Behind the hoardings: here are Brisbane’s most anticipated openings of 2026

Pici Restaurant & Bar, New Farm: After a decade leading the kitchen at OTTO Brisbane, acclaimed chef Will Cowper is embarking on a new venture with the opening of Pici this September. Taking over the former Gerties Bar and Restaurant site on Brunswick Street in New Farm, the intimate neighbourhood Italian restaurant and bar will focus on handmade pasta, woodfire cooking and seasonal Queensland produce, reflecting a more personal and approachable style of dining. Will is partnering with his wife Gianna and local operators Andrew and Andrea Solomon to bring the concept to life, with Alkot Studio and Patricia Redmond Architects engaged to work on the restaurant’s interior and exterior look. Designed with warm timber, marble and burgundy tones, Pici will feature a 30-seat bar space, a 60-seat dining room, pasta-heavy menus centred around signature pici, woodfire-grilled seafood and meats, and a straightforward drinks list of classic cocktails and accessible Italian wines. Be sure to read our full scoop here.

Alfi Eatery & Bar, Everton Park: Ghanem Group is also heading north this year, with plans to open Alfi Eatery & Bar at Everton Plaza in mid-2026, marking a significant suburban expansion for the group. Designed as a large-format, Mediterranean-leaning concept for families and long, leisurely gatherings, the 800-sqm venue will be Everton Plaza’s largest food-and-beverage offering, featuring a light-filled 350-seat restaurant centred around an open kitchen and sweeping U-shaped bar, plus a 200-seat greenery-framed courtyard with dual access from South Pine Road and Stafford Road. Inspired by the Amalfi Coast, interiors will showcase natural timbers, Italian stone, curved forms and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, complemented by an Italian-inspired menu and robust drinks list. Read more about it here.

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Tino, Fortitude Valley: Accomplished restaurateur Mark Rotolone is expanding the Mosconi story with Tino, a soon-to-open all-day eatery and bar that’s taking shape next door in the former home of King Arthur Cafe. According to Mark, Tino isn’t a radical departure but a natural evolution of Mosconi – translating the restaurant’s concise, produce-driven ethos into a European-leaning breakfast and coffee spot that will gradually grow into afternoons and evenings. Designed by architect George Kouparitsas and By Burke Design’s Meredith Burke, the intimate 60-sqm venue (housed inside a heritage WWII-era hangar) will feature a darker, timber-rich palette, an open kitchen, a long bar, outdoor seating and a mezzanine-level private-dining space shared with Mosconi. With Mosconi chef Catherine Anders shaping a menu inspired by Italy, France, Spain and modern Australia, alongside a fluid wine list and a distinctly local feel, Tino is set to become a neighbourhood anchor – less fussy, more relaxed and perfectly in step with Rotolone’s thoughtful, slow-burn style of hospitality. Tino is targeting late-June or early-July opening date – read all about it here.

Neighbour by Range, Newstead
Range Brewing is set to expand its growing portfolio of neighbourhood venues this August with the opening of Neighbour by Range at Gasworks Plaza in Newstead, transforming the former Botany site into a polished, community-focused bar inspired by the success of Patio and Rays. Designed in collaboration with Soma & Sol’s Kate McLean, the venue will pair a warm, suburban-inspired aesthetic with retro touches, an elevated food offering centred on Patio favourites (including the much-loved parmi), Range’s acclaimed beers, signature cocktails and an expanded wine list. While Neighbour shares the group’s vision of creating relaxed ‘third spaces’ where locals can gather for everything from casual drinks to special occasions, it will carve out its own bold identity, reinforcing Range Brewing’s strategy of building welcoming hospitality hubs that strengthen community connections beyond the brewery itself. Want to get up to speed? Click here.

PALMA, Woolloongabba: The Talisman Group, the team behind Sasso Italiano and South City Wine, is entering the cafe space with PALMA, a bright all-day eatery set to open in February at South City Square in Woolloongabba. Located at the base of the Hillyard House tower, PALMA will feature a light-filled, laneway-style setting with retractable walls offering sweeping views over the Secret Garden, creating a relaxed, open-air atmosphere. Open daily from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm, the venue will serve acai bowls, croissants and brunch favourites in the morning, followed by burgers, sandwiches, salads and pasta for lunch, alongside St Remio coffee and a curated selection of beer and wine. Get more info here.

Norman Northside, Enoggera: Northsiders, get ready – Brisbane’s iconic Norman Hotel is heading your way. Norman Northside – a striking three-storey Spanish-inspired pub – is now officially under construction at the corner of Wardell Street and Samford Road. Set to open in late 2026, the Enoggera newcomer will offer everything fans love about the Woolloongabba original, from premium flame-kissed steaks and in-house butchers to the legendary 1-kg challenge. While beef remains the undisputed star of the show, the menu will also feature a refined line-up of pub classics and non-steak favourites, complemented by local craft brews, a sharp cocktail list and a wine program that’s heavy on bold Australian reds. The 400-seat venue will house multiple private-dining rooms and a rooftop beer garden built for long, lazy afternoons. Norman Northside will continue the sense of community that has defined the steak-slinging institution since 1889 – offering space for cooking classes, casual catch-ups and milestone celebrations. With doors set to open in late 2026, the countdown is on for Enoggera’s newest neighbourhood pub.

Haigh’s Chocolates, various locations: For years, Brisbane’s sweet-toothed have admired Haigh’s Chocolates from afar, relying on online orders or interstate visits to sample its handcrafted confections – but 2026 will mark a long-awaited homecoming. The family-owned chocolatier has announced a major Queensland expansion, with three Brisbane stores set to open this year, beginning with its debut at Westfield Mt Gravatt Shopping Centre in August, followed by locations in Chermside and Carindale before year’s end. Each boutique will brim with the full range of Haigh’s beloved treats – from Chocolate Speckles and Frogs to Scorched Almonds, Pastilles and delicate truffles. The move forms part of a broader growth strategy underpinned by a new large-scale production facility in South Australia, boosting capacity and enabling expansion to 26 stores nationwide, alongside a local hiring push of 75 staff. Click here for the full rundown.

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