If you’re out and about in the Heritage City attending events, like SPARK Ipswich, Galvanized or Christmas in Ipswich, here’s a handy list of the best places to eat in Ipswich Central.
Bakehouse Steakhouse
This contemporary steak restaurant, set inside a century-old bakery, was named the best informal steak restaurant in Queensland in the 2020 Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence. They also do a fantastic charcuterie board here!
Bakehouse Steakhouse is open for dinner only Monday to Wednesday, lunch and dinner service Thursdays and Sundays and all day dining Friday and Saturdays.
Club Services Ipswich
At Club Services Ipswich you can order a selection of great dishes for lunch and dinner from the Longhorn Bar and Grill.
They’ve also got your favourite beers and cider on tap.
They are open from 10am-4am seven days a week.
Dancing Bean Speciality Roasters and Espresso Bar
A mid-week or weekend visit to Dancing Bean Espresso Bar calls for an eggs benny croissant or gourmet toastie! While you’re there try out the locally roasted coffee blends.
Open 7am-2.30pm Monday to Friday, 7am-1pm Saturday and closed on Sunday.
Ellen & Rod
The menu changes seasonally but this cute cafe stays steadfast on it’s quality and service. Breakfast is served at Ellen and Rod seven days a week and lunch on week days. There’s also gorgeous pastries available on weekends!
Open 6.30am-2pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Fridays, 5am-11am Thursdays and 6.30am-12pm Saturday and Sunday.
Essence of Indya
Essence of Indya offers tapas and small plates as well as traditional and fusion Indian.
Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday and dinner only on weekends.
Fourthchild Cafe and Restaurant
Fourthchild Cafe and Restaurant is a great café for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is fully licensed with craft beer, wines and spirits available.
Fourthchild is open for breakfast and lunch Sunday to Tuesday and dinner Wednesday to Saturday nights.
Heisenberg Haus
Located in the Top of Town Ipswich Heisenberg Haus offers German inspired cuisine in a beautiful contemporary environment. The pork knuckle is recommended, however you need to order it in advance of attending. They also have hearty German beers available.
Open for lunch Friday – Sunday and dinner Wednesday to Sunday.
Indian Mehfil
Indian Mehfil is an authentic Indian restaurant set inside a heritage building that used to be a bank. They also whip up some great cocktails!
Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Ipswich Jets Leagues Club
Ipswich Jets is a family-friendly venue with a fabulous restaurant and bar, a great place to enjoy a meal or a drink.
They are open from 10am-4am seven days a week, offering lunch and dinner and bites in the cafe.
La Parrilla
La Parrilla, which simply means “the grill” in Spanish, is a South American restaurant offering takeaway and dining in options. They have epic slow cooked meats on the menu.
Open for lunch and dinner from 11am until 8pm Wednesday to Sundays.
Memories of India
Memories of India offers authentic Indian delicacies inside one of Ipswich’s beautiful old corner pubs. It has an epic butter chicken!
Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Monte Lane
Monte Lane is a gorgeous wine bar that offers tapas and gourmet pizzas. There’s also a fantastic cocktail menu available.
Open 4pm-9pm Thursdays, 12pm-9pm Friday and Saturday and 12pm-8pm Sundays.
Montezuma’s Ipswich
If you’re in the mood for authentic and delicious Mexican then head to Montezuma’s!
Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Sunday.
Oikos Cafe
Enjoy fresh nutritious food at Oikos Cafe. Call in for coffee made on Queensland-roasted Kai Coffee beans, and fruit-laden acai bowls and smoothies and colourful nachos bowls.
Open 7am-2pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Prince Alfred Hotel
With the largest numbers of craft beers on tap in the Southern Hemisphere, the award-winning Prince Alfred Hotel isn’t only hanging it’s hat on it’s beer offerings.
The restaurant also offers fresh seafood, delicious steaks and more!
Open for dining from 10am until 9pm seven days a week.
Pumpyard Bar and Brewery
The Pumpyard Bar and Brewery is the local place to be with its funky industrial décor and onsite-brewed craft beers. Think delicious burgers and slow cooked meat!
