Where to eat, drink & play in Brisbane during Open Season
Kickstarting on May 25, and running right through until July 25, Open Season returns for its sixth edition, bringing together over 100 artists and special events across 10+ venues, spanning iconic theatres, intimate clubs, galleries and public spaces, transforming Brisbane into a city-wide event.
More than just an incredible event, Open Season is an open invitation; the perfect excuse to explore the Brisbane’s unique offerings, from incredible riverside dining, hidden laneway bars and laid-back café culture, to its world revered art galleries, live entertainment options and one-of-a-kind nightlife.
So while checking out your favourite artist’s live show might be number one on your to-do-list during the festival, there’s plenty of other reasons to stick around. To help make the most of your time in Brisbane, we’ve put together a fool proof guide of the best places to eat, drink and play during Open Season.
The Program
Before planning where you’re going to eat, drink and play, you’ll want to get acquainted with the Open Season program.
In 2026, Open Season in Brisbane will host the world premiere of Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey, celebrating the revolutionary artistry of Gil Scott-Heron, whose voice and vision have inspired artists for generations. Other keystone events of the 2026 program include Against The Grain Festival, which will host a massive line-up of local, national and international acts, Blak Day Out, which is an annual celebration of Blak excellence and First Nations voices, South System Vol. 2 which will take over Fish Lane and photographic exhibition ‘Nowhere Fast’, which will showcase photographs of Brisbane’s punk and post-punk scene from 1978-1982.
Additional live performances from The National’s Matt Berringer, Mogwai, Earl Sweatshirt, Hiatus Kaiyote,Alison Wonderland and heaps more feature in the Open Season program in 2026, proving that Brisbane is the place to be for when you want killer major events, paired with perfect temperatures. For a full list of events, check out the Open Season calendar.
Where to Stay
Open Season spans eight weeks, which means accommodation location matters when you're planning multi-show nights, early starts, or simply want to minimise travel so you can maximise your time checking out the city's best dining and entertainment options. Thankfully, Brisbane's hotels accommodate every budget whilst also positioning you close to venues, bars, restaurants.
Fortitude Valley positions you closest to The Tivoli, with Sage Hotel delivering modern sophistication as well as easy access to the James Street's dining scene. For riverside views, Crystalbrook Vincent at Howard Smith Wharves combines Story Bridge views with popular restaurants along the riverside and Riverwalk access connecting you across The City when Open Season sends you between venues.
The City accommodates festival-goers seeking central positioning to all venues. W Brisbane brings bold contemporary style with rooftop bars and riverside location, whilst The Westin Brisbane focuses on recovery through their legendary Heavenly Beds; crucial when late nights and early queuing demand rest between shows. Pullman Brisbane King George Square positions you right in The City's heart with modern rooms and transport connections, Avani Queens Wharf Residence provides easy access to the Queens Wharf entertainment areas, and Hyatt Regency Brisbane delivers upscale accommodation in the heart of The City.
Both Novotel South Bank and the Emporium Hotel in South Bank keep you close to Queensland’s Performing Arts Centre(QPAC's) Glasshouse Theatre whilst also providing easy access to Fish Lane’s dining precinct, the South Bank parklands and West End.
Quality accommodation and location is accessible to everyone. Ibis Styles Brisbane provides modern rooms in The City enabling ease of access to all Open Season venues whilst keeping. InterContinental Brisbane offers premium accommodation at accessible rates and Park Regis North Quay delivers riverside accommodation.
Where to Eat & Drink
Festival mornings demand proper coffee, whether you're recovering from last night's late set or fuelling up before a big day of exploration. Lucky Duck in West End delivers specialty coffee and classic breakfast options, while So What Stereo combines excellent brews with vinyl shop browsing, creating morning rituals beyond caffeine consumption. Echo & Bounce in Woolloongabba has created their own niche, sitting in the sweet spot between record store and café, while Straits in Camp Hill offers killer coffee and breakfast options alongside vinyl records and killer tunes.
For more music-meets-coffee experiences, don’t miss out on West End haunt Café Disco, a design-savvy 40-seater in West End, blending Australian and Bangladeshi influences across their menu , with the added bonus of great music. If you’re on the hunt for something centrally located, Mulga Bills on the riverfront in The City offers a refined breakfast menu as well as one of the best views you’ll find in Brisbane.
Snug in Coorparoo has built reputation on coffee excellence and seasonal breakfast menus, Gramps in Red Hill offers up a quite, comfy vibe alongside a cosy menu, Morning After in West End handles post-gig recovery brunches with the kind of understanding that only neighbourhood cafés provide, Idle brings refined café culture to New Farm and Florence Café in Camp Hill is the ideal location to spend a few hours sipping on cold brew and sampling their unique breakfast menu and counter treats.
If you’re just looking to pop in-and-out with coffee and a snack, Brisbane has plenty of options, including Lune Croissanterie, NODO, GoodGood, Yolk and Superthing.
