Stanley Restaurant
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Stanley Restaurant

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A two-level Cantonese restaurant on Howard Smith Wharves, blending traditional flavors with Australian produce, offering stunning river views.

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

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Stanley Restaurant

Stanley Restaurant

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A two-level Cantonese restaurant on Howard Smith Wharves, blending traditional flavors with Australian produce, offering stunning river views.

"Dine with incredible views and experience top-tier service, even if the food doesn't always hit the mark."

TIP

Book Ahead

Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings, to ensure you secure a table.

Outdoor Seating Recommended

Opt for outdoor seating to fully enjoy the scenic views of the river and Story Bridge.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 10PM

Cuisine

Cantonese

Price

$$$

Phone

+61 7 3558 9418

Address

5 Boundary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000, Australia

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Riverside Dining with Story Bridge Views

Riverside Dining with Story Bridge Views

Enjoy traditional Cantonese cuisine with an Australian twist in a picturesque riverside setting, offering stunning views of the Story Bridge.

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Innovative Cantonese Dishes

Innovative Cantonese Dishes

Savor delectable dishes like lobster & prawn dumplings, Kung Pao Cauliflower, and perfectly lacquered Peking duck with crisp skin.

The 13 Best Chinese Restaurants in BrisbaneBest romantic restaurants in BrisbaneHere's Where To Find Brisbane’s Best Dumplings In 2022+1
Exceptional and Attentive Service

Exceptional and Attentive Service

Experience a high level of professionalism and attentiveness from the staff, who are praised for making dining a fantastic and memorable occasion.

Google Review+3
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Book Ahead

Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings, to ensure you secure a table.

Outdoor Seating Recommended

Opt for outdoor seating to fully enjoy the scenic views of the river and Story Bridge.

Try the Signature Dishes

Don't miss the highly praised Peking duck and lobster & prawn dumplings for a true taste of Stanley.

Consider the Yum Cha

Stanley offers a delightful yum cha menu, perfect for a leisurely lunch with dim sum.

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead

Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings, to ensure you secure a table.

Outdoor Seating Recommended

Opt for outdoor seating to fully enjoy the scenic views of the river and Story Bridge.

Try the Signature Dishes

Don't miss the highly praised Peking duck and lobster & prawn dumplings for a true taste of Stanley.

Consider the Yum Cha

Stanley offers a delightful yum cha menu, perfect for a leisurely lunch with dim sum.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Stanley offers a visually stunning dining experience with exceptional service and a prime riverside location. While many praise the attentive staff and beautiful ambiance, some diners feel the food quality and taste do not always justify the high prices. Popular dishes like Peking duck and lobster dumplings receive praise, but some have found other items to be bland or disappointing.

"We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Stanley today. Our waitress from Bristol was amazing and offered us a celebratory cocktail. A fantastic experience. Thank you for a lovely day."

Natasha Kitano

"While exploring Brisbane, I came across Stanley, a striking Chinese restaurant nestled by the river. The location is truly picturesque, with beautiful views by the water and under the bridge a lovely spot for a meal.

The food was decent, though slightly overpriced in my opinion. The standout, however, was the service, the staff were genuinely lovely, polite, and very accommodating.

That said, I’m not sure it’s a place I’ll miss. Next time, I’ll probably try some of the other nearby restaurants instead."

Boeing driver

"We were from Melbourne and wanted to have a nice dinner with the city view. We didn’t have a reservation but the staff was kind enough to reserve a table for us in 45mins, so we waited at a rooftop bar nearby.

The table they gave us had the story bridge and city view along the river, which was stunning. All the staff are friendly and patient, with a few even helping film a proposal that happened in the restaurant.

However, for the price we paid, the food was a big disappointment. We ordered vegetarian fried rice, salt & pepper tofu and crispy eggplant.

The fried rice was mediocre. Barely any ingredients and the flavouring not that interesting.
Crispy eggplant was so-so. Crispy, yes. But too sweet and we definitely have had better.
Lastly, the biggest disappointment is the salt & pepper tofu. There was no pepper, just mildly salty fried tofu.

Expect the pay for the views and not for the food. Wouldn’t come back for the food, but giving 2 stars instead of 1 because all the staff were superstars and extremely helpful."

Esther Wong

What People Like

Stunning riverside views
Exceptional and attentive service
Beautiful restaurant ambiance

What People Dislike

Food taste not matching price
Inconsistent dish quality

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is highly recommended to make a reservation, especially for popular times like Saturday nights, to secure a table.

