I didn’t have to go far to dine at Australia’s Best New Restaurant 2025. It’s just a four-minute drive for me up Given Terrace in leafy Paddington, Brisbane — and yet it feels like stepping into a sophisticated Milanese dream.
Within months of opening, Attimi by Dario Manca has swept the nation’s awards scene, earning Two Chef Hats and 14 points from the Australian Good Food Guide, Best New Restaurant QLD/NT at the 2025 Restaurant & Catering Association Awards for Excellence, and two Glasses in the 2025 Australian Wine List of the Year Awards. Now Attimi shines on the national stage, taking out Australia’s Best New Restaurant at the Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence 2025.
The Best and The Rest
✅ A masterclass in modern Italian dining — confident flavours, heartfelt service, and a chef whose passion shines in every course.
❌ Just one small plea: more of that pepper butter, please — it’s far too good to share.
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Plan Your Trip to Brisbane
If you’re planning a trip to Brisbane, set aside time to wander through the leafy streets of Paddington, where heritage Queenslanders perch on the hills and boutique-lined terraces hum with café chatter. Just minutes from the city centre, this is where Brisbane’s creative spirit meets village charm. Spend the morning browsing homewares and fashion stores, linger over coffee on a sun-drenched verandah, and then settle in for a long lunch or indulgent dinner at Attimi by Dario Manca, the jewel of Given Terrace and now officially Australia’s Best New Restaurant 2025. It’s the perfect way to experience Brisbane’s relaxed sophistication, one delicious moment at a time.
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For chef-owner Dario Manca, whose career stretches from the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay, Antonino Cannavacciuolo and Heinz Beck to leading some of Brisbane’s finest restaurants, these accolades are deeply satisfying — but they’re not what drives him.
“The way Brisbane has embraced Attimi has been extraordinary,” Manca says. “From the very beginning, our guests have understood what we’re trying to create — not just food, but a feeling. I’m deeply grateful, and more excited than ever for this next chapter.”
An Italian love affair — reimagined in Brisbane
I first tasted Manca’s cooking at Motorwagen Restaurant in Brisbane’s CBD and remember being surprised by his ability to elevate familiar flavours into something remarkable. Since then, he’s honed his craft at Rosmarino and now, at his own venue, found a voice that is uniquely his.
If you’re craving a taste of Italy with a modern twist, run — don’t walk — to Attimi. With one bite of Manca’s signature “Ultimate Arancino” — Carnaroli rice, porcini and truffle — I was instantly transported to the sun-dappled streets of Sicily. His playful Seafood Carbonara of black squid-ink tonnarelli and coral trout foam takes a Roman classic and spins it into something light, luxurious and totally new.
We delighted in oozy opera-style burrata drizzled with fermented truffle honey, paired with a decade-old sourdough focaccia to mop up the juices. My only complaint? More of that pepper butter, please!
Dining as theatre: a personal performance
With only 28 seats, Attimi feels like a private performance rather than a restaurant. Manca himself delivers many dishes to the table, explaining each course with warmth and detail — the provenance of ingredients, the memory that inspired the idea, the technical precision hidden beneath apparent simplicity.
Even the centrepieces tell a story: sculptural clay artworks by a New Delhi artist, depicting expressive Italian hand gestures. Every table becomes a conversation.
A new chapter for Attimi
Now in its second year, Attimi has unveiled a reimagined degustation menu, an elegant outdoor terrace and a refined express-lunch option.
“The degustation remains at the heart of what we do,” says Manca, “but this express menu opens the door a little wider. Even if you’ve only got an hour for lunch, you should still be able to taste the essence of Attimi — dishes that surprise, that delight, that feel like a moment worth pausing for.”
Embracing Brisbane’s outdoor lifestyle, the new alfresco terrace invites guests to sip, share and savour while watching Paddington’s high-street bustle.
The Italian degustation Brisbane diners experience here continues Manca’s philosophy of taking guests on a journey through Italy’s diverse regions — from the mountain flavours of Piedmont to the coastal freshness of Liguria. Each dish can be paired with wines curated by Attimi’s sommelier, spanning rare Italian vintages, standout Australian drops and boutique French labels.
A conversation with Chef Dario Manca
A chef driven by moments, not milestones
When I sat down for this Chef Dario Manca interview, he spoke about the night Attimi was crowned Australia’s Best New Restaurant 2025.
“When they called our name in Sydney, I just froze. It was such a beautiful moment — especially in our first year, doing something a little different with Italian food. It means everything.”
The name Attimi means “moments” in Italian — and it was, fittingly, a single moment that changed everything for Manca. After leaving Rosmarino and recovering from a serious arm injury, he was on the verge of moving into consultancy when Sebastian de Kort from Nota offered him the chance to take over an existing Paddington space.
“It felt like a train had stopped right in front of me,” Manca says. “I could either watch it go or jump on. Attimi is that train — a leap of passion and belief in seizing the moment.”
Reinventing tradition
Manca’s approach to modern Italian cuisine is both intellectual and instinctive.
“Tradition is already part of me,” he explains. “I grew up eating this food — now I find new ways to tell the story.”
His secret carbonara replaces pecorino with coral trout and guanciale with swordfish belly, mirroring the same protein-fat chemistry while transforming the flavour. “It’s familiar but from another era,” he smiles. “I love when people get that flashback moment.”
Defining Brisbane’s fine-dining era
“Brisbane has come a long way,” he says. “After COVID, the dining scene just exploded. People want experiences that are thoughtful and creative. Attimi isn’t in the CBD — it’s a destination. But people come because they’re looking for something that feels personal, something crafted. That’s what we love doing: creating memories and making people happy.”
Getting There
You’ll find Attimi by Dario Manca at 224 Given Terrace, Paddington, just a short drive from Brisbane’s CBD. The restaurant sits in the heart of this charming hillside suburb, surrounded by boutiques, wine bars and heritage Queenslanders that give Paddington its unmistakable character. Street parking is available along Given Terrace and nearby side streets, though it can fill quickly during peak dining hours, so arriving a little early or ridesharing is a smart move. Attimi is open Tuesday to Saturday, with lunch served Thursday to Sunday — perfect timing for a leisurely midday escape or an elegant evening under the Paddington lights.
attimi.com.au
Disclaimer: Eat drink and be Kerry was hosted by Attimi.
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