For more substantial meals, Central Restaurant in the heart of The City delivers contemporary Hong Kong-inspired dishes inside a multi-award winning space. New venue Aunty brings top tier modern Asian cuisine to Fortitude Valley, while local hot spot Biànca provides elegant Italian dining on James Street. Southside in South Brisbane positions you close to QPAC's Glasshouse Theatre and is perfect for those chasing east Asian dining with a sizable wine and cocktail list. Pizza lovers shouldn’t miss out on Brisbane’s best pizza locations, including Julius Pizza in Fish Lane and Little G in Woolloongabba, and for those chasing a good old fashion burger, there’s plenty of options, from Ben’s Burgers in Fortitude Valley to Dumbo in Hamilton, and heaps more. And, when you can’t decide on what variety of food to eat, head over to Howard Smith Wharves where killer views, one of Brisbane’s most know brewery and a great collection of restaurants and bars come together in one convenient location.
If you’re all set on food, and just trying to track down a glass or wine or a cocktail to sip on before the big gig, Brisbane has you sorted. QUIVR Bar in Winn Lane does double duty as an Open Season venue and perfect spot to grab a drink while checking out some of Brisbane’s best local DJs. Next door, wine and cocktail bar Dark Blue brings speakeasy vibes to the laneway, while just down the road, LOS (Land of Smiles) offers plenty of options for tequila lovers and signature cocktails in a minimal space.
Fountainhead Winehouse delivers natural wine goodness in Newstead, in an underground space that feels like stepping into a cosy living room, Le Royal in The City remains one of Brisbane best new bars and underground cocktail bar Shaman feels like stepping back in time to a 60’s speakeasy. If you’re just looking for a one stop shop that will cater to all your needs, look no further than The Gresham, one of The City’s oldest and highest regarded watering holes.
If wine and cocktails aren’t your thing, Brisbane also offers plenty of craft beer spots, from Frogs Hollow Saloon in The City and arcade bar Netherworld in Fortitude Valley, to Scratch Bar in Milton. Brisbane also hosts a wide mix of breweries too; Range Brewing, Green Beacon, Sea Legs, and Slipstream all have their own unique, but quintessentially Brisbane vibe.
Things To Do
Brisbane's subtropical winter creates conditions that are perfect for urban exploration before the show starts, and there’s plenty to see and do during Open Season.
Until July 12, the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is hosting the Australian exclusive exhibition of internationally acclaimed Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, drawing from over three decades of immersive work. Next door, at the State Library of Queensland, the brand new exhibition ‘Dearly Departed: death in life’ explores how social, cultural and political forces have shaped our attitudes to death and dying. Several other incredible exhibitions will be taking place throughout Open Season at galleries such as the Institute of Modern Art (IMA), the Museum of Brisbane (MoB), Onespace and Metro Arts - all worth your time.
If you’re keen on a bit of retail therapy while you’re in town, Brisbane hosts a wide range of options to suit everyone. In Paddington, you’ll find some of Brisbane’s best vintage fashion and second hand shops: Retro Metro and Barbarella's Vintage both house seriously curated vintage clothing spanning decades, while both The Vinyl Frontier and Empire Revival host mid-century furniture and homewares for those furnishing with intention rather than just filling space. Outside of Paddington, vintage shopping doesn’t stop; Memory Lane in The City, Vintage Street in Greenslopes, SWOP in Fortitude Valley and West End’s The Love Bubble (which was good enough for Billie Elish during her Brisbane tour) should all be on your to-do list.
For those seeking something a bit more adventurous during their Brisbane trip, The Story Bridge Adventure Climb puts you atop one of Brisbane's most iconic structures with 360-degree views, Riverlife Adventure Centre offers rock climbing, abseiling the Kangaroo Point cliffs and kayaking on the Brisbane River, and Mount Coot-Tha offers hiking trails and lookout views just 15 minutes from the The City.
Open Season also coincides with several other events taking place across Brisbane, so if your calendar isn’t totally maxed out, why not expand your trip and experience something new.
Escape The City
Brisbane's surrounds are as compelling as the city itself, and with Open Season running across eight weeks, there's plenty of time to slip away for a day or two and take in some of Brisbane’s most spectacular natural landscapes.
The Scenic Rim delivers World Heritage-listed rainforest, volcanic rim walks and some of the best farmgate produce in Queensland. The region's Eat Local Month runs concurrently with Open Season in 2026, making it the ideal time to pair a hike through Lamington National Park with a long lunch at one of the areas celebrated paddock-to-plate restaurants. Lamington National Park itself is one of Australia's great wilderness experiences, with ancient forests, cascading waterfalls and over 160km of walking tracks ranging from easy rainforest strolls to serious overnight circuits.
For those chasing serious elevation, Mount Barney is the standout. The twin-peaked summit sits on the Queensland border and offers up some of the best scenic views you’ll find anywhere in Australia.
Out on the water, Moreton Island/ Mulgumpin sits just a short ferry ride from Brisbane and packs in an enormous amount for a day trip or overnight stay. Tangalooma is the key anchor point, with snorkelling around shipwrecks, sandboarding the island's towering dunes and world renowned beaches that are perfect for soaking up the sun. The island also offers up 4WD tracks, freshwater lakes and isolated beaches that feel genuinely remote despite the proximity to the city.
Brisbane's winter window is short. Make the most of it this Open Season.
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