Shopping

Queen Street Mall

If you want designer shops then you find them all here at one of Brisbane’s biggest and well-known shopping precincts. There are over 700 stores on offer with Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Co, Hermes, Australian designer sass & bide... the list is endless! Be aware though that the shops of Queen St Mall are broken up into areas and buildings: QueensPlaza, Wintergarden, Elizabeth Arcade, Brisbane Arcade, Queen Adelaide Building and MacArthur Central and the Myer Building.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

Tel: +61 7 3006 6290 Opening Times: Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 6pm, Friday 9.30am - 9pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 5pm Website: www.bnecity.com.au

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Westfield Chermside

Plaza

Brisbane’s biggest shopping centre and popular with teenagers due to its Megaplex Movie Cinema. Shops include Jag, Supre, Colorado, JB HI-FI and Tarocash among others plus Kmart, Big W and Harris Scarfe retailers.

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West End Markets

Market

A cosmopolitan mix of stalls with jewellery, African crafts, handmade craft, organic produce, coffee and fresh seafood.

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Valley Markets

Market

If fashion, art and jewellery are what you want then these markets are noted among locals and tourists alike. There are also card readers and clairvoyants and in Chinatown you can indulge in a massage after shopping.

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Riverside Craft Markets

Market

One of the city’s first markets, you find over 150 stalls selling everything from leatherwork, glassware, clothing and local and imported handicrafts.

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RM Williams

Modest dress

One of the best known and iconic makers of Australian gear, this store is great for clothes including oilskins, boots, moleskins and flannelette shirts. The best souvenir you can buy from here though is the iconic Australian hat – the Akubra.

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Australian Geographic

Another great store for Australian souvenirs you’ll find everything from mugs, calendars, and Aussie slang kits to more stuff dedicated to the Aussie flag than you can poke a stick at!

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Queensland Aboriginal Creations

If its Aboriginal art you’re after than is the place to go to. Here you’ll find authentic arts and crafts including didgeridoos, boomerangs, paintings and prints plus clothing.

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Archives Fine Books

A great second hand bookstore with over a million titles.

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City Hall

Building

Built in 1930, City Hall is a glorious sandstone building that overlooks the sculptures and fountains of King George Sq. Inside you’ll find a marble staircase that’ll draw your eyes upwards to the kaleidoscope roof and the gothic lights. The observation deck at the top of the bell tower offers beautiful views of city but beware of going to the top around noon – the bells are a deafening experience!

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Museum of Brisbane

Museum

Located on the ground floor of City Hall, this museum is broken into two wings: one half charts the city’s historical journey. The Memory Theatre shows a continuous film of Brisbanites of various backgrounds, each giving their historical, creative and social take on the city. The other half of the museum showcases artworks, crafts and photography by local and international artists.

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Roma Street Parkland

Garden

If you’re looking for a quiet place that is also the biggest subtropical garden in the world then Roma St Parkland is the place to go. Broken up in 16 precincts, you’ll find all sorts of flora: lilies, native gardens, rockeries. You’ll also find works by local artists among the nature as well as an outdoor theatre and lots of public BBQs so you can partake in the Australian picnic tradition.

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Old Windmill and Observatory

Building

One of the oldest buildings in Brisbane, this windmill was originally unable to turn due to a design flaw (the sails were unable to turn as they were too heavy). A convict-powered treadmill was introduced before the mill was eventually abandoned. Today it stands as a meteorological observatory.

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Treasury Casino to Queensland University of Technology

Building

Overlooking the river is this Italian Renaissance-style building which houses Conrad’s 24hr casino. The lavish portico includes commanding balconies and columns which are well worth a look if the casino hasn’t already commanded your attention. Conrad also occupies the equally lavish, former Land Administration Building which has been converted into a five star hotel (see Hotels). There is also the Commissariat Stores Building (3221 4198 115 William St, adult/child $4/$2 Tue-Fri & Sun 10am-4pm) which was originally built in 1829 to be used as a government store house (it ceased to be in 1967). Now it stands as a museum that follows the development of the Morton Bay settlement which would eventually become Brisbane.

