Naga Thai reveals new South Bank location after three-year closure

A popular Thai restaurant forced to close because of the redevelopment of its inner-city home is about to open in a new spot.

Andrew Baturo is relaunching his popular Thai restaurant Naga at South Bank. Picture: Liam Kidston

A popular Brisbane Thai restaurant is set to reopen in brand new digs, five years after a massive riverfront development forced its closure.

Naga Thai, by Brisbane hospitality stalwart Andrew Baturo, known for his venues Tillermans and Libertine as well as DAP & Co venues like Naldham House and Walter’s Steakhouse, first opened on Eagle Street Pier in 2020 and enjoyed two wildly successful years before the planned redevelopment of the precinct saw it and countless other venues demolished.

Now after three years, Naga Thai has found a new home in the old Aquitane restaurant space on South Bank’s Sidon St, and will officially open on August 1.

Set to be nestled between OTTO Ristorante and Baturo’s own Italian restaurant Popolo, he knew the new Naga Thai needed a venue that was the perfect fit, saying it needed to be on the riverfront, and offer all the same benefits as its former Eagle Street space.

“I didn’t want to force Naga into a space … I wanted to be patient and wait for the right one,” Baturo said.

Moreton Bay bug pad Thai at Naga Thai

“I know that (Sidon St) area really well, Popolo is right next door, so it was almost a no-brainer.”

While the location might be all new, fans of the original venue can expect the changes to end there, with Naturo saying they would be sticking to what worked before.

The menu that was in place when Naga closed in 2022 will be resurrected and several of the original team, including head chef Suwisa Phoonsangh, whose life and family history guided much of the venue’s original development, will come back on board.

#don'tbekoi cocktail at Naga Thai.

The restaurants famed ‘#don’tbekoi cocktail will be back on the menu as well as the iconic Moreton Bay bug pad Thai and the restaurant has partnered with Cooper’s to produce a ‘Naga Lager’ which will be available on tap.

Naga Thai 2.0 will open from 5pm on August 1, and operate seven nights a week, and lunch service six days.

Originally published as Naga Thai reveals new South Bank location after three-year closure