CBD
Australia
Cafés in Brisbane espresso by the river
Espresso in the Charlotte Street laneways, roasters on Montague Road in West End and flat whites in Teneriffe's old wool stores.
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Photo: Valeriia Miller, Pexels License
770Cafés listed
67Open by 6am
6Open past 10pm
28Specialty & roasters
Brisbane's espresso story begins on Queen Street, where the Merlo family imported Queensland's first espresso machine, probably a San Marco, for their Milano restaurant.1 Recognition from abroad came much later. Coffee Anthology on Charlotte Street placed eighth in The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops in 2025 and 29th in the 2026 edition, which combines public votes with an expert panel's scores.2 In November 2025 Time Out put Montague Road in West End sixth on its list of the world's coolest streets, the highest of any in Australia.3
The day starts early, and the clocks never move. Queensland does not observe daylight saving, and its voters turned it down at a 1992 referendum with a 54.5% no vote.4 In early December the sun is up at about 04:45.5 Nearly nine in ten cafés open by 07:00 on weekdays, and El Cafe on Commercial Road in Newstead unlocks at 04:00 from Monday to Saturday. By 15:00, two in three have stopped serving.
Outdoor tables suit the weather for most of the year. Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate, with summer highs of about 30 °C and winter days of 22–23 °C, and thunderstorms are common from November to March.6 February is the wettest month, with about 182 mm of rain on average, and July the driest, with about 30 mm.6
Pick a suburb on the river
Brisbane by area
A flat white costs less in some of these suburbs than in others: in October 2026 a small one averaged A$4.71 in East Brisbane, the second-cheapest suburb in the city, and A$5.54 in Teneriffe, the second-dearest.7
CBD
Laneway espresso off Charlotte and Elizabeth Streets, 05:00 starts and quiet weekends.
161 cafés
Newstead & Teneriffe
Wool store streets, Gasworks Plaza and roaster flagships on Longland and Austin Streets.
42 cafés
Fortitude Valley
Merlo's McLachlan Street roasting house, cafés around James Street and the Chinatown and Brunswick Street malls.
59 cafés
New Farm
Merthyr Road bakeries, a 24-hour café on Brunswick Street and jacarandas in New Farm Park.
29 cafés
South Brisbane & South Bank
Coffee at GOMA and the State Library, Fish Lane's murals and the South Bank lagoon.
51 cafés
West End & Highgate Hill
Montague Road roasters, the Boundary Street shops and Saturday markets at Davies Park.
54 cafés
Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
Roasters in East Brisbane, the Gabba, the Princess Theatre and Logan Road at Stones Corner.
60 cafés
Or start with what you need
Browse by mood and hour
Specialty coffee
Montague Road roasteries, Blackstar's first store on Thomas Street and early bars on Edward Street.
28 cafés
Outdoor seating
Footpath tables on Boundary and Oxford Streets, back-lane courtyards and a dry, sunny winter.
138 cafés
Open by 6am
Espresso from 04:00 in Newstead and 05:00 in West End, with most done by mid-afternoon.
67 cafés
Brunch
Windsor Road cafés, a A$21 bao Benedict in West End and why Sunday brunch costs more.
12 cafés
Vegetarian options
A vegan deli in Windsor, plant-based brunch on Brunswick Street and roaster cafés with vegan dishes.
