Venner is a modern product of the wave of New Nordic cuisine from the 2010s, spearheaded by restaurants like Noma, Relae and Fäviken. Brisbane’s own contribution to the movement was Elska in Wilston. It closed in 2023, leaving a noticeable gap for fans of New Nordic cooking – one now being filled by Venner. George Curtis and James Horsfall, two Elska alumni who opened CBD wine bar Milquetoast together in 2024, are behind Venner.

Snacks might include a buckwheat cracker topped with Spanish mackerel and cucumber, or kangaroo pastrami draped over cultured cream with fried onions. For mains, expect grilled Murray cod with bisque and charred greens, or barbeque deer loin with cavolo nero and warrigal green sauce.

The point here is more the technique than the dishes, which change all the time. At the bar at the back of the space, you might find bar manager Aidan Perkins with a large selection of aquavit (a caraway-flavoured Scandinavian spirit that’s a relative rarity in Brisbane). The wine list is concise – around 60 bottles – but thoughtfully curated, with a focus on organic and biodynamic producers.