Vertigo Restaurant Review

In the heart of New Farm, Vertigo Restaurant is a sky-high dining experience with delicious food and panoramic views.

The Brisbane Travel Guide acknowledges the Turrbal people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Vertigo Restaurant is located. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and recognise their continued spiritual and cultural connections to Country.  Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Looking for something a bit different to do in Brisbane? Not sure if you want to check out a new restaurant or a new Brisbane attraction? Well, at Vertigo Restaurant, you can do both!

Located at New Farm’s Powerhouse, Vertigo Restaurant is Australia’s first ‘vertical’ restaurant, where, as well as enjoying a beautiful three-course meal, diners will also experience some of the best views in all of Brisbane!

Not sure if this experience is for you? Then read on; we cover all you need to know in this guide!

We were paying customers at Vertigo, so you can rest assured that our review is 100% unbiased.

This post may contain compensated links.  Please refer to our disclaimer here for more information.

What is Vertigo Restaurant?

Opening in late 2023, at Vertigo Restaurant, harnessed diners sit in a long line of pairs suspended 17 metres above the ground on the edge of the Brisbane Powerhouse building. There are 8 tables of 2 (so 16 people can dine at once).

The table and chairs are kind of like a bench seat, and you’ll need to climb over the edge of the wall to reach it. But don’t worry; you’re harnessed in at all times.

There’s a little bar under the table where you can rest your feet; alternatively, let them dangle free!

Everything is served at the table to you, and quite funnily, your cutlery is all tethered to your table so it can’t fall off. Napkins, on the other hand, are not tethered to the table, and we lost quite a few over the edge.

Do expect lots of well wishers from the ground, singing out and giving you a wave. I guess it’s not every day you see people having dinner from the side of a building.

How do you get up and down?

I’d first thought the suspended tables and chairs moved up and down the side of the building, and that was how you got up and down – but that’s not it at all.

To get to the top, you can either walk up a couple of flights of stairs or take the lift. You then walk out across a grated steel walkway. The entire time, you are clipped to the railing, so there is no chance whatsoever of being blown off the side of the building.

When you have finished eating, you either take the lift or stairs back down to the ground, or alternatively, you can be lowered down the side of the building! 

Going down the side of the building is certainly the more thrilling way to reach ground level.

We didn’t find it scary at all – EXCEPT for that initial jumping off – but within seconds, the rope catches your weight, and you’re lowered to the ground in a very controlled fashion.

Now, to celebrate jumping off the side of the building (or maybe you’re just celebrating having dinner 17 metres off the ground), you will get a glass of champagne, a beer or a soft drink. 

Once on the ground, a few other diners were enjoying their celebratory drink, and there definitely was a buzz in the air with everyone talking about their cool experience.

What’s on the menu?

The set menu is a locally sourced Italian meal from Bar Alto, one of the excellent restaurants in the Powerhouse. 

Our entre was a deliciously creamy Burrata served with heirloom tomato, basil and aged balsamico.  It was a perfect light entre to soothe the nerves. Vegans will get a Panzenella of heirloom tomato with roasted peppers and macadamia.

For the main course, you have the choice of seafood or vegetarian. As I don’t eat seafood, I opted for the vegetarian option, which was a lovely pumpkin nudi served with exotic mushrooms, oregano pesto and crusty brew sourdough.

The seafood option is Brodetto, which consists of Moreton Bay bugs, Mooloolaba king prawns, Jervis Bay mussels and calamari served with saffron brodo and crusty brew sourdough.

Dessert was a light and tasty Bonet made with Piedmontese chocolate caramel custard and hazelnut biscotti. Vegans will be served an almond milk panna cotta with strawberries.

Entre and main are share plates – which was a bit of a shame for us as my partner would have liked the seafood. While I understand the challenges in getting the food up here, a bit more of a choice would have been nice given the hefty price tag – it could be something you choose in advance.

Another thing to note is that given the sky-high venue – you won’t be getting through a bottle of wine up here, but guests are served a glass of wine with their meal. Soft drinks are also available.

And while the food was delicious – don’t expect a fine dining experience up here – you’re definitely here for the experience rather than the food.

Note: you are required to be breathalysed before commencing the experience. Provided you blow zero, you’ll be served wine with your dinner. However, if you blow 0 to 0.05, you won’t be allowed any alcohol. And if you blow over 0.05, you won’t be allowed up regardless.

What’s the service like?

From the time we arrived to the time we left, we had fabulous service. I guess it is a cool place to work, and everyone is super pumped throughout the experience, but I felt like the staff here were incredible!

We had loads of questions to ask, probably the same questions they get asked day in and day out – but all staff were more than happy to answer all of the questions and chat with us.

The entire experience lasts 2 hours – but if you just eat your food and head down, it can be over within an hour. However, at no time did we feel rushed. Our server, Hanka, was brilliant and kept telling us to take our time and that there was no rush.

I also loved how supportive they were to us all as we abseiled down the building and how they celebrated with each and every single person as they reached the bottom.

So well done Vertigo crew!

How much is it?

It’s probably no surprise to most, but at $250 per person, the Vertigo experience isn’t cheap!

The full experience includes a three-course dinner plus two glasses of wine (one with dinner and one after your descent).  Is it worth that much? Maybe not – but I think I put it down to one of those experiences you got to try once.

There is also the option of having a charcuterie board for $149 per person. This isn’t offered on their website, though, so I think this is only available for people who just rock up, and then it’s probably only subject to availability.

And if you’re happy to skip the food but really really want to jump off the side of the building, you can do so for $49 per person.

Good to know

While it’s not a requirement, it’s best to avoid wearing dresses or skirts: they won’t work well with a harness.

Long hair should be tied back (unless you want to eat your own hair) and Vertigo advises against wearing necklaces, dangly earrings or anything that could get caught and entangled in the abseil ropes or your harness.

Also, wear shoes that are strapped onto your feet. You don’t want to be losing a shoe from 17 metres above the ground.

It is also important to know that the experience is weather dependent and cannot go ahead in poor or windy weather. 

Minimum age of 10 and a certain degree of fitness are required to access your table as you need to climb stairs and a 3-metre ladder and climb over a wall to reach your table. 

Height and weight restrictions also apply. You must weigh more than 25 kg but less than 120 kg and be taller than 110 cm. The experience is not suitable for pregnant women or, of course, anyone who suffers from vertigo! 

One top tip I will give you is to go to the bathroom just before you put your harness on! Diners are strongly encouraged not to go to the toilet during dinner. 

And if you want to bring your phone up, you’ll need to hire a Vertigo lanyard for $5, which I thought was a bit rich, given you’ve just paid $250 for the experience!

Verdict

We absolutely loved our Vertigo experience! It was definitely something different.

It’s certainly not cheap, so it’s probably one of those things you might do for a special occasion and most likely just once.

However, I found the experience really fun and one I’d certainly recommend.

And now after recently being mentioned as the place to go in Brisbane by the New York Times – I suspect this place is going to get a tad busy – so make a booking soon to avoid the rush!