Open Wednesday to Sunday.
Queens Park Cafe
Queens Park is home to a cafe with a wide verandah and a well-stocked cake cabinet. You’ll find all manner of pastries and cakes here at Queens Park Cafe along with great mains including fantastic eggs! Lookout for specials, including unicorn pancakes on the ever-expanding menu.
Open 8am-4pm seven days a week.
Rafter and Rose
One of Ipswich’s most famous cafes, Rafter and Rose makes the most amazing cakes adorned with edible flowers. Go on the weekend for loaded croissants, filled donuts, tarts and sweet pies.
Open 6.30am-2pm Tuesday to Friday and 7am-12pm on Saturday.
Ruby Chews Burgers and Shakes
Ruby Chews Burgers and Shakes offers a modern twist on a classic American Burger Bar. There’s burgers, shakes, ice cream and hotdogs!
Open from 11am-2pm for lunch and 5pm-8pm for dinner Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 11am-8pm every other day.
St Shoebill
St Shoebill is located in the middle of Brisbane St in the historic Ellenborough House building. The all-day menu offers fresh and interesting options like farmhouse eggs, burgers, fish tacos and bao buns.
Open 6am-1pm seven days a week.
The Cottage Restaurant
The Cottage Restaurant is a fine dining venue set inside a charming heritage Queenslander offering modern Australian cuisine. The menu changes seasonally so in the summer you can find lighter options, and in the winter expect some delicious hearty fare.
Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday and lunch Wednesday to Friday.
The Retro Diner
The Retro Diner has a fun energetic vibe and a retro theme which extends from the decor to the food – with homestyle burgers, shakes and hotdogs.
Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Rusty Nail
This trendy tapas bar is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons and nights for bites and brews. The Rusty Nail specialises in creating custom cocktails and delicious morsels of food.
The Sourdough Crust Co
If traditional Italian pizzas, pastas and desserts are your thing then head to The Sourdough Crust Co! They also have delicious cocktails!
Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner (5pm-8pm) and Thursday to Sunday for lunch (11.30am-2pm).
UB’s Milk Bar
UB’s Milk Bar offers Masterchef created ice cream flavours, burgers, fries, house-made waffles, breakfast, loaded fries, milkshakes and gourmet desserts. The brie and caramelised onion burger has a wheel of deep fried brie and a wagyu beef patty – a must try!
Open from 9am-3pm on Sunday and from 11am for lunch and dinner service Monday to Saturday.
Wild Rose Cottage
Decadently dense slices, buttery biscuits, moreish cakes, tasty tarts and great coffee can be found at Wild Rose Cottage. They also have gifts for sale…
Open Sundays 7.30am-2.30pm and 6.30am-2.30pm Monday to Saturday.
Other places to eat
While Ipswich Central has a whole range of restaurants, there’s also a few outside the CBD worth a mention.
Just outside of Ipswich Central you can head to The Racehorse Hotel, The Barn Family Restaurant, and Brothers Leagues Club Ipswich.
A bit further away at Grandchester you can find the award-winning Homage Restaurant. Famous for it’s paddock to plate dishes the hatted restaurant sits inside the Spicers Hidden Vale resort.
Up the Warrego Highway heading towards Toowoomba at Marburg you can find the Marburg Hotel open for dinner offering great pub fare and a deck area to enjoy a few drinks. There’s also a restaurant and cafe at the Woodlands of Marburg estate open on weekends, bookings are essential. Also in Marburg you’ll find The Soul Nook Collective offering great coffee and cakes as well as styled picnics and Special Branch Collective with coffee and treats.
At Springfield you can find Coffee Guru Brookwater, Indian Tadka, Lotus Cafe, Moselles Cafe + Restaurant, Pizzeria La Prima, Claire’s Wholesome Kitchen and Ballistic Springfield – a craft beer brewery and restaurant open for dinner and if you’re out Redbank way don’t go past The Commercial Hotel Redbank.
For more places to eat including cafes see our Eat and Drink page.
