Diners confused over Eagle Street Pier restaurant closures

As the Brisbane Eagle Street Pier culinary precinct prepares to close after more than 30 years, diners are being left confused over which restaurants will and won’t remain open.

The impending closure of Brisbane’s Eagle Street Pier culinary precinct is creating chaos for nearby restaurants with many diners mistakenly believing eateries along almost all the CBD river frontage are about to shut.

After more than 30 years, Eagle Street Pier at 45 Eagle St in the CBD is set to be demolished to make way for a $2.1bn business and lifestyle hub.

The development has meant the end for restaurants Naga Thai, Rico, Fatcow, Coppa, The Bavarian, Sake, The Coffee Club, George’s Paragon, and Mr & Mrs G Riverbar, which all shut for good over the weekend.

Eagle Street Pier at 45 Eagle St, which is causing diner confusion. Picture: Richard Walker

Jade Buddha Bar & Kitchen and Shadow Lounge will remain trading for the moment.

However, customers are confusing restaurants at nearby Riparian Plaza at 71 Eagle St and the Riverside Centre at 123 Eagle St with Eagle Street Pier, and calling venues frantically to make sure they will still be open for functions and bookings.

Angus Telford from Madame Wu at Riparian Plaza said they were being inundated by guests mistakenly believing the Asian restaurant was part of the Pier and would be closing. He said it was not helped by the fact that their downstairs neighbour Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse had closed during Covid, while Riverbar & Kitchen is a construction zone as it rebuilds following February’s devastating floods.

“We would get five phone calls a day from people who have bookings or functions in the next few months and think we will be closed,” Mr Telford said.

Restaurants as far down Eagle St as Blackbird Bar & Grill and The Pig ‘N’ Whistle have also been part of the confusion, with all venues involved wanting to reassure diners that it is only those at 45 Eagle St, Brisbane City, that will be shutting.