Over-Water Dining Plans Revealed for City Bridge

Brisbane City Council is planning an elevated over-water restaurant on its “city-shaping” Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.

It would be the first of its kind in Brisbane, hinging off the successes of Melbourne mainstay Ponyfish Island under the Southgate footbridge. 

The Kangaroo Point green bridge, which is currently under construction, would be modified to include two riverside dining options including the restaurant, and a cafe on the city-side landing of the bridge. 

The City Projects Office on behalf of the council filed the plans for the restaurant and cafe which they said would “enhance the activation of the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge and provide new iconic views” to the Brisbane River, CBD and Kangaroo Point. 

“The facilities will embrace Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate through innovative design elements, outdoor dining opportunities and interface with the river’s edge and active transport routes,” the report said.

“The Elevated Restaurant is an above water dining opportunity, offering 300sq m (GFA) of casual and restaurant dining and gathering space. The facility will be accessed from the bridge deck level at the city pause point.

▲ The cafe at the city-side landing of the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.

“The City Landing Café will provide casual, café-style service to the public, offering both indoor and outdoor seating, and providing green roof elements to complement the landscaping of the surrounding plaza area. The facility will integrate with the city landing plaza and allow for further activation of the Edward Street and Alice Street precinct.”

The $190-million Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is a pedestrian and cycle bridge linking the Kangaroo Point cliffs to the city botanic gardens. 

Earlier this year Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced a search for tenants for the two riverside venues. 

“Just as we transformed Howard Smith Wharves, the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge will be Brisbane’s next iconic destination and this is a chance to be part of something really special,” Schrinner said.

Both tenancies would be developed as a cold shell and subject to future tenant fit outs, which would determine the final internal layout.

Council figures pointed to the bridge as a strategic active transport corridor that was expected to generate more than 7000 trips per day by 2041, and act as a “catalyst for new growth and development” in Brisbane’s CBD. 

The Elevated Restaurant would be situated approximately 50m from the city landing, between pier 1 and pier 2 of the bridge at the city pause point and is accessed via stairs and lift from the bridge deck level. 

The design of the facility includes indoor and outdoor spaces, operable glass facades, glass balustrading and internal glazing to manage light and heat, ventilation, and acoustic performance. 

The 460m green bridge, which includes a striking 83m mast, will land between the City Botanical Gardens and Thornton Street, Kangaroo Point, and is expected to be completed by early 2024.