Brisbane’s best local business winners of 2021 revealed
From where to eat incredible pancakes to the best salon to have your nails done and barber to cut your hair, this is ultimate list of the Best of Brisbane winners for the year – voted by you.
Best of Brisbane
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From where to eat the best Eggs Benny to the best salon to have your hair done and Brisbane’s best bar, this is the ultimate list of the winners from our Best of Brisbane series this year – voted by you.
BEST BARBER
Bare Bones Barber Shop
602 Wynnum Rd, Morningside
The guys at Bare Bones want their customers to feel like they’ve walked into a friend’s garage, with the space decked out in punk-rock decor and embellished in 1950s’ icons and skate decks. It’s within this retro setting where the magic happens, with a team of top snippers crafting fresh cuts that are designed to make a statement.
BEST COOKIES
Little Sprinkle Co.
Little Sprinkle Co has been voted No.1 for its unique cookies owner Stephanie Ison describes as “cute, bright, fun, punny or rude”. The business’s vanilla cookie has become its signature, ordered by customers all over Australia.
BEST FLORIST
New England Flower Co.
15 Louise St, Kenmore
This florist in Brisbane’s southwest has being named the best in Brisbane after becoming a favourite for weddings. The team create traditional and avant-garde designs, including their signature asymmetric bridal bouquets.
BEST CAFE
Petrichor & Co
1/33 Racecourse Road, Corner Allen Street & Racecourse Road, Hamilton
After being voted best cafe in Brisbane’s northwest and northside last year, this Hamilton eatery has taken out the crown for best in the entire River City.
The all-day brunch venue specialises in Latin American fare including empanadas, huevos rancheros and their signature arepa; all matched by top notch coffee and warm service.
BEST PIE
Yatala Pies
48 Old Pacific Hwy, Yatala
It’s been turning out pies for more than 130 years and this icon of Queensland’s culinary scene continues to be the favourite with locals.
Pulling off the Pacific Motorway for a visit, customers can choose from more than a dozen savoury pies, including their quirky chicken parmigiana and lamb coconut curry versions, plus a variety of rolls and triangles, sweet pies, tarts and slices.
BEST PIZZA
Beccofino
10 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe
After close to two decades, this humble-looking Brisbane institution still continues to pump out arguably Brisbane’s best pizza. The base is fermented and rested for 48 hours before being topped with classic Italian ingredients – say, pork sausage and pecorino, or salami and mushrooms – before a blasting in their wood-fired oven delivering a result that’s perfectly in between a Napoli and Roman pizza.
BEST DOG GROOMER
La Casa de Pooch
350 Newman Rd, Geebung
James Bennett and his friendly team at this north Brisbane pet salon are experts when it comes to all things grooming for your pooch. They offer everything from hydrobaths to ear cleaning, and specialise in hand scissoring, breed specific grooming, Asian fusion/teddy grooming, hand stripping and de-shedding.
BEST BRUNCH
Vic’s Place Cafe
262 Junction Rd, Clayfield
This family-run cafe blends familiar breakfast fare with Middle Eastern street food to create a unique twist on brunch. Dishes range from Turkish eggs to shakshuka; alongside their signature ka’ak sandwiches served on breads handmade and baked in-house daily.
BEST BAKERY
Flour & Chocolate
4/621 Wynnum Rd, Morningside, 78 Old Toombul Rd, Northgate and 77 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe
Such is the popularity of this Brisbane bakery, they’ve opened two more outlets in the past two years to cope with the regular crowds.
They offer everything from artisan breads and specialty sourdoughs to a huge range of sweets, including doughnuts, brownies, vanilla slices and their stunning cupcakes and layered cakes that light up Instagram.
BEST CHILDCARE EDUCATOR
Greer Casey
Wagner Road Early Childhood Centre and Kindergarten, Clayfield
A veteran in the field, Greer Casey has had a 20-year career in early childhood education.
She is passionate about educating children and giving them the best start in life.
“It’s a privilege to be able to work with young children to support them, their wellbeing, and their learning at this special time in their lives, before the beginning of their formal schooling,” she said.
BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT
Curryville, Morningside
6/629 Wynnum Rd, Morningside
With a passion to serve the freshest and best curries Brisbane has to offer, this east side establishment delivers classic Indian fare with a side of cheek. Playful and quirky descriptions accompany each dish on the broad and all encompassing menu that begins with snacks like samosas and bhajis and continues through to curries, naan and kulfi.
BEST BURGERS
Ze Pickle
4 Hynes St, Fortitude Valley
Boasting the slogan “often imitated, never duplicated”, this eatery offers a curated menu of funkily named, creatively concocted burgers overflowing with outrageous fillings such as cheese sticks, truffle butter and corn chips. There’s also a range of diet-busting sides like loaded fries, wings and mac ‘n’ cheese, calorific desserts and their almost impossible to eat STFU tower featuring four beef patties, three cheese toasties, bacon fries, mac ‘n’ cheese and more.
BEST DOUGHNUTS
G-Free Donuts
Various locations
It’s hard to believe a gluten-free doughnut could be crowned the best in Brisbane, but G-Free Donuts have created a recipe that’s done just that. The effortlessly light, hot cinnamon classics are also dairy free making them a dream for those with intolerances … and everyone else.
BEST BARS
Cedar & Pine
139 Bay Terrace, Wynnum
With its fast and friendly service, strong community vibe, quaffable range of drinks and easy, share-style food, when it comes to ticking all the boxes for what makes a great bar, this one stands out. With a cosy, industrial inside space and vibrant and fun outdoor courtyard, the venue pours a mostly Australian wine list of popular styles, alongside fun cocktails, local craft beer and dishes such as pork belly bao, duck spring rolls and arancini.
