Maker

Brisbane

　　Intimate, black-clad and spliced by a sexy brass bar, Maker crafts seasonal cocktails using house liqueurs, out-of-the-box ingredients and a splash of whimsy. Here, classic Negronis are made with house-infused vermouth, while gin and tonics might get native with quandong and finger lime. You'll also find a selection of boutique...

Davies Park Market

Brisbane

　　Shaded by huge Moreton Bay fig trees, this popular, atmospheric market heaves with fresh produce, not to mention a gut-rumbling booty of multicultural food stalls. Grab an organic coffee from Gyspy Vardo, sip it on a milk crate, then scour the place for organic fruit and veg, herbs, flowers, handmade...

Brisbane Riverwalk

Brisbane

　　Jutting out over the city's big, brown waterway, the Brisbane Riverwalk offers a novel way of surveying the Brisbane skyline. The 870m-long path – divided into separate walking and cycling lanes – runs between Howard Smith Wharves and the salubrious suburb of New Farm. The Riverwalk replaces the original floating...

Mt Coot-tha Reserve

Brisbane

　　A 15-minute drive or bus ride from the city, this huge bush reserve is topped by 287m Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane's highest point. On the hillsides you’ll find the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, walking trails and the eye-popping Mt Coot-tha Lookout, the latter offering a bird's-eye view...

Jet Black Cat Music

Brisbane

　　Serious music fans know all about Shannon Logan and her little West End record shop. She's usually behind the piano-cum-counter, chatting with a loyal fan base who drop in for an in-the-know, hard-to-find booty of indie vinyl. Logan only sells what she's passionate about, and the place also hosts occasional...

Collective Markets South Bank

Brisbane

　　South Bank's Collective Markets may draw the tourist hordes, but its modest sweep of stalls do sell some great items, most notably breezy summer frocks and kidswear. Other offerings include contemporary handmade jewellery, candles, skincare, photography and (sometimes kitschy) art. ...

Triffid

Brisbane

　　Not only does the Triffid have an awesome beer garden (complete with shipping-container bars and a cassette-themed mural honouring Brisbane bands), but it's also one of the city's top live-music venues. Acts span local, Aussie and international talent, playing in a barrel-vaulted WWII hangar with killer acoustics. It's hardly surprising...

Jan Powers Farmers Market

Brisbane

　　Hankering for some purple heirloom carrots or blue bananas? The chances are you'll find them at this abundant, appetite-piquing farmers market. Grab a coffee and pastry and soak up the spectacle of beautiful fruit and vegetables, cheeses, fish, silky olives, coffee and colourful flowers. Best of all, the CityCat will...

Felix for Goodness

Brisbane

　　Spruced-up Felix channels Melbourne with its laneway locale, industrial fit-out and effortlessly cool vibe. Produce-driven, all-day-brunch dishes might include poppyseed pikelets with whipped ricotta, roasted stone fruit and saffron-cardamon syrup, or a bowl of golden falafel served with cauliflower, currants, tabbouleh, sauerkraut and muhammara (hot pepper dip). Wash it down...

Alba Bar & Delicatessen

Brisbane

　　Pintxos and hip-hop beats make for interesting bedfellows at Alba, a new-school laneway bar from former Masterchef Australia contestant Jamie Fleming. Drinks include cocktails and lesser-known wine varietals, paired perfectly with rotating lunchtime bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches; served until 3pm weekdays only) and all-day tapas-style bites, served Monday to Saturday. The...

University of Queensland Art Museum

Brisbane

　　Occupying a striking glass-and-concrete building on the University of Queensland's verdant grounds, this progressive public gallery serves up temporary exhibitions of mainly modern and contemporary Australian art. Its permanent collection is one of the state's most important, with a nationally significant collection of self-portraits. The most enjoyable way to get...

Eat Street Northshore

Brisbane

　　Brisbane's riverside take on the night food market feels like a gastronomic carnival, its village of shipping-containers-turned-kitchens peddling everything from freshly shucked oysters to Japanese yakisoba, South American grilled meats, American mac-and-cheese and Sicilian cannoli. Add craft brews, live tunes and a handful of quirky retailers and you have one...

Queensland Art Gallery

Brisbane

　　While Brisbane's main art museum includes numerous international works, its forte is its Australia collection. This includes works by heavyweights like Sidney Nolan, Russell Drysdale, Arthur Boyd, Charles Blackman, William Dobell, Margaret Olley and Howard Arkley. A robust collection of Indigenous Australian works features paintings and pottery by artists from...

Old Government House

Brisbane

　　Queensland's most important heritage building, this 1862 showpiece was designed by estimable government architect Charles Tiffin as a residence for Sir George Bowen, Queensland’s first governor. The lavish innards were restored in 2009 and the property offers free podcast tours and one-hour guided tours; the latter must be booked in...

Museum of Brisbane

Brisbane

　　On the 3rd floor of City Hall, this forward-thinking museum explores historic and modern aspects of Brisbane, offering fresh, progressive insights into Queensland's capital. Exhibitions to date have explored themes as varied as contemporary Brisbane fashion, the city's robust music scene and the relationship between architecture, art, people and place....

City Hall

Brisbane

　　Fronted by a row of sequoia-sized Corinthian columns, Australia's largest city hall was built between 1920 and 1930. Although free, fascinating heritage tours (45 minutes) of the sandstone behemoth should be booked in advance (online or by phone); they can be available on the day from the excellent on-site Museum...

Brisbane Powerhouse

Brisbane

　　On the eastern flank of New Farm Park stands the Powerhouse, a once-derelict power station superbly transformed into a contemporary arts centre. Its innards pimped with graffiti remnants, industrial machinery and old electrical transformers-turned-lights, the centre hosts a range of events, including art exhibitions, theatre, live music and comedy. You'll...

Gallery of Modern Art

Brisbane

　　All angular glass, concrete and black metal, must-see GOMA celebrates modern and contemporary art, with a particular emphasis on Australian, Asian and Pacific artists. Regularly changing exhibitions spotlight everything from painting, sculpture and photography to video and installation art, while GOMA's Australian Cinémathèque screens unique, often rare films and video...

Queensland Cultural Centre

Brisbane

　　On South Bank, just over Victoria Bridge from the CBD, the Queensland Cultural Centre is the epicentre of Brisbane’s cultural confluence. Surrounded by subtropical gardens, the string of architecturally notable buildings includes the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland Museum & Sciencentre, the Queensland Art Gallery, the State Library of...

South Bank Parklands

Brisbane

　　Should you sunbake on a sandy beach, saunter through a rainforest, or eye-up a Nepalese peace pagoda? You can do all three in this 17.5-hectare park overlooking the city centre. Its canopied walkways lead to performance spaces, lush lawns, eateries and bars, and regular free events ranging from fitness classes...