52 cafésNew in Brisbane
Recently opened and recently added
Bardon & Ashgrove
Bancroft Roasters, Bardon
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Card payment
- Smoke-free indoors
- Pet-friendly
- Specialty
Bardon & Ashgrove
Bardon Thyme
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Card payment
- Vegetarian options
- Partial wheelchair access
- Toilets
- Smoke-free indoors
- Pet-friendly
- Open by 6am
Windsor & Wilston
Bear Boy Espresso
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Open by 6am
- Specialty
Coorparoo & Norman Park
Blue Poppy
South Brisbane & South Bank
Coffee at the Kombi
CBD 161 cafés
Kangaroo Point 6 cafés
Cafe Dockside
Gustave Citroen Cafe
Kelvin Grove & Herston 19 cafés
Mean Beanz Espresso
The Boys House of Coffee
- Outdoor seating
- Air-con
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
Spring Hill 14 cafés
Newstead & Teneriffe 42 cafés
Fortitude Valley 59 cafés
New Farm 29 cafés
Death Before Decaf
- 24 hours
- Open by 6am
- Specialty
Idle
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Open by 6am
All 29 cafés in New Farm
See the full listSt Lucia 12 cafés
Lakeside Cafe
- Wi-Fi
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
- Smoke-free indoors
Pop-Up by Patina
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Wheelchair access
South Brisbane & South Bank 51 cafés
More about cafés in South Brisbane & South Bank
Coffee at the Kombi
Espresso Garage
All 51 cafés in South Brisbane & South Bank
See the full listWest End & Highgate Hill 54 cafés
More about cafés in West End & Highgate Hill
Alphabet
- Wi-Fi
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
- Smoke-free indoors
Ash+Monties Espresso Bar
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Indoor seating
- Open by 6am
- Specialty
All 54 cafés in West End & Highgate Hill
See the full listWoolloongabba & East Brisbane 60 cafés
More about cafés in Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
Abrisca Coffee Roasters
Fables
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
All 60 cafés in Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
See the full listCoorparoo & Norman Park 21 cafés
Ashton & Old
Blue Poppy
Bulimba & Hawthorne 31 cafés
Fiddle Leaf
Hawthorne Garage
Albion & Hamilton 34 cafés
Grumpy Cat Cafe
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
Joseph Hates Coffee
Windsor & Wilston 38 cafés
Attitude Espresso
- Vegetarian options
- Smoke-free indoors
- Open by 6am
Bear Boy Espresso
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Open by 6am
- Specialty
Paddington & Red Hill 40 cafés
Gramps Cafe
- Outdoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Smoke-free indoors
- Brunch
Little Red Providore
Bardon & Ashgrove 18 cafés
Bancroft Roasters, Bardon
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Card payment
- Smoke-free indoors
- Pet-friendly
- Specialty
Bardon Thyme
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Card payment
- Vegetarian options
- Partial wheelchair access
- Toilets
- Smoke-free indoors
- Pet-friendly
- Open by 6am
Milton & Toowong 74 cafés
Bessa Coffee
Forages
- Outdoor seating
- Air-con
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
- Smoke-free indoors
Alderley & Enoggera 7 cafés
Priorities
CRAE Cafe
Showing up to 6 cafés per area. Each area page has the full list.
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Coffee chains in Brisbane
Branches by area
Chain
The Coffee Club
Show 17 locations
- Albion & Hamilton 1
- Bulimba & Hawthorne 1
- CBD 5
- Fortitude Valley 1
- Milton & Toowong 4
- Paddington & Red Hill 1
- South Brisbane & South Bank 1
- West End & Highgate Hill 1
- Windsor & Wilston 1
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane 1
Chain
Merlo Coffee
Show 9 locations
- CBD
- Merlo Coffee QUT
- 270 Ann Street
- 344 Queen St
- Coorparoo & Norman Park
- 19 Harries RoadMon–Fri 05:30–17:00 · Sat–Sun 06:00–17:00
- Fortitude Valley
- Merlo - Fortitude Valley Torrefazione, 104 McLachlan StreetMon–Fri 06:00–17:00 · Sat 06:30–17:00 · Sun 07:30–17:00
- Milton & Toowong
- K4/9 Sherwood RdMon–Wed 07:00–17:30 · Thu 07:00–21:00 · Fri 07:00–17:30 · Sat 07:00–17:00 · Sun 09:00–17:00
- Newstead & Teneriffe
- 10 Thompson StreetMon–Fri 05:30–16:00 · Sat–Sun 06:00–16:00
- Paddington & Red Hill
- Merlo Coffee Paddington Torrefazione, 78 Latrobe TerraceMon–Fri 06:00–17:00 · Sat–Sun 06:30–17:00
- St Lucia
- Campbell RoadMon–Fri 07:00–18:00 · Sat 07:00–15:00
Chain
Starbucks
Show 7 locations
- CBD
- 108 Albert Street
- 288 Edward St
- 91 Queen St
- Fortitude Valley
- Valley Centre Plaza, 230 Brunswick St
- Milton & Toowong
- Starbucks South Brisbane, 39 Melbourne St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
- South Brisbane & South Bank
- Starbucks Grey Street (South Bank), 167 Grey St
- 39 Melbourne StreetMon–Fri 06:30–19:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–19:00
Chain
Coffee Mentality
Show 4 locations
- South Brisbane & South Bank
- 44 Montague RoadMon–Fri 06:00–14:00 · Sat 06:00–12:00
- West End & Highgate Hill
- West End & Highgate Hill
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
- 45 Balaclava Street
- 915 Stanley Street EastMon–Fri 06:00–14:00 · Sat 07:00–12:00
Chain
Fortitude Coffee Roasters
Show 4 locations
- Bardon & Ashgrove
- 109 Ashgrove Ave
- Kelvin Grove & Herston
- 110 Kelvin Grove Road
- Windsor & Wilston
- 65 McLennan StreetMon–Fri 06:00–13:00 · Sat 07:00–12:00
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
- 65 Manilla Street
Chain
Gloria Jean's Coffees
Show 4 locations
- Fortitude Valley
- McWhirters Urban MarketsBrunswick Street Mall, 17
- Milton & Toowong
- Gloria Jeans, 26-30 Sherwood Rd.