BEST WEDDING PLANNER
Forever a Moment Events
Forever a Moment’s owner and head planner April Booij started her business as a boutique company dedicated to celebrating love and other major life milestones.
Along with a strong team of wedding specialists, April strives to create phenomenal stress-free weddings regardless of budget size.
Their methodical yet creative approach to planning, budgeting, styling and connecting you with the best suppliers, means you’ll know all the important details of your wedding plan.
BEST HAIRDRESSER
Elysium Hair Brisbane
15 Adelaide St, Brisbane City
This is a hairdresser that goes well above just great cuts and colour. Customers start by filling out a “haircare questionnaire” so they can be matched with the perfect stylist to suit their needs, before being given a bespoke hair plan, snacks, bubbles, sensory experiences and personalised rituals. It’s all about ensuring you leave not only loving your new do, but feeling pampered too.
BEST COSMETIC INJECTABLES
The Beauty Clinic with Susie Pearl
Shop 6/133-145 Brisbane St, Jimboomba
Owned and operated by registered nurse Susie Bradley, The Beauty Clinic has become known for its meticulous work with injectables. In fact, clients even fly in from interstate to have their lips done by Susie. She also specialises in PDO thread lifts and fat dissolving injections as well as facial rejuvenation using a mixture of injectables.
BEST BROW BAR
Elysian Cartel
172 White St, Graceville
Led by Mariana Fataccioli, a visit to the Cartel will get your brows to go from thin to thick, unruly to manageable and shapeless to shapely. The salon offers a range of brow sculpting, including tints, stains and henna, but their most popular treatment is the “Lazy Girl’s Dream”, which combines a lash lift with a lamination, sculpt and tint.
BEST NAIL TECHNICIAN
Dasmee Nails
Fountain Court Arcade, Shop 6/141 Sutton St, Redcliffe
Aimee Mammone of Dasmee Nails is a sculpted acrylic and gel nail specialist who adores creating bespoke looks for her clients, whether it’s for the hands or feet. From tiny cactuses prints to tortoise shell patterns and geometric designs, her nail art is spectacular.
BEST TATTOO ARTIST
Brendan O’Connor, Westside Tattoo
156 Hardgrave Rd, West End
Specialising in Japanese-influenced tattoos, Brendan creates his work with the utmost care and respect to the traditional masters of the craft of Irezumi. A true artists as seen through is heavily detailed and intricate designs, he has completed many full-body canvases and works in both black and white and vibrant colours.
BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Sono Japanese Restaurant
39 Hercules St, Hamilton
With Brisbane River views and a beautiful, authentic Japanese timber fit-out – including a lively teppanyaki bar – this long-serving restaurant has become loved for its traditional service and authentic fare, ranging from nasu dengaku and sushi to top-notch wagyu.
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
China Sea
60 Park Rd, Milton
Specialising in authentic Cantonese cuisine prepared in an open kitchen, this longstanding icon of Brisbane is renowned for its high quality produce and charming service. Favourites include chilli mud crab and Hong Kong-style steak, but it’s the superior Peking duck that has made the restaurant truly famous across Brisbane.
BEST GREEK RESTAURANT
Lefkas Taverna
170 Hardgrave Rd, West End
Possibly Brisbane’s most renowned Greek restaurants, this West End favourite is known for its authentic flavours and affordability.
The servings are generous, the atmosphere loud but fun and the service always charming. Come hungry with a menu bursting with mezze, souvlaki, baby octopus, lamb and more.
BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT
Montrachet, Bowen Hills
Shop 1/30 King St, Bowen Hills
A Brisbane institution, this classic French bistro offers fine dining-level service in a plush red and brass fit-out with award-winning fare and a Gallic-themed wine list that’s the envy of many. With revered chef-owner Shannon Kellam in the kitchen, diners can expect dishes such as duck and cognac parfait, foie gras for two, and steak frites.
BEST PANCAKES
Lady Marmalade, Stones Corner
269 Logan Rd, Stones Corner
This charming, exposed brick suburban cafe, with endearing service led by owners Sonja and Howard Searle, takes the top prize for its ricotta blueberry pancakes. Served either sweet or semi-savoury, diners can choose from a pairing of lemon curd, brown butter ice cream and Persian rose fairy floss; or the Canadian way with maple syrup, grilled bacon and pecan butter.
BEST EGGS BENEDICT
Whisky Business
4/200 Old Cleveland Rd, Capalaba
The classic eggs benedict at this cafe in Brisbane’s east comes with two poached eggs on toasted Turkish, spinach leaves and, of course, hollandaise sauce with your choice of bacon, smoked salmon, sauteed mushrooms or fried haloumi. What makes it so popular is on some days, they sell it for just half price ($10) making it one of the cheapest eggs benedicts around. For a real treat, however, try the cafe’s best-selling fried chicken and waffle eggs benny.
BEST PILATES INSTRUCTOR
Morgan Budd
Pilates Place, KX, Total Fusion
The mat and reformer pilates instructor has a very athletic and dynamic style and uses her knowledge of yoga to help create a fusion-style class that focuses on mobility and strength.
Expect a little bit of something for everyone no matter your fitness level at any of Morgan’s classes.
BEST LASHES
JB Beauty & Co, Mango Hill
1/147 Sutton St, Redcliffe
Jenna Botha has the magic touch when it comes to all things lashes.
Taking your needs and wants into consideration, Jenna will give you the lashes of your dreams from the subtle classics, wispy hybrids, to volume and mega volume lashes.
The certified lash technician is also a cosmetic tattooist who is an expert in microblading for brows.
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