Qld diners embrace happy hour specials as cost of living pressures rise

With a huge spike in diners choosing to go out early to bag a special as cost-of-living pressures bite, we’ve found Brisbane’s best early bird and weekly deals. See the list.

Anooska Tucker-Evans

2 min read

May 14, 2023 - 2:08PM

There are some amazing happy hour specials on offer in Brisbane.

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It was once the restaurant reservation timeslot reserved for pensioners and children, but now dining at 5pm is booming, with venues recording up to a 42 per cent jump in early bookings.

New figures from global restaurant technology firm OpenTable found dining at 5pm had risen by a whopping 42 per cent on Mondays, 13 per cent on Wednesdays and 23 per cent on Sundays in Brisbane from March 2022 to March 2023.

With many venues offering early bird specials and happy hour discount deals at these times, it is believed cost of living pressures might be behind the move, as well as a return to the office after Covid-influenced working from home.

Fortitude Valley restaurant and bar Sixes and Sevens offers a $30 pasta and drink deal at 5pm on Sundays and the venue’s Matt Lapish said it was proving a huge hit as people attempted to tighten their purse strings, while still dining out with friends and family.

“People love a special which makes me think people are a little more conscious of their budget and would like to spend less,” he said, with the venue also busy on Wednesdays with their $25 burger, fries and drink deal.

Matt Lapish at Sixes and Sevens in Fortitude Valley is attracting customers with its Sunday evening specials. Picture: Tara Croser.

Furthermore, the OpenTable data revealed consumers were spending less at high end restaurants, while mid-range dining ($41-$70 per person) had increased 22 per cent from March 2022 to March 2023.

“We know that economic factors like inflation and rising interest rates play on the minds of Australians and mid-range dining is enticing as it allows diners to indulge in a nice meal without spending above their means,” said Drew Bowering from OpenTable APAC.

OpenTable data also showed that 81 per cent of patrons had seen the cost of their favourite menu items increase, which led them to make adjustments to their dining behaviour, with 29 per cent now sharing food with friends and a quarter ordering less expensive items.

Despite this, the survey showed 40 per cent of diners were actually eating out more than they did six months ago.

Perhaps where they are spending their money is on early week business lunches, with the statistics revealing lunchtime dining on Mondays and Tuesdays increasing by up to 23 per cent in the 12 months to March.

“We think there is a correlation between the comeback of the business lunch with widespread return to the office compared to this time last year,” Mr Bowering said.

“Some venues offer power lunch specials or quick service meals, which can also be a contributing factor in the increased dining demand during this time.