If approved, the site could soon be home to a two-level restaurant and gin distillery, a rooftop garden and a new viewing platform.

Beloved by out-of-towners looking to take in the sights, lovebirds cosying up with a view and hikers fresh from an expedition up the summit track, the Mount Coot-tha Lookout is undeniably one of Brisbane’s most popular vantage points.

The Summit, a heritage-listed cafe and restaurant boasting sensational views of Brisbane City and beyond, has been keeping visitors fed and watered for years, but a new development application submitted by operators Mantle Group Hospitality (Babylon, The Sound Garden) could see the location overhauled into a culinary hub impressive enough to distract from the vista.

“What we are proposing is transformational and presents The Summit as an iconic and exciting site for locals and visitors to Brisbane,” said Mantle Group Hospitality owner Godfrey Mantle in a statement. “Both the restaurant and the cafe are in dire need of significant work, plus we want to optimise the venues to take advantage of the spectacular views.

“The amenities will be completely renovated and we’ll landscape the surrounds to create a more appealing environment.”

An artist’s impression of how the remodelled Summit Cafe will look. (Image: The Mantle Group)

Submitted plans include the demolishment of the exisiting cafe to make space for what the Mantle team is calling the Pavilion – a two-level venue that will house a ground-floor dining space and gin distillery, a rooftop garden that will double as a First Nations’ herb and food garden, and an adjacent viewing platform that will be accessible to guests via a connecting bridge.

Here, the team hopes the traditional owners of Mount Coot-tha will be able to host a series of experiences that will convey the stories of local legends and native foods. The top floor of the nearby restaurant will be upgraded with a casual bar and a new deck boasting unparalleled views, while the ground floor of the restaurant will be transformed into a theatre, tasked with depicting the culture and history of the Mount Coot-tha traditional indigenous owners.

Hogg and Lamb have been recruited to create the new-look venue’s design, which favours open layouts and clear sight lines to maximise the site’s iconic outlook.

If approved, the proposed development will take up to seven months to complete.