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Parliament House

Building

Occupying a regal position overlooking the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane’s Parliament House is arguably the most gorgeous piece of architecture. Dating from 1868, the sandy façade has a roof crafted from copper from Mt Isa. The tours are run on demand unless parliament is in session, in which case you can sit in the public gallery and watch the politicians, which can be as exciting as watching the grass grow.

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City Botanic Gardens

Garden

Bigger than the Roma St Parklands, here you’ll find expansive lawns, macadamia trees, tropical flora and the famous Moreton Bay fig trees. There are lots of trails that draw everyone for quiet respites and there is the Mangrove Boardwalk: a wooden walkway that skirts the riverbank on the eastern rim. Here is where you’ll attend the Moonlight Cinema if you’re so inclined.

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Customs House

Building

This building was originally where all ships entering Brisbane Harbour were required to pay duties for almost a century. The University of Queensland now leases the building for private gatherings and fundraisers which is not surprising given its beauty. The ground floor has a free gallery that displays diverse exhibits.

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Riverside Centre and Eagle Street Pier

Plaza

These two commercial complexes are home to restaurants and shops. A good time to visit is Sunday when there is a craft market. There are ferry terminals at both ends.

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Queensland Museum

Museum

Here you’ll find all sorts of curiosities here with Queensland’s own dinosaur skeleton the Muttaburrasaurus and the Avian Cirrus – the tiny plane that Bert Hinkler made the first England to Australia flight in 1928. Upstairs there are exhibits on endangered species and reconstructions on the giant mammoths that roamed Brisbane’s shores 100,000 years ago. Temporary exhibits are also held. There is also the Sciencentre (http://www.sciencentre.qm.qld.gov.au, 9:30am-5pm, adult/child $12/$9) which has interactive displays, optical illusions and regular film shows.

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Monsoon

A stylish restaurant that serves a hybrid of Asian and Australian cuisine: you’ll find baked kangaroo rump with mint and turnip pudding, and Moreton Bay bugs in red curry. Staff are professional and can help you in food choices but the vegetarian option is limited.

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Sunbar Restaurant and Lounge

You’ll be in for sophistication from the chic décor to the food at this restaurant which serves all manner of seafood: sword fish, carpaccio of tuna, scallop, foi gras and sea urchin. A highlight is the vanilla with sea salt encrusted reef fish. The bar is also all about sophistication but don’t worry if your clad in jeans, you’ll still be welcome!

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E’cco

An award-winner, E’cco is considered to be one of the finest restaurants in the state of Queensland. Menu highlights include slow cooked duck with a cassoulet of white beans and Lyonnaise sausage and tomato. Book well ahead in advance!

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II

Another culinary delight, II attracts a lot of foodies and business types with its swish interior and even swankier food. Seafood includes seared scallops with seaweed and lemon risotto or there is veal with porcini risotto and artichoke chips.

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Anise

Bars

Whatever time of the day you choose to visit, you’ll find that Anise has multiple personalities: in the day it serves as a stylish coffee bar for the cool people, at night it turns into a fashionable wine bar for lunch and dinner. The cuisine is of French origin with dishes such as smoked duck, gorgonzola and mascarpone soufflé tart. There are also tapas.

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Customs House Brasserie

Here you can enjoy Australian cuisine while taking in the spectacular views of the river. Highlights include prawn and green papaya salad and the beef mignons wrapped in pancetta.

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Bubbles and Beans

The location might be classy, beneath a high-rise and boasting great views of the river, but the food and pricing are mid-range. Menu includes pastas, stir fries and salads.

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Garuva Hidden Tranquility Restaurant & Bar

Bars

This is a pure dining experience: a rainforest foyer is what greets you first, leading to tables with cushioned seating concealed behind white silk. The menu is a bit mish-mash but no less exotic: Turkish shark and Chinese roast beef are some of the choices.

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Himalayan Café

Authentic Tibetan and Nepali food are the order of the day here with Sherpa chicken, momos and dahls which are quite filling. It’s very popular so call ahead to be sure to get a seat!

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Vietnamese Restaurant

This restaurant takes its authentic tag seriously: every meat, seafood and vegetarian option is there with the shredded beef in spinach rolls being a particular favourite.