The 13 Best Chinese Restaurants in Brisbane

Opt for outdoor seating on the terrace for picturesque views of the river and Story Bridge. Indoor seating also offers a sophisticated ambiance.

Best romantic restaurants in Brisbane16 Romantic Restaurants in Brisbane Perfect for Couples [2025 Guide]Best Chinese Restaurants in Brisbane

Diners frequently rave about the Peking duck, lobster & prawn dumplings, and salt and pepper squid.

The 13 Best Chinese Restaurants in BrisbaneBest romantic restaurants in BrisbaneHere's Where To Find Brisbane’s Best Dumplings In 2022+1

Absolutely, the stunning views, sophisticated decor, and exceptional service make it a popular choice for anniversaries and celebrations.

16 Romantic Restaurants in Brisbane Perfect for Couples [2025 Guide]Google Review+2

Stanley offers an a la carte menu for a delightful culinary experience, as well as banquet options.

Enjoy A Banquet At Brisbane’s Best Yum Cha Restaurants

The restaurant is considered upscale, with some reviewers noting that the prices are high for the perceived food quality.

Google Review+3

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Time Out

The 13 Best Chinese Restaurants in Brisbane

At Howard Smith Wharves, Stanley is Cantonese dining all the way turned up. Crispy, juicy, spicy, steamy – whatever your dumpling descriptor of choice, Chef Louis Tikaram’s got a version that’ll ruin you for anything else. His perfectly-lacquered Peking duck hits all the right notes, served with delicate pancakes and all the trimmings.

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Book a table inside to hide away among the intensely dark interiors, with bamboo fretwork and hand-painted murals glossing the walls, or soak in those coveted water views under the retractable roof on the plant-lined front deck. Working with local farmers, fishers and suppliers, top chef Louis Tikaram brings the best of Australian produce to even the simplest of dishes, such as sweet, plump Moreton Bay bug meat that comes packed inside spring rolls, or battered and fried salt and pepper-style. Dim sum arrives as a mixed signature platter of steamed bites, while the Peking duck is a favourite among regulars for its lustrous crisp skin and moist meat.

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Making the most of its Eagle Street Pier location, Sake Restaurant & Bar is a breezy iteration of Rockpool Dining Group’s popular contemporary Japanese concept. It’s also one of the best expressions of the long-established Sake chain, best experienced through the $110 “omakase”, which is more like a set-menu that’s loaded with the menu’s greatest hits like popcorn shrimp with yuzu mayo, a chef’s selection of sashimi, miso ‘Glacier 51’ toothfish, and Tajima wagyu strip loin. Address: Level 1/45 Eagle St Pier, Brisbane CityContact: (07) 3015 0557

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Step back in time to 1930s Shanghai at Stanley: a two-storey Cantonese restaurant with a stunning Howard Smith Wharves location and a sumptuous design. The interior features deep jade-toned walls, a grand staircase adorned with a mural of the restaurant’s namesake, Hong Kong’s Stanley Bay, and colonial/Oriental-inspired decor, sealing its place as one of Brisbane’s most beautiful restaurants. A covered terrace provides panoramic views of the river, Story Bridge, and city skyline while the interior houses three bars and opulent dining rooms.

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Located in Brisbane’s hip new foodie hub, at the northern end of Howard Smith Wharves, is the stunning new two-level Cantonese restaurant, Stanley. Hosting a menu with a mixture of traditional and modern Cantonese style dishes that showcase some incredible meat, seafood and produce, you can be sure that you’re in the right place for some delicious dumplings. Whether you’re after steamed, baked or fried dumplings, you can be sure that your taste buds will be catered for with Stanley’s signature dim sum platter.

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Take A Seat, These Are The Best Restaurants In Brisbane

Inspired by the moody waterfront of Hong Kong’s picturesque Stanley Bay, traditional Cantonese flavours are brought to life using the freshest local produce at Stanley. Led by Head Chef Louis Tikaram’s out-of-the-box perspective, the menu celebrates fishermen and farmers in share plates and their signature yum cha. Honouring flavours that have been cherished for generations, Stanley’s steamed Queensland coral trout with white soy, ginger, and shallot is a definite must-try.

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Stanley took up a heritage-listed property at Howard Smith Wharves and renovated it. An outdoor patio and bar with a retractable roof overlooking the river on the ground level provide a breezy area for lengthy lunches and alcoholic catch-ups. Inside, however, things are truly pushed to the next level, with jaw-dropping interiors that pay respect to classic Chinese architectural aesthetics with handcrafted rattan ceilings, bamboo and mural-lined walls, and hanging lanterns.

