I had the best experience at the launch party at Chester Bakery and Bar. I really like the concept…read moreof bakery by day and bar by night. They were showing off a few items on their menu and gorgeous cocktail creations. My favorite was the rum punch. It is refreshing and before you know it, you need a refill. The food was incredible. Wagyu beef sliders with guacamole. Yes! I also loved the croquettes they were serving. For desert, the brought out brownies bites and strawberry tarts. I could have had a whole tray of strawberry tarts. The staff were SO nice!!! Even with so much going on and trying to keep up with the demands, the made sure you had a drink in your hand and you were having a great time. This made a great impression on me. I haven't been to the area so that made it even more appealing to come back. If this is just the preview of what kind of food and drink Chester B&B will serve, I will definitely be making the trek back real soon and bringing my friends!

It seems almost wrong 'updating my previous review' for Chester Street because the difference…read morebetween the same venue post-renovation and reformulation is vast. Seemingly as soon as they store opened under the hands of Damien Griffith, it shut for a little face-lift. While locals have been enjoying the fruits of a pop-up bakery while the renos were underway, the curtains were finally lifted this week in a series of test kitchen dinners and finally the grand re-opening on Friday. I was fortunate enough to attend one of the test kitchens (as a guest of the venue), and being on a table with other food bloggers meant we were able to sample almost 80% of the menu. From bar bites including a wagyu burger (my favourite), braised leek & bacon croquettes, fresh gravlax, creamy hummus with spiced lamb (which could have come with more than one slice of bread given the ample serving of hummus - it easily fed 6 of us), and a duck and mushroom pie (for the price, myself and others on the night agreed it could come with more of a ploughman's plate arrangement. The duck was moist and the side of pear chutney complimented it well). There's mains like the grilled barramundi (not amazing and a little dry in parts) or the lamb (this was the hero dish from everyone at the table). And, if there was still any room left there's a range of desserts by Jocelyn Hancock including my personal favourite the chocolate and almond cake with espresso creme fraiche. There's also a passionfruit tart, deconstructed eton mess and citrus cake. The space is beautifully simple with white subway tiles leaving way for the main attraction; the wood fired oven. Bakery by day, bar by night, this concept as are many born from Damien Griffith, is an ambitious one. But, if there's anyone in Brisbane to make it work it's this guy. It's novel to think that the same spot that can provide you a fresh loaf of ciabatta or sourdough at 7am can be feeding you delicious meals (either constructing a meal from the bar bites and sharing amongst a group or taking advantage of a main to yourself) and cocktails (try the Aperol Peach Spritz for a Summer refresher) at 7pm in the same day. I think this venue's versatility, location just a hop, skip and jump from James Street and combination of accessible fuss-free food with a focus on premium ingredients gives it an edge as the new "hot spot" in the area.

BarBoo Gelato is a small dessert bar in Market Square Shopping Centre in Sunnybank that specialises…read morein gelato, crepes and coffee (or so the sign says, I've only ever been there for the gelato). You can enjoy gelato in a cup or cone, as well as crepes (sweet and savory), sundaes and shakes. Definitely try the Asian flavours like Black Sesame and Green Tea gelato. They are so good! The gelato on display is often shaped into cute shapes like dogs. Not really sure why, but it's fun. They are open until late, as are most eateries in Market Square, until 10pm most nights and 11:20pm on Friday and Saturday.

Pretty sure this place is like the little shop in the corner. It has gelato and sorbet, and sweet…read moreand savoury crepes. I got two different crepes for my mum and friend and they came out in a thin crispy, folded up cardboard cone that you can hold while you eat it. The food was pretty good especially because they used real Nutella and bananas and strawberries in their crepes. The whole dessert was biodegradable which makes the whole meal much better. Loved the meal and and it was pretty good. Might have to go back and try some of the savoury meals (and enjoy the sorbet afterwards too!).

Goodness gracious me. How has my caffeinated self popped into this Ashgrove cafe so many times yet…read morenot written a review? Let's remedy that. Macchiato Me opened earlier this year in a strip of shops that sit on Wardell Street and, to me, mark the start of Ashgrove proper as you leave Enoggera. It's not the easiest to get into and the turn off Wardell Street into the small parking bays at the front of the cafe is a tight one. Better to park in surrounding streets. And yet throughout the day the cafe is filled with local Defence workers, Mums, take-away pop-ins like myself and more. It's a cafe for sitting outside in the sun as you sip your coffee and enjoy a sweet treat that the cafe sells (I believe they come from the cake shop next door) for morning or afternoon tea. They've just started selling pre-made Turkish bread sandwiches but the sweets still reign supreme here. Complimenting the Dramanti beans on offer, you can also purchase your home brewing equipment like Hario V60s or Chemex brewers. Drink wise there's plenty for non-coffee drinkers too including an Oreo thickshake. Are you game?

Pretty good coffee. Really clean cafe. I've stopped here for coffee a couple times and it's pretty…read moreconsistent. Really lovely staff.

Best little coffee shop you could find. Every time we arrive…read morein Brisbane we head here! Great coffee,great food and one of the nicest owners there could be.

Seriously how could you miss Sugar'n'Spice. This is a great…read morelittle establishment- Tea Shop and Coffee with obligatory sweets and pastries. It's in a small shop in the old Titles Office Building next to Anzac Square, fronting Adelaide St. Walk in and order - it's takeaway at the moment with social distancing restriction but hopefully that won't last. Wide range of teas and coffee - love the Rooibos tea. The Macarons are just right as an accompaniment. Definitely support this local business.

