Restaurant, Cafe and Takeaway Food Licence QLD Help

Food licence, liquor licence or both?

When people search for a restaurant licence in QLD, they can mean two different things. The council food business licence covers preparing and selling food. Serving alcohol is a separate liquor matter handled through OLGR. A cafe adding wine to the menu or a restaurant opening a bar may need both, and neither replaces the other.

Because we help with food and liquor licensing, you can plan both sides in one conversation instead of finding out about the second approval close to opening.

Set dining table with a cafe counter and espresso machine in the background

15Years of experience

550+Projects

170+Clients

100%Approval rate

How we help restaurants and cafes

First conversation
Tell us about the venue, menu and timing, and whether alcohol is part of the plan.
Prepare the food application
We help identify the right council pathway and put together supporting material for your application.
Plan the liquor side
If you'll serve alcohol, we work out which liquor application fits and can prepare and lodge it with OLGR.

New venue, takeover or menu change?

Queensland has separate pathways for a new business, a takeover and changes to a licensed business. A food licence may not simply pass to a buyer: Brisbane City Council, for example, says a new owner needs a new licence. If you're buying, check your council's process before settlement.

Your menu matters too. A business selling only coffee or drinks may not need a food business licence, while one preparing or serving unpackaged food generally will. Describe what you'll actually serve, and we'll help you prepare for the questions council is likely to ask. Details that help:

Premises address and whether the kitchen is new or existing
A draft menu and how food is prepared, stored and served
Planning, building or fitout approvals already underway
Who will provide food safety knowledge or act as food safety supervisor if required
Your target opening or settlement date

Open kitchen with staff preparing drinks

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need approval before fitting out a cafe kitchen?

Possibly, and separately from the food licence. Queensland Government guidance mentions other approvals and a suitable fitout, and Brisbane City Council, for example, treats planning and fitout approvals as separate steps. Ask your council before building.

Can I keep the previous owner's licence when I buy a restaurant?

Often not. Brisbane City Council, for example, requires a new licence when a business is taken over. Processes vary between councils, so confirm with yours early in the purchase.

Does a food business licence let me sell alcohol?

No. Food and liquor are licensed separately. If you plan to serve alcohol, liquor licensing needs its own assessment, which we can discuss with you.