Layla wins best new restaurant opening at the 2025 Sitchu Awards
Layla, the celebrated Brisbane restaurant from chef Shane Delia and the team behind Melbourne’s acclaimed Maha, has been awarded Best New Restaurant Opening of 2025 in Queensland in the Sitchu Awards 2025, as voted by diners across Australia.
Since opening within the Thomas Dixon Centre in early 2025, Layla has quickly established itself as one of Brisbane’s most captivating dining experiences – a celebration of food and culture inspired by ancient spice trails with an Australian accent. Set within the heritage-listed arts precinct, the restaurant blends refined warmth and contemporary design with a menu that brings together flavour, culture and connection.
“To be recognised by the people who dine with us and share in what we do is incredibly humbling,” says Shane Delia. “Layla was created to bring together spice, culture and connection and this award reflects not only the hard work of our team but the amazing Brisbane community who’ve embraced us from day one.”
Daryl Kerry, CEO of VenuesLive, adds: “Layla was envisioned as a key part of the Thomas Dixon Centre’s transformation into a cultural and hospitality destination. This recognition is a testament to Shane’s leadership, the team’s creativity and the warmth with which Brisbane has welcomed Layla.”
Dilshani Weerasinghe, Executive Director of Queensland Ballet, adds: "We’re thrilled with this accolade from the Sitchu Awards. When redeveloping our home, the Thomas Dixon Centre, a key priority was creating a lively cultural precinct and must-visit destination for locals and visitors. It exemplifies how public and private investment can deliver outstanding outcomes for audiences, community, and Queensland’s vibrancy. Layla, with Shane Delia’s inspired menu and the team’s warm hospitality, has become a standout foodie experience. I acknowledge the support of the Queensland Government and our capital enablers, who believed in our vision to include destination hospitality in the redevelopment. Congratulations to Shane, and the Layla, Venues Live, and Queensland Ballet teams on this well-deserved recognition.”
The accolade marks a significant milestone in Layla’s first year of operation, reaffirming its place among Queensland’s leading restaurants and one of Australia’s most exciting new openings.
Bookings are available via the website.
Layla Brisbane, 13th November 2025
