Byblos

Best Lebanese food in Brisbane. Outdoor patio seating, movie theatre close by. Kibbeh nayai (spelled wrong) is bomb just like my grandma would make, tabouleh, humus, when ever I’m in Brisbane I make sure and stop here and get Lebanese food, as it’s hard to find in the states.

Byblos is host to a stunning location on the Brisbane River with with a relaxed yet classy décor with its feature being a beautifully presented central bar.
We had a table booking for a group of 10 and got a wide range of mouth watering dishes to share. I couldn’t have asked more from the food as it really kept everyone pleasantly satisfied. Unfortunately from a classy establishment such as Byblos I expected more in the way of service. The waitstaff were very friendly and happy to oblige any requests but our table felt neglected in the way of service.
I personally found the beer selection to be poor but in saying that I am sure there would be something to satisfy any beer lover. its understandable that the beer selection is the way it is as judging by the bar it would seem they deliver a great range of cocktails and top shelf liquors which is more suited to the target demographic of an establishment such as this one.
Great place for a group booking with most dishes able to be shared amongst the table. There is also lounges available for a more laid back dinner vibe. Would definitely come back for the food as it was spot on.

Been here several times during my stay in Brisbane and have decided my original 4 should be upgraded to 5. It is true that the food has not always excited us, but is great as river side venue where it’s good people watching and enjoying the sunset. The tunes are pretty decent also. However, Byblos truly stands out as cocktail bar with many unique creations on offer. The bar tenders are fun and produce consistently excellent drinks.
To ensure maximum enjoyment of said cocktails, it’s best to go for Sunday afternoon happy hour from 3 – 7. Cocktails $ 10; beer/​wine $ 5.

Great $ 10 Sunday drink specials filled with interesting cocktails! The ambiance is awesome (just wished the hookah was not just for decoration). The bartender was very patient and nice, and did not hesitate to swap out my drink when I mistakenly asked for the wrong thing. When a giant cruise ship is not parked out front, it probably has a great view of the river. But it books up fast, and can be loud so, make sure to make a reservation if you’re coming with a group of friends.

I’ve been putting off reviewing Byblos, because i’d like to try out the food sometime, but this will do in the meantime.
I was looking for somewhere nice for drinks on a weekday, and a quick browse of Unilocal turned up Byblos. I’d heard of it before but never been, so why not?
Being a school night it was pretty quiet, but there was still a decent number of people here. You can sit inside or out, and the majority were outside. Inside you’ve got everything from high tables to low couches to choose from. It’s warm, inviting and looks incredibly cozy.
Drinks were no more expensive than anywhere else, and the staff seemed pretty laid back but friendly enough. I got served quite quickly at the bar (admittedly I was the only person at the bar at the time), and later the person collecting our empty glasses offered to bring refills.
I think i’d like to come back to try the restaurant side of things, but all in all, this is a great place for a quiet drink during the week.

The food was good tonight as always but the service was abysmal. We had a 6pm booking and arrived at 6pm. We had barely sat down before the surly Irish waitress wanted to know what we wanted. She scowled away when we told here we needed more time. When she came back a couple of mins later she took our drinks order and was then put out that we weren’t ready to order our entrees.
The whole meal continued in this fashion. She was never unobtrusive always trying to remove plates before we were finished and generally pushing to get us out of there. The grand finale was her taking our coffee cups before they were empty to basically try and push us out the door.
It’s very hard to eat three courses and share a bottle of wine in 100 mins. The food is good but this will be the last time we go back.

I came here to have a few drinks with colleagues after work and I thought that the drinks were well overpriced. But it seems to be where people working in the area decide to go after work. We ordered a platter of fried calamari and other bits. It was okay, nothing special.
I do like the location and the crowd was a good mix of classy people of all ages, instead of the usual crowd of roided-​up guys on the prowl who happen to just be angry at the entire world. I didn’t have to wait long to be served at the bar and I found the staff quite courteous. I’m not a heavy drinker at all, but I just can’t get over how expensive a beer was. I suppose the premium price keeps most of the trash out which is a good thing.

Beautiful venue for a very nice date if you happen to be in Portside.
As you walk in, it is far swankier than any Lebanese/​Middle Eastern venue you frequented.
Byblos has some awesome starters! Snails (escargots) were sauteed in butter, garlic and lemon jus. Delicious!
For the main course, I would recommend sticking to the mixed grill. Customise if by chosing dory /​chicken /​lamb. It is amazing! That was the highlight and worth the wait.
And finally the dessert — Ashta trifle. What an exotic treat. It was pretty, smooth and velvety mouth sensation.
Make a reservation if you can. Service is relatively quick, reliable and cheerful.
Overall, it is a fantastic venue, with decent music and great atmosphere.

Love love love Byblos! From the yummy mocktails to the amazing food, it is such a great place to dine.
No matter when I go there, I always seem to over indulge but it is so worth it.
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is for two reasons: (1) they keep putting dressing on the haloumi cheese when I ask for no dressing and (2) I came here once a year ago and the food was not up to their usual standard. Yes — I know I am being picky with that, but every other time, it has been perfect.