- Windsor & Wilston
- Newmarket Shopping Centre400 Newmarket Road, R1 (5)
- Windsor Homezone Newmarket Road, 110
Chain
Hudsons Coffee
Show 4 locations
- CBD
- 201 Charlotte St
- 345 Queen St
- Brisbane Private Hospital, 259 Wickham Ter
- South Brisbane & South Bank
- 5 Stanley Street
Chain
Jamaica Blue
Show 4 locations
Chain
Muffin Break
Show 4 locations
- CBD
- CBD
- Muffin Break Brisbane Central Station, 1b/192 Ann Street
- Fortitude Valley
- 230 Brunswick St
- Milton & Toowong
- Muffin Break Indooroopilly, Level 3/322 Moggill Rd
Chain
Bellissimo Coffee
- Bulimba & Hawthorne
- 33 Oxford Street
- Coorparoo & Norman Park
- 12 Cavendish Rd
- Fortitude Valley
- 30 Wandoo StreetDaily 06:00–18:00
Chain
Shingle Inn
- CBD
- 255 Queen St
- Shingle Inn City Hall, 64 Adelaide St
- Milton & Toowong
- 322 Moggill Rd
Chain
Stellarossa
- CBD
- 1/1 Eagle St
- Albert Ln, 141 Queen St
- Milton & Toowong
- Stellarossa Toowong, 9 Sherwood Rd
Chain
Cafe 63
- Newstead & Teneriffe
- Cafe63 - Homemaker Centre South Fortitude Valley, 1058 Ann St
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
- Cafe 63 East Brisbane, 1020 Stanley Street East
Chain
Coffee Booth
Chain
Foster & Black
Chain
Industry Beans
- CBD
- Industry Beans Adelaide St., Shop 6/243 Edward St
- Newstead & Teneriffe
- Industry Beans Newstead, 18 Proe StreetDaily 07:30–14:30
Chain
Coffee Hit
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
- Coffee Hit Garden City, 249 Logan Rd
Chain
Illy Caffè
Chain
Pablo & Rusty's
- CBD
- 200 Mary St
Chain
Zarraffa's Coffee
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
- Woolloongabba & East Brisbane
Chain
Zouki
- Kangaroo Point
- Lillians By Zouki, 411 Main St
Before you sit down
Ordering, paying and tipping in Brisbane
Brisbane pays slightly more than the national average. In October 2026 a small flat white averaged A$5.15 in the city, a regular A$5.26 and a large A$6.37, and most cafés charged between A$4.50 and A$5.90; oat, soy or almond milk added about 83 cents.7 Across Queensland the average cup rose 7.81% in a year to A$5.17, the steepest increase of any state in the Daily Brew Report 2026.8
Card payments carry no extra fee since 1 October 2026, when surcharging on Visa, Mastercard and eftpos cards ended and American Express, JCB and UnionPay followed suit.9 Public holiday surcharges remain. Queensland marks the King's Birthday in October, and for the holiday on 5 October 2026 Broadsheet's Brisbane list showed 15% at Idle, Morning After and Yolk, 17.5% at Bellissimo's three cafés and 20% at Bunker Coffee.10
Tipping remains the exception. Australia's tipping culture has been slow to change, which a University of New South Wales professor ties to the expectation that staff earn at least the minimum wage.11 A few venues now add an automatic service charge, which consumer law allows only if customers are told beforehand and can opt out.11
Moving between suburbs is cheap. Every Translink service, Brisbane's city ferries included, has charged a flat 50 cents since 5 August 2024.1213 The CityCat runs along the river between UQ St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton, calling at 19 wharves that include South Bank, New Farm Park and Teneriffe.14 Weekends need a plan in the CBD, where about seven in ten cafés close on both Saturday and Sunday; citywide, nearly two in five take Sunday off.
