"Brisbane's reopened fine diner at Rydges, champagne lobster and a famed cheese trolley — book the degustation to impress a client."
About Bacchus
Bacchus went dark for two years and came back in 2025. The South Bank fine diner on the podium level of Rydges reopened with its degustation, its Saturday high tea and the cheese trolley that regulars rate among the best in the country, and it picked up where it left off as one of Brisbane's serious rooms.
The address is 9 Glenelg Street, the cooking is contemporary Australian built on local produce, and the format spans a daily buffet breakfast through an eleven-course degustation. It is a hotel restaurant only in postcode; on the plate it sets out to be a destination, and the reopening menus make the case.
The Kitchen
Executive chef Matthew Wood leads the kitchen, with chef de cuisine Isaia Dal Fiume — who came via San Domenico — building the reopening degustation. The dishes name themselves: champagne lobster with chardonnay sauce, roast duck from Grimaud Farms with parsnip and Davidson plum, and a kangaroo tartare with beetroot and camel cheese that reads as distinctly Australian.
The signature finish is the cheese trolley, stocked deep enough that it is the thing former regulars asked about first when the room reopened. There are two degustation tracks, a main menu and a full vegan version, plus a la carte; the cellar runs past 600 labels with more than 40 by the glass. Pricing spans a A$69 Saturday high tea up to the multi-course degustation, so call to confirm the seasonal menu. For the genre, see the best fine-dining restaurants worldwide.
The Room
The dining room sits on the podium level with private rooms off it for groups, a setting built for occasion rather than a quick bite. Lighting is low and warm, tables generously spaced, the sound level an easy hum that suits a conversation you want to keep at the table. Service is the part the room is known for — formal, attentive, the cheese and wine trolleys worked by staff who know the list. Dress is smart. Book direct on +61 7 3364 0800 and ask about the degustation when you do, since the buffet breakfast and high tea run separately.
Best for Impressing Clients
Book Bacchus to impress a client because it carries the markers that land with a guest: a deep cellar of more than 600 labels, a cheese trolley wheeled to the table, and a degustation that signals effort without you having to say so. The private rooms suit a confidential conversation, the service is formal enough to feel looked-after, and the South Bank setting is easy for a guest to reach. Book the degustation, pre-arrange the wine, and let the trolleys do the rest. See more in our best restaurants to impress clients or the Brisbane dining guide.
Not for
Not for a casual walk-in dinner — the kitchen is built around the degustation and high tea, so turning up hungry without a booking can mean the buffet rather than the room's best.
Frequently Asked
Is Bacchus South Bank worth it?
Yes, and it is good to have it back. Bacchus reopened in 2025 after a two-year closure with executive chef Matthew Wood, an eleven-course degustation and the cheese trolley regulars missed most. Dishes like the champagne lobster and Grimaud Farms duck show the kitchen is back at its old level. Come for the degustation or high tea rather than the buffet breakfast. See our Brisbane dining guide for more.
How much does Bacchus cost?
It spans a range. The Saturday high tea is A$69 per person, and the room also runs an a la carte menu and an eleven-course degustation in two tracks, a main and a full vegan version, priced higher. Because the menus change seasonally and run alongside a buffet breakfast, call +61 7 3364 0800 to confirm the current degustation price when you book.
Where is Bacchus in Brisbane?
On the podium level of Rydges South Bank at 9 Glenelg Street, South Brisbane, in the South Bank precinct. It is walkable from the cultural centre and the river, with hotel parking on site. The dining room and private rooms sit together on the podium level, separate from the ground-floor hotel lobby.
What is the dress code at Bacchus?
Smart. It is a formal fine-dining room with trolley service and a deep wine list, so dress to match: a jacket or smart shirt, a dress or tailored separates. High tea is a touch more relaxed but still polished. Casual resort wear reads wrong in the dining room, particularly for the degustation or a client dinner.
Is Bacchus good for impressing clients?
Yes — book it to impress a client. The 600-plus-label cellar, the cheese trolley and a formal degustation do the signalling, and the private rooms suit a confidential conversation. Pre-arrange the wine and book the degustation rather than a la carte. For more options, see our best restaurants to impress clients.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Bacchus
Degustation, a la carte, high tea and breakfast run separately. Call +61 7 3364 0800.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressPodium Level, Rydges South Bank, 9 Glenelg Street
NeighbourhoodSouth Bank
CuisineContemporary Australian
PriceHigh Tea A$69; 11-course degustation and a la carte by booking
Dress CodeSmart
SeatingDining room plus private rooms
ReservationBook direct; +61 7 3364 0800
DietaryFull vegan degustation; dietary needs catered with notice