We have been coming here for probably five years. Byblos always hits the spot & is a brilliant venue — in terms of location & view, as well as menu (both drinks & food), interior design, fitout & vibe. (Make sure you check out the amenities — really cool sinks!)
Hubby & I are creatures of habit and generally order the $ 68 tiered platter for 2 (brilliant, perfect way to sample the menu). BUt, we have also been for a large group dinner & experienced one of the banquets, which was fun & took away the pressure of making a decision.
We also hosted a small-​ish event here (my birthday party) last year and found it to be a venue that impressed our guests with a bit of wow. How can you not be impressed with a cocktail menu that is really a book & romantically lit bar wall stocked & shimmering with the finest spirits? (And at $ 16+ per cocktail, you want to feel impressed.) I found the event organisers helpful & solution-​orientated. Everything was planned very well on the night, so it went off without a hitch. Even a hic-​cup with an invitee’s diet was able to be catered for on the spot — Delightful!
We have always been treated well by the staff. Maybe it’s ’cause we generally know what we want. Would certainly recommend booking if you plan on eating — I think that helps.
The absolute only negative thing I have to say about Byblos (and, really, it’ s minor) is that some of that I find some of the furnishings to be uncomfortable (Tall cushioned chairs near the outdoor dining area). But, décor-​wise they suit. I found when seated in them, I regularly needed to stand rather than sit. As you can see from my star rating, it doesn’t detract from my overall review of the place.
Go to Byblos. You will enjoy it.
Favourite drinks include the Lemon Meringue Pie Martini (when available) as well as the Mulled Wine (divine in the winter!)

I’m sorry guys. This was not my favourite place. I found the waiter a bit condescending and didn’t really offer us much help with our selections. The food was ok. Mine was the worst on the menu and everything has so much salt to make you buy more and more alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good bevvy — especially when their cocktails are pretty amazing — but I hate being forced to drink because your chef can’t say no to a pot of salt.
Other meals seemed like a better choice than mine, but none of us were overly impressed. I hate to bag on a restaurant, but the only reason I’d go back here is for a good cocktail to finish or start my night.

Thanks to my friends for luring me to this place! The river’s flowing by out front, there’s an eastern, velvety opulence about the lounge areas inside and the restaurant area is well appointed, but the standout feature is the bar. There’s a bottle for every occasion lining the shelves and plenty of staff on hand to make your cocktail of choice — for me it’s the White Goddess. The food I’ve tried is delish. Now if I can just get some $ together so I can start working my way through the rest of that food and cocktail menu I’ll be a happy girl.

Byblos is a perfectly located bar and restaurant at Portside, Brisbane. I visited for a birthday function and was totally won over by the beautiful river views and great atmosphere. It’s a great place for a function because you can book specific lounge areas, which are the perfect setting for relaxing and chatting with friends. The cocktails are amazing and the service is fantastic. It does tend to attract a well-​to-​do crowd, so make sure you’re dressed to the nines. Byblos hold frequent special event nights for occasions including New Years Eve and Melbourne Cup. I’ve heard fantastic things about the food as well, which I’ll definitely be sampling next time I visit Portside.

It went to Byblos again last weekend with some friends. It was fantastic again! We each ordered a Mezza 1 and my god, you get some much food for just $ 45 each! Easily the best value on the menu, you get to sample a huge range of pastries, kebabs, dips and salads.
This time was also different because we booked in the lounge area, not in the restaurant. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and intimate. The lounges, cushions and decorations are warm and exotic and the girl who served us provided fantastic service. Although the lounge is one big half square, the small tables separate where each group sits and it doesn’t feel crowded at all.
Definitely book for the lounge area though because they won’t let you stay in the section if you haven’t.

If I were forced to pick my favourite Brisbane restaurant, Byblos would be a pretty fierce contender. Byblos’s power is its ability to be both an amazing bar and a fantastic restaurant.
If you’re looking for five star cocktails in an environment that imbues a sense of occasion, then Byblos is an excellent place to go for drinks. I’ve never had a cocktail at Byblos that didn’t absolutely wow me. They have an extensive cocktail list, and the bartenders can customise a drink to suit your tastes if somehow nothing on the menu grabs you. They also have a level of knowledge that makes them capable of making you something you’ve had before elsewhere or any of the classic drinks that might not be on their list.
The restaurant section at Byblos is always buzzing, but if you’d prefer to sit outside on the riverfront, or in one of the harem-​style curtained rooms off the bar they’ll serve food there too. They offer a mouth-​watering range of middle eastern fare and it’s all ideal for sharing. Being a bit of a creature of habit, I always gravitate towaards my favourites: the batata harra (cubes of potato in a delicious spiced, lemony dressing) and the rekkakat (the mother of all cheese triangles).
If Byblos were just a bar, I’d give it five stars. If it were just a restaurant I’d give it five starts. According to my mathematical calculations, that’s a grand total of ten stars. Seriously, go there.