James St
Charcoal smoke, yuzu slushies, lamb on the spit and the constant hum of a food-obsessed crowd — James St Food + Wine Trail is back and bigger than ever on Sunday 26 July. It’s hard to imagine the jam-packed lineup is only for one day, with 26 venues involved and more than 160 dishes to be tasted.
Happening across Brisbane’s most celebrated lifestyle precinct, James St, 26 leading venues will spill out across 36 stalls, transforming the streets into an open-air dining room for one Sunday only. Free to attend and bursting out over 13,752 square metres, the 2026 program boasts the largest footprint in the event’s history. The only question worth asking is: where do you start?
For the Gourmet Traveller editors, the answer begins with the people behind the food.
James St culinary community
The best way to see the trail is through the chefs who know it best, and this year, the Gourmet Traveller Live Chef Stage puts four of them front and centre. The stage launches at 10am with complimentary light refreshments thanks to James Street’s oldest-standing restaurant, Harvey’s, and a free copy of the latest issue of Gourmet Traveller for attendees who get in early. Situated at the heart of the event and hosted by our editor, David Meagher, it’s the ideal way to start the day.
From 11am, master fishmonger and sashimi specialist Mitsu Sakurai and head chef Shimpei Raikuni of Sushi Room will take centre stage with a whole bluefin tuna carving. ESSA owner and executive chef Phil Marchant will be wood-firing woodfired Moreton Bay bug from midday, Anyday (Agnes, Bianca, sAme sAme) co-owner and culinary director Ben Williamson will share tips on maximising flavour in plant-based dining from 1pm, and Hellenika head chef Bryan Kelly will divulge his tips on char-grilling octopus from 2pm, with Sushi Room closing out the day with a second whole tuna carving at 3pm.
James St Food + Wine Trail, Sunday 26 July 2026, 10am–4pm. Free entry. Book ticketed experiences online.
James St x Gourmet Traveller edit
With more than 160 food and drink options on offer, it’s worth starting where the longest lines are – and for good reason. Begin at Hellenika where Bryan Kelly’s char-grilled octopus and lamb on the spit with tzatziki and mint sell out every year. For a Brisbane-coded taster, head to The Calile’s Lobby Bar for a Moreton Bay bug roll finished with rooftop-grown chives and finger lime mayonnaise.
Cult favourites such as ESSA — Gourmet Traveller‘s 2025 Queensland Restaurant of the Year — returns with the Jerusalem artichoke skewer with peanut miso. For dessert, plan ahead. Gelato Messina’s limited S’more Please — milk chocolate gelato with brownie cheesecake swirl, graham cracker crumb base, dark chocolate fudge and toasted vanilla marshmallow will not last the afternoon. LOS (Land of Smiles) makes an equally compelling case for starting sweet early, with their legendary churros with Thai tea dulce de leche. The most sought-after new addition? SK Steak & Oyster’s famous strawberry cake.
Something to refresh the palate? Penelope’s Grey Goose, soda and cucumber cooler is what you’ll want in hand most of the day. Or perhaps an afternoon pick-me-up with LOS Bar’s Jalapeño Business: mango, Anyday vodka, mint, lime and jalapeño soda. Sushi Room’s yuzu slushies, served alongside their famous spicy tuna crispy rice, round out the drinks worth tracking down.
James St neighbourhood experiences
For those who want more than the trail or a place to sit, selected venues are offering a series of Gourmet Traveller-approved express lunches and ticketed experiences worth securing in advance.
At ESSA, Phil Marchant’s wood-fired Moreton Bay bug with chilli XO butter arrives with a glass of Blood Moon orange wine for $58pp — one of the day’s most considered pairings. Hellenika’s seven-dish staggered express lunch covers all the classics, with a choice of Thymiopoulos Young Vines xinomavro or Gaia 4-6hr Agiorgitiko rosé for $90pp. Mosconi brings pappardelle with chicken and pork ragù, aged Reggiano and a glass of 2019 Lunaria ‘Coste di Moro’ Montepulciano for $55pp. For the long lunch, Harveys Bar and Bistro is hosting a French-inspired alfresco degustation for 60 guests at $150pp with matched wines — book here.
Beyond the table, The Calile Hotel is offering free rooftop garden tours (register online) with Future Wild, Cru Cellar will host Shaw + Smith tastings from 1pm to 3pm ( no registration required), and Mud Australia is running fused-glass workshops with local glassware artist and founder of Lawn Bowls at $120pp – book here.
James St Food + Wine Trail, Sunday 26 July 2026, 10am–4pm. Free entry. Book ticketed experiences online.
Join James St’s culinary community as we assemble the finest food with 36 pop-up restaurants and bars, educational experiences and hands on workshops for a one-day gathering of epicurean experts.
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