Inside The Weekend Edition Editor's Brisbane favourites

If anyone knows how to do a perfect night out in Brisbane, it’s James Frostick. As Editor of popular food and lifestyle publication The Weekend Edition, the UQ Bachelor of Journalism graduate has spent more than a decade eating, drinking and documenting the city’s best food, bars and cultural experiences.

Contact caught up with Frostick to talk about how he landed the role, what’s really happening in Brisbane’s hospitality scene, and the best things he ate in 2025.

You’ve got what many would call a dream job. Tell us about your journey from a Bachelor of Journalism to The Weekend Edition.

My journey from UQ to The Weekend Edition was a circuitous one. After finishing my degree, I spent a few years in the wilderness doing work experience, freelance jobs and temporary comms roles around Brisbane. One such gig was an internship at map magazine, the predecessor to The Weekend Edition. During this time I assisted with the publication’s nascent digital offshoot, writing small pieces and on-the-street interviews.

A few years later, a friend told me that The Weekend Edition was looking for freelance contributors. I applied, and thankfully someone remembered me. After submitting some samples, I was told that the role had been upgraded to a full-time gig. I interviewed and not long after scored the role of editorial assistant. The rest is history.

What does a day in the life look like for you these days?

I wear a few hats as Editor and, as such, my day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on the time of the week. Aside from the general admin duties and strategy work that come with being the editor, a big part of my role is writing feature stories for the site. A day could involve visiting new cafes, bars and restaurants, interviewing business owners and chefs, taking photos of the venue and menu items, editing images and writing articles. I also handle some social media duties, build EDMs and edit the work of others.

What were the best dishes you ate in Brisbane in 2025 – and what are you most excited to try out (or revisit) in 2026?

Some of my favourite dishes from 2025 include the khao soi at So What Stereo, the coral trout Wellington at Marlowe, the pecan pie at Time & Temp, prawn omurice with shiitake lemon tsuyu at Snug, the king crab and pork spring rolls and Cantonese wagyu chow fun at Central, to name a few.

I’m overdue for a visit to countless places, but there’s also always something new to try. You’ll just have to follow The Weekend Edition to see where we pop up!

It seems Brisbane’s food and hospitality scene has exploded in recent years – what’s driving this, in your view?

The scene is certainly in a good place at the moment and there are a few contributing factors to the health of Brisbane hospitality as it stands.

As Brisbane managed to avoid lengthy COVID-era lockdowns, the food scene was able to bounce back relatively quickly. While Brisbane hospitality did suffer (some areas of the industry are still reckoning with the toll of 2020 and 2021), being able to get back on track quicker than most helped keep the momentum of 2019 rolling.

Naturally, there is now a lot of interest in Brisbane in the wake of the 2032 Olympics announcement, which has drawn the attention of industry heavyweights from interstate looking to plant a flag in Southeast Queensland. However, Brisbane’s scene is only in a good state thanks to the foundation laid by homegrown operators. From high-profile groups to young guns with big ideas, Brisbane’s best restaurants, bars and cafes are typically run by locals that set a tone and culture that is now earning the recognition it deserves.

Describe your perfect night out in Brisbane. What’s on the agenda?

Okay, this is tough. It really depends on my mood (and, let’s be real, bank account balance). But, if I was backed into a corner for an answer, my dream night out itinerary would involve a cocktail and a snack first (at somewhere like Bar Miette, Milquetoast, Grape & Grazing, Bar Francine or Maeve Wine), followed by some kind of event (gig, art show, film or theatre performance). After that, dinner somewhere fun (and a little bit fancy – Exhibition, Central, Supernormal, Joy, August, Happy Boy, The French Exit, Shortgrain, Sushi Room or Essa) before seeing the night out at a bar (Dark Red, Shaman, The Gresham, Stan’s Lounge or Flying Colours – bonus points if there’s good music).

What do you think is the most underrated or under-the-radar Brisbane experience?

Dining wise, everyone should get familiar with the food scenes in Inala, Darra and Sunnybank.

Culturally, Brisbane’s art scene is in an exciting spot, with a bunch of mid- to small-scale galleries really pushing local creatives to the fore – IMA, Outerspace, Superordinary and Merivale Studios come to mind.