I have been fortunate to visit John Mills in the day for a coffee, and in the evening for a…read morecocktail. Day trip: John Mills is a bit unassuming. You have to really KNOW about it to be able to find it. There's a tiny sign off Charlotte street and you have to navigate through a building with a Koala rescue organization (and pass a giant koala) in order to find it. OR, attempt to find it off Elizabeth street. I ordered my coffee, service was good and fast, and coffee was tasty. The space isn't massive, and at the time I went there were no free bar stools, so I had my coffee to go. The cafe also sells coffee in bags so you can brew at home. Night trip: I just had to see if the cocktails matched the goodness of the coffee, and it did. My first cocktail was the Bees Knees, and it speaks for itself! It's a gin cocktail that is a bit sweet, really tasty, and has a honeycomb as garnish- what!?!?!?! My second cocktail was the Va Va Gina (Rinehart) and had vodka, lemon curd and lemon juice- also VERY good. The cocktail artist was also very attentive and always checked in on my friend and me. To sum it all up-GO HERE! You'll be glad you did!

Quaint. The coffee shop and bar are well out of sight from…read morethe streets on either side of the passage that connects them. Disability access is from the Elizabeth St side. Look for the sign boards to guide. You go here as the coffee is good and it has a pleasant vibe in a secluded spot. They have been here for a long while so doing something right. Worth exploring.

This cafe is open always. With limited seating, this is more a place for takeaway coffees. There's…read morea long couch, a few stray seats and milk crates outside. Mind you, the leather couch was low, soft and comfy. The decor features framed vinyl, artwork and various skate decks from different hardcore, metal and punk bands i.e. Amity, This is Hell, etc. I feel like this place should feature gig posters promoting the hardcore scene. I'm sure there'll be more over time. There's a few alternative music magazines on a table for reading. As a fan of hardcore music, I like this place a lot down to the graffitied walls and pin-up art. The music is loud and heavy and I like it. I can imagine a few people would complain. Not the place to come for a meaningful conversation or to write your novel. No food yet, but there's plans to get a small range of muffins to munch on along with your coffee. Coffee is currently $4 for a large. We visited around 10.30pm at night. It's popular among the police and ambos at this time of the night. I imagine during the day it's more popular for those "in the scene". Not the best coffee in the world, but nicer than any other options at that time of the night. Plus, it's a good place to wake up if you're wanting to pull an all-nighter!

Does Brisbane need another coffee shop? Well hell yes! If you answered no to that question, please…read moreleave immediately and go sip your lemon and peppermint tea elsewhere. Death Before Decaf is the latest addition, located on Brunswick Street New Farm, open for about 1 week. The name describes how I feel and react when I hear people order "Decaf". Seriously? It's like ordering chocolate, and asking don't add the chocolate. Death Before Decaf is the kind of place Brisbane needs, because its open 24/7, and we don't too have many places, if any, open for the long haul to service the needs of an ever demanding caffeine addicted public. The décor is edgy, with a twist of tattoo, punk, metal, street, and some cool graffiti-esque artwork on the wall. The vinyl, posters of hardcore metal, skateboards adorning the wall, all add to their rockstar feel. The comfortable leather couch and deer head on the wall seems out of place and more at home at a venue like Alfred & Constance, but I like the over-all aesthetics of the place. They serve Bellissimo Coffee (The Ultimo), which I actually drink at home too, so I do like the coffee. Due to the limited seating available, this place works well for take-away coffees, and at $3.50 for a small sized cup, is well worth it. Hardcore heavy-metal music isn't my thing, but I'm still a fan of Death Before Decaf. Good news is that Snacks will make their way to the Death Before Decaf counter in the coming months, so looking forward to that!

I was in a hurry to get my massage and saw Chatime for the first time in Toowong Village. With the…read moreattractive bright pink neon sign and the cool digital display screens that I thought were posters on the sides of their cubicle... I thought, now here's a trendy little bubble tea place... and I love me some bubble tea. I usually get my lychee green tea with pearls but I thought I would try the Macha Latte... a mixture of green tea and milk latte somehow the milk and the green tea part look separate in the cup so you end up walking around with a super cool looking drink. They even ask you the amount of sugar you want in your drink and you can get creme brulee in your drink as well instead of pearls... or both if you're feeling adventurous. I know I know... it sounds weird, but trust me when I say... it is quite the taste sensation that works really well! You'll pay the standard $4-$5 for your drink including jelly or pearls or nothing and the sizes are pretty good too. They even ask you if you want ice in your bubble tea. Very friendly staff mixed with interesting looking combinations for your tea drinking delight... this is an international Taiwanese chain starting out in Australia. I think it's got a fair bit of competition but I also think it may do pretty damn well.

Anyone who loves bubble tea will be well aware of the Easyways and other chain stores around. While…read moreI do love an Easyway, Chai Time in Toowong Shopping Village has its own unique range of teas that are absolutely to die for. The first time I tried their Pink Grapefruit Green tea I was in love. It was the perfect blend of sweetness with a flavour that makes my mouth water even as I talk of it now. The staff are always friendly and the service is quick. I must admit that I have craved their tea to the point that I have made special trips to Toowong just for a cup of it. I highly recommend you try some. In fact, I think I might go and get some right now...

Excellent coffee and friendly staff. The best coffee in Brisbane. They had plenty of dairy free…read moreoptions.

The Short: Great place to get a morning coffee on the way from the train station…read more The Long: Well, there isn't really a long version of this review as I traditionally write. I dropped by this place after being invited by a colleague for a coffee break. I was impressed with the coffee served. I got a large Cappuccino for $4. It was well-extracted and served ready to drink. These guys have a limited food menu as well so you can pick up a Toastie and Coffee for $7.