What coffee costs in Brisbane
| Drink | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Flat white, small Espresso with steamed milk, smallest size | A$4.50–5.90 Most Brisbane cafés, October 2026 |
| Flat white, regular Middle size, city average | A$5.26 Brisbane average, October 2026 |
| Flat white, large Largest size, city average | A$6.37 Brisbane average, October 2026 |
| Plant milk Oat, soy or almond instead of dairy | +A$0.83 Brisbane average surcharge, October 2026 |
| Cup of coffee Average across all app orders | A$5.17 Queensland, 2026 |
Prices as of 2026. The flat white and plant-milk figures are Small Flat White's Brisbane averages from 924 priced cafés, updated 25 October 2026.7 The Queensland average is from the Daily Brew Report 2026 by Hey You and Westpac DataX, as reported by Time Out in August 2026.8
Sources
- Merlo: Aussie for coffee, This Magnificent Life (Liz Bond, April 18, 2016), accessed October 2026
- Seven Australian cafés made the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list for 2026, Time Out Australia (Melissa Woodley, February 17, 2026), accessed October 2026
- Australia is home to the world's 6th coolest street for 2025, Time Out Australia (Melissa Woodley, November 19, 2025), accessed October 2026
- Daylight saving time in Australia, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
- Sunrise and sunset times in Brisbane, December 2026, sunrise-sunset.org, accessed October 2026
- Climate of Brisbane, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
- Coffee Prices in Brisbane, Queensland, Small Flat White (updated October 25, 2026), accessed October 2026
- Average coffee price Australia 2026: Cost hike finally slowing, Time Out Australia (August 25, 2026), accessed October 2026
- Card surcharging is ending soon. Here's what merchants need to know before October 1, CommBank Newsroom (August 31, 2026), accessed October 2026
- What's Open in Brisbane on the King's Birthday, Broadsheet Brisbane (updated October 2, 2026), accessed October 2026
- Automatic tipping becomes prominent due to rising cost of doing business in Australia, ABC News (Phoebe Pin, December 21, 2025), accessed October 2026
- Commuters set to save $150 million thanks to 50 cent fares, Queensland Government media statement (August 5, 2024), accessed October 2026
- Current fares, Translink, accessed October 2026
- RiverCity Ferries, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
More to read
Guides
Coffee travel
Bringing coffee home: customs, carry-on and freshness
Roasted vs green coffee at US, EU, UK, Australian, NZ and Japanese customs, carry-on powder rules, roast dates, and what to buy in Vietnam or Ethiopia.
Coffee travelCafé opening hours around the world
When cafés open and close: 06:00 coffee in Vietnam, Italian bars shut by 20:00, Melbourne cafés done by 15:00, Sundays in Berlin, Ramadan in Dubai.
How to orderEspresso drinks from ristretto to café bombón
What each espresso drink really is: ristretto and lungo, americano vs long black, three macchiatos, cortado, gibraltar, piccolo, flat white and bombón.
FAQ
Cafés in Brisbane: common questions
How much does a flat white cost in Brisbane?
In October 2026 a small flat white averaged A$5.15 in Brisbane, a regular A$5.26 and a large A$6.37, with most cafés charging A$4.50–5.90. Oat, soy or almond milk adds about 83 cents. Suburb averages ran from A$4.71 in East Brisbane to A$5.54 in Teneriffe. Since 1 October 2026 cafés may not add a surcharge for card payments.
Which area of Brisbane has the most cafés?
CBD and Milton & Toowong have the most cafés, followed by Woolloongabba & East Brisbane. Most CBD cafés keep office hours and stay shut at weekends, while West End's open on Saturdays almost without exception. Newstead & Teneriffe, West End and the CBD have the most cafés open by 06:00.
What time do cafés open and close in Brisbane?
Early. Nearly nine in ten Brisbane cafés open by 07:00 on weekdays, and El Cafe on Commercial Road in Newstead opens at 04:00 from Monday to Saturday. Two in three stop serving by 15:00. Queensland has no daylight saving, so in early December the sun rises at about 04:45. Most CBD cafés close at weekends.
Do you tip at cafés in Brisbane?
Tipping remains the exception at Brisbane cafés, a habit an Australian academic links to the expectation that staff earn at least the minimum wage. Some venues add an automatic service charge, which is allowed only if you are told beforehand and can opt out. Public holiday surcharges of 15–20% are common, while card surcharges ended on 1 October 2026.
Which Brisbane café ranks among the world's best coffee shops?
Coffee Anthology at 155 Charlotte Street in the CBD placed eighth in The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops in 2025 and 29th in 2026. The ranking combines public votes with scores from an expert panel of 800 judges. Montague Road in West End, where Veneziano roasts on site, was named the world's sixth coolest street by Time Out in 2025.
For café owners
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