates up primo fare aplenty. Miss Jones is the brainchild of Daniel and Hannah Bowles, who have mixed great Scandinavian-inspired aesthetics with scrumptious dishes like blueberry and vanilla waffles with honeycomb ice-cream, and corn and chorizo tacos.

Netherworld
Name a more iconic duo than arcade games and craft beer. We’ll wait. Okay, well what do you think about games, beer and vegan eats? Netherwold unlocked the key to our hearts (and stomachs) early in the year when it unveiled its arcade-meets-bar wonderland. The venue has since been packed nearly every night since, cementing its status as not only one of the best openings of the year but one of the best venues in town.

Beyond the Pale
Beyond the Pale’s opening was significant for a couple of reasons. One, it was the first bar to open in Coorparoo in, like, forever, and second, it marked the arrival of Coorparoo Square – one of Brisbane’s newest food and entertainment precincts. Twelve taps, an impressive back bar and food from morning until evening –Beyond The Pale certainly hit the nail on the head when picking what we like.

Best cheap eats
Who doesn’t love a cheap feed? When it’s a few days until payday and the only thing in your wallet is receipts from weekends past, it’s good to know you can get by with a little help from these frugal-friendly establishments. From burgers to pork buns and tacos – you’d be surprised at the variety you can enjoy for cheap, which is certainly something you crave when you’re a week deep into a two-minute noodle diet.

All-day Breakfast
Aside from ‘it’s my shout’ and ‘I love you’, ‘all-day breakfast’ is the only three-word combo that can set our hearts aflutter. It seems you all feel the same way, which explains why our all-day breakfast round-up was such a winner. Sometimes you need eggs benedict at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. There’s no judgement from us – we’re likely seated at the table next to you devouring our own late day starter.

Dog-friendly bars and cafes
It’s Friday night (or Saturday morning) and no one in the group chat is keen for drinks (or brunch) – what do you do? You call on your best friend in the whole wide world – your pooch – and hit the town anyway. Your furry friend is the only pal you need now that there are plenty of spots around that are dog friendly. So grab the leash and enjoy some quality time with the most beautiful creature in the world – your pup!

Westfield Chermside’s new food precinct
We’re not surprised that this was big news to many of you – we haven’t had such a sudden influx of great new eateries, probably ever! Westfield Chermside unveiled its new food precinct around mid-year, which included big ticket arrivals such as Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.BiN 931The Bavarian and Bootlegger. That’s not all – more eateries are still arriving! Chermside is the gift that keeps giving.

The best of the best
The EAT/drink Awards are far and away the best indicator of what you are loving in Brisbane, so we figured it was a no brainer to put together a detailed list of the top ten across each major category from the 2016 winners. We compiled the best cafes, bars, restaurants (as well as the most-popular new arrivals across each) in town, as well as the hottest coffee spots, cocktail joints and dessert destinations. Keep your eyes peeled as we gear up to kick off our 2017 edition of the awards. Not long to wait now!

Gentlefolk
It wasn’t just food and drink that got you talking this year – there was a host of bits and pieces across shopping, fashion and fun that were big deals as well!

Best barbers
The importance of staying sharp in the follicle stakes can’t be overstated. There’s nothing quite like stepping out of the barber with a fresh cut, which is why our list of Brisbane’s best barbers got such a great response. There are talented snippers all over town, so if you need a schmick summer do, then this list is a great resource.

Elizabeth Picture Theatre
In the age of Netflix it’s easy to think that maybe the golden age of cinema is long gone. Not true! The team behind the Yatala Drive-In Theatre and New Farm Cinema unveiled its latest movie house in the heart of Brisbane City this year, pairing a gorgeous heritage aesthetic with the kind of service that will ensure that the big screen experience has a place. 

House porn
One of our favourite daydreams is  imagining the kind of house we’d own if money weren’t an issue. This collection of five abodes should give you an indication of our luxurious tastes, and offers plenty of eye candy for the aesthetically and architecturally inclined.

Five women killing it in the food industry
This piece sits particularly close to our hearts, and we’re delighted that it resonated with many of you as well. For International Women’s Day we gave a shout-out to five women that were doing simply amazing things for the local food scene, including the likes of HappyFat’s Bonnie Shearston, Angela Hirst of Wandering Cooks fame, Helen Bird from Street Food Australia, Gold Coast restaurateur Nerissa McCluskey and Samantha Gowing, chef-in-residence at The Kitchens.

Cheap and free things to do in Brisbane
Sometimes we overindulge on the weekend and leave ourselves no spending money to get through the week. It happens to us all, but we’re lucky in the sense that there are plenty of inexpensive and free activities to keep us occupied for cheap. If you like to be a baller on a budget, then you seriously need to read this piece. Your wallet will thank you.

Design
Brisbane’s landscape is changing mightily year by year, and we’re very excited for what the future holds in regards to our city’s look in the near future. We’ve got our eyes glued to the horizon, keeping our gaze sharp for the arrival of new luxury hotels, hip laneway precincts and residential developments that will help bolster the growth of our city.

The Calile
Pretty soon James Street as we know it will change. Don’t worry – it’ll still be one of the best spots in town for luxury shopping and gourmet dining, but it will soon boast a swanky new hotel inspired by the high roller lifestyle of Hollywood’s elite. The Richards & Spence-designed hotel will boast 178 luxury rooms with day spa facilities, a podium-level pool, its own restaurant and bar, and new retail outlets and eateries on the ground floor.

W Brisbane by Marriott International
Brisbane City will soon receive a new entrant in its luxury hotel scene, when W Brisbane opens its five-star facilities in early 2018. As part of Marriot International’s family, W Brisbane will combine state-of-the-art facilities with killer views and luxury touches to create one hell of an accommodation destination.

FV Gurner
Earlier in the year we saw the completion of the first two towers of GURNER™’s FV project. Taking design cues from New York City’s Flatiron building, FV strikes a chic silhouette in the Foritude Valley skyline, while also harbouring some killer retail, FV Peppers Residences and even a chic wine bar.

West Village Laneways
Yeah, yeah – Melbourne’s laneways are really cool. We get it. Pretty soon we’ll have our own laneways to brag about, situated in the heart of one of our hippest suburbs West End. Sekisui House announced that it would be including four distinct laneway precincts in its West Village development, accessible by pedestrians and bicycles only, with dining, live entertainment and shopping opportunities also popping up within.

Broadway Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba was one of the suburbs that received the biggest boom in food and drink arrivals this year, and the growth rate of this inner-south hotspot isn’t going to be slowing down any time soon. The iconic Broadway Hotel could be revitalised as part of a new plan that will see a new mixed-use development popping up next door. Locals have been hoping to see the fire-ravaged building receive a new lease on life, and we could be closer than ever with the arrival of this news.

Notable mentions

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.



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