Where to dine alfresco this Spring
Toowoomba’s gorgeous greenery is simply too good to sit inside and miss – and from drinks in the beer garden to breakfast in the courtyard, there’s a handful of local cafés, pubs and restaurants inviting you to take it all in.
Updated August 2022
Written by Nicola Clark
Photography by Morgan Smith
While Toowoomba is, famously, perfectly suited to snuggling up indoors next to a fireplace in winter, we’re also lucky enough to enjoy warm spring and summer days, which call for basking in the sun well into the evening. We’ve rounded up our picks on where to grab a brew and a meal and dine alfresco style around town.
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Kingfishers Café & Restaurant
The stunning alfresco area looking out over the gardens is where it’s really at. The café is situated within The Springs Garden World, a nursery with an abundance of plants and flowers plus a team of super cluey people there to solve your gardening woes. Start your morning with a stroll around the nursery for some new plants, and finish with a brunch reservation of Belgian waffles or savoury mince. Make sure you wander down the path at the end of the garden to find a hidden pergola, which is basically the best place to be on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Better yet, there’s often live acoustic music in the garden on weekends.
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Urban Grounds
Beautifully situated across from Laurel Bank Park, the alfresco seating is a favourite spot on a summer day. Urban Grounds is open every day for all meals (with an extremely tempting all-day breakfast menu), making it an easy choice for everything from brunch under the umbrellas with the girls, to a coffee meeting or a family dinner. A lunch at Urban before an afternoon walk through the flowers and play on the playground is an itinerary done well.
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The Finch On the Range
While The Finch downtown is a perfect spot for lunch breaks with colleagues or a quick pick-me-up before errands in town, their latest and second venue in East Toowoomba serves as a gorgeous lunch and dinner spot that’s fully licensed and specialises in pizzas to share. Take a seat outdoors in the garden and enjoy a long lunch with friends and family.
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Gip's Restaurant
Located in one of Toowoomba’s most historical buildings, Clifford House, and renowned for its refined menu offerings, Gip’s is a must for anyone looking for a romantic and sophisticated dining experience. Guests can enjoy their dinner under fairy-light adorned trees in the peaceful courtyard.
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The Royal Hotel
This country-style pub’s beer garden makes for the perfect Sunday session, with plenty of outdoor bar stools and tables. Grab lunch from the specials board before enjoying beers on tap all afternoon.
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Thai Royal
Thai Royal is an authentic, family-owned restaurant located outside Southtown Shopping Centre, and has been serving traditional and modern dishes for over ten years thanks to the knowledge of the head chef, who worked in hospitality in Thailand for a decade before bringing his expertise to Australia. Thai Royal calls for Friday night family traditions – just take a seat outside on the patio and let the staff work their magic. Just keep in mind that this restaurant is BYO only.
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Picnic Point Cafe & Restaurant
With one of the most impressive views in the region, Picnic Point is another top pick for alfresco dining in style. With a vast outdoor seating arrangement, guests can take in the lush view of Tabletop Mountain and the surrounding countryside as they enjoy their morning brew and breakfast. The cafe also serves as a rest spot where hikers can enjoy a refreshing beverage after tackling one of the area’s walking trails.
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The Chocolate Cottage Café
Located 15 minutes north of Toowoomba in Highfields, this schoolhouse-turned café is a chocolate store and teahouse in one. The team have been crafting confectionary in-store since 1997, and today sell 60 different varieties of chocolate. Soak up the sun or get some shade under the vine-covered awnings to enjoy lunch before checking out the surrounding homewares and fashion stores that make up the shopping village, then purchase a bag of gourmet chocolate to enjoy on the ride home (if it lasts until then, that is).
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Monty Brewing Co.
Here, you can enjoy authentic craft beers and ciders gathered around a picnic table as you take in an unmissable view of the Toowoomba Range. It’s casual and bright, making for a relaxing afternoon, with the help of regular live music acts and savoury and sweet treats too. Make sure to chat with the team to learn more about their microbrew process and try their craft beer recommendations.
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De Dutch Café
A quaint and charming cafe located in Newtown, that specialises in sweet desserts. Take a seat outside in the garden beside the adorable windmill, and enjoy Dutch waffles or poffertjes paired with a cold milkshake or frappe. Not a sweet tooth? They’ve also got savoury pancake options as well as loaded burgers for lunch.
Did we miss your favourite? Let us know and we’ll add them to the list!
