A revolving roster of top Australian chefs arrives at Brisbane Airport soon with an exciting new dining concept, The Independent, set to take off in July at the Domestic Terminal. The new restaurant is a premier destination for nationally acclaimed chefs and emerging local talents to showcase their signature dishes and experiment with new flavours over a seasonal varied period residency. The Independent’s inaugural headline chef is iconic Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan OAM, presenting his distinctive French-Asian brasserie-style cuisine. The restaurant is a partnership between Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE) and Brisbane Airport.
Brisbane Airport Executive General Manager of Commercial Martin Ryan said The Independent was the latest addition to one of the city’s most exciting dining destinations. “Brisbane Airport is investing $7.8 million as part of the Southern Terminal retail redevelopment – including new and refreshed dining experiences – and we are delighted to welcome The Independent as one of this precinct’s crowning jewels,” Ryan said. “This venue is more than a restaurant; it really is about reimagining the dining scene for travellers and that doesn’t just begin when you get to your holiday destination. A large part of the travel and culinary experience begins when you arrive at the airport. Having a chef with the international pedigree and reputation of Luke Mangan helming the restaurant’s launch will certainly elevate the airport experience for the thousands of passengers and visitors who pass through each day. And the great feature is you can come back after a few months and it will be an entirely new menu.”
Mangan said he was excited to be the first of many chefs dazzling airport guests at the innovative new concept venue. “I am thrilled to be part of the launch of The Independent at Brisbane Airport, bringing travellers the opportunity to enjoy a great meal with us before they embark on their journey. This partnership is a wonderful milestone, marking the first time the Luke Mangan brand is showcased at Brisbane Airport.”
Mangan’s custom menu features his signature dishes including Queensland seafood, Mooloolabah prawn roll, the classic prawn cocktail is making a revival, Luke’s iconic tuna sashimi nachos and tacos, Sydney Rock Oysters, seafood towers for two, market fish and succulent steaks. The new venue will also have Brisbane Airports most extensive beverage offering, pouring more than 50 plus local spirits predominately featuring the Queensland market with Margaritas comprising of local agave from Northern Queensland to green ant gin by the Larrakia people to Kangaroo Island Distilleries spirits. Not to mention an International and Japanese whiskey menu, a rotating menu of local and independent craft beer, wines from Brisbane City Winery and a comprehensive low and non-alcoholic beverage menu.
ARE National Operations Manager Corey Law said the Airport Retail Enterprises Team are excited to bring the dynamic new concept and revolving roster of incredible chefs to Brisbane Domestic Airport. “The Independent offers travellers a space to relax with a great meal amid a stunning design inspired by the Brisbane river featuring calming blue and green hues, shimmering surfaces and warm tropical timbers. Through our innovative restaurant and dining concepts, including The Common, Newstead Brewing Co., Seeds by Bruno Loubet – a one-star Michelin Chef – and Brisbane’s MICA Patisserie by Shannon Kellam which debuted in December 2023, we’ve witnessed remarkable success,” Law said. “The Independent is one of our most ambitious Australian airport projects and we are honoured to debut the latest fresh concept as part of Brisbane Airport’s multi-million-dollar redevelopment.”
The upgrade of the Domestic Terminal is part of the $5 billion Brisbane Airport is investing in the Future BNE transformation. The Independent joins newly opened LOCAL and Motto Motto at Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal with more new retail brands opening in 2024.