48 hours: What to do in Brisbane

W Brisbane was the first 5-star hotel to open in Brisbane in 20 years, making the Queensland capital the only Australian city with a W Hotel (so far). Located at 300 George Street on the site of the old law courts, and offering views from South Bank to Mount Coot-tha, the W Brisbane boasts three bars and restaurants (including the renowned Three Blue Ducks from The Farm at Byron Bay) in addition to 312 guest rooms.

The design of the hotel pays tribute to the local Indigenous culture and the river that defines Brisbane, with motifs snaking throughout. Equipped with the iconic ‘Whatever, Whenever’ W service (meaning guests can pick up the phone and ask for anything that's legal) the hotel is certainly raising the bar on Brisbane’s accommodation offering.

If you’re looking for something a little different this time, here’s some of our favourite accommodation picks in the River City.

5.30pm: Stay up late with GOMA

You might’ve seen Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art by day, but by night is a completely different experience entirely.

Open on selected Friday nights from 5:30pm, you can wander the current exhibition with GOMA Up Late. These adult-only nighttime events enhance the primary exhibition with live music performances, themed snacks and beverages - sounds like a great night to us!

Featured exhibitions rotate approximately every 3-6 months but it’s well worth timing your visit for an opening night. There are extra performances, activities and that first-day hype.

If you’ve got some extra spare hours later, be sure to check out the other cultural experiences you’ll find in Brisbane’s cultural heart at any time of the day. 

8pm: Eat with the cool kids

From GOMA, head to Fish Lane. This art-filled laneway runs parallel to Melbourne Street, and functions as a hidden artery connecting high culture in South Brisbane to the bohemian beat of West End.

Our advice? Start at the Grey Street entrance, where you’ll find great wine at Maeve, authentic Italian at Julius Pizzeria, and delectable East Asian Cuisine at Southside. If none of them take your fancy, follow the fairy-lit road passing new Vietnamese at Hello Please, Thai fusion at Chu the Phat, or European classics at La Lune. If you’re up for some adventure, check out Wandering Cooks on the corner of Fish Lane and Cordelia Street. The open-air set up provides commercial space for emerging local cooks to spruik their talents. Here is your best chance at sampling the next big thing on the Brisbane food scene before anyone else finds out.

And that’s just the eateries. Once you reach the end of the laneway, turn around and pinball your way back to the city by dipping into the bars along the way. Or continue on to adventures in West End’s night life, your call. 

Saturday

8am: Tuck into breakfast 

Sleep-ins are mighty tempting, but it’s well worth getting up early to beat the crowds for breakfast in one of Brisbane’s hippest dining suburbs: Newstead.

Whether you’re after something healthful, decadent, or just a great cup of coffee, the riverside suburb has it all.

For premium coffee and prime people-watching, check out Salt on Commercial Road. Thanks to the outdoor seating, locals often bring their dogs so on weekend mornings the terrace is packed with pooches. Besides specialty roasted coffee, Salt also offers simple breakfast fare. For more of Brisbane’s best breakfasts in Newstead, check out King Arthur, Industry Beans, Nodo, and Kin+Co.

Afterwards you can always meander towards the boutiques on James Street, or journey on towards the river. 

9am: Take a stroll, New Farm style

From Newstead, it’s just a few blocks to the start of one of Brisbane’s best walks.

Winding from the Teneriffe Ferry Terminal all the way to the city, the Riverwalk takes you past the refurbished Woolstores . It stretches over 6km of boardwalk, but don’t worry if you haven’t packed your walking shoes – this leg of the journey is only 2km and there’s plenty of refreshment waiting for you at the end. 

10am: Hit the Powerhouse Farmers Market

Every Saturday morning, the forecourt of the Powerhouse hosts the Jan Powers Farmers Market. Locals bring a basket, and fill it with fresh produce to fuel their week. Over 120 stalls cover everything from fresh fruit and veg to artisanal breads to gourmet pantry items. Have a chat with a local grower as you pick up some provisions and then enjoy them picnic-style under a tree in New Farm Park.

Alternatively, if you forgot your basket, load up with a market breakfast. A slew of stalls offer everything from omelettes and crepes to the crispest rosti you’ll ever have. They even have a specialty coffee cart if you just wanted some morning charge to sip on while you wander. 

12 noon: Lunch, riverside, at the Powerhouse

After a morning on your feet, tuck into lunch at Mary Mae's at the Powerhouse. The riverfront bar and restaurant is a purely Brisbane vibe, offering a refreshing menu that champions local produce.

Expect buckets of prawns, fresh oysters, and vibrant fish tacos, as well as a whole portion of the drinks menu dedicated to different iterations of the house cocktail: the Bloody Mary.

But it’s not just the food and industrial architecture you get Mary Mae’s. Late brunches that turn into long lunches are all about enjoying cool river breezes and views over to Bulimba. Keep an eye out for the palatial pink house across the water. 

2pm: Rest or roses

If the tropical humidity gets too much, head back to your digs for a nap in the aircon. We’re laid-back in Queensland, after all. If you’re keen to push on, discover New Farm Park, where 37 hectares of gardens are a green thumb’s dream.

Each spring, the park’s rose gardens burst into a sea of pink, red, white, orange, and all the other colours of the sunset. Completely colour coordinated thanks to the landscaping that happened over 70 years ago.

If you’re visiting towards the end of spring, you’re in time to see the jacarandas in full bloom. The South American trees line the road encircling New Farm Park, and cast a lilac carpet from mid-October to November.

And if you’re feeling the mid-afternoon slump, good coffee is never far away at New Farm Deli. This homey shard of Italy is a local institution that has been trading since 1975. Come for an espresso and a biscotti to carry you through to the evening. 

5pm: Drinks on the water

For a taste of Brisbane’s finest hospitality, head to Howard Smith Wharves.

This development sits right on the water’s edge, beneath the cliffs and the Storey Bridge. With everything from casual dining at Felons Brewery, to upscale cocktails at Mr Percivals, to the suite of smart restaurants down the bridge end, towards the city.

The whole precinct thumps on the weekend, so book a table at Ciao Papi up the other end. This classic Italian eatery offers delicious plates before stunning views of the river and the city lights, without the hectic clamour of the Saturday party crowd.

Come for sundowners and snacks from the aperitivo menu then stay for dinner. You can share, graze or be greedy with the menu. It features plates large enough to be served as a la carte dishes or shared among the group – there are no rules here.

The Wharves interrupt the river walk that wraps around New Farm and continues all the way to Eagle Street Pier if you needed a post-dinner amble.

Of course, if you’re feeling high energy, trip down to the other end of the precinct for a few rounds. Or take the lift up to the top of the cliffs, where it’s just a short walk to the rollicking Fortitude Valley nightlife. 

Sunday

9am: Discover another nook of Brisbane

This morning, sleep in and mosey down to West End. This suburb is known for its authentic Vietnamese restaurants and live music scene. By day, it’s perfectly laid out for a lazy Sunday.

For a quality breakfast, check out Picnic Cafe in the newly opened West Village precinct, or for somewhere different that often flies under the radar, check out local favourites West End Coffee House or Jacaranda Lane, which both offer comforting Asian-fusion and a damn good brew. If you want to make the choice really difficult, consider Wrapture, Alphabet Cafe’s fresh baked goods, Blackstar Coffee, and Morning After.

Once you’re sated, have a gander at Jet Black Cat Music, then go for a rootle around the second hand books and clothes on Boundary Street. 

9am: Alternative Sunday