Opening a restaurant in Bulimba, QLD: Market & Competitor Analysis (2026)

Bulimba, QLD currently has 34 active restaurants businesses. Based on ABS demographics and Google Places competitor data, Bulimba scores 40/100 on the Strategique Score™ for anyone weighing up opening a restaurant here.

Bulimba restaurants market snapshot

Strategique Score™40/100
Active restaurants businesses34
Local population (ABS)7,407 residents
Median household income (ABS 2021)$2,868/week
Data updatedJuly 2026

Strategic insight: the Bulimba restaurants market

Weekly household income of $2,868 sits well above the Brisbane average, and unemployment at 3.8 per cent points to a stable earner base rather than a discretionary-spending boom. But a population of just 7,407 caps the number of covers available on any given night, so the maths here favours spend per visit over volume. Operators who chase high table turnover will find the local pool too shallow; the ones who do well will be the kitchens that get a household to trade up from $60 to $90 a head, not the ones counting on new customers walking in.

Top-rated restaurants in Bulimba

BusinessRatingReviews
Melrose Restaurant & Rooftop Bar4.8★961
Romeo Italian4.7★87
Stella4.3★405

31 more restaurants businesses are mapped in the full Bulimba report.

Deeper analysis: Bulimba restaurants market

Opening a restaurant in Bulimba: common questions

how many restaurants are in Bulimba

34 restaurants currently operate in Bulimba. That's roughly one restaurant per 218 residents, which signals high saturation. For context, the suburb has a competitive density score of 90/100, meaning dining venues are tightly packed. A new operator will face direct competition across most meal types and price points.

is Bulimba a good place to open a restaurant

It's a mixed prospect. The Strategique Score is 40/100, suggesting limited overall advantage for new entrants. However, market opportunity scores 77/100, indicating demand exists. The effective density of 48/100 shows room for differentiation despite high restaurant numbers. Success depends on finding a gap competitors don't fill.

how strong is the competition in Bulimba

Strong. Melrose Restaurant & Rooftop Bar leads with 4.8 stars across 961 reviews, followed by Romeo Italian at 4.7 stars. The Competitor Strength Index is 53/100, middle-ground but backed by established, well-reviewed operators. These venues have built loyal customer bases and set service standards new entrants must match or exceed.

what kind of customers can I expect in Bulimba

7,407 residents with weekly household income of $2,868. That's moderate to upper-middle income, suggesting customers can support mid-range to premium pricing. Spending power is solid but not affluent. Target offerings that suit casual-to-fine dining rather than budget quick-service or ultra-premium venues.

what do I need to do first to open a restaurant in Bulimba

Start by mapping the 34 existing restaurants to identify genuine gaps—analyse their cuisines, hours, price points and customer reviews. Visit Melrose, Romeo Italian and Stella to understand what's working locally. Third, assess your concept against Bulimba's demographic profile and effective density score to ensure realistic demand before proceeding to licensing and site selection.

Restaurants markets in nearby suburbs

Other business markets in Bulimba

Run a free Strategique Score for your own suburb and industry →

Fast-loading summary — the full interactive report loads automatically.