A Middle Eastern inspired escape

Babylon Brisbane is a large riverside restaurant and bar venue overlooking the Brisbane River and iconic Story Bridge.

Inspired by the ancient city of Babylon – famed for its opulence, grandeur and the legendary Hanging Gardens – the venue channels that influence through its design, décor and atmosphere.

The three-storey site hosts guests across a Levantine-inspired restaurant, multiple bar spaces and outdoor terraces.

Babylon Brisbane has become a riverside destination for brunch, group dinners, sunset cocktails and special celebrations, including New Year’s Eve.

Designed to suit every mood and season, Babylon Gardens – a vibrant outdoor bar and dining space adjacent to the river – opened in 2023. The space features two tiers of al fresco terraces, multiple outdoor bars and dining areas cascading toward the riverfront.

Its prime location attracts a diverse crowd, from corporate groups enjoying weekday lunches to couples and families celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.

On weekends, the atmosphere shifts to a sophisticated yet relaxed vibe, with Middle Eastern-inspired music drifting through the gardens from local musicians and DJs.

The story so far

Babylon Brisbane was opened in 2022 by Mantle Group Hospitality, an echo of its Sydney sister, Babylon Rooftop, which opened in Sydney’s CBD in 2019.

Guests enter a labyrinth of intimate spaces featuring arched doorways, booths, and limestone-look floors and walls reminiscent of the historic cities of Jerusalem and Istanbul’s bustling Grand Bazaar.

The venue draws inspiration from the legendary Hanging Gardens of Ancient Babylon – one of the most fascinating mysteries of the ancient world. Listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the gardens remain an enduring legend. Historians still debate whether they ever truly existed, making them one of history’s most intriguing architectural mysteries.

But whether legend or real, one thing’s for sure: the Hanging Gardens of Ancient Babylon are known to symbolise love and devotion and the desire to bring nature into urban spaces.

That sense of wonder, beauty and greenery shapes the atmosphere at Babylon Brisbane today.

The Babylon experience

Babylon Brisbane is all about celebration, food and fun.

Multiple bars and terraces cascade down to the waterfront, making Babylon Brisbane one of the city’s largest and most popular riverside hospitality venues.

The menu draws inspiration from Levantine and Middle Eastern cuisine, with influences from the broader Eastern Mediterranean.

Meze-style sharing dishes, wood-fired grills and bold, vibrant flavours feature prominently.

A menu centred around a charcoal and wood-fired three-metre Turkish grill offers dishes ranging from wood-roasted broccolini with walnuts and pomegranate molasses to wood-grilled Fraser Coast squid and wood-fired Angus beef with chilli butter and radish.

The meze menu includes house-made falafel, hummus with bread, labneh — a thick strained yoghurt widely enjoyed in Middle Eastern cuisine — shish tawook (marinated grilled chicken skewers) and ali nazik, a classic Turkish dish made with smoky eggplant purée topped with seasoned meat.

Riverside atmosphere at its best

Make the most of Brisbane’s climate year-round in our spacious Beer Garden, an evocative backdrop to a wonderful dining experience.

DJs perform on Friday and Saturday evenings, adding to the atmosphere as guests take in panoramic views across the river and Story Bridge while enjoying signature cocktails.

Part of the Riverside community

Located in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, Babylon Brisbane welcomes city workers, local residents and visitors exploring the riverside promenade.

The venue sits within the lively Eagle Street dining precinct – one of Brisbane’s premier waterfront destinations for dining, drinks and socialising.

Nearby ferry terminals for the CityCat and inner-city ferries make the area easily accessible from across the city.

Everywhere at Babylon Brisbane is designed to enjoy the amazing view of the river and Story Bridge, both leading characters in the area’s story.

While the river flows past like a timeless wanderer – city lights shimmering on its surface – Story Bridge has its own remarkable history. Opened in 1940, it became Brisbane’s longest cantilever bridge and is today known as one of Australia’s major engineering achievements.

Come in for a sip and stay for a bite. You’re always welcome.