Book a table in Bowen Hills
One page that holds the bookings for every venue we recommend in the precinct. We do not run a booking platform. We just got tired of texting the same five links.
This is the consolidated reservations page. We do not run a booking platform, we do not get a cut, and we are not affiliated with any of these venues. We just got tired of texting the same five links to friends every week, so we put them on one page.
Most venues here use a combination of their own phone line, a basic web form, or one of the major booking platforms. We list whichever the venue prefers. The phone is always faster.
Eat-with-us shortlist
Harry's Pizza. Phone bookings only, takes them up to two weeks out. The back room is reservable for groups of eight or more on weeknights. They will hold the booking for fifteen minutes if you are running late, twenty if you call.
Dovetail. Online booking via their own form, accessible from their website. Two seatings on Friday and Saturday, one on Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday almost always have walk-in availability.
Old Boy. Walk-in primarily. They will take a phone booking for parties of four or more. The Friday late-night residency is walk-in only, no exceptions.
The corner cafe. Walk-in only. It has never taken a booking. Going at 7am on a weekday is the move if you cannot stand a queue.
The dumpling house with no name. Walk-in only. The kitchen turns over fast, the queue does not get unmanageable except on Friday night.
Bigger venues, special occasions
The wine bar courtyard. Reservable for private events on a quarterly basis. They do not take individual bookings except for the rosé-and-cheese tastings.
Southern Smoke Co. Walk-in only. They have explained to us, repeatedly, that the entire economic model of the place breaks if they take bookings. Respect the model.
Tropic Lab. Walk-in for the bar. Booking required for the small private dining room at the back, which seats up to twelve. Phone the bar after 5pm.
Events, festivals, ticketed
The Brisbane Gin Festival, Tiny Dog Festival, and the Rosé and Cheese party each have their own ticket pages or registration lists. Links are on the individual event pages.
Dogs Day Out, the Saturday food trucks, and most flea markets are walk-in. The community garden volunteer mornings ask you to send a quick email the night before.
If a booking is confirmed and your plans change
Phone the venue. Do not just no-show. The smaller restaurants here run on tight margins and a no-show on a Friday night is a real cost. Most venues have a small no-show fee these days, applied to the card you booked with. The fee is fair. The kitchens are not getting rich.
Read next
For the rotating shortlist of where we actually eat, head to Eat with us. The events that genuinely benefit from booking ahead are flagged on the what's on calendar. For caterers and other behind-the-scenes service businesses we recommend, the page is The Local List.