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Stanley’s Restaurant, which is situated on Brisbane’s scenic riverbank, serves a combination of modern and traditional Cantonese cuisine. Celebrity chef Luis Tikram has curated a two-story restaurant that blends traditional Cantonese flavours with fresh local cuisine, all inspired by the warm waters of Stanley Bay in Hong Kong. While savouring delicious seafood, dim sum, and other regional specialities, visitors may take in views of the nearby river.

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Enjoy A Banquet At Brisbane’s Best Yum Cha Restaurants

Treat yourself to a bountiful banquet at Stanley, with their Yum Cha & Champagne package!. This popular Chinese and Cantonese restaurant has brought a delightful yum cha menu to their regular offering and we knew it was set to be a hit amongst hungry Brisbanites. In a heritage-listed building at the stunning Howard Smith Wharves, we can think of few better ways to spend a languid lunch break, than sipping some sparkles and dining upon some dim sum.

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Soak up stunning views at this extravagant waterfront restaurant and bar and indulge in their extensive menu options and delightful hospitality. They’ve taken the meaning of ‘fresh food’ to the next level with live seafood straight from the tank including Southern rock lobster, QLD mud crab, QLD coral trout and Moreton Bay bugs, making this the place to be for seafood enthusiasts.

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Stanley is widely regarded as Brisbane’s best Cantonese restaurant. Elevated Cantonese from a top chefThe king of Brisbane’s Cantonese restaurants, Stanley occupies the heritage-listed former Water Police headquarters at buzzy Howard Smith Wharves. Star chef Louis Tikaram taps his local roots to present exceptional seasonal produce cooked with vibrant Cantonese flavours.

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If you're keen on yum cha in Brisbane with a very fancy twist, how about trying Stanley Restaurant's Yum Cha and Champagne Sundays?. At Stanley Restaurant's family-friendly yum cha in Brisbane, you'll get an indulgent yum cha feed with all the trimmings plus stunning views of Brisbane River - what more could you want?. Location: 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City

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There’s an appropriate seafood skew at Brisbane’s top Chinese fine-diner, named after Hong Kong’s Stanley Bay. And you should certainly revel in Queensland painted crayfish tossed through buttery lo mein noodles, tank-fresh Tasmanian rock lobster and pristine steamed coral trout. However you decide to play it, though, don’t skip the barbecue.

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Stanley Restaurant, placed in Brisbane’s coronary heart, is a chic Chinese eatery with contemporary décor and a relaxed atmosphere. Its menu capabilities a big selection of conventional Chinese dishes, all prepared with the freshest components. Diners can experience many entrees, appetizers, and desserts, each bursting with authentic flavors.

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Opt for the set menu (with optional chicken feet and tripe, bless) for just $58pp, or pair it with two hours of flowing Louis Roederer for $137pp!. If you’re feeling hungry (or hungover…) you can supplement with additional dishes like duck pancakes and salt and pepper tofu. Yum cha is available every Sunday, between 11:30 am and 3 pm.

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Stanley is Brisbane's magnificent 2-storey riverfront Cantonese restaurant in a the landmark heritage-listed Howard Smith Wharves building. Featuring a covered dining terrace out front with sweeping river, Story Bridge and city skyline vistas, inside The Stanley are 3 bars and opulent dining rooms with colonial-oriental-inspired decor

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Stanley Restaurant is famous for Salt and Pepper Squid, Cantonese 5 Spice Roast Duck Plum Sauce, Dumplings, King Fish, Duck pancakes, Mixed Dimsums, Special Fried Rice and Beef. The quality and authenticity of the food make it one of the best Asian restaurants in Brisbane. The staff is nice and the services are satisfactory.

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Don’t let the touristy Howard Smith Wharves boardwalk fool you!. Perfectly positioned under the beautiful bridge lights, Stanley delivers an experience vastly different to that of its neighbours Felons, Mr. Percival’s or even Greca (which we still love!). The set of banquet menus are just impeccably created.

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Positioned on the riverfront, Stanley is a two-storey Cantonese restaurant inspired by the moody waterfront of Hong Kong’s picturesque Stanley Bay. Stanley’s menu combines the best local produce with traditional Cantonese flavours. Treat yourself to an ambient and unforgettable experience.

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Fans of Asian cuisine won’t want to miss Stanley at Howard Smith Wharves. With inventive head chef Louis Tikaram at the helm, this two-level Cantonese has dishes so good you'll want to move in. Drop by for daily yum cha and indulge in a parade of small plates.

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Stanley Restaurant (2026) – Best of TikTok, Instagram & Reddit Food Guide